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As some of you may have read, I recently purchased a used E8D via Reverb, which turned out to be damaged and not in the condition described. I returned that guitar, and as I waited (technically, still waiting) for the refund to hit my credit card, I decided to order up a new E8D from LA Guitar Sales.
In the website photos, I noticed it didn't have a pickguard. When it arrived, the COA's 2016 date confirmed my suspicion that it was made prior to Eastman pre-installing the new guards (early 2018). Strangely, there was no guard in the case either, but this is ok because I already have a new guard being made by Holter Pickguards.
Ted described the sound as resonant with powerful lows and clean highs, and that's an accurate description. I'm not sure if aging for nearly three years has had an effect, but the top is dynamic with incredible volume and good sustain. It feels like a light build, and I don't think I've owned a Sitka top with this kind of horsepower. The top feels really stiff and rigid (in the best way possible).
Aesthetically, the rosewood b/s are really nice, and like most Eastman guitars, the neck is gorgeous, although it's slightly more shallow than my other guitars. The ebony bridge and board are solid black (no streaking that I see).
Now, the top has got some interesting things going on. First, the grain has some bend to it. Moving from the lower to upper bout, the grain has a slight outward arc, but then comes back in again. It's bookmarked and symmetrical (and the grain is fairly straight at the seam, as well as the outer edges), but I've not owned a wavy pattern quite like it before.
In the upper bout, there's a sheen, which changes, depending on the angle. But it appears to be some heavy silking with more sporadic silking throughout the rest of the body. There are also some faint bearclaw marks throughout the top, but not in a distracting way. In other words, this top has some character, and I think the wavy grain will become less noticeable as the color continues to darken. Hopefully, the photos capture some of this guitar's unique character.
I've been giving it quite a workout for the last 24 hours, and it's responding very well, opening up nicely for me. I'm not sure what strings are on it, but they don't feel like EXPs. I'll probably leave them on until my new pickguard arrives. Intonation and action seem perfect, so I didn't run it up to my luthier for his review, yet (maybe after the new guard and strings).
This is my fourth attempt at owning an E8D. Previously, I talked myself into an E40D and E10SS/v (no regrets with either of those decisions), and then there was the damaged E8D from last week. It was a longer path than expected, but it seems to have been worth the wait.
Obligatory NGD photos --- it was rainy today, so I may replace them with some better lighting next week:
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