I was cleaning out old photos and came across this picture of my little collection of acoustic guitars from 2/7/22.


From left to right - Farida OT-22W, Martin 000-28EC, Eastman E40OM, Iris DF and Eastman E8D-TC. I only started playing 5 years ago and in the time have been through a lot of different guitars. Impatience has probably cost me too much money and change over. There was probably nothing wrong with any of the guitars I moved along. I just wanted to try something different.

I think I may have finally hit on an assortment that works for me. I tend to like variety in sizes and materials although there seems to be more of a slope shoulder, short scale representation. Here is the latest little collection 


From L-R - Eastman E6SS-TC (torrefied Sitka/mahogany-Khaya) Leo Posch Advanced Jumbo (Adirondack/Honduran Rosewood), Bourgeois Touchstone D Vintage (Old growth Sitka/IER), Eastman E40OM (Adirondack/IER), Gibson '50's LG-2 Re-issue (Sitka/Mahogany) and John Walker The Wise River (Adirondack/Honduran Mahogany). Not pictured - Farida OT-22W (Sitka/Layered Mahogany) If I had to rank them, I couldn't. Depending on the day I practice with at least 2 of them and it varies. That said, the Walker Wise River is hands down a step above any of the others. Incredible workmanship, tone, materials, playability of the neck. It is truly a stellar instrument. I should add - the E40OM and the Posch run a very close second.

My goal was to get a variety of sizes and materials, and I think I have gotten there. I have tried a couple 00s but I have not found a keeper for me. I tried some Martins and the closest keepers were the 000-28EC and CEO-7 because I liked the modified V neck. I find the MLO/PA necks on Martins and Taylor necks in general a little thin. I might trade the Posch for a vintage guitar otherwise buying and selling is on a one year hiatus.

I would like to thank everyone on the EGF for the support and friendship they have provided over the last several years. I couldn't have done it without your help and encouragement. Now to justify these wonderful instruments by improving my playing skills.

I found a deal on a used E3DE.  After having it professionally setup, I am very happy about the guitar.  Eastman for the win......again!!!

Hey folks. Had a couple of Eastmans in the past and thought they were good but didn’t appreciate them enough until recently. I’ve been on a purchasing binge the last 2 months. Picked up a new T 486-B (sold a Warren Haynes Gibby 335). Already had a recently acquired ACTG1. Bought a E10SS/v from a local shop, it was love at first strum. Then started watching for some used deals and got some great ones in this order: DT30D from GC, then a E6D-TC from GC, a E10OO and a E20D-TC all from GC where I could try for 45 days. They’re all keepers. I’ve owned too many guitars over the years to admit. Have mostly played in church but have been inspired as of late to learn to flatpick and and improve my finger style skills. Have really enjoyed reading a lot of the comments on this site. Don’t mean to be a glutton but also just pulled the trigger on a E40OM-TC from the Mandolin Store.
I’ve sold a couple of Martin Modern Deluxes also recently that helped fund my Eastman journey. Also have an Eastman MDA 515 but just learning mandolin. I’ll try to get the herd together for some pics down the road.

The bottom line: Nope. Absolutely not the strings for me. I put them on my favorite E10D acoustic on 12/27; today, a scant 5 weeks later, I yanked them off and replaced them with my standard D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Lights—and huzzah! The magic came back to the guitar. From the start, the Retro Monels always sounded too 'thin' to me; lately, they'd stopped holding pitch well and the intonation was off. Ugh!

I still have an unused set of the Martin Retro Monel Lights. I'm never going to use these again. If you happen to like/love these strings or if you want to try them, send me a PM with your snail mail address and I'll send them to you; first person to ask gets 'em.

That's New Acoustic Amp Day, in case you didn't know. After last weekend's gig when I couldn't hear myself, but I could hear the other guitarist since he brought an amp (I was running a Pod Go direct), I decided I don't ever want to be completely at the mercy of someone else who's running the monitors. So, I decided I needed an acoustic amp.

I looked at the usual suspects - Fishman Loudbox Mini (what he was using), Boss Acoustic Singer, Marshall AD50, etc....I decided I really liked the Boss Acoustic Singer Live, but didn't want to spend that much. Then I discovered the existence of the Live LT, which someone had listed locally - sells nw for $450, instead of the $580 for the regular Live. It has a few less bells and whistles, but seemed like a good choice. While I was debating with myself, he dropped his price from $300 to $250, so I jumped.

I met him this morning, looked it over, handed him the cash and put it in my car. As he was driving away I took a second look, and it finally registered with me that not only was it very clean, but it had a harmonizer and looper - yup, it was the more expensive version rather than the LT. So, got the exact amp I wanted at an excellent price. Have been playing around with it, and it sounds fantastic - can't wait for next practice!!!



I should mention, his ad had been up for a month, titled only "acoustic amp" with a picture of an LT from Sweetwater - so there was no way of knowing before meeting and making the deal. Part of me feels mildly guilty, but I gave him his precise asking price, so only mildly.

As most of us tone chasers know the king pin of the pick industry are the infamous Blue Chips. Yes, I have had them, think they are the best and loved them but....at 40 bucks a pop, losing two created a hesitation to purchase more and the search was on for alternatives.

I prefer the larger triangle (mandolin) styles in 1.5mm and after trying offerings from Clayton, Wegen, Red Bear, Fender, Nypro, Daddario and other small makers I stumbled upon the Dunlop Primetones and think I found it! After doing some more custom beveling with some micro mesh (I prefer a heavier bevel than the stock PT's) I created what so far, to me and my ear/feel, is the closest to BlueChips that I have found. At a fraction of the price, like 8 bucks for three, they feel, sound, and play remarkably close to the king of picks. A great, affordable alternative IMO.

That being said.....What do you guys use and prefer?

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/foru...p?t=664578

If it is anything like my dread and I was in the market, I would be all over this one

I finally pulled the trigger on a new E2D from TAS. Should arrive sometime next week. Can't wait, pics attached, and I'll post a NGD soon!

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My first really good acoustic was a Martin 00-21, purchased new back in 1974 or so. Had that guitar as my only acoustic for a couple of decades, then I switched to playing mostly bass and sold it. After a few years picked up an OM-21 and had that for another decade or so. Fast forward to last year and getting back into some solo guitar gigs, cycled through a couple Taylors, Furchs, and Martins, finally keeping an OM-28e Modern Deluxe. Actually a very good guitar, and the built-in Fishman Aura system sounds great.

But then I discovered square neck resonator, started working up most of my book on that and acoustic moved back to the back burner again. Recently added some formal jazz guitar study (I've been gigging as a jazz bassist for almost 30 years now) so I decided to experiment with some hollow-bodies (see other forum). I don't have infinite budget and try to keep a one in-one out strategy. Plus adding hollow bodies meant something had to give. Eastmans get a lot of praise so I figured I could sell the Martin and pick up an Eastman OM to cover the acoustic base while funding a jazz box. Called up LA Guitar Sales (they are semi-local to me) and an E10OM-TC was on its way.

It landed a few days ago, and so far so good. The Martin is up for sale, so clearly the Eastman is punching above its weight. I need to shave the saddle a bit and sort out a pickup solution but that's all expected. I can say that the E10OM-TC has a very nice set of overtones and incredible sustain - perhaps better than the Martin. While I've typically been a rosewood kinda guy, the recordings I heard of the E10OM-TC indicated it was a bit richer than a typical mahogany guitar.

Pics or it didn't happen - fun so far.

I just picked up an AC422CE on Reverb.  It came today and I'm quite happy.  I've been playing for about 30 years.  I've had several electrics (a strat, a les paul, and a jaguar) over the years and I have a very nice 12-string guitar, but for a 6-string acoustic, I've always just played the 1994 Fender AG-15 I bought in high school, and the top is starting to cave in, the bridge pulling up slightly, etc. and it just isn't worth putting any time and/or money into a $249 guitar from 1994.  The guitar appears to be in perfect condition.  It plays great.  Action measures at just a hair more than 3/32" at the low E and just a hair more than 2/32" at the high E, so pretty close to spec.  Neck is straight, no dead or buzzing frets.  Overall, my first impression is pretty good.

I have three questions for the much more knowledgable than me folks here.  :-)

1.  The serial number is 1685XXXX.  I'm assuming that's the 2016-2019 serial number scheme and that it was made in Nov/Dec of 2018.  Can anyone help me confirm that?

2.  It doesn't have a pick-guard.  I'm not sure if that's an issue or not for me yet, but if I decide I want one, can I get one from Eastman or do folks recommend something else?

3.  It has the Fishman (matrix VT I assume from the reading I've done) pickup in it.  It appears Eastman used to put the Schettler Lydia in this model, switched to the Fishman, and then to the LR Baggs in the current year models.  I haven't even put a battery in it yet to listen to it, but what are people's opinions about this pickups?  Does anyone know why Eastman moved away from the others?

Thanks.  I'm glad to be here!

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