Archtops Eastman AR810 vs D'Angelico EXL-1 compared acoustically "End of a Love Affair"

[@Gk2003m]

Y’all are listening with your memory instead of your ears. Or something. Put on a good set of headphones, and listen. Glide back and forth from 0:42 to 3:22 and really listen. The Eastman amplifies every touch of the player’s fingers on the strings. Every tiny nuance. And the tone is wide. The EXL-1, by contrast, sounds clunky with a muted top end. The nuances are lost. Now you may prefer that sound, and that’s fine… but what you are hearing is the difference between a fully carved guitar (Eastman) and a laminate construction (D’Angelico). Again, that might be what you like. The Korean made EXL-1 will, due to its fully plywood laminate construction, be more resistant to feedback. Which would be an advantage on larger stages. And the price difference? The EXL-1 can be had used, in good shape, for around four hundred bucks. The Eastman AR810? You’ll rarely see those below $1500. My only point here is that so many replies seem, under the surface, to be about the historic nameplate. The EXL-1 is made in Korea, not the USA. Just thought you’d want to know

[@AndrewGonzalesArtistry]

Yes, I like the aesthetic of the D’Angelico but can’t get over the sound of the laminate top. The difference is very apparent here. The EXL has poor sustain whereas the Eastman sounds free and pleasingly amplifies every subtle action. I don’t know why they can’t mass produce a carved top with all the CNC technology we have these days. Hand carved is more desirable, but at least it would sound decent. The sound of laminate top acoustics is always muffled.

[@kirkp_nextguitar]

Great playing! It’s odd how many people seem to think this is a competition between brand names. It’s simply a comparison between the unamplified sound of two very different types of archtop (carved vs. laminate) with very different types of strings (roundwound vs. flat) for a particular kind of playing (a solo arrangement of a ballad), using a particular microphone set up in a particular way. I like both instruments and might prefer to play over the other in various situations. If I owned both of those instruments I imagine I’d enjoy playing both of them. But I’d tend to use the Eastman for solo lightly amplified or small ensembles and the D’Angelico for larger/louder ensembles.

[@stefanpfeffer2903]

I am a lefthanded jazzguitar player too. Greetings from Germany. My Guitar is an old 1937 Gibson L-5 noncutaway. Nice playing

[@jesussavesrick]

Sounds gorgeous!! Love the acoustic sound of a carved top Eastman.

[@RobertGrayMusic]

I wish I had an archtop in my life... I also wish I could play like this! First guitar gets my vote...

[@rommelrivera1186]

The D'Angelico sounded excellent. It has a more woody tone. Maybe the ebony board is responsible, if it has one. I sounds like a crossbreed between a Martin steel string and a Ramirez classical. Wonderful tone! Thank you.

[@icps86]

beautiful playing!

[@normanspurgeon5324]

Very nice sound- This fellow knows how to tune up-

[@geckobaldy]

Nice comparison. The Eastman has a very slight gypsy jazz guitar boxiness. I like the drier sound of the Excel. Sound wise, I prefer picking much nearer the neck. Cheers

[@AGoogleUser-hf5zg]

both are great... one sounds like a fully carved top, back and sides, the other like a laminate top, back and sides.

[@walterkaminski]

Nice playing. I'd guess round vs flat wound strings here accounts for a huge amount of the difference in tone between the guitars. In any case, this certainly makes a large enough difference so that we're not just listening to the difference in guitar build by a long shot.

[@afgafg6471]

Thanks for these videos. I’m torn between an Eastman and a D’Angelico. 👍

[@ryanbirabent-genone9219]

I prefer the D’Angelico. There is something about Eastman guitars that always sounds plinky and thin. The D’Angelico has a more classic jazz sound to my ear.

[@christianmani1730]

My impressions as well. I've owned a few Eastman's and they all share that same plinky/trebly tone. The lone exception was my El Rey ER2, which I still have.

[@rudyroo8435]

Excellent comparison. In term of playability, the smoothness of the neck, fretboard etc, which one is better? They both sounds good.

[@DrJoshGuitar]

Because the D’Angelico has more low-mids and is louder, it doesn’t sit in the mix as well as the Eastman. If the volume were reduced slightly on the DA track, it would be more of a fair comparison.

[@freddymclain]

The Eastman seems far more resonant and clear. It delivers that fat, archtop tone that we want. Not really a fair comparison. The Eastman is handmade using all solid woods ( no laminates) and features a carved spruce top. It's costlier, but it's a superior guitar.

[@deaganxpress]

beautiful playing. i wasn't expecting the Excel to sound that good. For me....I do prefer the Eastman's acoustic tone.

[@RJVB]

Same here, though I share the feeling that Eastmans have a somewhat nasal/trebly nature, almost flat-top like. Still glad I went with a Loar LH-650 myself instead of an ARx05ce. IMHO Eastman archtops have become overpriced, too close to certain EU or US built luthier instruments.

[@chaser9889]

I vote for flat wound strings on the Eastman! There's no going back haha

[@moleot2557]

Acustic sound Eastman and electric sound D'Angelico.

[@jefsut]

To me, the Eastman sounds more acoustically resonant, but the D'Angelico sounds great, and is more of a bargain price-wise.

[@gabrielzillion]

Yes, that is correct

[@illysigelman1264]

Which one of these do you like better?

[@gabrielzillion]

In acoustic setting the Eastman, however through amp the Dangelico has more mojo. Maybe a PU upgrade will Eastman the better through apm too

[@bobhess5986]

Eastman, the hands down winner.

[@zimga]

Nice. What song is it?

[@casandre2]

Both guitars are wonderful, it seems to me that the Dangelico has better mid and bas tones... but again I wouldn't mind to owe either one of them 🙂

[@derekec]

I was just about to comment but see another stating it..well I will...I think the flatter tone for the D might be flatwound strings. Wish the OP would state if.

[@dryogi4055]

Thanks for the video. The Eastman has more projection and is more resonant, but it's an all solid handcarved guitar compared to the laminated construction of the D'Angelico. It is also about twice the price of the D'Angelico and the question is: is the Eastman twice better?

[@123elvislives]

D'Angelico for me

[@alanoffer]

I would have like to have heard the same tune played with just fingers not the pick , I always think the real voice of a guitar comes through when the pick isn’t used ,, excellent playing though sir

[@HFSTube]

Maybe the difference is because of different strings. I don't hear too many string noises with D'Angelico EXL-1 ...

[@pnojazz]

Because it’s got different strings. But you knew that correct?

[@nicksalvatore5717]

Both good, but the Eastman has a better mid range and that’s the best part

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

nice playing, if i buy another guitar i will be in the doghouse. bark, bark. i think both are nice guitars, but i always wanted the excel 1. i seen photos of MEL BAY back in the 1970s playing that style of d angelico, ( archtop ). i thought it look cool and mysterious and the excel 1 is about 1500 dollars with the case and the throwback about 500 more, right ? i am just a retired guy who plays guitar in my room and paying that kind of money??????????????????????????

[@stevieflax]

I liked the Eastman better, except for the squeaking strings. I'd change them to set of D'Addario Chromes flat wounds. It seemed to be a more balanced sound, however it just could have been the playing. I'd have to play, feel and listen, to make a definitive decision. I do appreciate the comparison, as I'm looking to buy a jazz guitar and want no regrets.

[@Gk2003m]

I have an Eastman (AR610ce). With Chrome flatwounds. And the issue with it, if you can call it an issue, is that the solid top and back are so incredibly sensitive that every touch of the strings gets amplified! With the flats it’s not ‘squeaks’, but almost sounds like you’re brushing sandpaper. It’s forcing me to work on my technique lol. I also have a laminate jazzbox, and the Eastman just blows that away.

[@stevieflax]

@@Gk2003m I look for that clean, warm tone with sustain, when you want it. I thank you for your input, especially about the laminate. It any considerations leaning that to rest. I too, have been working on technique, and have had some very good results as getting the sounds and moods, I'm hearing in my head go to the fretboard out the sound hole. Well good on you and thank you for your comment. I'd like to get a guitar that blows away others, fits well and subtle innuendo passing notes can be heard, relished.

[@MikeHenrick1]

Put flatwounds on the Eastman guitar, or half flatwounds it will be a killer tone. The ex1 has flatwounds already?

[@gabrielzillion]

Yes the EX1 has Thomastik George Benson flatwounds. There were flatwounds on Eastman, but I found that a bit against its character, so I put the Electrozinc roundwounds

[@diogocostajazz2234]

I prefer the Eastman

[@grenbrg]

@5:23

[@stevef]

Is this the EXL-1 Premier or Excel?

[@VampirockX]

Premier doesnt have a finish like that,I bet thats a reguler old korean model exl-1

[@gabrielzillion]

This is EXL

[@BinhPham15]

Eastman sounds better to my ears. I have that guitar LOl !joking aside the other guitar is not as clear nor articulated but just my preference.

[@roywillis2750]

D'Angelico wins

[@jamiemorgan4146]

D’Angelico .... All the way. If you’re a Jazz or Bop player, you know which sounds better. The Eastman sounds like a toy, no warmth or soul. I don’t expect most will understand or know.

[@charleshuguley9323]

I think the point is that the D'Angelico compares very favorably with the much more expensive Eastman.