This is my dilemma at the moment! There’s very little stock around to try both. To me, the Gibson sounds familiar on each section, and very American (I am from UK). It just sounds right. The Eastman sounds *like* the Gibson, but more hi-fi / studio; sparkly, rich, clean, and present - usually exactly what I would look for in a guitar, so I suppose the question for me will be: is that what i want from a J45? The Eastman is £1200, the J45 is £2700. The Eastman should be a no brainer, but the J45 is the real deal, and there is an audible difference in tone between the two (not better - just different). A quandary!
I work at a high end guitar store in Memphis TN, and have played a lot of Eastman guitars, and they are generally excellent. I own a limited edition E1ooSS and was on the verge of buying an Eastman E6SS or E10SS when a used Gibson J-45 Triburst VOS came in on trade. After serious back and forth comparisons and knowledgeable comments from a luthier, who is not a Gibson fan, that this J-45 was outstanding, I bought the Gibson. This video does a credible job of relaying the difference in sound that we heard.
For me the Eastman hands down! So much fuller low end, and overall much sweeter and more balanced tone. Dynamic range and response is much more better also, takes heavier strumming well. Great playing!
Eastman for the win for me. It's so close and about half the price of a J-45. I'm pretty sure if this was a blind test no one would know which one was which.
Excellent comparison and playing. To my ears, the J-45 sounds better.... in that I like the more balanced, less sparkly/bright tone a bit more. That said, I think I'm gonna purchase an E10SS in the next few days -- for the price difference, it's an excellent deal. They both sound fantastic. Thanks for the upload!
Good comparison. They are very different guitars and any pickup that is added could make as much difference again. The Eastman is a whole lot of guitar for the money and the Gibson gives you THAT sound. It seems to me that when you go past £1500 you don't get better guitars so much as different ones. What one player calls superior, another will not necessarily prefer at all.
Based on this recording and listening through Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro closed over-ear studio headphones, the Eastman 10SS has a much fuller sound with better overtones than the Gibson J45.
Carnt make my mind up,two beautiful guitars would come down to which one a preferred playing and feel of the neck say there ie not a best one here fabulous review to captured the feel and sound of them
It is always an indicator when people state: x is a BETTER guitar. I do notice this is often done in support of the cheaper option as if they are compensating for something. Im a big J45 fan. I also know there is a quality difference between them. The True Vintage are i think top of the range and ive played several. Just magical. Ive tried a good nr of Eastmans including the 10ss and the 20ss. Very nice guitars and i was actually ready to buy one if it touched my..well..soul. They didnt. Not their fault at all. Not saying they are worse than Gibsons. Some Gibsons, like the 'songwriter' series leave me rather cold.
Eastmam is a quality guitar. These guitars are not made by run of the mill chinese labors. Those Chinese luthiers pay attention to details and hand build like American luthiers used to. I had my doubts until i seen how they are constructed. I have watched many comparisons video's before buying my e20 mr tc. When it comes to quality, tone and price Eastmam is the best. Unless you have $10,000 to get a better soind.
I recently discovered the Eastman brand. They are great guitars and reasonably priced. I have 2( E40 OM, E20D)and are looking to get 2 more(E10SS, E10 OM).
Problem nowadays is you test two same guitars from Gibson or Martin and they could sound absolutely different... This means you have to go to the shop and try it, if you can found it! Here is where the trouble born. Almost impossible try your 2,3 favourites guitars in the same shop or found it... And then when you are sure what you want, you buy it online and maybe what you get is another different think that you expected. In conclusion, don't trust the brand on the Headtsock or what you expect a brand supose to give you. Try it and if you are in love, buy this exact instrument.
Here it seems they are quite similar, where the Eastman has more low end. But i have played both. And in real live the Eastman came not even near to the Gibson. Both, from playability and sound. I wish it wasn`t. The compression and clarity of the Gibson got me. It is so much fuller. But I also play much harder then this guy here. My guitar has to withstand and be able to do more. Now, i try to trade all my stuff to get one. But the seller warned me that Gibson has hughe quality differences in models.
In this the demo they do not sound very similar. I prefer the Eastman with these mics, though it sounds kind of generic. The Gibson sounds more…like a Gibson but dull.
I enjoy your videos. One thing that I'd like to see is the backs please, even if you could just hold it so we could see the back for 2 secs at least one could freeze the frame without having to go to your website. although maybe thats your reason! Love that J45 beautifully balanced. I'm a little bit biased to be fair as I could never bring myself to buy a Chinese guitar but to my ears the Eastman sounds a tad thin by comparison. Love the J45 and it also has the one thing the Eastman will never have....soul.
Yes, it has "soul" and also worse quality control and every two or three years a new owner. You are really funny. I could agree only if you can find almost perfect Gibson, but it is easy to find really good Eastman. Just pick one o them.
It’s very simple one guitars a Gibson and the others not. What gives one that inspiration to play should drive choice. For me, buy up as far as you can! Gibson ☝️
There are many cars made that are more reliable than a Ferrari, cheaper to run, maintain etc...... but its not a Ferrari. When you buy a Gibson it's the same thing , you're not just buying a guitar you're buying it's heritage and the privilege to say "I play a Gibson.' The eastman is a splendid guitar for the money it really is. But I choose Gibson every time and happy to pay the extra money to do so. Gibson is the Ferrari of guitars and Eastman are The Kia of cars. How many people to you know dream of driving a Kia?
I have Gibsons and Collings which in my opinion Collings are the finest guitar made but I buy a guitar for playability and sound not because they are Ferrari's and I just recently acquired a Eastman and they are excellent in every way so I'm not so sure about your explanation, I get it but have you ever played a Eastman, they are great guitars.
In a word: snob. The difference is as much the guitar top. On the Gibson it is sitka. The Eastman is Adirondack. The Gibson had 14 years to break-in and warmup. Some people think going online is for their personal validation. Funny I thought we were just comparing 2 guitars.
I own an Eastman E1ss sb which I really love playing. I ended up installing an Lr baggs anthem pickup in it. That being said. I’m saving up for. J45. There’s just something about the j 45 for me. Everytime I pick it up and play at my local shop I’m tempted to just put it on my credit card lol.
A Gibson is not a Ferrari, it's a Ford. The Eastman is a Mazda. Never played either of these two models, but prefer the tone of the Eastman, a bit warmer and had a bit more ring? I have owned a Ferrari, maintenance nightmare, expensive parts, fun to drive and a great sound. Not a daily driver. But it sounded better than any Gibson :-)
This is my dilemma at the moment! There’s very little stock around to try both. To me, the Gibson sounds familiar on each section, and very American (I am from UK). It just sounds right. The Eastman sounds *like* the Gibson, but more hi-fi / studio; sparkly, rich, clean, and present - usually exactly what I would look for in a guitar, so I suppose the question for me will be: is that what i want from a J45? The Eastman is £1200, the J45 is £2700. The Eastman should be a no brainer, but the J45 is the real deal, and there is an audible difference in tone between the two (not better - just different). A quandary!
If you’re in Texas, South Austin Music and Fuller’s Guitar in Houston have a variety of Eastmans on display.
I work at a high end guitar store in Memphis TN, and have played a lot of Eastman guitars, and they are generally excellent. I own a limited edition E1ooSS and was on the verge of buying an Eastman E6SS or E10SS when a used Gibson J-45 Triburst VOS came in on trade. After serious back and forth comparisons and knowledgeable comments from a luthier, who is not a Gibson fan, that this J-45 was outstanding, I bought the Gibson. This video does a credible job of relaying the difference in sound that we heard.
For me the Eastman hands down!
So much fuller low end, and overall much sweeter and more balanced tone. Dynamic range and response is much more better also, takes heavier strumming well.
Great playing!
absolutely agree!
Eastman for the win for me. It's so close and about half the price of a J-45. I'm pretty sure if this was a blind test no one would know which one was which.
Excellent comparison and playing. To my ears, the J-45 sounds better.... in that I like the more balanced, less sparkly/bright tone a bit more. That said, I think I'm gonna purchase an E10SS in the next few days -- for the price difference, it's an excellent deal. They both sound fantastic. Thanks for the upload!
Maybe get the E6SS? That one has a sitka top, so it will probably sound closer to the gibson than the E10SS with the addi top
Good comparison. They are very different guitars and any pickup that is added could make as much difference again. The Eastman is a whole lot of guitar for the money and the Gibson gives you THAT sound. It seems to me that when you go past £1500 you don't get better guitars so much as different ones. What one player calls superior, another will not necessarily prefer at all.
Eastman have their own sound. I’ve owned 2 so far. Great guitars.
Based on this recording and listening through Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro closed over-ear studio headphones, the Eastman 10SS has a much fuller sound with better overtones than the Gibson J45.
agreed!
Im the complete opposite..
Carnt make my mind up,two beautiful guitars would come down to which one a preferred playing and feel of the neck say there ie not a best one here fabulous review to captured the feel and sound of them
Can you tell us what your signal path is here?
It is always an indicator when people state: x is a BETTER guitar. I do notice this is often done in support of the cheaper option as if they are compensating for something. Im a big J45 fan. I also know there is a quality difference between them. The True Vintage are i think top of the range and ive played several. Just magical. Ive tried a good nr of Eastmans including the 10ss and the 20ss. Very nice guitars and i was actually ready to buy one if it touched my..well..soul. They didnt. Not their fault at all. Not saying they are worse than Gibsons. Some Gibsons, like the 'songwriter' series leave me rather cold.
I like the Gibson
The eastman is a better made guitar with better quality top as well as half the cost eastman wins it's a no brainer
Eastmam is a quality guitar. These guitars are not made by run of the mill chinese labors. Those Chinese luthiers pay attention to details and hand build like American luthiers used to. I had my doubts until i seen how they are constructed. I have watched many comparisons video's before buying my e20 mr tc. When it comes to quality, tone and price Eastmam is the best. Unless you have $10,000 to get a better soind.
I recently discovered the Eastman brand. They are great guitars and reasonably priced. I have 2( E40 OM, E20D)and are looking to get 2 more(E10SS, E10 OM).
No1. Gb j-45
Problem nowadays is you test two same guitars from Gibson or Martin and they could sound absolutely different... This means you have to go to the shop and try it, if you can found it!
Here is where the trouble born. Almost impossible try your 2,3 favourites guitars in the same shop or found it...
And then when you are sure what you want, you buy it online and maybe what you get is another different think that you expected.
In conclusion, don't trust the brand on the Headtsock or what you expect a brand supose to give you. Try it and if you are in love, buy this exact instrument.
Different tones so not a fair comparison. Both are great though
Here it seems they are quite similar, where the Eastman has more low end. But i have played both. And in real live the Eastman came not even near to the Gibson. Both, from playability and sound. I wish it wasn`t. The compression and clarity of the Gibson got me. It is so much fuller. But I also play much harder then this guy here. My guitar has to withstand and be able to do more. Now, i try to trade all my stuff to get one. But the seller warned me that Gibson has hughe quality differences in models.
May look similar but totally different guitars
5:18 6:14
The gibson just has the slight extra bite to it .but the eastman is still brilliant .but the gibson is better but only by a fraction
In this the demo they do not sound very similar. I prefer the Eastman with these mics, though it sounds kind of generic. The Gibson sounds more…like a Gibson but dull.
I enjoy your videos. One thing that I'd like to see is the backs please, even if you could just hold it so we could see the back for 2 secs at least one could freeze the frame without having to go to your website. although maybe thats your reason!
Love that J45 beautifully balanced. I'm a little bit biased to be fair as I could never bring myself to buy a Chinese guitar but to my ears the Eastman sounds a tad thin by comparison.
Love the J45 and it also has the one thing the Eastman will never have....soul.
😂
for a quarter of the price I can substitute "soul".
Yes, it has "soul" and also worse quality control and every two or three years a new owner. You are really funny. I could agree only if you can find almost perfect Gibson, but it is easy to find really good Eastman. Just pick one o them.
Boomer comments are gonna boomer comment
The differnece is night and day to me. Gibson sounds so much more open and sparkly.
It’s very simple one guitars a Gibson and the others not. What gives one that inspiration to play should drive choice. For me, buy up as far as you can! Gibson ☝️
There are many cars made that are more reliable than a Ferrari, cheaper to run, maintain etc...... but its not a Ferrari. When you buy a Gibson it's the same thing , you're not just buying a guitar you're buying it's heritage and the privilege to say "I play a Gibson.' The eastman is a splendid guitar for the money it really is. But I choose Gibson every time and happy to pay the extra money to do so.
Gibson is the Ferrari of guitars and Eastman are The Kia of cars. How many people to you know dream of driving a Kia?
But some people can't afford such an extensive instrument
I have Gibsons and Collings which in my opinion Collings are the finest guitar made but I buy a guitar for playability and sound not because they are Ferrari's and I just recently acquired a Eastman and they are excellent in every way so I'm not so sure about your explanation, I get it but have you ever played a Eastman, they are great guitars.
In a word: snob.
The difference is as much the guitar top. On the Gibson it is sitka. The Eastman is Adirondack.
The Gibson had 14 years to break-in and warmup.
Some people think going online is for their personal validation.
Funny I thought we were just comparing 2 guitars.
I own an Eastman E1ss sb which I really love playing. I ended up installing an Lr baggs anthem pickup in it. That being said. I’m saving up for. J45. There’s just something about the j 45 for me. Everytime I pick it up and play at my local shop I’m tempted to just put it on my credit card lol.
A Gibson is not a Ferrari, it's a Ford. The Eastman is a Mazda. Never played either of these two models, but prefer the tone of the Eastman, a bit warmer and had a bit more ring? I have owned a Ferrari, maintenance nightmare, expensive parts, fun to drive and a great sound. Not a daily driver. But it sounded better than any Gibson :-)
Once the Eastman top is broken in, the Gibson has nothing over it