Okay, so after searching and looking for a very nice E8 om for awhile, I stumbled onto a very good deal on a 2017 E20 om.  New tuners, Baggs Full Anthem, Schaller Grand Tunes, etc. So I bought it. Nut is a touch off, but I can live with it until I get it replaced... Very nice guitar, well built, but SO BRIGHT... punchy ... tight.... and top-end-centric!! First I thought it was the Anthem.  Blending is a little precarious sometimes with this mix in this size/build of guitar, so I pulled it and have very recently installed an M1A that was in a drawer.

Still very bright. Still not much low end. Still very tight. But a whole bunch of projection and miles of sustain, and a top end that won't quit. I've never owned an addy-topped guitar before, so this is for me  way different from my E6 om or my D18 (of course). 

Anyway, I am thinking about sticking in a JJB/K&K to enhance the bottom end a little and take some of the sizzle out of the top --  or maybe look for a Para DI maybe. I have  JJB in the E6 om with a K&K prephase (great sound, but it's broken-in sitka and mahogany...), and a K&K in my D18. Plus a K&K pure preamp I use, but the output level on the M1a is not the best match for the K&K and requires some diddling.  

Thoughts from anyone who's been down this path?

I will post pics later today.

cf

I’m considering getting a pickup installed in my AC515. However, Fishman makes both “wide” and “narrow” versions. Does anyone know which would work best on my guitar?
I’m also a little worried that an under-saddle pickup would negatively affect the “purely-acoustic” tone. Anyone care to weigh-in?
Is there another pickup type or brand that I should consider?

If you see a good price on specific strings, post it here.  Include a link, if you have one.

I'll start...

DR Rare Light:  $4.69 via Amazon

GHS PB Light 6-pk:  $29.99 (no sales tax) via Sweetwater

Note: Sweetwater offers price breaks on buying multiple packs.  For example, you can get Martin PB Light M540 for $3.79/pk, if you buy 12 packs.

I've been playing my T185MX through my nearly 20yo Digitech GNX2, but decided that it's time for an upgrade.  I wanted something with a looper (or that could support an external looper pedal), but I like the idea of an all-inclusive solution.

I narrowed my search to higher end Boss vs. Line 6 systems.  The Boss GT-100 was the most affordable, but also the oldest technology, so I began looking at the GT-1000, which was just released in 2018.  Although it was 2x the price, it had updated sound and processing technology, including editing functionality on the pedal, computer, and iOS devices (via Bluetooth).  And to ease the price jump, they're offering a rebate for a new (refurb) iPad, so on paper, that seemed like the one for me.

But then, I read that the interface is difficult to navigate, which was always a complaint of my old GNX2, so I took a harder look at the Line 6 products.  Their flagship model is the Helix Floor, but its price is more than the GT-1000 and GT-100 combined!  But the Helix LT is comparably priced to the GT-1000 and nearly identical to the regular Helix: same processors, just a few less in/out options and some cosmetic differences.

However, the big difference was with the interface.  It seems incredibly easy to navigate, and their amp/cabinet modeling seem more robust than the Boss GT-1000.  Sonically, I think it's a judgement call, but both seem to do the job.  Helix models don't support Bluetooth navigation, but with an adapter, you can record directly into GarageBand for iPad/iPhone.  Also, their looper functionality was sufficient (and better than on the GT-1000), so I didn't need to purchase a separate pedal for that.

Nobody was budging on price, especially with the Boss / iPad promotion.  But I did find a store online that had the Helix LT for $100 off, and Sweetwater matched their price, making it the same at the Boss GT-1000 (but w/o the iPad rebate).

My Helix LT will ship by Monday, but will have to sit until Christmas.  Full review to follow in a month.

I know this hasn't much to do with Eastman guitars but I guess the common thread would be a jazz guitar theme.

I've had a tele style guitar for several years...a G&L ASAT Tribute Classic.  It has G&L single coils in the neck and bridge position and a maple fretboard.  Nice guitar, but used mostly for rock...and since I don't play rock very often, it sort of sits.  Every once in a while, I pull it out of the closet and plug it in...and then put it back in its case and back in the closet it goes.

Every time I see/hear someone like Ed Bickert, Bill Frisell, Ted Greene or more recently Julian Lage, I feel inspired to find those wonderful tones in my G&L.  Lately, I've been convinced that the only way for me to get those jazz tones out of a tele, is to get one that has a PAF style humbucker.

My favorite PAF is the Kent Armstrong 12-pole PAF, handmade by Kent himself.  I have one in my Stephen Holst 16" custom archtop and have plans to put one in my Eastman AR603CE-15.  I ordered one from Kent, with the intent of installing it in my G&L...but realized that the mods required would be over my head...plus, I also wanted a rosewood fretboard.  So, I got the bright idea of finding a tele-style guitar with a humbucker in the neck and a rosewood fretboard.

I found a beautiful Bluesboy (basically a semi-hollow ASAT) on eBay.  It came in a few days ago.  I installed the Kent Armstrong 12-pole PAF yesterday, dialed in the pole pieces and balanced it against the bridge p/u (DiMarzio Chopper T).  Wow, it sounds wonderful!  The KA PAF is focused, clear and warm and the almost-solid (aka semi-hollow) body ASAT achieves a beautiful sustain.  The guitar is flawless and the photos don't do the Red Burst finish justice.

Hopefully, I can someday find a red tortoise pickguard but for now, this project is done!

Hi everyone! I recently joined the forum and this is my first post. I just bought my first Eastman guitar, an E1OM. I wasn't really looking to buy a guitar right now. I had read a little about the new E1OM and thought that it seemed to be a lot of guitar for the money. After reading Treenewt's comments about his over at the AGF, I decided to go ahead and order one. It came last week and I'm pretty impressed with it.

These are nice guitars! What really impressed me was that it came out of the box with a near perfect setup. Maybe my dealer did a setup before they shipped it, but he didn't say anything about doing so. It has some nice woods for this price point and the neck feels really comfortable.

Post any deals here to share with the community.

Today as I was playing my Eastman (E10D-TC) guitar and spending time with my family (Grandma who turns 82 today, wife, and Dad) I was thinking about how blessed I really am.

I know the holiday season is hard for some, and a time of joy for others. I just wanted to take a moment today and give thanks for all the blessings I have.

Regardless of what you believe, I am reminded of Paul’s words of wisdom in his letter to the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in all circumstances...” (1 Thess 5:18a) Today we have so many reasons to give thanks, no matter how difficult life may seem. And in the grand scheme of things, guitars are just a small part of our blessings. I am thankful to have my family, friends, health, and faith. And if you live in America then you enjoy the blessing of your Freedom too.

Eastman guitars are just the cherry on top of many blessings. I am thankful for so much, but also the opportunity to own such amazing guitars.

How many folks here own a Carbon fiber acoustic guitar?  Thinking about humidity here in Arizona, along with the desire to take a guitar outdoors (camping, etc), I see the appeal of a Carbon instrument. 

When doing some searching last night, I came across Journey Carbon guitars - was not familiar with them, but interesting design with the removable neck (similar to voyage-air guitars):

I’ve been trying to learn Pete Huttlinger’s version of Hector the Hero, and this is as far as I’ve gotten. It does show a bit of my new E1OM’s tone and projection.

Watch to the end to see a little special appearance by my boy.

https://youtu.be/rCulZyljBow