Are Eastman's "Thermo Cured" tops better? | Guitar Battles #19 | @ The Fellowship of Acoustics

In this much requested episode, we put the new Eastman "Thermo Cured" E6OM against their regular E6OM to see which one sounds better. We're glad to be back and we'll start our weekly episodes again. Enjoy!
Eastman E6OM: www.tfoa.eu/en/eastman-eastma...
Eastman E6OM TC Thermo Cured Top: www.tfoa.eu/en/eastman-e6om-t...
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[@xkukubax]

You really do listen to your viewers - much respect for that. And thank you.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

We wouldn't be able to do it without you. Plus, a good idea is a good idea ;) No matter who brought it to the table.

[@glennjustice2760]

Sounds dryer because it is. I have tried TCs and prefer standard tops. Maybe it’s too dry? I like the more open sound of the plain tops and actually prefer Sitka over Addy tops. Great video guys. Thanks.

[@glorioskiola]

They both sound fantastic. Different, but fantastic. I’m about to buy one.

[@Bria-xt6ei]

I love my Eastman e10om-tc. Got it on FB marketplace for $800 in mint condition. I lucked out. I would love to hear a comparison between the Eastman e10om-tc and a higher end guitar of similar build. Collings, Huss and Dalton etc... Thanks for the content!!

[@RRStout]

Well, the first thing, glad to see y'all found your way home. LOL Both guitars look like real gems. And I know Eastman guitars are a great value for the $money$. The thermo cured top has a warmer sound. The uncured top seems to have a more distinct sound. Both guitars, with their own separate tones, sound pretty damn good strumming or finger-picking. I guess it's up to your own individual preference. Which ever one is more pleasing to your ear. This comparison was a real challenge. But I kind of like the looks of the thermo cured with the darker top. When guitars age and that Spruce begins to orange-out they really start to look nice. Glad to see the return of Guitar Battles. Look forward to more Guitar Battles. You guys stay safe and hopefully we'll see you again next week. (?) ; > )

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks for the comment as always! We really appreciate it, and love the discussions ;) Guitar Battles will be coming back this week for sure! It's a fun one... ;)

[@fourocker]

If you play and hear them in person the TC's don't sound as tight or restricted, maybe more open/airy, resonance is quite a bit more pronounced at least that's what I could hear when trying them out in person, I ended up with an E6SS-TC and couldn't be happier, it's hard to really appreciate the difference listening from the internet.

[@thomasgaida7174]

I would also prefer the regular top because it sounds slightly more articulate. I really would like to know the sound difference between the double top OM and the respective standard model OM by Eastman. I think nobody made a comparison yet.

[@danejames7098]

Hard to tell on an iPad but I thought maybe the TC had its trebles slightly clipped, slightly less harsh but otherwise pretty similar

[@glennjustice2760]

I liked the more open sound of the uncured top. Both are great guitars. Good demo guys.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks Glenn! Thanks for sharing your opinion as well :)

[@squidwardjtentacles]

I have played the tc version and I was blown away. In the room it sounded fantastic. I am selling my Martin DRSG to get the Eastman

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Great choice if you ask me David, the TC's are great.

[@michel559]

Hiy guys, great battle. Good to see you back. I know where you have been Maarten 😉, next time you pass here we‘ll have a drink. Listening on my phone, difference in tone wasn‘t huge, more visually though 🥳. But yeah the TC sounds a tad warmer, drier I guess. Would be interesting to see if the NON TC is maturing faster in sound than the TC, both being played regularly of course. Still, it is a nice thing seeing your Guitar age and mature in sound and visually! My E8OM comes along quite well. Coen nice picking there, Maarten that was some cool strumming pattern, like it! Talking visually, I give a slight Edge to Maartens sneakers....just saying 🤪. Take care guys. Michel PS: I would really like to hear the difference from the E10SS vs E10SS/V. You seem to have both on stock. Diesn‘t have to be a battle, on your Demo channel would be cool too 👍🏻

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hey Michel! Haven't spoken to you in a while, I'll make sure to send you an email ;) Interesting question, we haven't had the time to see a TC top age naturally because they haven't been around for long enough. I would say that the non-tc ages faster by itself. As it hasn't been tampered with and is softer. Thanks! Strumming was based off of Rufus Wainwright's "Me And Liza" ;) Wearing the pink-nikes as we speak! I've noted the E10SS on the never-ending Guitar Battles list ;) We'll see! All the best! Maarten

[@wouterdejong5798]

Thanks guys. I couldn't hear the difference on my phone, but the TC was obviously more mellow when I played the vid over decent speakers. Regular top was my fav, because it's snappier. Curious about the spruce top vs the ceder top from Eastman! Especially with fingerstyle.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Spruce vs Cedar top is a good one! Thanks ;)

[@xandrlsch]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics Eastman Adirondack vs Sitka would be interesting as well.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@xandrlsch Good one, thanks!

[@sivadyert]

Not sure if it's the mic, the guitars, etc, but there was a lot of boom and not a lot of meat coming from these guitars, especially in the fingerpicking demo. I bought the E10D-TC .... awaiting its arrival. Thanks for the nice vid!

[@tonydovell6131]

I like the aged look of the Thermo Cured better. Im sure whichever sound would be fine for me. Beautiful guitars!

[@nickp4872]

On my sound system which has pretty good and natural sound reproduction, the E6OM-TC reminded me a bit of the E10OM-TC which I tried at a shop. In short to me it sounds more special and indeed more aged and played in. Might seem more mellow comparing to the normal top which has a bit more "bite" in the highs, but it actually has fuller and more clear and focused mids and better articulation and balance. The normal version to me can sounds a bit more muffled with it's bass and mids even though is more lively on top. Maybe also the room acoustics there and where you sit closer to the wall? Of course the untreated one will also improve over time. But nice to have a version that is more "run-in" out of the box. Very interesting model to consider over the more expensive E10OM-tc. Thanks for the comparison.

[@brandonknapp3328]

Thank you guys, your great and so are the guitars. Eastman great modern guitar with older mojo.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks Brandon, couldn't agree more on Eastman!

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

I thought I would hear a more discernible difference to be honest. Thanks for the comparison. I would get the non aged top, I would like to age the top over time myself 😎

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Couldn't agree more Nick! Self-aging for days ;)

[@HenryPipes]

I have one of the first 5 E10D-TC's ever made. It's a 2017 model and sounds great! I also have an E20D-TC that's a 2019 model and it's phenomenal as well. I think the torrefied top adds some openness and overtones to the sound. IMO Adi needs a bit to open up but the TC models sound good out the gate.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Adi does need a bit more time indeed, I agree! The E6 used in the video has Sitka.

[@justinthyme2666]

I appreciate your video. My opinion is probably unpopular, but I prefer regular top. I wish it had the appearance of the tc top, though. Eastman, throw some finish options in for your e6 line. Vintage tint, maybe go crazy and a sunburst.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

That's a great idea... ;)

[@ole7236]

The regular one sounds better to me, so I'd prefer that.

[@TWC6724]

I really can’t decide now. I’ve been wanting a Yamaha Red Label but these sound amazing as well.

[@patricklundquist9869]

Yamaha red labels are fine guitars. I bought a Nippon Gakki red label FG-150 in 1971 for around $125 from the military exchange catalog. It was a great little guitar. I played really hard back in the day and the guitar stood up to the abuse. My two older sons learned to play on that guitar. Now I own Eastman guitars and they are light years ahead of the red labels in both tone and quality. They can be played either hard or very delicately and still respond to every nuance. I have standard and thermo-cured. The standard has been played long enough the top has opened up. It seems a bit warmer than the thermo-cured. That being said, I am a big fan of thermo-cured tops for their woody tones. If you decide to go for the Yamaha red label, make sure the label says Nippon Gakki. After Yamaha moved manufacturing to Taiwan, some of the early guitars still had red labels but with, 'Nippon Gakki,' removed.

[@georgei5392]

@@patricklundquist9869 Yamaha has reissued them with all solid woods as well.

[@davidkyle5552]

How about Eastman E40 OM vs Martin 000-42 (same scale length and that’s what they copied)...and maybe include the 000-28 to see if any tone difference in the Martins or just the bling?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Good one David, thanks!

[@keyofb9513]

From what I understand, explained by Matt Chulka, is that Thermo cured tops aren’t immediately apparent right out of the box. Instead it “ages” a lot faster than the non-cured

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

This is very true, but we can't deny that they sound different straight out of the box ;)

[@sputnikginger]

the regular sounds brighter to me

[@kennethelliott7410]

I am not a big fan of the thermal top. I agree with Coen it does not sound like an old guitar just sounds different. I too prefer the standard top

[@philipdeppen2890]

I like the cured one. I like the warm and dry tone.

[@Bigdhondhi]

Maybe the TC opens up faster !! TC is more balanced! One sounds like Martin and other one like Taylor!

[@UCS0608]

I prefer the non-TC. Last Friday I bought an Eastman AC224CE at this great shop and I love it. The only thing is that it looks so pale next to my 1973 Martin D35 and the Farmer 00 Rosewood (with torrified spruce top!). So I do prefer the color of the TC! :)

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Haha good point! That '73 must have a great look to it. How's that Farmer treating you? Always great to hear someone owning a guitar made by one of our own luthiers ;)

[@UCS0608]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics The Farmer 00 is amazing. A real inspiring instrument. Adrian built it especially for me and imho outdid himself. Quality woods, beautiful inlays, great playability and very nice electronics (Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend). I used to have a Farmer squareneck dobro as well, but I traded it last year for a Regal Resonator at TFOA. It was the first one Adrian ever built, but I'm just not that good on a squareneck and as far as I know there's someone in Oslo who's enjoying this guitar now! ;) It was hanging on the wall way too much, though every now and then I really mis it. BTW, you guys are lucky to have him in your workshop...!!! He's a great bloke, but don't tell him I said that. I have to work with him in my studio again... :)

[@ccorujo]

Hi, I'm really interested in these guitars but I'm a left-handed player and I don't seem to find any om eastman's for leftys. Do you know if eastman does a left handed version? Thank you

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

They do for sure, contact us and we can place an order :)

[@poorjudjement]

They do make Lefty guitars, but they will reduce the Lefty production on some models for a year or two. In the States Jerry's Lefty Guitars has a nice selection as well.

[@SiggyMe]

Well some research suggests your observations is that TC causes it to sound more mellow and of course dry yet there is a lost of definition whereas non-TC as it ages retains it definition and sounds broken in. I'm thinking have an Adi top to break in depending how much its played with definition verses TC lost of definition and mushy. Well Adi is the winner. The reason why TC seems to sound better is strumming general goes better with some lost of definition to enable the strings to blend better together hence giving the strum a better coherence sound. At the time of this post Eastman will no longer use Adi as their top of choice it will be regular Spruce that has been thermo cured. I'm wondering how much this a sell to save them the cost of Adi over Spruce tops? Just my opinion. What is you take on my post? Thanks for this informative demo!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks for commenting! It's an interesting topic for sure. I (the guy on the left, Maarten) personally don't believe it's purely to keep costs low. Adi is widely perceived as a better Spruce than Sitka, but it's so much more difficult to come by. It only grows in a special park in the States with very strict regulation. From an ecological standpoint, it's better not to be picky about the spruce. And in that case, the TC adds a nice little extra punch :)

[@tticle2602]

1:10 2:01

[@ddmr7]

2:50 3:31

[@kennethelliott7410]

I prefer the regular top. I would rather the wood to age normally. If you can do a comparison between slope shoulder dreadnaughts guitars that would be interesting to me. Also, Do you guys ever comment on Bedell guitars? I have one made of Brazilian rosewood with an Adi top and I think for the money it is an excellent guitar.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

We've never had one and to be honest, this my first time hearing of them! Thanks for sharing them though Kenneth, they look fantastic.

[@kennethelliott7410]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics - Two old hippies Tom Bedell.. they build guitars in Bend, Oregon They just purchased a huge stash of Brazilian Rosewood from Spain and they are fantastic guitars and cost much less than many of the big named builders.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@kennethelliott7410 Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Will check them out for sure.

[@McDowellCountyYoungLife]

I can’t tell what’s the difference between the e8om-tc and the e20om-Tc on their website except for the tuners… any insights?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Better materials and more attention to detail! Overall a better guitar :)

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@paulboden7850 Thanks for helping us out Paul!

[@onetontex7615]

TC. Warmer and more clarity. As the Mahogany sides age and dry it will sound even better. I'd argue that any new guitar needs 10 yrs. to break in. These tops are Adirondack Spruce (Red Spruce), harder to come by these days, more $. Thought to have a "higher ceiling" in terms of volume meaning it maintains clarity at higher volumes (i.e. strumming). Eastman is a great value because they provide these high-end features ( Adir. Spruce, Torrified Top, bone nut & saddle) at a great price compared to competitors. And much of the build is still handmade.

[@paulboden7850]

Both tops here are Sitka.

[@markrabideau4067]

surprised how much more i like the uncured top

[@bcain5823]

I'm more interested in the dreadnaughts and noticed that the Eastman website doesn't show a regular E6D or E8D. Are they only offering the TC models of these two? From your demo I think I would prefer the standard non-cured. Personally, I don't think the TC is worth paying out an extra $250 - $300.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

They still offer the regular one if I'm not mistaken! We also have a really cool E8D with a Mystery Top... --> www.tfoa.eu/nl/eastman-e8d-tc-thermo-cured-mystery-spruce.html

[@bcain5823]

Never heard of Mystery Spruce.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@bcain5823 Exactly ;)

[@bcain5823]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics Another question for you. A friend of mine heard that torrified wood could have issues when it ages; i.e. cracking, splitting, sound degradation, glue issues? Is there anything to this since torrefaction has forced the aging process? I know this process has been around since the 80s so surely there is data out there to validate if this is so.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@bcain5823 Hmmm, there might be some odd cases of this happening but in our experience this doesn't affect the durability or sturdiness of your guitar at all.

[@johngraydon506]

Thermo 🙏

[@HL-OOI]

I can only afford Cort gold series..😁 I like the color of the torrefied wood..

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

That money could get you an absolutely fantastic Eastman or Blueridge as well!

[@HL-OOI]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics only thing which set me back from Eastman is electronics..

[@bunkerman99]

I wish I knew the answer to this question: Assuming the regular adirondack top opens up and gets better with age...will the TC topped guitars continue to improve with age as well or will they stay static? Wish I knew the answer. Thank You

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

They 'age' faster! But at a certain point, wood can't get any more dry so they will level out.

[@bunkerman99]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics -I think there is more too it than that. I am not arguing and I say this with respect but aging is a process of playing and causing vibration bc at the cellular level the wood is breaking down I believe and creating these little "tone chambers" for lack of a better term and I just wonder if the TC process arrests or disrupts the process bc I dont know. I dont think maximum improvement on an Adirondack top has been achieved. Not sure 90 years is enough time. I think drying out is not the only factor. I learned how to play the mandolin from Roland White and when I was taking lesson I played his mandolin that he had been playing 4-8 hours a day for 40 years and you could feel the whole thing move and vibrate in your hands, it was really wierd and pleasant at the same time. He had serial number 2 and his boss Bill Monroe like it so much he bought #3 back in the 60s.

[@LA-zc9rg]

TC top is a bit fatter, a bit mellower, a bit smoother, a bit rounder . Std top a tad brighter & , a tad faster.

[@annag1481]

The TC version sounds more open and more balanced.. the untreated top sounds to me a bit fragile, airy and somehow lighter; but still very nice... it just needs to develop. So I prefer the TC top....i have tot admit I expected a bigger difference in sound. But both sound extremely good....

[@MrRickkramer]

Let the guitar age naturally, by playing and just getting old and dry. This forcing of the wood takes all the fun out of it. And to be fair, it still doesn’t sound like an oldie.

[@johngraydon506]

Tc for me

[@glennjustice2760]

I think the non- thermo cured sounded better.

[@JeffSimpson-yy2si]

Yes tc are better cause we don’t have put many years of playing them to sound good

[@Si-Toecutter]

gimmick im afraid, and one that actually sounds worse, there are no shortcuts to aging a guitar sound through years of play