Hi everyone. Tom here in South Jersey. So, I'm interested in opinions. First, I will say that I own an Eastman ESS10, 2nd owner via Reverb. I found this forum awhile back as my guitar had developed a curious metallic "ping" on the B string which frankly was making me nuts. Not at all unplayable and player friends of mine either did or did not notice it. I like that guitar so much that I sold the second guitar I ever bought, a Taylor, with no regrets.

But onto the actual question. I have an SB59v on order from a shop in VA. I have no obligation to buy it and can get my very small deposit back with no problem. I put the deposit down in August with the understanding that it would most likely be early '22 before I would have the chance to check it out in person. Anyone not currently living in a cave already understands the supply chain nightmare. Compounding this was the sudden urge for everyone to start playing guitar in April last year. Bye bye inventory.

Now as I've observed the parking lot of ships off every port I've got to thinking (overthinking) do I really want a guitar that's been baking in a shipping container off the California coast for weeks and then sitting on the dock for a few more waiting for a truck?

What do you think? Would you still be interested or wait until '23 or later to get one that moved along relatively quickly from the Eastman shop?

Thanks

Does anyone here remove the pick guards from their new guitars?

There are a few guys over at The Acoustic Guitar Forum who regularly remove the pick guards from their guitars when they buy them new. I know a few years ago Eastman used to ship their guitars with the pick guard unattached and give the buyer the option of attaching it or not. I’m wondering if any of you guys go so far as to remove yours.

I’m brand new here! Wanting to buy an E1D that has a robust low end and plenty of volume. I tend to favor Rosewood but need a sweet Sapele dread in my life. Thanks!

E40 OM to this point are: 
1. GHS phosphor bronze lights. To my ears they sounded just okay.

2. Martin authentic acoustic silk & steel custom 11.5. Not very good.

3. D’Addario phosphor bronze EJ16 lights. Sounded pretty decent.

4. Santa Cruz parabolic tension strings. I just put these strings on 2 days ago, 
    and so far I believe they are the best sounding to this point.

What strings have you tried on your 40’s, whether good or bad?

By the way, I am deeply infatuated with this guitar!

Hey folks. Looking for some help/guidance.
In June, I purchased an E6D-TC via Reverb from a shop in Texas. It was advertised as a 2021 w/ Sitka top. 

Yesterday, I registered the guitar with Eastman. All well so far. 
I sent an email to fretted at eastmanstrings and asked if they could verify the specs on this guitar. I told them it seemed light to me to be torrefied sitka (this idea popped in my head based on other threads on this forum). I received an email this morning saying that the guitar is a 2020 and is a thermo cured top model. 

So whoa... a 2020? It was advertised as a 2021. So I looked at the CoA and it was dated Feb 2021 but the serial number indicates a 2020 (first two numbers after the M are 20). Eastman verified that the serial indicates the actual date of manufacture is the serial number on the sticker in the guitar (done in Beijing) and the CoA indicates the date the guitar passed QC in Pomona. All of this makes sense to me and tracks. Although, I think the dealer mis-advertised the guitar, I'm happy (very) with the guitar and a late in the year 2020 brand new guitar isn't causing me heartburn.

But now, that same dealer, after our discussion this morning about the date, is telling me its an Alpine top. Well, he advertised it as Sitka but said he didn't know that Eastman was subbing Alpine and all that.... this tracks as far as I can tell with how all that happened.

But I can't help feeling a little uneasy right now. I'm wondering if I've been had (unlikely I think) or if the dealer was just not informed, misinformed or ignorant.

More importantly, is there a way that I can verify if this top is Alpine vs Sitka? I've emailed Eastman asking that but have yet to hear back from them.

Anyone willing to talk me down off my worry ledge here? Anyone (probably everyone) more knowledgeable about all this stuff with Eastman willing to educate me?

Tom

PS. I like the guitar... a lot. I'd just like to know for sure what I bought now.

Hi all,

I’m going to display my ignorance here, and maybe this isn’t the right place for the question, but I occasionally see posts where people talk about upgrading the wiring and components of their Eastman guitars. Can someone explain Guitar Electronics Quality 101 to me? Are there any websites that could educate me?

I’m considering replacing the pickups on my T386 and I want to know if I should consider anything else while I’m doing it, and why.

Thanks much,

John

I saw an article around a month ago with a question does Eastman use Adi braces on their Adi topped E series models? That article was from 10 years ago and a lot can change in that time with a manufacture.
My E10 00 came with a 20 year old adi top as were all the first few years of all the E10 00's series. And that got me thinking if Eastman does use adi bracing in all their models that come with adi tops. 

I'm not going to lose sleep over this but it could explain the loud, articulate tone from my 00. The E10/20 00 & P models are 12 fret slot head models with 1 13/16" string spacing at the nut with a very thick C shaped neck and are a fingerpickers delight. 

Here's the link:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/theunoff...t7517.html

I'm playing through a 2008 Fender DRRI, and last night, I got fairly close to bringing out that hollow tone the Eastman is capable of.  -

For those of you looking to accentuate the hollowness of the guitar (pretend I'm not being abrstract), how do you like to set the EQ?

I have an aesthetic question for you guys. The tuning machines on the AC422CE are Silver tone. But the pick up jack on the end block is bronze stone.

So should the second strap button be silver to match the tuning machines, or be bronze to match the pick up jack?

I did a quick demo of the AC630-BD yesterday before I shipped it out. All I can say is wow what a great sounding guitar with bass you can feel.