Interesting Comparison Video

[jklotz]

2 of the same guitars, same strings, both with addi tops, one torrified, the other not. What's your take?

[UncleJesse]

Of those two I'm picking non-torrified.

[CMGibson]

I'll take Torrified on this one.

[xaxinojo]

I pick torrified

[llew]

I have the torrified version and that's a very close likeness to how it sounds. It's a very strong strummer for a short scale OM. (really a 000 by Martin specs) I continue to be impressed with the Eastman offerings across the board and own several from E2OM to E20D. Every time a baked top was an option I went with it. I will say the torriified tops do seem to add a certain amount of compression which seems to be a benchmark for the vintage tone as current builders try to capture that sound?

As always Ian does a great job demoing these guitars!

[brencat]

Non-torrefied for me please

This is becoming an increasingly recurring theme as I buy and then eventually sell guitars with baked tops. They seem to have a narrower cone of sound than the non-torrefied versions. You can hear it mostly in the upper mids and highs which are more subdued on the torrefied versions. Incidentally, this is precisely the reason I recently sold an otherwise wonderful Bourgeois Aged Tone D-Vintage. Torrefied (Aged Tone) top knocked down the upper mid bloom and vibrancy that I want to hear.

I no longer own ANY torrefied topped guitars and expect it will remain that way going forward.

[llew]

Originally Posted by brencat

Non-torrefied for me please

This is becoming an increasingly recurring theme as I buy and then eventually sell guitars with baked tops. They seem to have a narrower cone of sound than the non-torrefied versions. You can hear it mostly in the upper mids and highs which are more subdued on the torrefied versions. Incidentally, this is precisely the reason I recently sold an otherwise wonderful Bourgeois Aged Tone D-Vintage. Torrefied (Aged Tone) top knocked down the upper mid bloom and vibrancy that I want to hear.

I no longer own ANY torrefied topped guitars and expect it will remain that way going forward.

Funny...I started looking around and outside of Eastman the only "baked" top guitars I own are my two PWGC's which don't have that option?

[hairpuller]

I'll gladly accept the torrefied. Sounds like an older guitar to me.

Don't want or like the shimmery highs of a new guitar.

scott

[Colt45]

Baked for me. Have one right now I’ll never sell.

[mawmow]

The torrefaction process promises a top that has already opened up :
But what about the rest of the guitar ?

I mean how will age the whole guitar?
I shall start such a thread...

[zmf]

Difficult choice. Kind of depends on your style. Aged could be more brittle sounding at times, the standard more round, more mellow.

I'll take the tiger stripes on the standard.

[musicman1951]

Torrified if I had to pick, both a little to twangy for me.

[EZYPIKINS]

I can't give an answer based on what I hear from an MP3. Have to hear in person.
If you like I'll give you my address . You can send them on over.

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by musicman1951

Torrified if I had to pick, both a little to twangy for me.

My assessment as well. My guess is that both of these guitars will sound better five years down the road.

Best,
Jayne

[1Charlie]

The unbaked version is definitely louder. I like it a lot better.