I did it. I bought it. 

Unfortunately, my review I just typed disappeared into the ether so I will do it again later.

In the meantime, some pics.

Alex

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For Sale on the Mandolin Cafe site. What I've always said could be, or rather, probably is, the best guitar value on the planet.... Eastman's 300 Series guitars. Here's an AC310, seller says year build 2008. No affliation.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/132341#132341

This could have an extra bonus, this discontinued AC310 OM model, could be from the period when Eastman made the deeper body OM models, with 4 5/8" body depth, rather than the current 4 1/4".

Priced at $499 with Fishman pickup system.

I am about to push the button on my first Eastman. I have been searching for weeks for the "right" one.
Looks like either an e20ss or an et10ss. Wondering what is the difference between an et10ss and an e10ss? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Other than a couple or maybe a few OM's last spring, I don't think Eastman has released any real numbers of TC models since this time last year. Does anyone know what the hold up is? Or when we can, realistically, expect some new TC's to again be hanging on the dealers' walls? 

Maybe they are too busy in Beijing designing my Smeckman and can't be bothered with cooking red spruce right now.

I've had mine for about 3 years and it has opened up nicely. The body size and neck width fit me like a glove and the material, woods and construction are excellent. There's just something special about this guitar. I love that you can fingerpick it lightly and get a sweet tone and lay into it and get a nice punch. I have an old set of Daddario PB on it right now and it still sounds good. 

My go to acoustic guitars are dreads but that doesn't take anything away from this guitar and what brings to the table.

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So I’ve wanted a J-45 for as long as I can remember. The only problem has been I’ve never found just the right one for me. I’ve played some good standard series J45’s but I could never justify the $2600+ new price with 3 martins and an Eastman in the house.

The first time I ever played an E10SS was in a blind shootout with a J-45 standard. Guess which one I picked...yep, the Eastman.

Since then I’ve maybe played two more E10SS. The first one was great and the other two were just okay.

I love the SS body style and the sunburst finish. And I love that Eastman makes great guitars at an amazing price.

So what has been your experience with this model? How does it compare to a J-45. What about other Eastman slope shoulders.

Thanks in advance for the responses. ?

Okay, so after searching and looking for a very nice E8 om for awhile, I stumbled onto a very good deal on a 2017 E20 om.  New tuners, Baggs Full Anthem, Schaller Grand Tunes, etc. So I bought it. Nut is a touch off, but I can live with it until I get it replaced... Very nice guitar, well built, but SO BRIGHT... punchy ... tight.... and top-end-centric!! First I thought it was the Anthem.  Blending is a little precarious sometimes with this mix in this size/build of guitar, so I pulled it and have very recently installed an M1A that was in a drawer.

Still very bright. Still not much low end. Still very tight. But a whole bunch of projection and miles of sustain, and a top end that won't quit. I've never owned an addy-topped guitar before, so this is for me  way different from my E6 om or my D18 (of course). 

Anyway, I am thinking about sticking in a JJB/K&K to enhance the bottom end a little and take some of the sizzle out of the top --  or maybe look for a Para DI maybe. I have  JJB in the E6 om with a K&K prephase (great sound, but it's broken-in sitka and mahogany...), and a K&K in my D18. Plus a K&K pure preamp I use, but the output level on the M1a is not the best match for the K&K and requires some diddling.  

Thoughts from anyone who's been down this path?

I will post pics later today.

cf

I’m considering getting a pickup installed in my AC515. However, Fishman makes both “wide” and “narrow” versions. Does anyone know which would work best on my guitar?
I’m also a little worried that an under-saddle pickup would negatively affect the “purely-acoustic” tone. Anyone care to weigh-in?
Is there another pickup type or brand that I should consider?

If you see a good price on specific strings, post it here.  Include a link, if you have one.

I'll start...

DR Rare Light:  $4.69 via Amazon

GHS PB Light 6-pk:  $29.99 (no sales tax) via Sweetwater

Note: Sweetwater offers price breaks on buying multiple packs.  For example, you can get Martin PB Light M540 for $3.79/pk, if you buy 12 packs.

I've been playing my T185MX through my nearly 20yo Digitech GNX2, but decided that it's time for an upgrade.  I wanted something with a looper (or that could support an external looper pedal), but I like the idea of an all-inclusive solution.

I narrowed my search to higher end Boss vs. Line 6 systems.  The Boss GT-100 was the most affordable, but also the oldest technology, so I began looking at the GT-1000, which was just released in 2018.  Although it was 2x the price, it had updated sound and processing technology, including editing functionality on the pedal, computer, and iOS devices (via Bluetooth).  And to ease the price jump, they're offering a rebate for a new (refurb) iPad, so on paper, that seemed like the one for me.

But then, I read that the interface is difficult to navigate, which was always a complaint of my old GNX2, so I took a harder look at the Line 6 products.  Their flagship model is the Helix Floor, but its price is more than the GT-1000 and GT-100 combined!  But the Helix LT is comparably priced to the GT-1000 and nearly identical to the regular Helix: same processors, just a few less in/out options and some cosmetic differences.

However, the big difference was with the interface.  It seems incredibly easy to navigate, and their amp/cabinet modeling seem more robust than the Boss GT-1000.  Sonically, I think it's a judgement call, but both seem to do the job.  Helix models don't support Bluetooth navigation, but with an adapter, you can record directly into GarageBand for iPad/iPhone.  Also, their looper functionality was sufficient (and better than on the GT-1000), so I didn't need to purchase a separate pedal for that.

Nobody was budging on price, especially with the Boss / iPad promotion.  But I did find a store online that had the Helix LT for $100 off, and Sweetwater matched their price, making it the same at the Boss GT-1000 (but w/o the iPad rebate).

My Helix LT will ship by Monday, but will have to sit until Christmas.  Full review to follow in a month.