NUGD - Eastman E1D

[redman]

My E10D came today thing is a cannon really loud when you want but purrs like a baby kitten if you want it to. It sounds great plays great not one issue nothing needs sanded or set up in anyway. It's a keeper and with my Yamaha LL16D which is a Rosewood jumbo acoustic, Yamaha FGX803C (great guitar itself) and Yamaha FG820 12 string I have my acoustics covered.
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[uwmcscott]

HNUAGD. Glad it arrived unscathed and to your expectation, and welcome to the Eastman club!

[nomadh]

My GAS as of late has mostly been for acoustics, and even then I have been more just poking around than seeking anything specific. However, along the road I was doing a lot of research on Eastman guitars in general, both electric and acoustic. They are somewhat overlooked I think but have been building high quality stringed instruments for a very long time. I think they also get a bad rap due to being a Chinese company and get lumped in with the "cheap" factor, whether right or wrong.

In any case, I came across some videos of the E1D which is not the entry level Dreadnaught, but the lowest cost all-solid wood model. It has a solid spruce top, solid Sapele back and sides, mahog neck, and Ebony fingerboard, bridge/pins and headstock veneer. Vintage tuners, bone nut and saddle, abalone inlays, pretty much the laundry list of what you'd spec out for a quality Dreadnaught. MSRP is $750, street price around $550. Doesn't seem possible on the surface, and I'll admit I was skeptical as I've been burned on multiple "chibson" builds and firefly misadventures in the past.

I came across a used one on Reverb that appeared to be in almost new condition with a K&K mini pickup system installed and made an offer, the whole package including a gig bag and shipping made it to my door for just a hair over 4 bills. It arrived yesterday afternoon, and after a period to acclimate to our winter temps here in WI I got it out of the bag this AM. I've only had time to tune it up and strum a bit, and it will need new strings, but overall I am literally blown away. All of the woods are beautiful, and it has a really nice satin/vintage finish with open pore back/sides. The ebony board smooth as glass. Top has some really cool figuring and the binding is a tortoise-shell that complements the look nicely. Very nice low action and sounds just like you'd expect a quality dread to sound - mellow and loud. Absolutely stunned by the bang for the buck value here an literally how nice of guitar this is at any price level. Some pRon:


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I think that's the model where I first got to hear an eastman in real life. I was at the guitar store and when I played it it went off like a cannon. I was very impressed but I wanted a smaller body cutaway. Later I compromised and bought my Eastwood when a Dread cutaway was being sold by a friend for $600. Very very nice

[redman]

HNUAGD. Glad it arrived unscathed and to your expectation, and welcome to the Eastman club!

Well, you cost me $720 with this thread but I can't be mad because I did get a great guitar out of it.

[uwmcscott]

Well, you cost me $720 with this thread but I can't be mad because I did get a great guitar out of it.

Or perhaps I actually SAVED you about $2000 over buying the equivalent Martin/Taylor/etc. I take venmo or PPal for consulting fees

[mickey]

My GAS as of late has mostly been for acoustics, and even then I have been more just poking around than seeking anything specific. However, along the road I was doing a lot of research on Eastman guitars in general, both electric and acoustic. They are somewhat overlooked I think but have been building high quality stringed instruments for a very long time. I think they also get a bad rap due to being a Chinese company and get lumped in with the "cheap" factor, whether right or wrong.

In any case, I came across some videos of the E1D which is not the entry level Dreadnaught, but the lowest cost all-solid wood model. It has a solid spruce top, solid Sapele back and sides, mahog neck, and Ebony fingerboard, bridge/pins and headstock veneer. Vintage tuners, bone nut and saddle, abalone inlays, pretty much the laundry list of what you'd spec out for a quality Dreadnaught. MSRP is $750, street price around $550. Doesn't seem possible on the surface, and I'll admit I was skeptical as I've been burned on multiple "chibson" builds and firefly misadventures in the past.

I came across a used one on Reverb that appeared to be in almost new condition with a K&K mini pickup system installed and made an offer, the whole package including a gig bag and shipping made it to my door for just a hair over 4 bills. It arrived yesterday afternoon, and after a period to acclimate to our winter temps here in WI I got it out of the bag this AM. I've only had time to tune it up and strum a bit, and it will need new strings, but overall I am literally blown away. All of the woods are beautiful, and it has a really nice satin/vintage finish with open pore back/sides. The ebony board smooth as glass. Top has some really cool figuring and the binding is a tortoise-shell that complements the look nicely. Very nice low action and sounds just like you'd expect a quality dread to sound - mellow and loud. Absolutely stunned by the bang for the buck value here an literally how nice of guitar this is at any price level. Some pRon:


IMG_2415.jpg

IMG_2416.jpg

IMG_2420.jpg

IMG_2419.jpg

I think that's the model where I first got to hear an eastman in real life. I was at the guitar store and when I played it it went off like a cannon. I was very impressed but I wanted a smaller body cutaway. Later I compromised and bought my Eastwood when a Dread cutaway was being sold by a friend for $600. Very very nice

I hesitate to point it out but "Eastman" and "Eastwood" are two completely different companies, their guitars are nothing alike.