"Are Eastmans A Good Value?"

[calstang66]

I thought I'd start another opinion post on Eastman Guitars.
So the question is, in general, do you think Eastman acoustics are:
a) just another Chinese made guitar?
b) pretty good guitars for the money
c) great guitars for the money
d) very good guitars at 2 times what they cost

Sure, big name brands may be better made, but do we literally benefit from a the higher build quality? I play many many guitars guitars each year. The best guitar I've played is a Guild D-55, but my Eastmans come a close second. Eastmans to me sound close to Collings, with chiming beautiful voices. And very different than Gibson, Martin or Taylor.

As you can see from my signature, I am an Eastman fan. Wonderful guitars.

[Judson]

As a big Eastman fan, I would have to go with "C" ... the build quality is one of the stronger aspects of the two Eastman guitars I own. I paid a little over $1,000 each brand new. But, if I were to spend $2,000 on a guitar, it probably would not be an Eastman.

There are some pretty good sub-1k guitars: Taylor GS Minis, most Yamahas, most Breedloves; but the Eastmans are the creme de la creme in that price range. I played a whole bunch of sub-1k guitars today in fact and none of them were worth spending money on except a GS Mini I played. Even a Martin DRS2 that I played was pretty bleh, although heads above the other stuff I played.

[ii Cybershot ii]

I would say the answer is C, bordering on D. I think they compete sound-wise with the $2-4k range of Martins and Taylors for a fraction of the cost. In fact I'd put them up against the new $5k Taylor V-class guitars too. The reason I won't fully answer D is this:

They can be pretty flawed, and you are best off finding one in person and if you love it, buy it. To order one from the internet make sure there's a return policy or you trust the seller!

Also the machine-perfect build quality of the instrument is not that of even a 100 series Taylor. But it's still nice enough. After all they are hand-built.

[pjroberts]

I will throw the first D vote in, as i have posted here in the past. I regretfully sold my E20D, but they are excellent guitars from both tonal and build perspectives. A few corners cut on irrelevant things like case and minor details. Awesome tone, but don’t try to shoe horn it as “Martin,” “Gibson,” or “Taylor;” It’s got its own tone thing going and it’s darn good.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi, I don't currently have an Eastman guitar but my first and last was an archtop - AR805e (which I really miss now!) If that guitar was typical of the built quality and tonality that they could produce in 2007, I'd say that they are close to the top of the class of hand-built small factory builders regardless of geography.

I have heard a number of their mandolins, and the build quality is fine, although I have yet to be impressed by the sound.

I can't speak of their flat-tops having only seen a few, but they seem to be responding to the market well and quickly.

I'd say category D as my first archtop in 2007 cost me under £1000, and I am currently considering buying another which would cost over £2000.

[mickthemiller]

I have three Eastmans, an E6D, E6OM and E20ss slope. I am really impressed by the D and the OM but not so much by the slope. They all play well but the quality of the slope is not as good as the other two, I had to level the frets and change the nut. All told I think they are really good value for money, although I did not pay full price for the two E6 models. To get two Martins (d18 and 00018) would have cost me almost 4 times what I paid for the Eastmans or 3 times if I'd paid full retail price for the Eastmans. When I bought the E20ss I could have paid a little more and got a Gibson J45 which may have been a better option in the end. So I'll have to go for C. I have to add that I would expect resale value of the Esatmans would be relatively far less than Martin or Gibson.

[bluespicker]

My guitar isn’t the cheapest guitar Eastman sells but it is a 100 series. My luthier said that it sounds better than some $1000 guitars that he has setup. Great value! I vote C & D.

[GKing34]

Originally Posted by calstang66

I thought I'd start another opinion post on Eastman Guitars.

So the question is, in general, do you think Eastman acoustics are:

a) just another Chinese made guitar?

b) pretty good guitars for the money

c) great guitars for the money

d) very good guitars at 2 times what they cost



Sure, big name brands may be better made, but do we literally benefit from a the higher build quality? I play many many guitars guitars each year. The best guitar I've played is a Guild D-55, but my Eastmans come a close second. Eastmans to me sound close to Collings, with chiming beautiful voices. And very different than Gibson, Martin or Taylor.



As you can see from my signature, I am an Eastman fan. Wonderful guitars.

I would fall into the C or D category. I have had a few Eastman guitars, and my current stable is a Martin D-18 and an Eastman E20OM.

My Eastman is equal to my Martin in quality and tone.

[GKing34]

Originally Posted by GKing34

I would fall into the C or D category. I have had a few Eastman guitars, and my current stable is a Martin D-18 and an Eastman E20OM.

My Eastman is equal to my Martin in quality and tone.

One thing I love about my Eastman (and the others I have played) is how responsive these guitars are. It makes these guitars play so effortlessly, and I do not have to dig in as much.

[bobster7]

Without a doubt they are outstanding value. I'd go for C as a default rating for the brand as a whole with some specific examples firmly in the D category. I'd put my E20P in the D category as i like the tone as much as my Collings and H&D.

[taylorgtr]

I have a dim view of Chinese 'fakes' (there are tons of YT videos of fake Taylors and Martin D-45's out there....and some likely get sold as 'authentic')....which is a shame.

But if you're standing on your own branding and quality, I don't care where it's built - if it's a good guitar, it's a good guitar.

My E40-OM is a great guitar, so I'm going with c).

[taylorgtr]

Compared with a lot of Martins I've played, I'd add d) as well.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by calstang66

I thought I'd start another opinion post on Eastman Guitars.
So the question is, in general, do you think Eastman acoustics are:
a) just another Chinese made guitar?
b) pretty good guitars for the money
c) great guitars for the money
d) very good guitars at 2 times what they cost
...snip...

Originally Posted by ii Cybershot ii

I would say the answer is C, bordering on D. ...snip...

Originally Posted by bluespicker

...snip... I vote C & D.

Originally Posted by GKing34

I would fall into the C or D category. ...snip...

Originally Posted by bobster7

Without a doubt they are outstanding value. I'd go for C as a default rating for the brand as a whole with some specific examples firmly in the D category. ...snip...

I too would place my vote between C & D. Eastman is a great brand for value. I would say Eastman is my number 2 brand for overall value, behind only Alvarez.

[devellis]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Hi, I don't currently have an Eastman guitar but my first and last was an archtop - AR805e (which I really miss now!) If that guitar was typical of the built quality and tonality that they could produce in 2007, I'd say that they are close to the top of the class of hand-built small factory builders regardless of geography.

I have heard a number of their mandolins, and the build quality is fine, although I have yet to be impressed by the sound.

I can't speak of their flat-tops having only seen a few, but they seem to be responding to the market well and quickly.

I'd say category D as my first archtop in 2007 cost me under £1000, and I am currently considering buying another which would cost over £2000.

I agree. I currently have another archtop, an oval-hole 804, styled after a Gibson L-4 from the 1920s. This is a very nice guitar. Good archtops can command very high prices and this one was a relative bargain. Quality of materials and construction are very good, especially at the price point these sold for (they've been discontinued). Here's a picture of the beautiful maple used on the back, and a full picture of the front.