|
In July of 2019, one of my Eastman guitar dreams came true. But it wasn’t until a year later that the investment finally paid off. This is that story.
I was one of the lucky ones who got one of the first batches of Thermo-Cured Eastmans’s to hit the US. I was also one the the lucky ones to get one of the second batches as well. Here is what happened.
From the announcement at Summer NAMM in 2017 I had my eye set on these models. When they arrived in the Fall of 2017, I went down to my local guitar shop (Sunrise Guitars, Fayetteville AR) and hand selected what I thought was the best of the New TC models. They had 3 in stock. An E10D-TC, E20D-TC, and a E20OM-TC. All were amazing guitars, but something about the E10D-TC really spoke to me. It was warm, clear, loud, and dry, like it had been played for 30 years or so. Needless to say that’s the one I took home.
Yet, after a few months I felt like something was missing. Like the 10 needed a companion, a counterpart. I kept thinking back to that E20D-TC I played. It was the most beautiful Eastman I had ever seen, and it sounded great too.
So I knew what I had to do. I had to get me one. For the next year or so I had my eye set on that guitar. The only problem was at that time there were only a few released in the US. Then they were gone. You couldn’t find them online or in the store.
I read on this forum that something happened in production that stopped Eastman from being able to produce more TC Tops for nearly two more years. It was somewhat devastating, as I wondered if Eastman was going to drop the TC line altogether.
Then in July of 2019 I saw this E20D-TC for sale on Reverb. I knew I wanted it, but I didn’t have the money at that moment. However, I rather reluctantly mentioned it somewhat off handedly to my wife, and to my surprise, she decided to up and buy it for our anniversary! We talked it over both agreed it would be a great purchase, so we went ahead and placed the order. My excitement was growing. The only issue was that I had do buy it online, unplayed and unseen.
I was trusting, based on the previous guitar of the same mod that I played, and my E10D-TC at home; that this thing would be a cannon. In fact, I had never had such high expectations for a guitar in my life. I waited for what felt like another year, but what was in reality only a week. Then the day came, it finally arrive dg!
I was so excited that morning that I nearly ripped opened up the box. I check everything over, tuned her up...and to my devastating surprise, I was somewhat disappointed....
The guitar looked well built. There was nothing wrong with it structurally, but after a bit of playing I realized just didn’t really meet my high exceptions. It also had pretty high action and there were small finish issues. The nut slot was also high, and the overall tone was a bit wet and green sounding. I was sad, but wanted to believe the best, that this could one day be an amazing guitar.
I had the option to return it based on some undisclosed cosmetic issues that were not mentioned by the seller, but instead of returning it, I decided to keep it and just hope for the best. (I don’t always recommend that approach but it sometimes works out)
Over the next few months I held onto the guitar and tried to give it some good ole fashioned DIY TLC. I filed the nut down, got the action set-up where I wanted it, and even played around with different types of strings. The guitar didn’t sound bad at this point; just not amazing. It was still loud, balanced, and had lots of high-end treble tones.
It also had a great playing neck and wonderful fret job! But it still just wasn’t doing it for me. The tone that I thought would blow me away, always seemed to underwhelm.
So In the spring of 2020, after thinking I bought a lemon, I decided to sell it.
So it was next on the chopping block.
A day or two went by, then a couple weeks, before I knew it, the guitar was coming up on it’s one year birthday. (June 2019)
So I decided to do something radical. I decided to give it one last shot. I decided to take another chance, make a few mods and maybe keep it.
First, I very carefully lightly sanded down a few back braces. Then I changed out the stock pickguard, and adjusted the relief. Finally I slapped on a new set of strings. I knew the changes wouldn’t take place right away. I knew I needed to give it some time.
Then again, the guitar sat for another month, mostly unplayed. I’d pick it up about once a week and strum a few chords and then put it back.
Tonight I picked up the guitar and played it for the first time in awhile, and I’ve got to say I’m pleasantly surprised. It now sounds full and much dryer. It’s taking on some more of those vintage Martin tones that I know and love. It seems louder, snappier, and more like the guitar I originally expected. What happened? Did the guitar open up? Did the mods set in? I’m not sure. Maybe all of the above.
All I can say is that with a little time, and a few fun mods, the guitar is a different beast. It is now full and punchy. I think the bass is a even a bit better than before. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still bright and a bit chimey, but now in a good way!
Needless to say, the guitar is no longer on the chopping block. And I have no plans of selling it. I hope it lasts.
So all that being said, in a little over a year the guitar went from meh to Amazing!
Tonight I even played it against my other E10D-TC, and my D18 and D28; and I’ve got to say the E20D-TC is every bit as good as the others.
I would give the initial score a 7/10 overall and I would now rate it a 9/10. Hopefully with a bit more time it will continue to get ever better.
A little patience and a little TLC can go a long way. Glad I decided to hang onto it and give it two second chances!
Attached Files
File size: 2.94 MB
Downloads: 129
|
15% off + free shipping on Eastman guitars (and most other things) at Alto Music