Eastman AC222CE Taylor 414CE Shootout

Lindsay Petsch from Maple Street Guitars compares the Eastman AC222CE and the Taylor 414CE. These guitars are very similar in construction and materials but, have very different bracing patterns.

[@rickw.3426]

Since Taylor now uses rosewood on the 414, a comparison between that and Eastman's AC422ce would be interesting.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Cannot go wrong with an EASTMAN these days, great tone for the money...

[@BradleyThomasbassman]

I liked the Taylor when it was fingerpicked. It had a very soothing tone.

[@borojammin6509]

Nice review. I received my Eastman AC222CE in December, 2020. No dealers around me, so I bought it online..sight unseen. It took several months to receive it. Very pleased. Thanks for the review.

[@timsmith2223]

Thanks for the demo. I am strongly considering the Eastman AC222CE. This sound demo was a big help!!

[@335pd]

Awesome job! Thank you so much!

[@genebrenner855]

Playing starts at 3:50.

[@MegaPortenio]

Both guitars sound beautiful. It’s just that the Eastman is handmade and cheaper!! Thanks!

[@ozuidema]

Nice demo. The Taylor sounds clearer and the Eastman warmer to my ears. I prefer the Eastman. The Taylor is almost 4 times as expensive (!), but of course, there are other factors influencing the price. Including the logo :).

[@glorioskiola]

Eastman guitars are wonderful.

[@tonisalic6300]

Thanks for the great demo. I have an Eastman ac122ce. 3 years of abuse and it has opened up. I love it. The only nit pick would be the fret wear. Will replace them and will it shine for many years to come. It's built like a tank, but the entire guitar vibrates. I'm getting the 322ce( l like mahogany). The cut out has no effect on tone...just makes it more versatile. Also, the wider neck makes flat picking and finger style a breeze. Not interested in resale, because they ain't going nowhere. If you gig, you don't need eyes in the back of your head. Again, thanks for your honest review!!

[@bens3767]

I picked up the Eastman ac122ce today for 300.00 with gig bag and I was blown away with the sound that came out of it. I very happy with my purchase.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

They're so close. Take your pick soundwise. I've yet to play an Eastman, but I've got Taylor 416ce SE that plays so beautifully. I'm thinking about at an Eastman PCH3-GACE for playing out in pubs.

[@ub59]

Eastman also makes high quality orchestral instruments and mandolins. I believe the violin is where Eastman's high quality hand-crafted skills were first learned.

[@komposisivisual9857]

Eastman to good ❤️

[@MegaPortenio]

Beautiful playing. If I am not mistaken the Eastman guitars are handmade?

[@maplestreetguitars]

Yep, they do it all the old-fashioned way!

[@Harmo6Cord]

Eastman win 100% for me. I prefer it's tone

[@swimgc]

how does the ovangkol compare to mahogany and rosewood in terms of tone? It sounds very good.

[@maplestreetguitars]

Ovangkol is generally fairly close to Rosewood in terms of its general EQ and harmonic content but with a little extra midrange.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

I have this Eastman model. It produces a beautiful sound. You did not comment on the neck. I find it too slim. I can fingerpick on it but it is really aimed towards electric guitar players. I prefer a bit more chunk and neck would also be more stable.

[@maplestreetguitars]

We've noticed that some Eastmans will have different neck thicknesses due to their handcrafted construction, though they will generally be a bit thicker than those found on Taylor guitars. Some folks like a thinner neck, some prefer a thicker neck, so it all goes to show that all of this is subjective!

[@bradleyyoungblood8203]

I'm the same as Turra, I like the necks with some girth. The taylor necks I find way too thin. I get this can be subjective, but am weighing whether I'd like the eastman neck that much more

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

@@bradleyyoungblood8203 well as I said Eastman are going for a slimmer modern neck profile on these AC series guitars. My ac222 is just sounding stellar after a couple of months. Can’t recommend it more highly.

[@tomnicholes]

Can someone tell me what he is saying at the 2:32 mark? "Open call back" or "ovencall back"?

[@glorioskiola]

@@tomnicholesthe wood is ovangkol back and sides. On both this Taylor and the Eastman.

[@glorioskiola]

Nice version of Hallelujah.

[@maplestreetguitars]

Thank you!

[@scottmackie2821]

I hear the bracing difference.

[@stephenhay2025]

How does the Eastman's action compare to the Taylor's?

[@maplestreetguitars]

We set up all of our guitars for fairly uniform action so it should feel more or less the same on that front. The neck profiles are where things differ as the Eastman tends to have a thicker neck than the Taylor.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Action is a lottery from my experience. Learning how to shave down a saddle is very useful to tweak a new guitar.

[@SibzelChebst]

I appreciate the comparison, but people looking at an Eastman ac222ce are looking at a Taylor 114ce, or maybe a 2 series.

[@maplestreetguitars]

Hi, thanks for your comment! In terms of price range, you are correct a 100, perhaps 200 Series, Taylor would be closer competitors to the Eastman AC222CE. For the purposes of this video, however, we were principally concerned with comparing models with comparable construction--in this case grand auditorium models, both made with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid Ovangkol back and sides. Basically, the idea was to see how a much less expensive guitar compared to a name brand with all things being as equal as possible. In doing so, hopefully it both reinforces the exceptional value of the Eastman as well as the overall quality and refinement of the Taylor. Regardless, we're glad to know that you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching! - Cheers, Lindsay @ Maple Street Guitars

[@constitutionalist3931]

As a fan of both brands, I was a little surprised at the tonal difference in the two when played fingerstyle. While both are quite nice, the Taylor shines with it's richness and volume over the Eastman. Then again there is the price to consider when purchasing one these.

[@heaven9127]

@constitutionals: the difference in tone might be the Taylor having a thinner top, while the top on the Eastman is probably a bit thicker. Also the Eastman might still be brand new. Would like to see the same comparison once the Eastman has opened up after some time.

[@rtortortorto]

Nice demo Let’s see ….Eastman $959 …. Taylor $2799 Both good guitars Eastman is hand made Taylor is not I’m getting an education I could buy an Eastman A Dowina And a couple of Vintage electric guitars for one Taylor 414

[@frankd4875]

Just got my Eastman in this model for $769, awaiting delivery. Purchased from The Acoustic Shoppe in Springfield, MO, the largest Eastman retailer in the US, great service.

[@lelandmatsuda5716]

Strumming-Eastman. More low end and fullness to the chords. Finger style-Taylor. By a lot. Good string separation, volume balance. Drop D-Taylor. It seems on the Eastman you were playing harder and the fundamental and the overtones were ringing all over the place. Anyway, that’s to my ears.

[@bobhall1202]

Yyy

[@donklink4571]

I know, they are acoustic guitars. But compare the electronics. The Taylor system is way superior to the Eastman. That's part of the price difference too. Why not throw in a Martin Road Series? If you've got the money honey...

[@sooparticular]

Taylor by a little bit

[@markstaggs7342]

Eastman only if you can't afford a Taylor, Nothing better than a Taylor guitar best in the world

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

I have found Taylor’s generally to be thin sounding.

[@bishopk99]

Thin and Tin - eeee and way to $$$

[@fengcarlos]

You on crack

[@markstaggs7342]

@@fengcarlos no but it's obvious your a lunitac

[@fengcarlos]

@@markstaggs7342 Lunitac? Hahahaha everything makes sense now.