Martin D-41 vs Eastman E40D | Is Legacy Worth DOUBLE The Price?
Are you paying for superior tone, or just the name on the headstock? In this “Battle of the Bling,” John puts the legendary Martin D-41 up against the heavy-hitting import, the Eastman E40D. The Martin brings that full, rich, and round tone—it’s essentially the Porter Wagoner of acoustic guitars. But the Eastman comes swinging with upgraded specs, like a solid Adirondack top, for nearly half the price. We A/B test these two stunning dreadnoughts to see if the legacy king can hold its crown against this high-value challenger.
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00:00 – Eastman E40D-TC vs Martin D-41
00:50 – The Martin Tone
01:32 – Why Eastman Is Different
02:32 – Pros/Cons of Martin
03:35 – Pros/Cons of Eastman
04:22 – Quick Specs
04:47 – Blind Test
06:06 – The Reveal
06:31 – Conclusions
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Originally posted by UCgToABlTkcQP-ojGXd1g1SA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38lM27giNlk
I guessed wrong. But they pretty much sound the same.
I own Martin and Eastman. I prefer the Martin in this case. Both nice!
Only way I knew which one was the Martin, was the low end was boomier than the Eastman….lots more low end.
Got it right, pleased to say. This is a nice-sounding Eastman, but I remain unconvinced. You can easily buy a brand-new American guitar for that $3k price tag. Not sure why you’d ever spend so much on a Chinese guitar, particularly when Epiphones exist.
The audio is not right in this video. There is an echo of sorts…
Try putting that comparable Taylor up against the Eastman. Bright vs Bright
I just picked up a Martin D-41 2021 for $3500 cash and I can say with confidence that it's the best guitar I've ever played or heard. I don't know much about Eastmans, but considering that I got it for the price of a pre-tax D-28, I think I got a good deal. I like Guitar A, but Guitar B felt punchier. It sounded a bit more like home, so I could tell that must be the Martin. I think my D-41 is more open, but that's to be expected cause it's had time for the wood to break in.
That one was easy. A lot of buzzing with A. It didn't sound "woody Martin"
For the tone comparison, I think it would be better if you ring open E-G and C chords on each guitar before begining to play. Not just to guess which is wich, but as customer i think it would be interesting. I love your video.
The Eastman sounded better to me in the lead portion and the martin sounded better in the rhythm portion
it would be cool if you compared 000-18 vs e6om/e10om
Really good demo. I listened in a large living room, asymmetric vaulted ceiling, Martin Logan Motion 40 floorstanding loudspeakers, Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 amplifier (with RoomPerfect room correction). The guitar difference jumped out immediately. The Eastman was brighter, almost "jangly," with less low-end "wooomph." Yup, the Martin sounded slightly "veiled" in comparison, but I preferred the Martin.
I easily picked out the Martin for its somewhat richer sound. But the Eastman was pretty darned good. I do play a Martin OM and a couple of Santa Cruzes but would not be unhappy with the Eastman. I would be comfortable recommending either to a purchaser.
Eastman has a more focussed sound.
But different strokes…
I choose "B".
The Eastman does hold its own, for sure. I immediately knew which was which once each was played. The tonal difference was noticeable but minor. I think y'all made the Martin "B" because it sounds more "B"eefy. More "B"ody tone coming through? Amaright? Both sound amazing. I haven't played upper-end Eastman guitars, but the lower price-point models I have played left feeling just as flat as lower price-point Martins do. I would, of course, want to play both of these if I was in the market for a killer dreadnaught. I would be interested in that type of feedback from both of you. How is the playing experience?
Well I’ve been told luthiers are refusing to work on Chinese guitars because of the glue they use. Martin is a Lincoln and Eastman is a AMC pacer
The Martin is set up incorrectly. The strings are rattling….
They have it figured out over at Eastman????
I have both, they are very close tonally, but my particular Martin D-41 wins out slightly, though the EASTMAN with ADI top has more headroom. BUT, if you can only afford the EASTMAN, definitely buy it it's very very good.
Saying nobody can imitate the Martin guitar sound is BS .
Wow! So close! It really wasn’t until the later in the song when I heard the Martin bass come out. Otherwise, I couldn’t really tell.
Easily identifiable. The Martin has more base and the Eastman is brighter. Which one FEELS better? What will they sound like in 5 years?
It is amazing how close these two guitars sound. The only thing my ear picked up on was the bass string E. The martin had just a touch more bass which allowed me to pick correctly. The rest of the eastman sounded as good as the martin.
Bull crap….Hseinmo gets the Martin round full tone for about a 1/3 the price. Compare the D-45 to Hseinmo's version…..plus Hseinmo cantilever the neck and do a bolt on neck and send you the shims to adjust the neck set yourself.
I had no trouble differentiating between the two.
Martin is way overpriced.
My ear leaned toward the Eastman. Killer sound.
If you want the traditional big boom of a good dreadnaught as your general go-to guitar, then it's the Martin. If you need a brighter slightly more articulate sound (think playing a lot of lead & single string music) with tighter crisper bass, then the Eastman might be a better choice. I have played a few Eastman rosewood dreads and they were excellent sounding and very easy to play. You can't lose with either brands.
My favourite? I have to say I preferred the Martin. I love that big rich warm & full sound from a good rosewood Martin dread.
Where Eastman are concerned some other companies could be ashamed of the cost of their Guitars, No matter where they are made but even used the cost seems all one sided but when all said and done it is after all down to the buyer looking at the headstock, and people know that only to well now day's so a change will come seems to be happening already.
I bought an Eastman a few years ago, phenomenal guitar.
I liked the crispness of "A". To me "B" sounded almost muted and dull. I didn't like the low end of the "B" guitar. either. So, "B" had diminished low-end and dull high-end. I had to go with "A" and was mildly surprised at the result, though not totally, as I have an Eastman E3OM deluxe that I just love.
I guessed correctly. The Martin just has that thick, warm low end that Eastmans do not have. I’m not a Martin fanboy at all, but I do mostly prefer their sound over the Eastmans, which just have that modern, bright tone that I don’t particularly love, but I can’t deny they make great instruments, especially considering what you get for the price.
The Martin for me every time. Mmmm that tone. Even if they sounded exactly the same, I am willing to intentionally pay more knowing I am keeping people in America working on those lovely instruments. In my opinion we need to support brick and mortar business here at home. Whatever you give energy to grows. No hate only love ✌️
Eastman are doing a great job!
I've had a Martin D41 (and I wish I still had it) and an Eastman E40D. The Eastman to my ear is much brighter, and LOUD, and lacks the nuance and warmth that a Martin has. But I have to say, Eastman makes a nice guitar.
The Eastman wins this one
I guessed correctly! But as long as I've been playing and own some Martin Custom Shop dreadnoght guitars, and previously an E40, I ought to be able to hear the difference. My choice isn't in this comparison: my Bedell 1940 is my choice with a mahogany back, and I like my TAS 10TH ANNIVERSARY Eastman TC MR LSH in addition to my Martin Custom Shop HD-28e VTS 12-fret.
What's wrong with your mics? Out of phase or something? Really crappy vocal sound in this demo. It makes me wonder what the comparison is for if you're not mic'd or mixed well
Eastman won for me, pretty shocked
Martin All the way ????????
You don’t buy a Martin for what it sounds like as new . You buyout cause you know what it will be 15 years from now.
Audio on this video is off fellas….something is off….or ive had one too many bourbons
Hi, I love Martin, but I also “failed” your A-B test. I began to believe “A” was the D-41! The flat picked clarity and “pop” of the Eastman Adirondack top won me over. Disclaimer: each guitar is an individual? Thanks