NGD: Eastman AC522CE N- Goldburst
Posted by: sleigh - Forum: Eastman Acoustic Guitars - Replies (24)

I found this one on Reverb after my last attempt to get one of these didn't go as planned.

This one arrived today, well-packed and intact (Yay!). The owner had swapped out the standard tuners for black Gotoh 510s: I like the look and I like the 18:1 gear ratio, too. 

I'd asked the owner about the pickup, but he said he has no idea if it worked or not since he never played plugged in. I took the chance that the worst case scenario would be that the battery for the PU system was flat and didn't quibble about that, since he already had a good price for the guitar. And that was the case; the pickup battery was flat dead, but the owner had tossed a couple 9 volts in the case. I put one in and the pickup came back to life.

Things I like:
-- The guitar is gorgeous. The goldburst is a lovely finish
-- The beveled armrest is very comfortable.
-- The soundhole port on the upper bout sends the sound back to me when I play—my own private monitor. The soundhole port also gives a glimpse into the interior, which is immaculate. It should also help retrieving dropped picks
-- There's volume and tone controls in the soundhole, so  I don't need to use my mixer to adjust volume.
-- This has just the right amount of bling for me; enough to make it look attractive, not so much that it looks 'overdressed.' I love all the wood on it.
— The guitar plays in tune all the way up and down the neck! No adjustment needed.

Things I didn't like but I can deal with:
-- Like every Eastman I've ever bought new, there's no strap button on the heel, and I personally hate wrapping the strap around the head, since if you put any pressure on it you pull the guitar out of tune (and I doubt that's good for the neck, anyway.) Eastman, just put a freaking strap button on the heel already! However, I have an extra (black) strap button, and I've already mounted four or five of those, so...
-- This is not a dreadnought, but a Grand Auditorium-size guitar There’s a little less bottom end than I’m used to with my dreads. But the strings ARE nicely balanced, sound-wise. When I’m playing live, I can adjust the sound as I wish.
-- The neck has a gloss finish, and I prefer a satin finish. However, it's not excessively sticky (at least so far), I've dealt with gloss necks in the past, and I figure that as I play it, I'll gradually wear away that finish.
-- The sound of the pick-up is OK, but frankly I think the K&K Pure Mini sounds better (plus the K&K doesn't require a battery). Maybe at some point in the future I'll have one put in this.
-- The strings on it are okay, but I'll probably swap 'em out. 

Things I don’t like but can’t change.
— At the moment, nothing! And that’s good.

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06-27-2023, 06:44 PM

  New spruce tops - thermo-cured?
Posted by: Laut - Forum: Eastman Acoustic Guitars - Replies (5)

Hi, I thought I'd share a picture of the top on my new E1OM (built in 2022). I read in another thread that Eastman were putting thermo-cured tops in some of their lower models, as they had run out their regular stock of seasoned spruce. This top certainly has that look to me, with it's golden hue. 

However, a friend of mind pointed out that the top looks more like Adirondack than Sitka, with its wider grain, especially in the lower bout. I wouldn't know, but when I looked at the pictures on the Eastman website, my top looks more like the Adirondack examples than the Sitka examples. 

I'm just posting this out of interest -- not making any claims... Have a great day.


Attached Files
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06-27-2023, 01:05 PM

  Eastman T486-GB
Posted by: Mark Oscar - Forum: General Chatter - No Replies

Fretboard slopes towards the neck pickup. Anyone else notice this? Are you having hassles with notes ringing out/dead while on the 21st fret?

06-26-2023, 07:29 PM

  Eastman Builds
Posted by: Charlieb - Forum: Eastman Acoustic Guitars - Replies (23)

! was on the Eastman group site on facebook and it just substantiates why I despise superlative descriptions of various models that I have owned or played or anything/brand model. Maybe it just takes a whole lot more to impress me to to the point of salivating over a guitar. I like my Eastmans just fine but that enough, just fine...but amazing, best I've ever played, a beast on and on. The reason why a persons review means absolutely nothing to me.

IMO altho I have little experience with other brands. I'm thinking Eastman build quality is just as good or better than many or most brands. And their pricing is exceptional. I'm a home alone player nowadays, no collector and not wanting to spend a huge amount on an acoustic.

Some folks say they don't see much or any difference between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4 nut size. I'm not one of those folks. A 1 11/16 nut size is just too close for my likes as my fingers come too close to the strings and I can't have my fingers touch a string muting it in any way and it happens with the slim nut. All of Eastman's SS models have the 1 11/16 nut so even if I were interested in that body size and build the slim nut eliminates any consideration.

As I've said before neck depth is too slim for my ultimate likes. I really like the C shape but not the slim neck depth. I really wish they made a neck a little fuller. It would be so so much more comfortable for me. I have an E10 OM and I like the guitar fine except for the slim neck depth. I hear all kind of excuses for why the builds are like this and I hear where folks say their neck vary in depths because of the different builders Eastman has. I don't want to have to go through all the trouble of trying out a dozen guitars hoping to find one that was built with a thicker neck depth by a particular builder or whoever shapes the necks for Eastman. 

Don't know who makes the decisions at Eastman on builds, whoever it is I don't understand what determines the builds Eastman thinks a majority of buyers prefer. Don't know why so many builds offer only the 1 11/16 nut size. Many folks don't like a slim nut so that results in lost sales simply because of nut size. So to me Eastman is not upping their build game they're decreasing.

Surely it's not just me. Pretty sure I've read here from fans of Eastmans that have bought and sold because they didn't care for a build aspect. Sure would be nice if Eastman had some sort of communication with buyers instead of assuming by whatever means what people were most interested in. 

I'm sure my post aggravates and t's folks off and I really like Eastman, maybe Eastman will give me a straight shooting job instead of the tongue wagging bs like every other brand and brand boys has lol. I'd just like to see more out of Eastman and they'd rule the guitar industry.

06-26-2023, 03:10 PM

  Gas/NGD e10om
Posted by: Mikepope - Forum: General Chatter - Replies (7)

New to forum.I've been on the look out for an Eastman used om in my area and finally found one at the South Austin Guitar Center.I tried a e20ss at another store Saturday and it just wasn't what I was looking for.When I played the E10om I immediately knew I was walking out with it.It was already set up great.Perfect action for me.Damn what a great guitar.I bought and sould ten guitars in a year or so including 3 Martins and this is the best one yet.

06-25-2023, 03:10 PM

  Is Recording King The "New" Eastman?
Posted by: campacj - Forum: Other Guitar Brands - Replies (23)

I have owned several Eastman guitars over the last decade or so and I have found that they are an excellent alternative for those of us who can't afford a Martin or a Taylor. However, they seem to be going up in price and are not such great values lately.

I have also purchased a Recording King RD-328 and an RD-342 in the last couple of years. Both have been VERY good in every way. They each have Excellent build quality, beautiful cuts of wood, great low action, and wonderful, rich sound. I would say that I have come to consider these two Recording King guitars the best value in acoustic guitars on the market, beating out Eastman. If you have had some experience with these guitars, I would like to get your opinion.

Thanks,
Clint

06-23-2023, 03:49 AM

  SB-59v finish questions
Posted by: DenMarshall - Forum: Eastman Electric and Archtop Guitars - Replies (2)

Thinking specifically about the black varnish version, wondering if anyone who has one of these models (or the other 'v' finishes) can comment on how rapidly/easily the finish has aged and in what way (checking, 'show-through' spots getting larger, etc.).

I've been told (and read/seen on YT by reviewers) that this finish wears much faster than typical nitro. Some of the SB-59 V's I've seen have more or less aging/wear-through and just curious what owners might have to say about this.

06-21-2023, 02:49 PM

  SB-59v finish questions
Posted by: DenMarshall - Forum: Eastman Electric and Archtop Guitars - No Replies

Thinking specifically about the black varnish version, wondering if anyone who has one of these models (or the other 'v' finishes) can comment on how rapidly/easily the finish has aged and in what way (checking, 'show-through' spots getting larger, etc.).

I've been told (and read/seen on YT by reviewers) that this finish wears much faster than typical nitro. Some of the SB-59 V's I've seen have more or less aging/wear-through and just curious what owners might have to say about this.

06-21-2023, 01:51 PM

  Eastman SB55
Posted by: G Man - Forum: Eastman Electric and Archtop Guitars - Replies (2)

Just bought a used SB55, anything I should know ?
What's best to clean the finish and fretboard ?

06-20-2023, 01:24 PM

  New Video! Metamorphosis (Original) :)
Posted by: Victor Vector - Forum: Guitar Videos - Replies (5)

Just wrapped up a new video and wanted to share it with ya all. Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by yours truly. 
Hope you enjoy! Smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYAudR3SY9s

06-19-2023, 11:25 AM