Eastman Guitar Pricing...

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

Edit: BTW, I would never buy a domestic car for its resale value.

I would never buy any car for its resale value.

[stevecuss]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

Eastman guitars are re-selling higher than many others (again, see earlier in the thread for details), including North American brands, b/c of their quality and relatively low supply. The occasional deal still pops up, but they're becoming increasingly rare, compared with the overall used market (which has been inventory-heavy for years).

This has been my experience as a very new Eastman hunter. It is why I pulled the trigger on a new Eastman - the difference between a new thermo cured model and a preowned is so negligible, it was worth the extra for the warranty.

I don't know that it will stay this way, but I've been shocked at just how high Eastman resale % is.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

As I mentioned earlier, resale depends on how it's defined. If I buy a $4000 guitar and sell it for $3400, I've maintained an 85% value... but also, I've taken a $600 depreciated price.

If I buy a similar guitar, but only paid $1600 and sell it for $1200, the percentage is only 75%, but the $$$ lost is only $400. So, from that standpoint, the loss per guitar is less (not to mention the things I can do with the $2400 I didn't spend on the original purchase).

That being said, Eastman guitars are re-selling higher than many others (again, see earlier in the thread for details), including North American brands, b/c of their quality and relatively low supply. The occasional deal still pops up, but they're becoming increasingly rare, compared with the overall used market (which has been inventory-heavy for years).


Edit: BTW, I would never buy a domestic car for its resale value.

I tend to stay with the same guitars year after year. I don't think I've sold off an acoustic that cost more than $1000. They all have their merits.

Vida, Eastmans sure have burnished their rep in the last 5-6 years, haven't they?

sm

[Pura Vida]

Yep, Scott. We repeat these same conversations every so often, but the acceptance has gotten a lot better over the last five years.

I've sold many guitars at various price points, as I moved more and more into Eastman over the last 3-4 years. But I'm not eager to let go of any of my Eastman guitars (at least, not right now), which has created a problem. A really, really great problem, ha!

(still waiting to see photos of your E40OM-SB).

[Silurian]

Originally Posted by RP

Why oh why does every discussion of Chinese made guitars have to dissipate into a socio-political discussion? ..

You know the answer to this.

For some it is anxiety about a rapidly changing world. It has little to do with guitars per se.

[RP]

Originally Posted by RP

Why oh why does every discussion of Chinese made guitars have to dissipate into a socio-political discussion? Eastman makes terrific guitars at decent prices. Buy or don't buy them - I don't care...

Originally Posted by Silurian

You know the answer to this.

For some it is anxiety about a rapidly changing world. It has little to do with guitars per se.

I do know the answer - my question was rhetorical; and as you so accurately responded, "It has little to do with guitars." However, this is a guitar forum, and we should be able to discuss guitars without going down the same socioeconomic/political rabbit hole because they're made in China...

[FLRon]

Originally Posted by Silurian

You know the answer to this.

For some it is anxiety about a rapidly changing world. It has little to do with guitars per se.

Excellent post. As hard as accepting change is for most of us, trying to manage change at warp speed can be a frightening thing.

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

The first Hyundais reminded me of the first Japanese cars that entered the U.S. market. They were a bit tinny, and the interiors were kind of cheap, but mechanically they pretty sound. Over time the quality improved dramatically. The same has happened with Hyundai and Kia, so much so that my latest car is a Kia. BTW, my newest guitar, a Gretsch G5420TG, is made in Korea and the quality is outstanding.

I can second all that.
At age 78, I remember the coming of the Japanese cars.
By 1971, a Datsun 510 was considered a budget version of my BMW 2002.
Decades later, I bought a new 1991 Mazda truck and kept it 17 years, a new 2006 Scion xB and kept it 10 years, and a new 2008 Subaru Forester which is still like new. All made in Japan and nothing ever goes wrong with them.
In 2006 I bought a Breedlove 12-string made in Korea, an easy-playing jewel.
And yesterday I sold the D-35 that I bought new in 1969, deciding to keep, as my last guitar, a Chinese Eastman that I liked better.

[drvenom]

So what's a good % below MAP price to expect when buying an Eastman guitar. That is, what's a good deal price to shoot for? I'm turning 40 so I want to cause some damage to my bank account. I got the ok from my wife to buy a Martin D45. However, if I like the Eastman E40D, which is the closest to the D45, I'll get that and see if I can also get an alternative to a Martin om28.

[Pura Vida]

Your best bet is to call online dealers and ask them. With the short inventories, nationwide, many dealers aren't offering any discount below MAP (or at least not what they used to offer). If you can get 10% below MAP, I'd say your doing well, given the current environment.

If you can find an E40D, grab it... I have two of them with plans to keep the ones I like best. That was four years ago, and I still have them both!

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by drvenom

So what's a good % below MAP price to expect when buying an Eastman guitar. That is, what's a good deal price to shoot for? I'm turning 40 so I want to cause some damage to my bank account. I got the ok from my wife to buy a Martin D45. However, if I like the Eastman E40D, which is the closest to the D45, I'll get that and see if I can also get an alternative to a Martin om28.

Yeah, I wouldn't get your hopes up. I've purchased 3 new guitars during the pandemic (Larrivee, Waterloo, Collings), and there was no movement on the normal asking price, which for Eastmans is 20% off the MSRP shown on Eastman's website.

But you never know. I stumbled into a good deal on a new Eastman E20OM 3 weeks ago. It was listed at 10% below MAP. It was new, but the card that came with it said it was built 2 years earlier. Maybe that was why.

Never hurts to ask. But given the current supply shortage there isn't much incentive for dealers to discount off MAP. The store I bought the E20OM at said their next shipment of Eastmans was 7 months out.

If you can find one you're interested in, go for it. Even at MAP, Eastman's are a good deal.

[drvenom]

Originally Posted by KevinH

Yeah, I wouldn't get your hopes up. I've purchased 3 new guitars during the pandemic (Larrivee, Waterloo, Collings), and there was no movement on the normal asking price, which for Eastmans is 20% off the MSRP shown on Eastman's website.

But you never know. I stumbled into a good deal on a new Eastman E20OM 3 weeks ago. It was listed at 10% below MAP. It was new, but the card that came with it said it was built 2 years earlier. Maybe that was why.

Never hurts to ask. But given the current supply shortage there isn't much incentive for dealers to discount off MAP. The store I bought the E20OM at said their next shipment of Eastmans was 7 months out.

If you can find one you're interested in, go for it. Even at MAP, Eastman's are a good deal.

If that is the case, I'll just wait until inventories are back to normal. What % below Eastman's MAP would you have considered to be a good deal before the pandemic? Thank you.

[Pura Vida]

Originally Posted by drvenom

If that is the case, I'll just wait until inventories are back to normal. What % below Eastman's MAP would you have considered to be a good deal before the pandemic? Thank you.

I think that depends on the dealer, as well as the model. The less expensive models have less wiggle room than the E40D that you're looking at. Ted at LA Guitar Sales (one of the largest Eastman dealers) used to offer AGF members 10% off MAP. If you call him, he'll always give you his best price.