Eastman ACTG-1 travel guitar...

AndrewG · #1 02-27-2019, 07:16 AM

A genuine competitor for Taylor? The guitar features ALL-solid construction, including bone nut and saddle, for less money than the GS Mini, Martin Dreadnought Jr, Guild Jumbo Junior all of which have laminated sides and back and/or synthetic fretboards. It also sounds great. Anyone here play one yet?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dTGKzC2Qc

TacomaDR20 · #2 02-27-2019, 07:25 AM

What's the price point?

AndrewG · #3 02-27-2019, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacomaDR20

What's the price point?

Around US$465 (converted from UK pounds). UK cost is £349 including gig bag.

AndrewG · #4 02-27-2019, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacomaDR20

What's the price point?

Around US$465. UK cost is £349 including gig bag.
https://www.eastmanguitars.com/actg1

Edit; according to Eastman's site it's $399. Even better! (There's also an all-mahogany version).

Matt McGriff · #5 02-27-2019, 08:48 AM

Needs a 1.75” nut. I have owned a few GSMinis and always ended up moving on from them, as much as I wanted to like them, because the short scale and narrow nut made it too cramped to play. It’s a little surprising that Eastman went 1 11/16” on this guitar seeing that all of their AC and dread models have 1.75” necks.

Pura Vida · #6 02-27-2019, 01:35 PM

In 2017, I won one of these via an Eastman event at a local music store. I didn't think I'd keep it b/c it's too small, but my daughter learned to play on it. After two years, it's developed a lovely tone and wonderful sustain. It sounds much bigger than I'd expect from such a small body, and I think it plays very favorably to the GS Mini. Also, the short scale and narrow nut are b/c it's a travel guitar, and it's consistent with the Taylor GS Mini.

Here's my NGD thread from 2017: https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=471568

Matt McGriff · #7 02-27-2019, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

Also, the short scale and narrow nut are b/c it's a travel guitar, and it's consistent with the Taylor GS Mini.

Here's my NGD thread from 2017: https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=471568

Make it short scale and 1.75 nut like the dreadnought junior.

Pura Vida · #8 02-27-2019, 03:09 PM

Why? It's much closer in design to the Martin LXM / LXK2, both of which are 1-11/16" nut widths.

membler · #9 02-28-2019, 07:29 AM

I won one here on the forum from LA Guitar Sales when they were promoting charter memberships. I love it and I have had the travel Taylor and Martin versions. It feels more like a real guitar and feels like a slightly smaller version of a 00 guitar. I highly recommend it.

AndrewG · #10 02-28-2019, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by membler

I won one here on the forum from LA Guitar Sales when they were promoting charter memberships. I love it and I have had the travel Taylor and Martin versions. It feels more like a real guitar and feels like a slightly smaller version of a 00 guitar. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Mike. Right now it's a close race for me between the Eastman and the all-solid Yamaha CSF3M which is a bit more expensive but has subjectively nicer cosmetic appointments (gloss finish, mahogany binding etc.)

membler · #11 02-28-2019, 03:35 PM

Yamaha makes a nice guitar for the money

slooky · #12 02-28-2019, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewG

A genuine competitor for Taylor? The guitar features ALL-solid construction, including bone nut and saddle, for less money than the GS Mini, Martin Dreadnought Jr, Guild Jumbo Junior all of which have laminated sides and back and/or synthetic fretboards. It also sounds great. Anyone here play one yet?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dTGKzC2Qc

Sorry but your wrong! Martin Dreadnaught jr is all solid!