Eastman Comment On Their Adi Top Sound!

ToneHunter · #1 08-05-2014, 07:31 AM

I stumbled upon the following interesting comment over on the Blueridge/Eastman Forum that was supposedly made by a former Eastman employee named Pat. I had posted a previous thread asking about approx. how long it takes for an Adi top to open up so if this is true then that's a good thing! Of course it will only get better as it ages anyway.

"Adi is stiff as all hell, and we make the tops very thin so they vibrate and sound excellent right out of the box without needing that 5-10 year break in period."

Treenewt · #2 08-05-2014, 08:08 AM

I saw that same comment the other day. Interesting. I guess there's no way to know, is there? Not until we've had ours 5-10 years!

I will say that mine seems to need a few minutes of solid playing to warm up, something I haven't experienced with my Sitka top guitars. Or at least, I'd never noticed it. Maybe it's in my head!

Either way, I love the tone that comes out of mine!

Westy · #3 08-05-2014, 08:15 AM

If my E20p opens up any more it will need mufflers

A workmate played mine today and loved it he couldn't believe how loud it was. I know loud doesn't always mean good ,it's that too.

Cheers

#4 08-05-2014, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToneHunter

"Adi is stiff as all hell, and we make the tops very thin so they vibrate and sound excellent right out of the box without needing that 5-10 year break in period."

Has anyone measured the thickness of their Eastman red spruce tops? I'd love to know the numbers to compare with other makers.

Mark E · #5 08-05-2014, 09:09 AM

I've had my E10D for around two years now, and all I can say is I love the tone that comes from it. It has matured since I bought it, but it sounded good from the start. I agree with Treenewt that it takes a few minutes to warm up for a newer model, but my E10D sounds sweet the moment I take it out of the case.

JohnnyDes · #6 08-05-2014, 10:33 AM

I haven't measured my E20p's top thickness, but I will say it took me a while to get used to the fairly conspicuous bowing of the top and bridge.

JD

RustyAxe · #7 08-05-2014, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treenewt

I will say that mine seems to need a few minutes of solid playing to warm up, something I haven't experienced with my Sitka top guitars. Or at least, I'd never noticed it. Maybe it's in my head!

I have an adi topped Eastman (AC420B) and Martin (D-18GE) and I'd agree, they both sound better after 20 minutes or so (not that there's anything wrong with how they sound right out of the case). I thought it was hogwash when others said it, but I'm convinced now. I never buy guitar for how it might sound in 10 years. What I hear today is what matters, and if it sounds better after a thousand gigs it's a bonus.

Diamond Dave · #8 08-05-2014, 11:44 AM

I have an RK with an Adi top and I'm surprised at how thin the top is.

JP Richardson · #9 08-05-2014, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Has anyone measured the thickness of their Eastman red spruce tops? I'd love to know the numbers to compare with other makers.

nevermind see below

JP Richardson · #10 08-05-2014, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Has anyone measured the thickness of their Eastman red spruce tops? I'd love to know the numbers to compare with other makers.

I just got 4.0mm on my e20om

OOPS Nevermind. I forgot about the soundhole reinforcement
Don't have a caliper thet will reach beyond it.

John Arnold · #11 08-05-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Of course it will only get better as it ages anyway.

Unless it gets worse.

Guitars tend to get more bassy as they age, so IMHO, the ideal new guitar is a little bright-sounding. The key is the word 'little'. Many newer red spruce factory guitars have been way overbuilt, but that is rapidly changing as the makers get a better handle on the extra stiffness.
I just played a Recording King RD-327 that is killer.
The first Eastman dreads (Sitka-topped) I played were underbraced, but the last few red spruce ones I have seen were fine.
Since stiffness is proportional to the cube of the thickness, the difference in top thickness should only be a few thousandths of an inch.
For example, if a 'standard' top thickness is 0.115" (2.9mm), and the goal is to reduce its stiffness by 20%, the thickness should be about 0.107" (2.7mm).

CoolerKing · #12 08-05-2014, 01:03 PM

I wonder if they will implode. Many builders have underbuilt to get a great sound only to have the guitar fail over time. This is in no way a diatribe against Eastman or a snobbish comment, just making a statement of fact.

hoober · #13 08-05-2014, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Has anyone measured the thickness of their Eastman red spruce tops? I'd love to know the numbers to compare with other makers.

I just mic'd my 2010 E20OM at 0.1075". I'm curious to see some measurements from other guitars.

syclonegs2003 · #14 11-04-2019, 08:54 PM

I own a 2011 E10D and several Martins.. The E10D is louder, more responsive, more resonant and has more bottom end and bass than any of my Martin Mahogany or Rosewood dreds and louder than any Martin that I have played.. My HD28V 2002 and 2005 D18V tops both measures .119" in thickness, the E10D Red Spruce top measures exactly .100". Thinnest top of any dred or Martin top that I have measured.

Mr. Jelly · #15 11-04-2019, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToneHunter

"Adi is stiff as all hell, and we make the tops very thin so they vibrate and sound excellent right out of the box without needing that 5-10 year break in period."

I'm very skeptical. This is assuming that all tops are the same thickness except for their generous thought to make "theirs" thinner. The little I know of guitar making would say the bracing would be changed before thinning the top anyway.