I’ve been so impressed with my two all solid Sigma’s I had to get just one more! This time a D-18 style guitar for more Neil Young tunes amongst others. Sigma currently make 3 D-18 style guitars, namely the:

DM-18 (solid sitka top, laminate mahogany back and sides, micarta board and bridge).

SDM-18 (solid sitka top, solid mahogany back and sides, ebony board and bridge).

SDM-18E Limited (Solid European spruce top, solid flamed Mahogany back and sides, ebony board and bridge) - Only 72 made.

As usual I wanted an all solid wood instrument as the tonal difference between the laminate and all solid Sigma models is really huge. One of the unique things I like about Sigma is that they make laminate and all solid versions of so many of their guitars now it allows for ‘like for like’ comparisons across a range of differing instruments that really demonstrate the added nuance and complexity of an all solid wood guitar (nice comparison here of the laminate and all solid model along with a Martin D-18) - https://youtu.be/02yfSI1pPLI.

I was ideally looking for the SDM-18 as featured above but they are out if stock in many places and then I spotted a SDM-18E. I’d played one of these a year ago and was very impressed but I hesitated and it sold quickly. Aesthetically the guitar is a more fancy/modern in appearance than the SDM-18 Martin clone and features an Abalone rosette and some snowflake bridge and fingerboard inlays. The European Spruce top is very white and of excellent quality. The back and sides are ‘flamed Mahogany’. The flaming is subtle perhaps compared to more expensive instruments with this wood but it is definitely different to the more uniform Mahogany one readily sees and quite beautiful. The guitar also comes with electronics (an LR Baggs EAC-VTC) although I do not really want this so I will try and remove and dispose of it. The guitar is also supposed to come with a hardcase (clearly stated on both Sigma and the vendor’s site) but mine has been incorrectly sent to me in a (far cheaper) soft-shell case. I have contacted the dealer and do not want to name and shame at present as its likely an innocent oversight.

Anyhow I haven’t had a chance to play it yet but will report back later enough waffling, here are a few very rough pics (better ones to follow):









My other all solid Sigma’s

SDR-28MLE (Adirondack/Madagascan)




SDR-45 (Sitka/Rosewood)

Thought you all might enjoy this...

Recently I have been on the fence about picking up an E1D because I don't really need anymore guitars. But since I am a student and worship pastor I play a lot of youth events, retreats, and camps. For about a year now I have wanted a less expensive dread that I can take around with me and not worry about my $2k+ guitars getting broken or stolen.

Then much to my surprise when I checked the mail this morning there was a bonus check from a camp I worked at earlier on the summer. They check was for $500, twice what I thought I was getting! Since I have been on the fence thia past week about the E1D I took this as a sign to order one. Let's call it God's providential provision.

Since my local shop is closing and out of E1D's I went ahead and ordered the one at Fullers Guitars in Texas. The one on their website looked good and it appears to possibly have a TC top. I know that you can't always tell in pictures, but compared to the non TC E10OM (from the same seller and same lighting) the E1D looks a lot darker.

TC or not, the E1D is a great value!

The guitar shipped this afternoon and I am only one state away so I should get it middle of the week.

I will keep you all posted when it comes in. I already have a LR Baggs Anthem waiting for it What do you think about the top on this one?

I got my E1OM Classic the other day. It has been out in the living room since. It came with a K&K pickup installed but I still haven't plugged it in yet. Just enjoying naturally.

This is my first Eastman. My thoughts so far. I love the finish. The sound is much brighter and louder than I expected. Coming from almost always have a D shape & size guitar it was a definite difference. I do have a Fender GDO300 but that little thing is nothing like this one is.

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Last night I bought a used PCH3-GACE-CLA in near mint condition for $400. The laminate flame maple back and sides are gorgeous to look at. It sounds like a solid wood guitar and feels and plays just like my DT30-GACE. The tone is not nearly as complex or rich as the double top but the PCH3 sounds better than any laminate guitar I have played before and has plenty of sustain. I have owned a bunch of laminates; several Breedloves, an S. Yairi and too many Yamahas to count. For anyone on a budget or professionals playing out, it is a great all-around guitar.

Which acoustic guitar you've come across has the slightest (width and depth/cross sectional area) neck? In my case it's the MLO found on many Martins.

I am in the search for another Eastman acoustic guitar. Do I need one, not really, but there are some good online sales right now.

I love Eastman guitars for their quality and value but I don't particularly love bright sounding guitars. Mostly because of this I have gotten rid of all my Eastmans except one. Currently the only Eastman I own is an E20SSV. It is in the top three best acoustics I have ever owned, up there with my D28 Authentic 1937. One of the reasons I love it is because of it's warm dry tone.

I also need to add that I really liked my E2OM as well, and the tone fit me well, but I gave it away to a young guitar player who was needing a decent acoustic, and I am more of a SS and Dread player.

Anyway, I also really like Eastmans satin finishes. To my ear they are a little more open and warm than their gloss counterparts. I am currently looking at some E1D and E3D because I have found some with what appears to be TC tops.

I could also stretch and get an E6SS-TC or E6D-TC if needed, but I am afraid they might start off too bright for me. I have found that finishes really color the guitars tone.

I was even looking at some E1SS-SB, but there aren't many available right now.

Anyway, out of these 5 models which do you think would have the least bright, mid range focused warm tone?

I have liked all the E1Ds I have played so if I could get one with a TC top that would be great. I also don't have a guitar under $2k so something I could travel with would be perfect.

Hi,can anyone tell me if the AC OM-1 was discontinued or is it still being produced? Thank you

I found this one on Reverb after my last attempt to get one of these didn't go as planned.

This one arrived today, well-packed and intact (Yay!). The owner had swapped out the standard tuners for black Gotoh 510s: I like the look and I like the 18:1 gear ratio, too. 

I'd asked the owner about the pickup, but he said he has no idea if it worked or not since he never played plugged in. I took the chance that the worst case scenario would be that the battery for the PU system was flat and didn't quibble about that, since he already had a good price for the guitar. And that was the case; the pickup battery was flat dead, but the owner had tossed a couple 9 volts in the case. I put one in and the pickup came back to life.

Things I like:
-- The guitar is gorgeous. The goldburst is a lovely finish
-- The beveled armrest is very comfortable.
-- The soundhole port on the upper bout sends the sound back to me when I play—my own private monitor. The soundhole port also gives a glimpse into the interior, which is immaculate. It should also help retrieving dropped picks
-- There's volume and tone controls in the soundhole, so  I don't need to use my mixer to adjust volume.
-- This has just the right amount of bling for me; enough to make it look attractive, not so much that it looks 'overdressed.' I love all the wood on it.
— The guitar plays in tune all the way up and down the neck! No adjustment needed.

Things I didn't like but I can deal with:
-- Like every Eastman I've ever bought new, there's no strap button on the heel, and I personally hate wrapping the strap around the head, since if you put any pressure on it you pull the guitar out of tune (and I doubt that's good for the neck, anyway.) Eastman, just put a freaking strap button on the heel already! However, I have an extra (black) strap button, and I've already mounted four or five of those, so...
-- This is not a dreadnought, but a Grand Auditorium-size guitar There’s a little less bottom end than I’m used to with my dreads. But the strings ARE nicely balanced, sound-wise. When I’m playing live, I can adjust the sound as I wish.
-- The neck has a gloss finish, and I prefer a satin finish. However, it's not excessively sticky (at least so far), I've dealt with gloss necks in the past, and I figure that as I play it, I'll gradually wear away that finish.
-- The sound of the pick-up is OK, but frankly I think the K&K Pure Mini sounds better (plus the K&K doesn't require a battery). Maybe at some point in the future I'll have one put in this.
-- The strings on it are okay, but I'll probably swap 'em out. 

Things I don’t like but can’t change.
— At the moment, nothing! And that’s good.