Eastman E1D Review. An All Solid “Class Act” Dreadnought Acoustic at £499
I cannot hide my excitement about this utterly wonderful dreadnought. Solid spruce top with Solid Sapele (mahogany) back and sides. Hand made and just £499 AND it comes with a lovely gig bag too. Without question this is SO much guitar for your money that I would find it hard to recommend any other dreadnought if you have £500 to spend.
To demonstrate the value of the guitar I have played it against the Seagull S6 Original at £439 which has been my long standing drednought acoustic recommendation for maybe 20 years!
Now then… Remember – The Eastman IS more money but you get a gig bag and all solid woods.
If you cannot hear the difference or you feel the Eastman is pushing your budget then The Seagull S6 Original remains a wonderful dreadnought acoustic and still comes highly recommended of course!
Fingers crossed the tonal differences come across on the video and you like what you hear.
For £500 you really could have a guitar for life here.
Eastman E1D https://rguitars.co.uk/products/eastman-e1d-inc-100-professional-setup-added-value
Seagull S6 Original https://rguitars.co.uk/products/seagull-s6-original
Check out this extremely favorable Guitar Magazine review here which seems to confirm my thoughts on the tone…
https://www.theguitarmagazine.com/gear/acoustic-guitars/eastman-e1d/
#Eastman #E1D #Review #Solid #Class #Act #Dreadnought #Acoustic
Originally posted by UCkb5AET_Qg2hXO_k74VoudQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fHbvXimHkk
Just ordered one from you. The guitar sounds fantastic
I have the E1D and like it so much I bought the E2D. The E2D is great for finger picking i liked the E2D so much I bought the E2om wich is more comfortable to play on the couch.
I am considering one of these, in the Classic finish. I'm just waiting for the dealer to return my call. You forgot to mention that these have an ebony finger-board. I am not hearing a lot of bottom from this guitar, like I got on my Guild D25. Am I mistaken about that?
I've had my E1D for about 3 years. Beautiful sound: rich, woody, lovely to play. Handles different tunings no problem. The 1-3/4 nut width and generous string spacing makes fingerstyle a pleasure and a key reason why I bought it. Neck profile is comfortable for thumb over barre chords, not too chunky and I have medium size hands. It's a very versatile guitar as I'm an all rounder couch player. Nice deep bass great for strumming, well balanced across mids and trebles, the notes ring out for fingerpicking with clarity all the way up the fretboard. Can be loud or delicate when it needs to be. And the specs are high end for the price you pay: all solid woods, bone nut and saddle, ebony bridge pins. A great deal and a real quality guitar.
I bought two -simply because of practicing in different tunings!!! True story. Love it.
Better base on the Eastman! and it sounded high quality in general! ????
Very helpful and informative, thank you!
Richard thanks for making these videos, I totally agree with you. Love the Seagull S6, Eastmans more!
If you take a virtual tour of the Eastman factory here on YouTube, you'll notice that a good many of the artisans are women.
2:39. I thought the S6 had Cherry back & sides? How does the action on the E1D compare to the S6? I have an S6 & the action is slightly high.
Both guitars are indeed about the most you can get for the money in their categories. But tonally I still miss the refinement of a higher end dread. Personally I'd sell a lesser family heirloom and invest at least double this $$ for something that sounds more like the classic steel strings on our favourite recordings. Then you can luxuriate in solid musical tone for years, without your gear-lusting eyes forever wandering, searching, dreaming… That said, these are fantastic beginner/hobbyist guitars.
I need to upgrade my Yamaha FG800
What would you recommend for a lowden fan who can't afford a lowden?
Amazing e1d…is stunning and what a price!
Another great review Sir.
I don’t even play electric, but man that is a Beautiful Piece Of Craftsmanship. You might say it looks “Angelic”. It also looks very comfortable to hold and play. Awesome !! ????
Good honest review.
This guy seems like such a nice guy and a top bloke but he don't half beat around the bush .. I tried too buy a guitar from here said I need it soon as the staff where like we can't send it till we have set it up ( but still i love the passion for making sure things are good this was for postage ) I'd said I don't want you too. I'll set it up how I want it set up anyway long story short got the guitar I needed sooner but .. I will say if I needed a guitar and not in a rush I'd 100 percent go too these guys they seem too care more than any other company in the UK and really do push good quality guitars without the daft names on the stock and I if I worked there I'd edit his videos lovely playing but he talks way too much for someone wanting too see a guitar ( sorry Richard )
brilliant presentation thank you
That E1D is a great guitar but I'd rather quit playing than buy anything from that shop
I don’t really think the S6 sounds as bad as it does here. there are plenty of videos where people are playing wonderful stuff on them. E1D sounds good here too, but this is no real example of how good the S6 can sound.
I have the Eastman E1D and my guitar teaches thought it sounded as good as an expensive Martin of his. But the Martin is easier to play and the headstock says 'Martin'.
Also, the Eastman comes with a nice Gig Bag! Solid wood, bone nut and saddle, ebony bridge and fret board, two way truss rod, and set neck with hide glue, what's not to like? When considering all these upgrades, the S6 is not in the same league. However, I do like the S6. It is a nice guitar, but for the money, I'll take the E1D.
We pay too much in this country for guitars as with everything else. I saw an E2D, albeit on sale, for approximately £373 equivalent selling in America. Very annoying.
Just a slight correction on the S6. The back and sides are usually laminated (or layered as Seagall calls it) cherry. Possibly your guitar is different?
Your enthusiasm is infectious!
I settled on the e1d yesterday as my live long guitar. It has all the specs together in one guitar that I've come to want after learning n familiarizing myself with wat sounds good. Sapele is just a wonderful tone wood so much more punchy n clear than mahogany. Hopefully it has forward shifted scalloped bracing n the 1 n 3/4 inch nut width is the ticket. Ebony has always sounded boxie to my ear which I dont like. If it has rosewood or especially walnut for fretboard it would be better. Bridge pins r plastic but can be upgraded to wood bone tusq or even brass. I'll get a set of each n do my own comparison n settle on the pins that compliment the tone the best. I have a wonderful n beautiful Jay Turser sloped shoulder that sounds amazing. Copy of Gibson ej160. Really cool guitar. Love it n would be perfectly satisfied with it if I didnt know there was something better lol. I relate to ur excitement. Music is all about tone n wat is pleasing to the ear. This guitar is certainly that. Ty. God bless.
If I were in the market… I would buy that all day long! It's a beauty…….I own an Eastman 305….bottom of their line mandolin and it's spectacular!
Hi Richard very nice review could you do a review of the Simon and Patrick woodland pro folk or mahogany can't find much information about them online but judging by the spec and what little is online they seem like very good guitars
Great Review. I'm picking one up in a few hours once I get off work and I can't wait.
Thanks to you, I've bought one and it sound marvelously well. A great second guitar next to my seagull SWS maritime. Thumbs up !! 😉
S6 original : It sounds like pretty deeper and its mellowing treble soubd (so called 3d effect) due to Cedar Top (its not spruce as you mentioned)
Eastman : it sound brighter, open and more throwing tremble due to spruce top which is lauder and rich.
I might be wrong but I think that’s the reason.
I prefer the E2D to the E1D……… Eastman guitars just get better. I last looked at one in 2014 and they've improved since then
Hunted down an E1D locally based on this review and bought it on the spot. Amazing guitar, beats my old Martin, can't put it down! Thanks for the review
there is a distinct difference !
thrs something magical about the Seagul s6 Original…the sound is sooo.. soo dreamy.!