When I received my new guitar it came with a double packet of humidifiing material hanging into the sound hole.  Is this intended to be used regularly or was it for shipping purposes or both?

I posted this onto Scott Memmer's (Charmed Life Picks) Eastman thread on AGF.  I modified it slightly here, but thought it was worth sharing...  Cheers to my EGF friends, who've come to appreciate Eastman's guitars as much as I do...

...I played guitar for 20 years, but took a 10 year break, when career and family became the priority. On July 4, 2015, I was on vacation and stepped on a stingray (OUCH!) and was fairly immobile for the holiday festivities. While sitting in my friend's LR, he had an acoustic guitar sitting out. I picked it up, and the bug to play was back.

I spent the next 1.5 years buying and selling guitars, trying to find the sound and quality that were right for me (and learning a TON on the forums, along the way). I owned about 5-6 guitars and was about to buy a custom shop Martin HD-28 with Adi top, when a friend implored me to check out Eastman before I made the purchase. I checked online, and there was a dealer with surprisingly decent inventory (half dozen or so), so I made the trip and played through what they had.

When I played their E20D, it was game over. It was less boomy than the Martin, but had more clarity, which appealed to my playing style and ears. Both were excellent guitars, but for less than 1/3 the price, it was a no-brainer. I have an unofficial policy against impulse purchases, so I went home and began looking at the other Eastman models, where I discovered the newly released E40D, which was the E20D, but with premium woods and "42" style appointments. This was great b/c I'm a Neil Young fan and always wanted a D-45 like his, but could never justify the price.

I placed an order with Ted at LA Guitar Sales in what may be the first commercially sold E40D (followed by the first commercially sold E40OM to pair with it) and began a great relationship with his business. That guitar is so lush, and over the last four years, it's become a beast (sometimes it's almost too much of a good thing!). Throughout 2017, I began selling off my other guitars and replacing them with brand new Eastman guitars. The prices afforded me to expand my collection, and now we have 15 Eastman guitars in the house (dozen acoustic, one electric, and two purchased for my daughter). There's not a bad one in the bunch, and even though I have some redundancy, I can't seem to part with them b/c they each have their own voice.

I enjoy many brands of acoustic guitars and don't subscribe to any brand over another. I'd gladly own a Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Guild, Larrivee, etc. But Eastman has allowed me to build a collection of world class instruments in various tonewoods and body sizes that simply wouldn't be possible with some of those other brands. I love the Eastman voice (balanced, clear, shimmering highs) and build quality (all of mine are 2016-2019 models, so those early QC and finish issues are not my problem), and I've gotten to know a few of the Eastman peeps in Pomona on a personal level. They are super hard working and dedicated to their products and customers.

Eastman has been steadily improving for the last 5-6 years, and if you haven't tried them lately, I suggest you revisit them. And if you can't find a dealer with inventory (a common issue with Eastman, but esp. during the pandemic), then I recommend ordering online with a reputable dealer. Eastman's guitars are hand-crafted, so while they will vary from instrument to instrument, the overall voice and build quality has become very consistent.

Last night, I was playing my E40D (my first Eastman guitar) and my E6D, which arrived one year ago today.  Every day, I feel incredibly fortunate and humbled to own such wonderful instruments.

Joanna Connor is one big beautiful talented woman - what a musician!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSwoM7WIy5M

Her playing is raw, instinctive and passionate  - so much better IMO than the likes of Clapton. I know who I would prefer to see live. YMMV.

OK, I didn't record this on my Eastman guitar, it's just a quick capture with my iPhone.

https://youtu.be/kTJwbhyru-c

hello

my first post here.

i recently bought an eastman ar805 acoustic archtop. everything about the guitar is great so far aside from a problem with the bridge posts. they are leaning in the direction of the neck. i tried switching the bridge around, which helped somewhat but the bridge doesn't meet the body as well as before and therefore i switched it back to its original position.

has anyone experienced this problem with their archtop and a wooden (mine is ebony) bridge? is the bridge defective? or is there a workaround for this? i'm using a d'addario 13-56 nickle wound string set in standard tuning. the action setting is moderate, not insanely low or anything like that.

many thanks for any help on this.

I was curious if anyone has ever played one of the Takamine 12 fret dreads? I haven’t played any of the higher end Takamines. I’ve seen these used in closer to my price range and was curious.

Thanks!

Which capo is best suited for the chunky necked E20P parlour? I have lost my Kyser, and the others I own don't fit easily. So rather than just order another Kyser, I thought I would ask here first.

Hi All,  

Wanted to get some feedback. I just received an E6OM today and have mixed feelings.  Context, my first Acoustic in 15 years and have been playing Telecasters.  So, I opened the box and it looked beautiful so I was excited.  Then I picked it up to try out and was pretty disappointed. I know part of it is the transition to acoustic and heavier strings etc. but it sounded boxy and while it projected nicely with chords it sounded subdued when playing individual notes. The lower strings E,B,G sounded pretty ok but the upper strings not so much.

So, again any perspectives are welcomed.  

Thanks for listening!

It’s been nearly two years since I’ve posted a NGD, the last being my Larrivee OM-03, a sweet guitar has been my lone workhorse for some time.  It has done wonderfully for my needs: open tunings and finger style at home, standard and strumming at church.  From at one time being the caretaker of 5 acoustics, I surprisingly learned to be somewhat content with my lone Larry.   It’s not that I didn't look, mind you.  I mean, I am a member of the AGF…#gasendures!  But life the last few years has been such that justifying a “want” purchase just never made sense.  

And yet, here I am posting a NGD?  Well, last Thursday, due entirely to the incredible, mind-blowing, humbling kindness of a friend, I found myself waiting anxiously for the Big Brown Truck to deliver a new-to-me Eastman E8 OM TC.  

WHAT?

Yep.  

 

When I finally got to open the box, I was blown away.  This guitar looks and smells brand new.  There isn’t a scratch on it.  I lifted it out of the case, took it all in:  the gorgeous thermo-cured top, the herringbone purfling, the volute (who doesn’t love a dart volute?), the diamond and snowflake inlays.  Stunning!  I tuned it to my favorite tuning, CGCGCD, and put it through its paces.  I was immediately struck by the ease of play.  Of course, I’m in a drop tuning, so that lessens tension, but the neck felt great.  Being and OM, there is familiarity with the tone from my Larrivee, but this is much more lush, thanks to the rosewood.  It’s a totally different animal than the OM-03!  



Fit and Finish: I’ve owned quite a few Eastmans over the last decade…more than I’d like to admit.  This is the first upper-end Eastman I’ve had in my hands in 4 or 5 years, and let me tell you, their QC has improved a LOT.  I remember the E20OM I had (circa 2013 model?) on which the 12th fret double markers were not straight, the purfling/binding at the neck was sloppy, and the finish had a good number of issues.  There is none of that present on this E8OM.  It is immaculate, top notch workmanship.  The finish is flawless, playability is fantastic, and the neck carve feels great…nice, medium size C.  The stock tuners are good, too.  No trouble going from drop to standard, and they hold tune just fine.  



Tone:  Deep, lush rosewood goodness.  Being an OM, balance is the name of the game, and I love it.  I don’t know if it’s the TC top, or just the way Eastman builds, but it has wonderful sustain.  The lows are SO NICE…deep, resounding, but not overpowering.  The highs are crystal-clear, and the mids are just slightly scooped compared to my Larrivee (at least it seems that way to me).  It is a perfect rosewood OM, in my book.  Right now she’s strung with strings I have never used before, D’addario XT 80/20 lights.  I am a PB guy through and through, but DANG if she doesn’t sound lovely with these strings!  I want to try mediums on her, just to see (all I have at home are mediums), and will probably try a set of Martin Retro Laurence Jubers (true mediums) on hand.  The action is slightly higher than I like, but with plenty of room on the saddle, I’ve got room to bring it down some.  



Right now, I’m thinking this guitar will be my alternate tuning/fingerstyle guitar.  It just suits it so well!  I have tuned it up to standard, and it’s no slouch, but it doesn’t quite have the clarity the Larrivee does there (and I’m pretty heavy handed with a pick).  I do want to see how it handles strumming with mediums, for my own edification, but the Larrivee does so well in standard, I think it will handle those duties while the E8 gets the playing time for all things alternate/finger style.  Even with short scale and lights, this guitar is wonderful in CGCGCD, and that surprised me.  So curious to see how that works with mediums!

Every time I pick this guitar up, I smile. Every time I look it over, I smile.  It is an extremely well made instrument, and it’s qualities are both seen and heard.  I just feel and see quality instrument when I hold it.  It has a totally different voice/feel than my Larrivee, and I’m so thankful for that…they compliment each other very, very nicely.  They each make me play differently.  

But most of all, when I pick it up, I’m reminded that music is a gift, and as amazing as this instrument is, the gift behind it is all the more precious.  I’m definitely not worthy, of the quality of instrument, but much less the friendship behind the gift.  

 But I am oh so very grateful.

Edit:  I added a YouTube clip of the guitar in post #34 of this thread

I really dig finding good cover bands on YouTube.  There are some great ones out there.  I came across this video a few days ago and was blown away by this cover performance of She's Gone (original by Hall and Oates).  Check it out: