Yamaha FS830 vs Eastman PCH2-OM

[neilca]

I had a Yamaha FGX830C which sounded great, but the thing was huge and difficult for me to play. Sold it and now I am looking for it's replacement.

Has anyone experience with the Yamaha FS830 or the Eastman PCH2-OM?

[Rpt50]

I have both the FS and FG 800. The FS plays exactly as the FG, but of course you are not constantly grappling with the large body. Obviously it has less bass response due to the smaller body, but it still sounds great. I play it more than the FG because it is more comfortable. If you liked your previous yamaha, this is a no-brainer...

[Ralph124C41]

Well the Eastman has a bone nut and saddle and the FS 800 doesn't. The Eastman has a 1 3/4-inch nut width (or so I'm told) while the FS has the narrower 1 11/16-inch nut with.

I'm guessing the Eastman's "street price" will be more, probably in the neighborhood of $60 or so.

Both models have X-bracing but I don't know if the Eastman is forward-shifted like the Yamaha.

[Birchtop]

Personally I’d chose the FS830.

But that’s just me

[Ralph124C41]

I briefly had a FG830 and I guess I got a "dud" because it was just sort of dead-sounding. It could have been the stock strings. I myself have found different FG/FS 800s with very different sonic sounds. For example at my local GC the staff had three FG800s ... one was sort of dead (like my FG830), one was pretty good and one was excellent, really head and shoulders (and legs) above the others.

I've never even see an Eastman so of course that means I can make a wild assumption on its value. LOL.

In my case I'd pick the Yamaha ... IF I could test drive it first. Mainly I need that narrow nut width. The bone nut and saddle are a nice touch on the Eastman but I can have them installed later.

[JERZEY]

Everything in the PCH series that I demoed sounded amazing. Great guitars. They certainly play and sound like very expensive guitars 2 to 3x the cost.

The FG series while quality over built instruments sound pretty meh.. Fantastic starter guitars. After that....

I would buy the Eastman for sure. They sound fantastic. They play way above what anyone offers in that price bracket.

[Jay Ira]

The Yamaha had to go back, it was extremely cramped on the fretboard for me. The Eastman is much more playable for my smallish hands.

[Martyn Eden]

The PCH range are only 200 notes behind the all solid sapele E range. Having played both I would look for some extra cash, or buy an E series used. It's a major upgrade for little extra cash.