I know a number of you hanker after an all Mahogany guitar. This one (with a 1.78" nut) looks interesting :- 
 http://www.tfoa.eu/nl/martin-custom-shop...dseye.html

After a month of back and forth deciding  which one did I want between the AC122-2 Bk, E2OM Bk or the E2D-Bk I finally pulled the trigger and bought the E2D-Bk. I've considered a Cedar top for a while and I know a lot of you DON'T like this flat black top. Some have referred to it as Halloweenish ,other just plain ugly, but for me, the first time I saw it, it "scratched an itch" I've had for a Black guitar for many years. I'm NOT a big fan of the high gloss top guitars so that flat black was what I was looking for.. Above all, it's an Eastman!!!

 I don't have actual pictures yet as I won't receive it until Tuesday the 14th.

I did my first tinkering with my AC422CE besides playing it (which I have done a lot of in my first month or so of ownership).  

The G-tuner was catching, so I replaced the factory Ping RM 1171-CVR tuners with Gotoh SG301-20 tuners.  They were a drop in replacement and feel 100x nicer, even on the strings where the Pings were working fine.  I wanted to spring for the Schallers (M6-90 I think would be the model), but they were too spendy for me at nearly $150.  The gotohs were less than $50 on reverb.

I also discovered a small crack in the bridge, so I lightly sanded and filled the cracks with super glue.  Then I scraped off the excess and sanded the whole bridge to 1500 grit.  Finally, I hit it with some fretboard oil.  I also put in bone bridge pins (cosmetic) and changed the strings to DR Rare phosphor bronzes.  I haven't tuned them to pitch yet as I'm making sure the glue on the bridge has cured, so I'm excited to play it again tomorrow.

My last planned "mod" is to install a strap button on the heel of the neck.  I could have done that today as well, but I chickened out.  I think I'm going to install one on my Fender AG15 first to make sure I have the technique down.    Something about drilling into a $1000+ guitar makes me think twice.

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Any rumblings of new Eastman models to be introduced in next month's NAMM show? I know another poster talked about a Ziricote model. Any rumors on that one or any others??

Hi all - does anyone know the allen wrench size I should use to adjust the truss rod on an Eastman acoustic?  I searched EGF but didn't see mention of it.

Thanks!

I have owned a fair number of Eastmans over the last decade. Some have been good, others truly great. I have an E20SSV on the way and as I wait on it I thought I would play a fun game with you guys.

Out of my list of Eastmans I have owned which do you think I consider to be the "best sounding" and "my favorite"? Just looking for one guess here. My favorite Eastman happens to be the one that sounds the best to my ear.

Tone is obviously subjective, but I am basing my final results mostly on general tones I like such as resonance, warmth, and responsiveness. (Edited to add more about how I play). I play with both a flat pick and finger picking (fingers). I play a lot of rhythm, blues, folk, hymns and modern gospel/worship music.

I am not basing my choice on specific tonewoods or body shape.

Out of these Eastmans which do you think has been my overall favorite? Leave your guess in the comments below and your reasoning to your decision.

Once the E20SSV arrives on Monday I will post the results.

2014 HE122CE
2017 E10D-TC
2019 E20D-TC
2019 E1SS
2021 E2OM
2021 E8D-TC Alpine

Let the games begin!

I think I've come to realize that I'm a dread guy. I currently own the E2D and E8OM-TC. And while I really like my E8OM-TC, it's hard to beat the full and deep dread tone. So much power. I never realized that my E8OM-TC was pretty compressed in its tone until I bought my E2D. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but the E8OM-TC just doesn't have the projection and power that my E2D has.

My E8 certainly shines more in certain applications, but overall I just love the dread sound. Of course, I do wonder how much the long vs short scale makes a difference between these models. Or if the E8OM-TC was long scale, would it be such a noticeable difference still compared to the E2? (Not factoring in tonewood differences).

It's funny how different my E8OM-TC sounds to me now that I have my E2D. Has anyone else had this experience?

I've had my new Eastman E10-SS for almost 1.5 years now and it has opened up tremendously with deeper and richer sounds than I could imagine.  

So here's the question - how long will this process continue? Will it be this dramatic of a change in tone the next 1.5 years? Or has it reached a plateau? How long does it keep improving with deeper and richer tonal qualities?

So, I've come to the realization that I need a Dread - regular, not SS, to get the depth that I hear in my head and I'm missing. No convenient Eastman dealers in the Cincinnati area for me to try several. The Mandolin Store recently opened about an hour north of me, but they have one E8 and one E6, so still not going to get to try a lot, and they're also appointment only. I feel guilty making an appointment if I don't buy something, and there's no guarantee I'll get the E8 or E6.

I'm throughly down the Youtube rabbit hole. I really like what I hear from all of them, but the standouts to me are the E1D and the E8D. I need a pickup, so it'll have to be aftermarket - since finding out the E3DE is most likely undersized, it's not in the running. I'm normally a mahogany guy, but the E6 seems to me to be the dread that garners the most complaints. Not sure if I'll get enough cash this go round to go E10 or E20....

So, leaning towards the E1D at the moment to get my toes wet...I do love the open pore finish, I think it's the reason I like my AC222 better than my AC322. However, the E8 and E6 do call to me...what are y'alls thoughts on Eastman Dreads?

Anyone have one? I've come to realize that I can no longer live without a dread - I need the full-bore dread sound. I was debating between a dread and a slope shoulder, thinking I wanted the SS, but I went and played some guitars today, and while they weren't Eastmans since there's no dealers nearby, the SS shorter scale just wasn't doing it for me.

I actually prefer my AC222 to my 322, and I think a lot of that has to do with the ovangkol. So, looking at the E3DE...that said, there's a youtube reviewer with an E3DE that says it's shallower and smaller than their other dreads. Eastman website says it's full sized, so now I'm looking for secondary opinions on it. Thoughts?