I was looking for the spec of the E8-om on Eastman' website. I found no entry for this model (the TC is here).
I contacted Eastman (email) but no response... Strange and not very serious !

Don't hate me for this...

Compared to my sweet-playing AC422CE, I far prefer the plugged-in electric sound of my other three acoustic guitars (equipped with 2, 3 and 4-band EQs). I like a "notched" sound when I plug in, pulling out the mids and turning up the bass and treble. Sadly, the single tone-wheel on this 422 compels me to roll my tone one way or the other - so I never quite get both.

It was a bit of a crap-shoot when I ordered the guitar sight-unseen (my only one with a single tone control). I really do like the instrument a lot - it handles like my electrics with 11s on all of them. And it sounds beautiful unplugged. I just had to own it for awhile and plug it into several PAs before I realized that I wish it had a more versatile pre-amp configuration. 

With that said, can anyone here describe to me what sort of input and output wires attach to the factory volume/tone control module? I'm tempted to take it to a decent luthier to cut it open and install a decent-quality Fishman or Baggs "barndoor" EQ/pre-amp. Positioned right under my chin on the upper bout like my other guitars.

I know that cutting into a perfectly good guitar sounds like sacrilege to some. But guitars are tools to me and I get a lot of satisfaction out of modding the "almost perfect" ones to make them even better. Sort of like people do with cars, weapons, 4WD, etc. Yes, there are external EQ pedals and stuff I can get, but I like acoustic guitars with built-in 2-4 band EQ pre-amps.

Perhaps someone here has had a repair in their 422 and might refer me to the tech who did it? Thanks for whatever knowledge/experience regarding the AC422CE's innards that you all might share.

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Upon perusing online a bit more, it appears (if Eastman's online specs are current) that an AC422CE comes from the factory equipped with LR Baggs Element EAS VTC innards. Splicing another brand of pre-amp in (like the Fishman Presys+) to replace just the controls (vol/tone wheels) seems a bit intimidating until I learn more about which wires to snip/solder - or if they're even remotely compatible. It would be handy to keep those existing transducer pickups under the soundboard (it's not a typical piezo bridge saddle rig) and the existing end-pin/strap button 1/4" output jack.

Hi All,

Circling back to respond to Tim's question about my surgery. Thanks for asking Tim!

The bypass surgery was in August.  The recovery was "interesting" and has gone through a few different stages from "oh crap, why did I do this" to currently feeling like I'm so glad I did this.  I was feeling a lot of fatigue for quite a long time and wasn't able to exercise as I always had but have slowly reached a point that I'm walking 4 days a week and going to the gym 3 times and, though I get tired, it's the good kind of tired.   Hoping to start running again sometime this summer and the Paris Marathon is back on my bucket list (we'll see how that goes!)

The timing of the surgery wasn't best for me as it came during the period of time when my contracts with school districts are developed.  After not working for the first few months of recovery, a couple of additional months were added tp the not getting paid time which I'm just beginning to recover from.  

So, all is going in what I imagine one might expect going through this kind of thing and it's hard to believe that it's now 10 months! 

The whole process has given me a new appreciation for folks that are going through longer and much more serious medical issues.  

Dan

EDITED TO ADD:  THIS E20D IS SOLD!!

*****************

And here’s the second guitar, as promised: GUITAR 2: 2020 Eastman E20D w/ K&K Pure Mini pick-up installed: Gig-ready!  

The E20D is loud and rich-sounding. The Adirondack/Red Spruce top is well-broken in from being played; no torrefaction process or treatment needed, and it’ll just keep getting better the old it gets and the more you play it. This guitar is all solid wood, with the rosewood back and sides contributing its own special shimmer. As with my other Eastman for sale, this one’s been played and loved and has the inevitable ‘love marks’ of minor cosmetic dings from having been handled and moved around, but it’s still in excellent condition. This is also the guitar that I’ve kept in DADGAD tuning for most of its life with me—you’ll find in the case an invoice from JK Kennedy, the local luthier I use for set-up, when I had him do the set-up for the E20D after moving it from standard tuning to DADGAD. It’ll come to you still in DADGAD tuning.

I’m asking $1,000 for the guitar, shipping to the continental U.S. included (or if you’re within an hour’s drive from Cincinnati OH, I can arrange to meet you somewhere and hand it off). Details: Neck Material: Mahogany; Fingerboard: Ebony; Neck Profile: Traditional Even "C"; Nut: Bone 1-3/4"; Scale Length: 25.4"; Bracings: Hand-carved Scalloped X; Body Top: Solid Adirondack (Red) Spruce; Body Back/Sides: Solid Rosewood; Bridge/Saddle: Ebony/Bone, 2-5/32" Spacing; Truss Rod: Dual Acting; Inlay: Abalone Snowflakes; Tuners: Open-Gear Ping V93N 3+3; Eastman Hardshell Case. Pickup: passive K&K Pure Mini professionally installed. Included in the case: Certificate of Authenticity from Eastman; an Eastman cloth (used to wipe down the strings after playing); a d’Addario Humidipak (which should probably be replaced at this point);  a Cuda string winder; a set of D’Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ24 strings 13-56; key to the case; truss rod adjustment wrench; a Primetone sculpted plectrum .088. 

If you’re interested in either guitar (or heck, if you’re interested in both), PM me on the EGF site and we can discuss how to best to proceed.

EGF Members only: I have two Eastman acoustics for sale (to finance a new guitar purchase). I’ll post the pics and details for each in two separate posts... GUITAR 1: 2021 Eastman E8D-TC w/ Alpine Spruce top and Schatten HFN pick-up installed: Gig-ready!  

The E8D-TC is a gorgeous-sounding instrument, loud and full of tone. This is one of the guitars Eastman offered when Eastman was using an Alpine spruce top rather than the standard Sitka spruce—in my opinion, that’s a significant upgrade you can no longer get. All solid wood, with the rosewood back and sides adding their own shimmer to the Alpine top.

Yes, this one’s been played and loved and has the inevitable ‘love marks’ of minor cosmetic dings from having been handled, but it’s still in excellent condition. I’m asking $1,200 for the guitar, shipping to the continental U.S. included (or if you’re within an hour’s drive from Cincinnati OH, I can arrange to meet you somewhere and hand it off). Here’s the details: Top Wood: Solid Thermo-Cured Alpine Spruce; Body Wood: Solid Rosewood; Neck Wood: Mahogany; Fingerboard: Ebony; Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone Snowflakes; Scale Length: 25.4"; Nut Material: Bone; Color: Natural; Pickup: passive Schatten HFN; Bridge: Ebony; Hardshell Eastman case. Included in the case: Certificate of Authenticity from Eastman; copy of Florinette AG, Tonewood Switzerland’s sheet about their sourcing of Alpine spruce and torrefaction process; a set of D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings 12-56; a Nordic Essentials capo; key to the case; truss rod adjustment wrench; a Primetone sculpted plectrum .088; a Pet-1 humidifier strip; a saddle that was replaced by the previous owner. 

If you’re interested in either guitar (or heck, if you’re interested in both), PM me on the EGF site and we can discuss how to best to proceed.

This might be a good forum to go fishing for observations about what kind of bridge pins you prefer - and why.

I'm intrigued that the label on the Tusq bridge pin package promises to "Increase rich harmonic content," but what does that mean? More bass? More treble? Mind-blowing, spine-tingling complexity?

Would appreciate, if possible, actual anecdotes (vs. conflicting scientific hypotheses about molecular structure of the materials like I often find on "that other forum"). Thanks in advance for weighing in.

Am excited.    Ordered an AR803CE-16 from Reverb.   Looking forward to checking it out.  

https://reverb.com/item/69412005-eastman..._sold=true

Hey gang,

I'm taking a break from the forums for a bit.  I may pop in and out, but if you don't see me here as much, don't worry... and I'll be back on at a later point.

Keep playing!

I've noticed that there is a TC version of the E1D that is referred to as the E1D Special.  The only places I've seen it mentioned are "coming soon" and require you to preorder.  Has anyone seen one of these in the wild, as in its out there and available for purchase or "now" online order?

I recently purchased a new T59v online and have a question for other owners.
The rear of the neck has quite a few dings in it which you can feel when playing.
I’ve been told that it is supposed to be like that and is the result the relicing process.
Any other reliced guitars I’ve seen have a smooth ‘worn’ finish.
So are the necks on your T59t’s similar to mine?