It’s been nearly two years since I’ve posted a NGD, the last being my Larrivee OM-03, a sweet guitar has been my lone workhorse for some time.  It has done wonderfully for my needs: open tunings and finger style at home, standard and strumming at church.  From at one time being the caretaker of 5 acoustics, I surprisingly learned to be somewhat content with my lone Larry.   It’s not that I didn't look, mind you.  I mean, I am a member of the AGF…#gasendures!  But life the last few years has been such that justifying a “want” purchase just never made sense.  

And yet, here I am posting a NGD?  Well, last Thursday, due entirely to the incredible, mind-blowing, humbling kindness of a friend, I found myself waiting anxiously for the Big Brown Truck to deliver a new-to-me Eastman E8 OM TC.  

WHAT?

Yep.  

 

When I finally got to open the box, I was blown away.  This guitar looks and smells brand new.  There isn’t a scratch on it.  I lifted it out of the case, took it all in:  the gorgeous thermo-cured top, the herringbone purfling, the volute (who doesn’t love a dart volute?), the diamond and snowflake inlays.  Stunning!  I tuned it to my favorite tuning, CGCGCD, and put it through its paces.  I was immediately struck by the ease of play.  Of course, I’m in a drop tuning, so that lessens tension, but the neck felt great.  Being and OM, there is familiarity with the tone from my Larrivee, but this is much more lush, thanks to the rosewood.  It’s a totally different animal than the OM-03!  



Fit and Finish: I’ve owned quite a few Eastmans over the last decade…more than I’d like to admit.  This is the first upper-end Eastman I’ve had in my hands in 4 or 5 years, and let me tell you, their QC has improved a LOT.  I remember the E20OM I had (circa 2013 model?) on which the 12th fret double markers were not straight, the purfling/binding at the neck was sloppy, and the finish had a good number of issues.  There is none of that present on this E8OM.  It is immaculate, top notch workmanship.  The finish is flawless, playability is fantastic, and the neck carve feels great…nice, medium size C.  The stock tuners are good, too.  No trouble going from drop to standard, and they hold tune just fine.  



Tone:  Deep, lush rosewood goodness.  Being an OM, balance is the name of the game, and I love it.  I don’t know if it’s the TC top, or just the way Eastman builds, but it has wonderful sustain.  The lows are SO NICE…deep, resounding, but not overpowering.  The highs are crystal-clear, and the mids are just slightly scooped compared to my Larrivee (at least it seems that way to me).  It is a perfect rosewood OM, in my book.  Right now she’s strung with strings I have never used before, D’addario XT 80/20 lights.  I am a PB guy through and through, but DANG if she doesn’t sound lovely with these strings!  I want to try mediums on her, just to see (all I have at home are mediums), and will probably try a set of Martin Retro Laurence Jubers (true mediums) on hand.  The action is slightly higher than I like, but with plenty of room on the saddle, I’ve got room to bring it down some.  



Right now, I’m thinking this guitar will be my alternate tuning/fingerstyle guitar.  It just suits it so well!  I have tuned it up to standard, and it’s no slouch, but it doesn’t quite have the clarity the Larrivee does there (and I’m pretty heavy handed with a pick).  I do want to see how it handles strumming with mediums, for my own edification, but the Larrivee does so well in standard, I think it will handle those duties while the E8 gets the playing time for all things alternate/finger style.  Even with short scale and lights, this guitar is wonderful in CGCGCD, and that surprised me.  So curious to see how that works with mediums!

Every time I pick this guitar up, I smile. Every time I look it over, I smile.  It is an extremely well made instrument, and it’s qualities are both seen and heard.  I just feel and see quality instrument when I hold it.  It has a totally different voice/feel than my Larrivee, and I’m so thankful for that…they compliment each other very, very nicely.  They each make me play differently.  

But most of all, when I pick it up, I’m reminded that music is a gift, and as amazing as this instrument is, the gift behind it is all the more precious.  I’m definitely not worthy, of the quality of instrument, but much less the friendship behind the gift.  

 But I am oh so very grateful.

Edit:  I added a YouTube clip of the guitar in post #34 of this thread

I really dig finding good cover bands on YouTube.  There are some great ones out there.  I came across this video a few days ago and was blown away by this cover performance of She's Gone (original by Hall and Oates).  Check it out:

https://davesguitar.com/products/eastman...e6d-tc-20/


Very tempting!

I’ve seen several people mention they waited a very long time or are still waiting to take delivery of a guitar they ordered. In the neighborhood of 9 months.

But I’ve seen several Brand New guitars listed on Reverb, eBay or some official vendor sites.

I’m expecting to order a T486 in the near future.

What method or vendor should I use? What am I missing here?


Thanks for your help.

Just picked up a virtually new 2015 AR380ce and am impressed. It is the low end of the line Eastman developed with advice from jazz guitarist John Pisano. All laminate with a beautiful honey burst fimish, maple binding, and two hunbucker pickups. Lots of small, well thought out details. Definitely a jazz box. There are quite a few videos of John Pisano playing live with the prototype of this model and it sounds exactly like I expected.

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I now have three Eastmans including my 2008 AR805 archtop.
There seems to be NO pattern to the serial numbers.

For brands like Martin, Collings etc., even Harmony, you could determine models and production date but I see nothing like that n my lovely Eastmans.
Does anybody know anything about their methodology?

I just received my Eastman e10ooV today. It was shipped to me from a dealer within my state. Looks great sounds great. It’s a perfect model for me. 

But this evening I hit the open E string and then fretted at the 12th and ooooh  Way off. Not even close. So I put a clip on tuner and every string is Way flat at the 12th fret. 

if it was an electric I would know how to correct it. But I’m new to acoustics. I have no idea how anyone could fix this. Is this correctable?

I have a lovely new E20 P just a few days old, and i am delighted with it. It is loud and responsive. I am interested in finding out how this model will sound as it ages. Has anyone got a well played E20 P? Curious to find out what delights await me. Cheers.

A while ago, I received multiple sets of bluegrass gauge strings from other EGFers to try out. 

I first used a set of GHS Vintage PB in 12-56 for my E10SS/v.  That guitar did NOT like that set of strings.  I left them on for a few weeks, but it was shortly after I had purchased the guitar and was becoming quite disappointed with the guitar overall because it seemed like the volume was turned down and I couldn't find how to turn it back up.  Well, decided to try Martin Lifespan PB 12-54 and it was transformed into what I hoped I purchased.  My conclusion is that the string was choking the top, although it may be that the Vintage Bronze was just too subdued for my taste.  I'll experiment again, but the Lifespans are still going strong after 3-4 months later. 

Well, two weeks ago I decided to take my E2D for a set up.  I was having too much difficulty fretting bar chords close to the nut.  I need the nut slots deepened and the nut slots were also pinching the strings when tuning.  Although I've been happy to replace and sand a saddle and replace a nut entirely, but I decided to take it in to someone who knew what they were doing for this job.  Turns out my closest music store has an in-house luthier who previously worked as a luthier for Bourgeois Guitars!  That's all I needed to see and took it in to have a chat with him.  Long story short, he did a fabulous job on the set up.  But I also brought in a set of Martin 80/20 Bluegrass gauge to try out.  I was thinking the 80/20s may suit a cedar top and the dread may not shy away from the 12-56 gauge.  And... yep!  I have mostly enjoyed PB strings, but the added focus of 80/20 has been a welcomed addition to the cedar top.  And while the PB Lifespans I was using on the E2D sounded great, the added clarity and volume has been fantastic.   Plus, with the new set up, I'm just really enjoying everything about the guitar.  

Anyways, I still have a few sets.  And one of the other ones may make it on to the E10SS/v in the near future, just to give it another shot.  But i'm really happy with the strings currently on both guitars.

Hi All,

I recently purchased a E20D-TC.  Made a few updates, normalized string spacing at the nut to 1.5", redid the saddle, chucked the ping tuners.  My other dreads are an HD28 that I've had almost 40 years and a ~20 year old Collings D2HA.

I'm enjoying the guitar.  Question for the forum.  The intersection of X-Brace has a 'bump' on it.  The only guitars that I've seen this on are Bourgeois.  Older Eastmans do not have this bump.  Is this the current setup for Eastman Dreadnaught X bracing?