Howdy gang!

I wanted to share a video of me playing my Eastman AC512.  The song is called "Sandy's Painting" and the original is by Dave Beegle.  I've always loved this song and set out to learn it earlier this year.  It's a great tune with some tough parts.  This song challenged and expanded my right hand picking pattern technique.  

Wanted to pass it along to the forum - let me know what you think (and thanks for listening)

(EGF members from other countries read here and may have a similar story to tell.)

In the past 6-7yrs, Eastman has become 'main-stream' in guitar players/buyers minds in the USA.  We talked about this in my early days when I joined the UBGF (2011), the reckoning has gradually happened.  The quality/performance has overcome the pacrim xenophobia of the old guard for the most part, same as when Japanese cars first came to America... remember the Datsun?  Toyota has been running around the hallowed grounds of NASCAR for a good while now.... same thing is happening with Eastman.

About 5yrs ago a guy on the Collings forum made a scornful comment that Eastman was the head of the CNC clone market from China.  I took him head on, Eastman Music Co does not own a CNC machine and build some of the finest orchestral stringed instrument in the world... building guitars is the least of their expertise.  You could almost hear the gasp from the web page.

The last of the hallowed acoustic guitar domain is Martin.  Gradually the UMGF is beginning to recognize Eastman as a player.  (CFM Co. has known this for a long time.)  In August, I posted a pic my my son's AC630 jumbo in the Critic's Corner 'Show Me Your Jumbos thread', gasp time again, man that's a fab guitar.

I recently read on the Collings forum a guy who mentioned he was trying to decide between an E20D and D2H, no xeno, just making a rational choice.

There are people who are still offended by Toyota running around Daytona but there will always be that minority who go kicking and screaming into the future.

I believe that Eastman has reached that inflection point on the time-line chart of acceptance. 

One of my neighbors asked about starting lessons, and told me had broken the neck on his Epiphone guitar. I suggested we find him another guitar, and I found an Eastman SD 1 in the local craigslist. He bought it for $400 and it is literally brand new. All solid sitka over sapele dread, and it sounds magnificent, plays well too. He had choices in his price rangeincluding an L series Yamaha and a "prototype" asian Martin wannnabe. The Eastman was $100 more than he wanted to spend, but my persuasion prevailed. If he decides to give up trying to learn, I'll buy it from him myself.   No pics for now, maybe in a few days.

Hello, I just came here from the Acoustic Guitar cabin...just bought a nice Eastman AC 220 CE guitar...posting photos soon (not now because in Italy where I live it's past midnight). Any of you have ever tried it ? I find it very crispy in trebles but strong in basses...and plenty of volume !

Hope you like this...

Its recorded using an iPad and Apogee MiC with two other tracks added in Garageband.

I really enjoyed this and I think all of you will as well.
I think the Eastman did better than just "hold up" against the others in this comparison video.

Hi all - interested to know if anyone on the forum own an E6OM, or have played one?  I am debating on my next Eastman... and cannot seem to decide between an E6, E10 or E20 (or perhaps an Eastman electric).  I know the wood differences, so I suppose it is a matter of personal preference, but curious to hear feedback on the E6 model.

How long have you been playing?  What got you started on the guitar?  Have you been playing continuously --- or did you take a break and return to the guitar?

What's your story?

Does Eastman just tap tune the 40 series? I know they put their master luthier on those but was wondering if they tap tune the other series below 40.

I put a set of "Straight Up" mediums on my E 10 00 SS this morning.
I tried them on my E 6 OM Limited but went back to the Retros after a couple of weeks or so. The Retros give it some punch.
I really like what the  Straight Ups do on the 00. Lots of nice overtones. Of course that guitar is exceptional anyway.
Anybody else try them yet?