Damn dude!!! How did you know 3 years ago that today I would be trying to decide between Martin and Eastman? What a great video. No talking and just honest equal playing to give a very accurate comparison. I think for my needs the Eastman Tc has won.
@@CaptainOfMyBurden82 Yes I have owned a couple of Martins, a Guild, and played a few Taylors. For me the Eastman has a much better sound and it projects well. The neck and overall build of the guitar is top notch.
I’ve listened to this video several times over the past several months and I used to like the clear, bright sound of the Eastman E20OM but now I really prefer the sound of the TC. I play guitar for vocal accompaniment and the complex tone quality of the TC is so much more interesting. Thanks Ian for these great videos!
Let me just get this straight. The Eastman I have blows away the martins I have tried and the gibsons. I purchased my Eastman e6 ss guitar today. I could have afforded a lot of the other guitars in that shop. Irrespective of cost I kept coming back to the Eastman. For playability, feel and sound it was so much nicer than the rest. And to boot it came with the nicest hard case I’ve ever seen. 1,000 gdp !!!! Totally handmade, top woods, bone nut, ebony fretboard and beautiful solid mahogany!!!!! I love it. Such a woody tone.
Great comparison, for what I enjoy playing finger style, it seems that the Eastman e20 TC sits between the Eastman e20 and the Martin, it seems to have the nice warm tone of the Martin but also the clarity and volume of the Eastman e20. By the way, it helps opening this video in three different tabs and switching between them. I prefer fingerstyle and have all three fingerstyle parts opened in different tabs and find easier to switch and compare.
I own Eastman and Martin guitars and love them all so am not burdened by brand loyalty. The Martin is nice and warm but I just rapidly switched between the Martin and E20-OMTC and, wow, what a huge difference in volume, chime, woodiness and clarity with the Eastman. Note separation is fantastic. For a singer I'd get the Martin. Solo finger picker, I'd go with the Eastman.
i have and play my eastman slope ,cause i'm a poor guitarman! but.. this Martin is a queen in tone , she deliver all the legacy of this glorious guitar builders since the 19 century ! nevermind the price ! everything is perfect, not too much reverb, bass and treble perfect! well .... a only one guitar for life.... no doubt !
Some comments on eastman are unfair. Just to remind some people that Bourgeois Guitars called upon Eastman for the manufacture of its studiotone series. Eastman is a serious workshop and not just any Chinese factory. I invite you if you can to compare them in real life. I was able to do this at a store near my house. Eastman e20 om win by ko. And I'm not the only one. This guitar is closer to a Collings or Santa Cruz than a Martin. And yes, if the guitars were hidden how many would choose the Martin? Knowing that our hearing is influenced by our sight and our beliefs.
While I prefer the Martin sound, I've played a bunch of Eastman's and you are absolutely right in saying they are a serious guitar factory with serious chops.
Eastman is close to a Santa Cruz or Collings? Really? I had someone tell me the Epiphone AJ45me was better than a Gibson J45, too. Not even in the same ballpark. But to each his own.
I can definitly say I played Eastmans that I preferred to play over a Santa Cruz for example as I generally don't like Santa Cruz. But the Atkin, Colling, Boucher, Santa Cruz, ... I played are just leagues above the Eastman. Even well above the Bourgeois touchstones, which are literally elite-eastmans. I dislike this idea that Eastman is "bad" because it's made in China. Eastman are serious guitars for sure at a decent price point. I prefer them over Furch personally.
Similar deal with Blueridge Guitars too. Many folks see the "made in China" tag and dismiss those guitars, but they really are great values, and a little closer to a traditional Martin tone, if that's what you're after. Much like Eastman, not just any Chinese factory
Great comparison as always. I love your no-nonsense way of consistently demonstrating instruments, your TH-cam is such an invaluable resource for those of us who can't go and try a bunch of instruments in person (personally because i'm a lefty and live rurally)! One thing I've noticed on your various the Eastwood demoes is that they sound great but there is this metallic quality in the upper registers, particularly on the lower end models... the TC here does not seem to exhibit it, but the non-TC does many others do, a kind of harshness that makes it sound exciting at first but then you realise it could get fatiguing or not go great with singing... a shame, as I keep feeling like eastman represent great value on paper. Perhaps I'm just gravitating towards that darker sound myself currently.
Love the sound of the OM-28! Waiting for my custom shop OM-28 w/ bear-claw sitka top, pearl rosette, and custom 12th fret and headstock inlay. Oh and the smell of these guitars at the factory and at home is intoxicating! Eastman E-20 is no slouch! I like the same model but with the torrefied top..
I watch this video a couple of times and listen to the guitar sound with good earphones. Each of this instruments sounds different. I like the sound of the third guitar. The Eastman sounds dry, old, ritch and powerful. I think about to buy a Eastman Guitar, but here in Europe, Vienna I have only one store which offers Eastman Guitars and they have only one model, the E2D. So this comparison of these 3 guitar's help me a lot 👍
I have a E3DE. I love it more than the Martin I had. I love Martin but for vocal accompaniment Eastman has a great sound. They have a sound similar to a Guild but not as brassy. I do own a Guild 12 string and have owned other Guilds so it a reasonable comparison.
Remember the Martin OM has a 25.4 inch scale vs the 24.9 inch on the Eastmans. A 000-28 would have been a closer comparison if Ian is trying to get like for like. The longer scale brings out the highs. I have an E-10OM great guitar.
Man that Martin O’Malley 28 is a good one. Great resonance across the board. But that Torrefied Eastman is hard to beat. Notes just jump out! I know there is a difference between the scale lengths but wow. For any price those Eastmans are great.
I have an Eastman E6SS-TC and yes the TC warmth and clarity at the same time is really hard to beat, it's like a bet each way and is completely versatile 😊
I have an Eastman OM style guitar which I bought just a coupke of weeks ago when I popped into GAK music shop in Brighton UK. I hadn't intended to buy a guitar but the minute I played it I knew I had to have it. I've played loads of Martins and never really got on with them for some reason. I also have a Furch dreadnought which is brilliant and is comparable to a decent Martin or a Taylor. To my mind, the Eastman is brighter than the Martin, which I personally like.
It’s amazing how we put so much onus on the sound…even though there are so many things that affect what we’re hearing. Not enough emphasis is put on how a guitar actually feels. I like Eastman because they use a 12” radius and have a bevelled/rolled fingerboard. For those reasons alone I would prefer an Eastman to a Martin because I know I’d want to play it more.
I used to have the cedar topped Eastman E2OM and that was a ridiculously good guitar for the money. However, I tried both the E8OM TC (basically an OM-28 clone due to the Sitka top) and the E20OM-TC and surprisingly neither did anything for me. Then last week I tried an OM-28 and it was like magic, I was smitten immediately. It sounded considerably more refined than either of the Eastman equivalents. And no, it wasn't because it had "Martin" on the headstock - I actually wanted to prefer the Eastmans, not least given they're barely half the price, here in the UK at least. Which just goes to show it's worth trying the actual instruments in question and preferably more than one of each if you can, as in the end these things are made of different pieces of wood and can vary considerably.
Been playing guitar over 50 yrs. First saw reviews, then demo's then E20OM. Actually, ADI Topped EIR is out of reach for many. Great tone, workmanship is very high. The woods are extremely nice, maybe not the highest top quality but, there's a magic in them that draws you in. Intonation near pitch perfect. Sustain for days. Realistically if something catastrophic occurs, you can just buy another one! Not in any way do mean any Disrespect to anyone. We all Love our preferred US manufacturers, Legends! E20-OM D-20-OM TC E-40-OM TC Others J-40 JOMC Regards ✌️
They both sound good. But the Eastman really brings out the highs with balanced lows. Probably due to the Adirondack top! Would like to hear the Eastman again after about 2 years of playing.
Eastman and Martin Very Different. Eastman is much brighter and articulate, great note separation, also seems louder. Martin, very mellow and traditional, warmer sounding, more blend on the strum, more overtones. Kind of like 2 tools in a toolbox that work better for different applications.
Eastman E20-OMTC has a dry bark to it. Yes, its a bit bright, and not as complex as the Martin, but to my ears it sounds the most open out of them all.
I have an E20OM-TC and they're great guitars but they don't sound like Martin guitars in person. They're brighter and more balanced but lack the deep bass of a Martin. So that's something to consider if you want a traditional Martin sound. I love it but sometimes only a Martin will do.
@@jmdbb it's a good thing you made this comment. I think I hear that in the recording but it is great to hear it from somebody who owns one of these. I would get Eastman E200 TC. I own a 1984 Martin om-28v and it is very very rich and amazing sounding instrument. The workmanship is impeccable! However you have to pay about $3,500 to get one of those these days. I think the Eastman E20 TC would do nicely LOL!
@@MrDonovant Funny you mention that, I ended up selling my Martin CEO7 and I Picked up a phenomenal custom OM28 (Adirondack/Wild Grain Indian Rosewood Golden Era bracing) for $2600 used and found the sound I was looking for out of a small bodied guitar. Ultimately the E20OM-TC wasn't for me. I found it lacking in bass. So I ended up trading my E20OM-TC for an Eastman E10D-TC that flat blows the doors off of any D18 I've ever played! It's so loud and resonant, I think even more so than the 2019 Re-Imagined HD-28 I own, which really shocked me.
I've also listened to this quite a few times as I really want to get an OM. A couple of observations: The Martin sounds like a guitar I've heard on lots of records. It has a recognisable tone that would make me want to play it to hear that tone. It's like the sound I get when I play my Gibson Sheryl Crow Sig. The Eastmans sound clear and the Thermo top has more of a warm tone but I don't get that same feeling I get when I hear the Martin. This is annoying as I really wanted to like the Eastman! Also, the bottom string doesn't come through on any of the recordings very well, particularly when finger picking. I wonder if Ian could comment on this?
Exactly my feeling too. Always wondered how it can be that a Martin always (almost) sounds like a Martin. That voice … and how come I like that Martin voice so much more … It is easy to become initially impressed by other voices, equally loud, clear, long sustain … but after some time that voice hets tiering and boring … and you long for the Martin voice … (I do have an Eastman OM40 tc and a fine Martin, so the experience is real)
The TC model is far away better than the normal OM, i guess that Martin is still warmer, but the Eastman is amazing, it gives you 90% of it for the half or less. A truly high quality brand and instrument.
Damn, it happened again. I wanted to like the Eastman better. But the Eastman sounded woofy in comparison to the Martin sounding more clear, more balanced. AND THEN; I plugged in my good headset and totally changed my opinion. Moral of the story: use good headphones for these things.
What would also be a good comparison video would be just Eastman OMs. E20OM vs E20OM-TC vs E8OM. Or just the E20 vs E8 because there’s so many opinions on Adi vs Sitka.
The martin has a longer scale length compared to the Eastmans. Eastman OMs are actually comparable to Martin 000s so this video is more of a 000 vs OM.
Would you agree the OMTC has more clarity in the higher frequencies than the OM-28. OM-28 is more of supple blended sounds that is less piercing.. or is the OMTC song just being plucked more aggressively?
☑️ great comparison , i generally prefer mahogany guitars best ; have the Martin OOO-42 stnd and on my way to the E10 ; was thinking about the TC cause I like darkened tops better , but that's the only reason , i find no particular preference of TC being better ; thinking the natural route of air , sunlight , and time do their thing 😊
The first one just sounds prettier and warmer. The second one was kinda harsh and not set up right, the string buzz made it tough to compare them fairly.
I have an Eastman E1D and for $420, what a guitar. I am thinking of purchasing either a DT30OM or OM20TC as my "Lifetime Guitar". Which in your opinion is superior in tone and sustain?
Eastman is brighter, louder. But Martin is still martin. Of course, everyone has their own preferences, and I wish I found the Eastman better as many of the commenters here do, but Martin is still that familiar, rich sound recognizable from so many records I grew up with. Both great guitars, no doubt, but if money was no object it would still be Martin for me. Since money is object, I'm looking forward to trying out the Eastmans some day
When your strumming w a pick I hear sizzling sound or a rattling like a brace has come loose…do you or anyone else hear it…I have headphones on but can hear it without them also…what is it??? That would drive me crazy!
Both eastmans beat the martin hands down in quality of sound in my opinion. I own an an eastman cutaway, and I spent a whole day in a guitar store in Germany,try and testing these guitars, There are absolutely fantastic, and incredible value for money. Yet the have one major flaw! They have huge chunky necks, especially at the nut, and if you are like me, and used to smaller thinner tapered necks, Then your going to struggle(as I am now) and unfortunately their necks size is standard on all their models. But apart from that you will not find a better guitar and price on the market (except furch guitars) maybe?
I found the same to be true, particularly many of then do not have a nice satin tapered neck i.e(Larrivee,Taylor or Martin)....gotta start making satin necks.
I sort of hate to say this, but both Eastman's sound better than the Martin to my ears.... the world is changing fast. I have played the Eastman E10-D and I preferred the feel of the classic V-neck and volute to the neck on the newer Martin D-18... Eastman is doing a lot of things really well.
The Eastman’s are louder. I don’t know if it’s because they project more or he recorded them louder. I think the Martin is more balanced. To me to compare them you need to raise the volume on the Martin recording a bit.
I think the Eastman has a great clear tone but there is a reason everyone uses Martin as the comparative. Sorry there is a certain recognizable richness Martin's have. The Eastman however is no light weight and can hold itself in good stand with most high end guitars. I will admit I own 2 Martin guitars and may be a little slanted. But here is a hint. I'm thinking maybe a Eastman Cedar top may make my arsenal.
There is also an army of marketing minions and guitarists paid and sponsored by Martin to influence buyers and keep the Martin name coming up alongside other quality manufacturers. If Martin guitars were a new comer to the market, there tone and build quality would not sway many people to them at the prices they are able to charge today. Their tone is recognized the world over...but I don't believe that it's recognized as being the best. Every blind test involving Eastman vs Martin I have tried has went in favor of Eastman....and field the most part I have the "Me and all my friends" thing going on. Other than a time or two when a buddies wife said they sound the same Eastman gets the vote. I am not spending a crap load more on a guitar that, to my ear and the ears of people with no dog in the fight say sounds inferior(ever so slightly).
To my ear, most of the Martins I've played or heard have a more metal (string) sound, and less wood, which strikes me as less soul. On the Eastman I hear the box, takes me past the strings, into the wood. Thank you.
what would sell me on the eastman E20 . is if I Could Hear Devils Right Hand .by Steve Earl . Steve is playing a D18 in that song . that or American Boy
Pretty close a little closer than the Dreadnought comparison. But the Eastman is just not there yet. Could be forward bracing I'm not sure. I always think I like brighter and louder better but that's not necessarily true. When you record an acoustic guitar you want it to compress a little bit naturally and not have the high-end a jump out above the other frequencies also the Eastman doesn't have enough low-end which can be a good thing, the smaller bodies aren't supposed to have the big Dreadnought sound. Every comparison between Eastman and Martin on TH-cam The Martin wins every time for me.. not one of these comparisons have background music so you can't hear how it's going to sound in a mix
to me .....both the Martin and the Eastman OM-TC .....sound fabulous. !! I've personally tried playing Eastman's *without* the Torrified Top ( large and small bodies) and .....just like the E20-OM (without the torrefaction) , reviewed in this comparison........found that they all have a " JANGLY " sound quality to them....which I hate....!!! ( I had a fender acoustic, one time, that developed a loose 'brace' on the top, which sounded exactly like these non-Torrified Eastman's
I hear that to but only when he’s strumming with a pick…is that normal or what…I have Martins, Gibson, Guilds & they don’t make that sizzle like sound.🤷♂️
I'm convinced if you did a comparison between Eastman and Martin but switched the audio, the Martin people would still say what they think is the Martin sounds better.
Maybe some people. But others could tell the difference as there is one. Eastman might be a quite a decent guitar but that's all. It will never be as good as a Martin, and the price difference really isn't that big considering that the OM-28 could be had new for 2300USD. To me 1600 for a Chinese guitar is just too much.
@@RazvanFilipCipca China have been building instruments 100’s of years before the USA even existed. I like Martins and have owned plenty but there’s no denying eastmans are just as good Just explain to me why you have a problem with a guitar built in China?
@@bradparnis1800 I personally think that first one should consider the price. Even if the Eastman is a good guitar it is still a Martin copy at a price that is quite close to a real Martin. I prefer instruments that have a heritage, and there is a certain feeling to owning such an instrument. As for the sound to me Martins will always sound more refined than Eastmans. I would consider Eastman a real alternative if it would be cheaper, but the prices being what they are why not just buy the real thing?
@@RazvanFilipCipca What kind of discount would save you $800 on a new OM28? You'd be lucky to get a used one for less than $2400. What ever discount that is, guess what, you can get a discount on an Eastman too.
after a setup the eastmans slay every martin..have 4 martins..one eastman..bought the om 20.. what a guitar,, I scallopedit a little,,and sanded the whole body down a bit... like that the spruce on the eastmasns are better quality grade too,, and mayne a patent on my unusual but lofically based scalloping is in order..im serious.. ive found out a way togheter with my mathgeni friend a ,,no the best framework for best sustain anfd sound in a guitar ever,, laminated woods with this bracing kills solid wood traditionally x bracings... x bracings are shit compared to fanbracing anyways,, seems like ppl dont know that old fact eaither
Nice comparison!! I dig my Martin OM-28 but this one is weaker tone than Eastman. If there are some Eastman guitars in my region, I will buy one of them. I can guess the reason why there are seldom Eastman here. No way.
Sorry folks, but the Martin definitly sounds better. Way more balanced. The top of the first Eastman is a bit stiff, as it happens with Adirondack wood on a brand new instrument. The difference is easy to hear with the TC one
@@qddk9545 The Eastman goes for between 1500-1700 (Depending on TC top.) The OM-28 goes for between $3200 and $3900. That's price difference of $1500 at minumum, to $2200 at the wider end. So what minor point is it you want to argue over? I swear to god some people have absolute no life whatsoever.
Nice guitars. I wouldn’t buy an Eastman just for the fact it’s made in China. When it is so easy today to find hand built boutique guitars for around the 3k mark there is no excuse not to support your local luthier. There are much better sounding guitars out there with that magical human touch. I have owned and worked on hundreds of guitars over the last twenty years and can tell you exactly what makes a great sounding guitar………..
The Martin has a far more "mature" & musically integrated sound across the registers low to high - Martin invented this design and yet rip-off merchants make $$ off their back with adequate sounding guitars which are not the real thing & which sound to my humble ears more aggressive.
Martin 1st strum: 0:01
Eastman e20om 1st strum: 3:20
Eastman e20om-tc 1st strum: 6:54
Wow thank you for this. The TC sounds more Martin than the Martin to me lol. Probably that broken in top
0:30 3:47 7:23
0:46 3:55 7:31
Thank you!
Not good, he does not seem to hit the high string(s) with the Martin. I could not hear them
(fingerstyle)
1:48 Martin
5:17 Eastman
8:58 TC Eastman
I like the Eastman TC the best. A fantastic sound.
Damn dude!!! How did you know 3 years ago that today I would be trying to decide between Martin and Eastman? What a great video. No talking and just honest equal playing to give a very accurate comparison. I think for my needs the Eastman Tc has won.
What did you end up getting? I’m in the same boat now.
@@CaptainOfMyBurden82 Eastman for the win!! Best guitar that I have ever owned.
@@highpointband4764 thanks for your response. Have you compared it to any of the big 3 manufacturers?
@@CaptainOfMyBurden82 Yes I have owned a couple of Martins, a Guild, and played a few Taylors. For me the Eastman has a much better sound and it projects well. The neck and overall build of the guitar is top notch.
@@highpointband4764 good to hear. I decided on an E10v/ss
I’ve listened to this video several times over the past several months and I used to like the clear, bright sound of the Eastman E20OM but now I really prefer the sound of the TC. I play guitar for vocal accompaniment and the complex tone quality of the TC is so much more interesting. Thanks Ian for these great videos!
You’ve been listening to this video for months and are making judgements over an instruments tone over TH-cam. Wow
@@DH-og5yr One CAN hear differences on TH-cam.
Let me just get this straight. The Eastman I have blows away the martins I have tried and the gibsons.
I purchased my Eastman e6 ss guitar today. I could have afforded a lot of the other guitars in that shop. Irrespective of cost I kept coming back to the Eastman.
For playability, feel and sound it was so much nicer than the rest. And to boot it came with the nicest hard case I’ve ever seen. 1,000 gdp !!!! Totally handmade, top woods, bone nut, ebony fretboard and beautiful solid mahogany!!!!! I love it. Such a woody tone.
Great comparison, for what I enjoy playing finger style, it seems that the Eastman e20 TC sits between the Eastman e20 and the Martin, it seems to have the nice warm tone of the Martin but also the clarity and volume of the Eastman e20. By the way, it helps opening this video in three different tabs and switching between them. I prefer fingerstyle and have all three fingerstyle parts opened in different tabs and find easier to switch and compare.
I own Eastman and Martin guitars and love them all so am not burdened by brand loyalty. The Martin is nice and warm but I just rapidly switched between the Martin and E20-OMTC and, wow, what a huge difference in volume, chime, woodiness and clarity with the Eastman. Note separation is fantastic. For a singer I'd get the Martin. Solo finger picker, I'd go with the Eastman.
i have and play my eastman slope ,cause i'm a poor guitarman! but.. this Martin is a queen in tone , she deliver all the legacy of this glorious guitar builders since the 19 century ! nevermind the price ! everything is perfect, not too much reverb, bass and treble perfect! well .... a only one guitar for life.... no doubt !
Some comments on eastman are unfair. Just to remind some people that Bourgeois Guitars called upon Eastman for the manufacture of its studiotone series. Eastman is a serious workshop and not just any Chinese factory. I invite you if you can to compare them in real life. I was able to do this at a store near my house. Eastman e20 om win by ko. And I'm not the only one. This guitar is closer to a Collings or Santa Cruz than a Martin. And yes, if the guitars were hidden how many would choose the Martin? Knowing that our hearing is influenced by our sight and our beliefs.
While I prefer the Martin sound, I've played a bunch of Eastman's and you are absolutely right in saying they are a serious guitar factory with serious chops.
Eastman is close to a Santa Cruz or Collings? Really? I had someone tell me the Epiphone AJ45me was better than a Gibson J45, too. Not even in the same ballpark. But to each his own.
They’re good for the money, or even better for people who can’t hear that the Martin is better.
I can definitly say I played Eastmans that I preferred to play over a Santa Cruz for example as I generally don't like Santa Cruz. But the Atkin, Colling, Boucher, Santa Cruz, ... I played are just leagues above the Eastman. Even well above the Bourgeois touchstones, which are literally elite-eastmans. I dislike this idea that Eastman is "bad" because it's made in China. Eastman are serious guitars for sure at a decent price point. I prefer them over Furch personally.
Similar deal with Blueridge Guitars too. Many folks see the "made in China" tag and dismiss those guitars, but they really are great values, and a little closer to a traditional Martin tone, if that's what you're after. Much like Eastman, not just any Chinese factory
Always look for your demos Ian. No talking, just letting the guitar show it's potential with your great playing. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words
Having tried these at my local music store,all sound great.What drew me to Eastman was the neck shape and radius,more comfy in my hands
I love Martin guitars but those Eastman's are awesome if it's a good guitar and sounds like it should I'll take it no matter the name
That Eastman TC is glorious.
Eastman E20-OMTC sounds amazing
Great comparison as always. I love your no-nonsense way of consistently demonstrating instruments, your TH-cam is such an invaluable resource for those of us who can't go and try a bunch of instruments in person (personally because i'm a lefty and live rurally)!
One thing I've noticed on your various the Eastwood demoes is that they sound great but there is this metallic quality in the upper registers, particularly on the lower end models... the TC here does not seem to exhibit it, but the non-TC does many others do, a kind of harshness that makes it sound exciting at first but then you realise it could get fatiguing or not go great with singing... a shame, as I keep feeling like eastman represent great value on paper. Perhaps I'm just gravitating towards that darker sound myself currently.
I like the first one mostest.
Many thanks, Ian for the fabulous guitar comparisons. Great playing as well man. Cheers from Oz.
Love the sound of the OM-28! Waiting for my custom shop OM-28 w/ bear-claw sitka top, pearl rosette, and custom 12th fret and headstock inlay. Oh and the smell of these guitars at the factory and at home is intoxicating! Eastman E-20 is no slouch! I like the same model but with the torrefied top..
I watch this video a couple of times and listen to the guitar sound with good earphones. Each of this instruments sounds different. I like the sound of the third guitar. The Eastman sounds dry, old, ritch and powerful. I think about to buy a Eastman Guitar, but here in Europe, Vienna I have only one store which offers Eastman Guitars and they have only one model, the E2D. So this comparison of these 3 guitar's help me a lot 👍
I have a E3DE. I love it more than the Martin I had. I love Martin but for vocal accompaniment Eastman has a great sound. They have a sound similar to a Guild but not as brassy. I do own a Guild 12 string and have owned other Guilds so it a reasonable comparison.
Remember the Martin OM has a 25.4 inch scale vs the 24.9 inch on the Eastmans. A 000-28 would have been a closer comparison if Ian is trying to get like for like. The longer scale brings out the highs. I have an E-10OM great guitar.
exactly my thought the reading the title
Man that Martin O’Malley 28 is a good one. Great resonance across the board.
But that Torrefied Eastman is hard to beat. Notes just jump out! I know there is a difference between the scale lengths but wow. For any price those Eastmans are great.
Om 28. Darn autocorrect
I like the Martin O'Malley 28! Haha, yes those Eastmans are an awesome value
I have an Eastman E6SS-TC and yes the TC warmth and clarity at the same time is really hard to beat, it's like a bet each way and is completely versatile 😊
I have an Eastman OM style guitar which I bought just a coupke of weeks ago when I popped into GAK music shop in Brighton UK. I hadn't intended to buy a guitar but the minute I played it I knew I had to have it. I've played loads of Martins and never really got on with them for some reason. I also have a Furch dreadnought which is brilliant and is comparable to a decent Martin or a Taylor. To my mind, the Eastman is brighter than the Martin, which I personally like.
It’s amazing how we put so much onus on the sound…even though there are so many things that affect what we’re hearing. Not enough emphasis is put on how a guitar actually feels. I like Eastman because they use a 12” radius and have a bevelled/rolled fingerboard. For those reasons alone I would prefer an Eastman to a Martin because I know I’d want to play it more.
I used to have the cedar topped Eastman E2OM and that was a ridiculously good guitar for the money. However, I tried both the E8OM TC (basically an OM-28 clone due to the Sitka top) and the E20OM-TC and surprisingly neither did anything for me. Then last week I tried an OM-28 and it was like magic, I was smitten immediately. It sounded considerably more refined than either of the Eastman equivalents. And no, it wasn't because it had "Martin" on the headstock - I actually wanted to prefer the Eastmans, not least given they're barely half the price, here in the UK at least.
Which just goes to show it's worth trying the actual instruments in question and preferably more than one of each if you can, as in the end these things are made of different pieces of wood and can vary considerably.
Hope you still possess these three guitar and make this comparison video again after these years. Thank you
I am amazed by the tone of the Eastman....definitely more resonant and balanced, seems louder too.
Been playing guitar over 50 yrs. First saw reviews, then demo's then E20OM.
Actually, ADI Topped EIR is out of reach for many.
Great tone, workmanship is very high. The woods are extremely nice, maybe not the highest top quality but, there's a magic in them that draws you in. Intonation near pitch perfect. Sustain for days. Realistically if something catastrophic occurs, you can just buy another one!
Not in any way do mean any Disrespect to anyone.
We all Love our preferred US manufacturers, Legends!
E20-OM
D-20-OM TC
E-40-OM TC
Others
J-40
JOMC
Regards ✌️
To my ears the best ones are:
1. E20OM-TC
2. E20OM
3. Martin
Just wow!
Right on, thanks for your input
c'mon is that really what u think?
They both sound good. But the Eastman really brings out the highs with balanced lows. Probably due to the Adirondack top! Would like to hear the Eastman again after about 2 years of playing.
I would be happy with any of these.
Eastman and Martin Very Different. Eastman is much brighter and articulate, great note separation, also seems louder. Martin, very mellow and traditional, warmer sounding, more blend on the strum, more overtones. Kind of like 2 tools in a toolbox that work better for different applications.
They're all tools in the toolbox Brandon! thanks for tuning in man.
Eastman E20-OMTC has a dry bark to it. Yes, its a bit bright, and not as complex as the Martin, but to my ears it sounds the most open out of them all.
What strings are on them and how old are they? My impression is that strings on an acoustic make at least half of the sound.
The guitars sound amazing , great playing too .
Eastman ,is my choice . great video
Eastman TC and I have a Martin om28
Thats high praise Albert!
Wow that last one sounded amazing !!
I have an E20OM-TC and they're great guitars but they don't sound like Martin guitars in person. They're brighter and more balanced but lack the deep bass of a Martin. So that's something to consider if you want a traditional Martin sound. I love it but sometimes only a Martin will do.
@@jmdbb it's a good thing you made this comment. I think I hear that in the recording but it is great to hear it from somebody who owns one of these. I would get Eastman E200 TC. I own a 1984 Martin om-28v and it is very very rich and amazing sounding instrument. The workmanship is impeccable! However you have to pay about $3,500 to get one of those these days. I think the Eastman E20 TC would do nicely LOL!
@@MrDonovant Funny you mention that, I ended up selling my Martin CEO7 and I Picked up a phenomenal custom OM28 (Adirondack/Wild Grain Indian Rosewood Golden Era bracing) for $2600 used and found the sound I was looking for out of a small bodied guitar. Ultimately the E20OM-TC wasn't for me. I found it lacking in bass. So I ended up trading my E20OM-TC for an Eastman E10D-TC that flat blows the doors off of any D18 I've ever played! It's so loud and resonant, I think even more so than the 2019 Re-Imagined HD-28 I own, which really shocked me.
@@jmdbb so you recommend the Eastman 10d TC a y e? As nice as the comprable Martin?
@@MrDonovant Yes at least the one I have sounds awesome. An adirondack custom shop D18 is a nice guitar but the Eastman would be half its cost.
Stunning stunning stunning guitars thanks really enjoyed listing with my jay it’s farahs volume up full blast haha felt them all 👌🏼👌🏼
thank you for watching my friend
I've also listened to this quite a few times as I really want to get an OM. A couple of observations: The Martin sounds like a guitar I've heard on lots of records. It has a recognisable tone that would make me want to play it to hear that tone. It's like the sound I get when I play my Gibson Sheryl Crow Sig. The Eastmans sound clear and the Thermo top has more of a warm tone but I don't get that same feeling I get when I hear the Martin. This is annoying as I really wanted to like the Eastman! Also, the bottom string doesn't come through on any of the recordings very well, particularly when finger picking. I wonder if Ian could comment on this?
Exactly my feeling too. Always wondered how it can be that a Martin always (almost) sounds like a Martin. That voice … and how come I like that Martin voice so much more … It is easy to become initially impressed by other voices, equally loud, clear, long sustain … but after some time that voice hets tiering and boring … and you long for the Martin voice … (I do have an Eastman OM40 tc and a fine Martin, so the experience is real)
The TC model is far away better than the normal OM, i guess that Martin is still warmer, but the Eastman is amazing, it gives you 90% of it for the half or less. A truly high quality brand and instrument.
1:48 Martin, 5:17 Eastman, 8:59 Eastman TC
I like your Demo ... It is very helpful...
Thanks for watching Jessie
Damn, it happened again. I wanted to like the Eastman better. But the Eastman sounded woofy in comparison to the Martin sounding more clear, more balanced. AND THEN; I plugged in my good headset and totally changed my opinion. Moral of the story: use good headphones for these things.
What would also be a good comparison video would be just Eastman OMs. E20OM vs E20OM-TC vs E8OM. Or just the E20 vs E8 because there’s so many opinions on Adi vs Sitka.
3,1,2 in tghat order but it is real close between 3 and 1 with 2 maybe a few % points behind.
Great comparison! Did they all have the same D'Addario strings you have listed in the description?
Yes, EJ16's!
Eastman TC sounds more Martin than Martin itself
The martin has a longer scale length compared to the Eastmans. Eastman OMs are actually comparable to Martin 000s so this video is more of a 000 vs OM.
Would you agree the OMTC has more clarity in the higher frequencies than the OM-28. OM-28 is more of supple blended sounds that is less piercing.. or is the OMTC song just being plucked more aggressively?
☑️ great comparison , i generally prefer mahogany guitars best ; have the Martin OOO-42 stnd and on my way to the E10 ; was thinking about the TC cause I like darkened tops better , but that's the only reason , i find no particular preference of TC being better ; thinking the natural route of air , sunlight , and time do their thing 😊
The first one just sounds prettier and warmer. The second one was kinda harsh and not set up right, the string buzz made it tough to compare them fairly.
Just picked up a new E40-OM-TC with the tonetite neck. Phenomenal guitar...Sounds better than those LOL
I have an Eastman E1D and for $420, what a guitar. I am thinking of purchasing either a DT30OM or OM20TC as my "Lifetime Guitar". Which in your opinion is superior in tone and sustain?
Dan Garner I’ve heard from some dealers that the DT Series is terrible. I recently traded a Taylor for an e10oossv which I love! EASTMAN FOR THE WIN!
The DT30OM is amazing mate, as nice a sounding as Collings OM2 IMO
Eastman is brighter, louder. But Martin is still martin. Of course, everyone has their own preferences, and I wish I found the Eastman better as many of the commenters here do, but Martin is still that familiar, rich sound recognizable from so many records I grew up with. Both great guitars, no doubt, but if money was no object it would still be Martin for me. Since money is object, I'm looking forward to trying out the Eastmans some day
I'll never get rid of my Martin OM-28
When your strumming w a pick I hear sizzling sound or a rattling like a brace has come loose…do you or anyone else hear it…I have headphones on but can hear it without them also…what is it???
That would drive me crazy!
Both eastmans beat the martin hands down in quality of sound in my opinion.
I own an an eastman cutaway, and I spent a whole day in a guitar store in Germany,try and testing these guitars,
There are absolutely fantastic, and incredible value for money. Yet the have one major flaw!
They have huge chunky necks, especially at the nut, and if you are like me, and used to smaller thinner tapered necks,
Then your going to struggle(as I am now) and unfortunately their necks size is standard on all their models.
But apart from that you will not find a better guitar and price on the market (except furch guitars) maybe?
Fair assesment Kevin!
I found the same to be true, particularly many of then do not have a nice satin tapered neck i.e(Larrivee,Taylor or Martin)....gotta start making satin necks.
I sort of hate to say this, but both Eastman's sound better than the Martin to my ears.... the world is changing fast. I have played the Eastman E10-D and I preferred the feel of the classic V-neck and volute to the neck on the newer Martin D-18... Eastman is doing a lot of things really well.
Eastman guitars are a tremendous value and hang with the big USA builders no problem.
The Eastman’s are louder. I don’t know if it’s because they project more or he recorded them louder. I think the Martin is more balanced. To me to compare them you need to raise the volume on the Martin recording a bit.
Fair enough Barry
I think the Eastman has a great clear tone but there is a reason everyone uses Martin as the comparative. Sorry there is a certain recognizable richness Martin's have. The Eastman however is no light weight and can hold itself in good stand with most high end guitars. I will admit I own 2 Martin guitars and may be a little slanted. But here is a hint. I'm thinking maybe a Eastman Cedar top may make my arsenal.
There is also an army of marketing minions and guitarists paid and sponsored by Martin to influence buyers and keep the Martin name coming up alongside other quality manufacturers. If Martin guitars were a new comer to the market, there tone and build quality would not sway many people to them at the prices they are able to charge today. Their tone is recognized the world over...but I don't believe that it's recognized as being the best. Every blind test involving Eastman vs Martin I have tried has went in favor of Eastman....and field the most part I have the "Me and all my friends" thing going on. Other than a time or two when a buddies wife said they sound the same Eastman gets the vote. I am not spending a crap load more on a guitar that, to my ear and the ears of people with no dog in the fight say sounds inferior(ever so slightly).
I used to own the cedar topped Eastman E2OM. A ridiculously good guitar for the money.
Eastman all day long
To my ear, most of the Martins I've played or heard have a more metal (string) sound, and less wood, which strikes me as less soul. On the Eastman I hear the box, takes me past the strings, into the wood. Thank you.
Wonder if the audiences
could tell the difference & care ?
I doubt it. You could probably be fine with a $150 yamaha honestly. But its just not as fun.
The Eastman just doesn’t have the ‘Bottom End’ that the Martin’s are famously renowned for
what would sell me on the eastman E20 . is if I Could Hear Devils Right Hand .by Steve Earl . Steve is playing a D18 in that song . that or American Boy
Pretty close a little closer than the Dreadnought comparison. But the Eastman is just not there yet. Could be forward bracing I'm not sure. I always think I like brighter and louder better but that's not necessarily true. When you record an acoustic guitar you want it to compress a little bit naturally and not have the high-end a jump out above the other frequencies also the Eastman doesn't have enough low-end which can be a good thing, the smaller bodies aren't supposed to have the big Dreadnought sound. Every comparison between Eastman and Martin on TH-cam The Martin wins every time for me.. not one of these comparisons have background music so you can't hear how it's going to sound in a mix
to me .....both the Martin and the Eastman OM-TC .....sound fabulous. !! I've personally tried playing Eastman's *without* the Torrified Top ( large and small bodies) and .....just like the E20-OM (without the torrefaction) , reviewed in this comparison........found that they all have a " JANGLY " sound quality to them....which I hate....!!! ( I had a fender acoustic, one time, that developed a loose 'brace' on the top, which sounded exactly like these non-Torrified Eastman's
I hear that to but only when he’s strumming with a pick…is that normal or what…I have Martins, Gibson, Guilds & they don’t make that sizzle like sound.🤷♂️
I'm convinced if you did a comparison between Eastman and Martin but switched the audio, the Martin people would still say what they think is the Martin sounds better.
Maybe some people. But others could tell the difference as there is one. Eastman might be a quite a decent guitar but that's all. It will never be as good as a Martin, and the price difference really isn't that big considering that the OM-28 could be had new for 2300USD. To me 1600 for a Chinese guitar is just too much.
Here's one.
@@RazvanFilipCipca China have been building instruments 100’s of years before the USA even existed.
I like Martins and have owned plenty but there’s no denying eastmans are just as good
Just explain to me why you have a problem with a guitar built in China?
@@bradparnis1800 I personally think that first one should consider the price. Even if the Eastman is a good guitar it is still a Martin copy at a price that is quite close to a real Martin. I prefer instruments that have a heritage, and there is a certain feeling to owning such an instrument. As for the sound to me Martins will always sound more refined than Eastmans. I would consider Eastman a real alternative if it would be cheaper, but the prices being what they are why not just buy the real thing?
@@RazvanFilipCipca What kind of discount would save you $800 on a new OM28? You'd be lucky to get a used one for less than $2400. What ever discount that is, guess what, you can get a discount on an Eastman too.
after a setup the eastmans slay every martin..have 4 martins..one eastman..bought the om 20.. what a guitar,, I scallopedit a little,,and sanded the whole body down a bit... like that the spruce on the eastmasns are better quality grade too,, and mayne a patent on my unusual but lofically based scalloping is in order..im serious.. ive found out a way togheter with my mathgeni friend a ,,no the best framework for best sustain anfd sound in a guitar ever,, laminated woods with this bracing kills solid wood traditionally x bracings... x bracings are shit compared to fanbracing anyways,, seems like ppl dont know that old fact eaither
I can't find an e20om-tc in China..
they only have them in the usa...why would u look in china??? weirdo
Nice comparison!! I dig my Martin OM-28 but this one is weaker tone than Eastman. If there are some Eastman guitars in my region, I will buy one of them. I can guess the reason why there are seldom Eastman here. No way.
the sound of a guitar comes out from the head logo.
I looked at the Eastman, then bought a Furch OM Vintage Series 2.......Better than all of them
Why is is it better?
Martin, Martin & only Martin! Missing my OM-28V ...
There sure is a lot to love about Martin...
The eastmans should be compared to Martin 000s, not the OMs. Eastman OMs are Short scale.
Martin, then horrified top, all good though
"HORRIFIED" LUL
Sorry folks, but the Martin definitly sounds better. Way more balanced. The top of the first Eastman is a bit stiff, as it happens with Adirondack wood on a brand new instrument. The difference is easy to hear with the TC one
When you consider that Eastman costs about $2000 less...
You might need a new calculator 😃
@@qddk9545 The Eastman goes for between 1500-1700 (Depending on TC top.) The OM-28 goes for between $3200 and $3900. That's price difference of $1500 at minumum, to $2200 at the wider end.
So what minor point is it you want to argue over? I swear to god some people have absolute no life whatsoever.
Nice guitars. I wouldn’t buy an Eastman just for the fact it’s made in China. When it is so easy today to find hand built boutique guitars for around the 3k mark there is no excuse not to support your local luthier. There are much better sounding guitars out there with that magical human touch. I have owned and worked on hundreds of guitars over the last twenty years and can tell you exactly what makes a great sounding guitar………..
Let’s not be xenophobic now…Eastman guitars have that ‘magic’ luthier touch, all hand made and individually tone tuned by highly skilled luthiers.
Holy ignorance
Eastman E20OM wins hands down. Both Eastmans beat the Martin without a doubt. All three guitars sound amazing.
becomeaudible1
Not in person.
you must be living underwater
@@powbobs
Eastman sounded to bright and thin in comparrison
eastman are better and fuller sounding guitars
Sorry Martin, you lose. Kind of a stingy sound compared to the Eastmans.
The Eastman has a brighter tone but the Martin has warmth and a soul, the Eastman does not.
Wonder how they fit the soul in the Martin...
Daniel newell ...........magic, smart-ass
The Martin has a far more "mature" & musically integrated sound across the registers low to high - Martin invented this design and yet rip-off merchants make $$ off their back with adequate sounding guitars which are not the real thing & which sound to my humble ears more aggressive.
Eastman guitars are the real thing! If you prefer the Martin, get one.