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Had a beautiful Collings CJ when I moved to Los Angeles from the Bay Area. It developed a bad top crack the second year I was here. Someone told me about a shop in the Valley, where I live, and I trusted the guy with the repair. He butchered it, and my choices were find someone else to replace the top or sell. I went with the latter, taking a bath. I just played my electrics for about five years, but missed having an acoustic. Heard that Eastmans sounded and played well, and weren't stratosphere expensive. Went with a small body, to go easy on my right shoulder, an E20-00. Found it on Craigslist for $1,200. Beautiful. Sounded amazing for its size. Action a little high for me, but I have no problem setting up my guitars, so wasn't worried about it. Got it home. When I sat down to set it up, realized the effing bridge was glued in. Asked Eastman how to get it out. They weren't helpful. From what I could see, it would need to be chiseled out and a new nut created to set up the action. Which was nuts. So it went straight back onto Craigslist; the shortest amount of time I've ever owned a guitar. I only lost $200 on that one, a bargain compared to the Collings. That was almost two years ago. Then I read a review of the DT30-OM. Two things caught my eye. First, it was marginally bigger than the E20-00, small enough to keep my shoulder happy, but louder, and with more bottom end, and the Nomex laminate top adds even more volume. This means I might be able to use almost the same string setup, 10-48, on an acoustic that I use on my LP, 335, and Telecaster, 10-46, with no loss of volume or dynamics, especially bass response. #2 should really be #1, given my experience with the Collings. DTs are fairly new with Eastman, but have been used for classical guitars for a while. The Nomex laminate has a reputation with luthiers for being less likely to crack. Mine has lived up to both my criteria. Oh, and it's a lovely guitar. I say, "Hello, Beautiful" ever time I pick her up, the same as with my 335 (OK, which is the most beautiful guitar I've ever owned).
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