Eastman AC322 CE and AC422 CE Grand Auditorium Guitars

The AC series from Eastman exceeds expectations and represents the best of both worlds for flat-pickers and finger stylists. A true hybrid by invention, the Grand Auditorium has many of the attributes of smaller bodies with the volume, punch, and bass of a dreadnought. Here's Jesse with the full scoop on the Eastman AC322CE and the AC422CE! Enjoy!
Eastman AC322 CE (ID#14577):
artisanguitars.com/products/e...
Eastman AC422 CE (ID#14576):
artisanguitars.com/products/e...
#artisanguitars #eastman #eastmanguitar #acoustic

[@MegaPortenio]

Great playing and I love the sound of both guitars!!

[@brianrenenielsen923]

Thanks for brilliant and competent reviews, served with the great personality of yours.. Greetings from Denmark

[@cashmoney9256]

Very nice guitars! And for a guy who "cant flat pick nor finger pick" you somehow manage to charm some tolerable sounds from those guitars.

[@uffe80johansson]

I bought an Eastman AC422 CE for about two years ago. I have played it for at least 3-4 times a week since then. It sounded really good already when it was brand new, but now, two years later it has opened up and developed it's sound even so much more. I've tried out several Martins and Taylors before i bought my Eastman, but for that price, it was no difficult decision to go with the Eastman. They make awsome guitars.

[@vegaa.1645]

Im thinking of upgrading my 114 e Taylor for an Ac322 Eastman. Will it be worth it?

[@uffe80johansson]

@@vegaa.1645 yes, it will surely be worth it. The 322 is also a very nice guitar.

[@fourocker]

Really well played sir, awesome Mahogany growl from the first one, that's outstanding and the Rosewood also sounds very nice in it's own way 😊

[@danielhartman5086]

I am getting that AC 322 CE for sure. What a beautiful sounding guitar.

[@carlcurtis]

At about 50 seconds, I thought you about to launch into "Memphis"--but not in Nashville! Marvelous guitars!

[@grahamnunn8998]

Great video and great playing. Good to see real world guitar playing that most of us would do rather than some 'virtuoso' tapping and slapping, it really showed off the great intonation. I played the 322 the other day and it blew me away.

[@JimmyRadloff]

I love Eastman guitars

[@scottfishkind5335]

Great demo, both guitars sound great!!

[@timothycollins1968]

Guitars sound the same to me.

[@cosmicgregg]

I have a 322 I bought 5 years ago. It's the best guitar I've ever owned and my go to for almost everything. Out plays my breedlove. Sounds even better than when I bought it. This will age very nicely.

[@FishTillYouDrop]

I wanted to choose the rosewood, but I keep coming back to the mahogany. The mahogany sounds so versatile. Even if we're more expensive I'd say it's best value,

[@tonisalic6300]

Great demo. Great playing. 322 sounds very pleasing. I always preferred mahogany. I have had a ac122ce for several years, and it has really opened up. Trust me, it takes a licking. Very solid. The ac322 is next for me. Frets could be a little more quality, but at these prices...ita a no brainer. Cut outs dont affect tone, they do however, make the guitar more versatile. Those that criticize your playing are trolls. Thanks again!

[@glorioskiola]

I now own two Eastman guitars, an e20OM and the newly released ac308ce LTD. (The 308 is a grand concert size, not a GA.) I love both of them. Unbelievable quality for a decent price.

[@mickymillersson4376]

I have an E6om and an E6d. They mature like good whisky, well mine have. Or is it the whisky. Who cares they're great guitars. Love em

[@tonisalic6300]

Great review. You tried out the whole neck. Nice

[@lazvt8469]

Plan to get a lefty 422...love Mahogany....but that Rosewood sounded better, deeper, fuller....by a bit. Thanks for the great sounding demo. Eastman t486 and SB59 are also really fine...glad I discovered and took a chance on Eastman.

[@ddmr7]

AC322 - 4:12 / 8:04 AC422 - 4:28 / 7:42 AC322 - 0:08 AC422 - 4:54 AC322 - 8:01 AC422 - 5:38

[@violao206]

I own an Eastman HE422CE Sitka/Rosewood which the company responded was essentially the same model as the AC422CE. Mine was pawnshop rescue that has been beat-up a pick with cracked lacquer, but all the tonewood is intact. It is has a clear tone and decent enough bass and massive sustain. I have recorded it a bit using my AKG C214 and the instrument certainly punches way above its weight. Would I prefer a Webber Guitar, or even more so, a Carter|Poulsen Guitar? Certainly, but those boutique choices are 5-10 times the price.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

I have watched this twice now. Thanks for your reviews. I liked the sound of the 322 more and it looked/sounded like you were more into it. Maybe a bit more mid range int mahogany suits the body shape?

[@njcranes]

I bought a used 422 because of this review. I like it better than the Martin, Taylor or larrivee om that I had

[@vegaa.1645]

How does it sound today?

[@njcranes]

@@vegaa.1645 Still sounds awesome! Between that one and my Eastman AC-OM2, I rarely play my J45 anymore

[@jamesvollmerhausen1602]

I have an Eastman 422ce it’s 18 yrs old and sounds wonderful. I only wish I could play as good as it sounds.

[@RRW276]

The only Eastman I've ever played was this AC 12 string & it just blew me away. I had no idea how good these things sounded & looked. And the features for the dollar was really something. It had the nicest ebony board I have seen, the bone nut was cut perfectly, which can be rare on a 12 string, and had ebony bridge pins. The action was incredibly low & I regret not buying it for the price it was listed. I hesitated & it was sold the next couple of days. Anyway, I'm wanting to buy an E20D, but would like to try it before purchase, though no shops around me carry them. I'm curious to know if I could get used to the 1.75 nut. I do have a Gibson & get on well w/ the 1.72, so I guess it's not far off. My preference (I think) would be 1 11/16th.

[@patricklundquist9869]

I have four Eastman guitars: E40om-SB, E8om, E10D-TC, E20D-TC. Both OM's were purchased used and all the work of getting the top to open up had been performed by previous owners. Eyes closed the OM tones almost indistinguishable from each other in spite Addirondack Spruce top on the E40om and Sitka on the E8om. Nice overtones from both. Might just be me but it seems that all my rosewood guitars with overtones have to be played 10-15 minutes before the overtones really shine. The two dreadnoughts, E10D-TC, E20D-TC, have thermo-cured or torrefied tops, so no break-in required. Speaking of which, it would be cool to compare the same models of a thermo-cured to a standard top made of the same woods that have been played long enough to open up, just to find out if they really sound the same. I've heard that the tones of mahogany are more immediate, and that sounds about right to me. It seems that mahogany guitars sell for less than rosewood. I'm not sure if that has to do with tonal quality or wood availability? I came into this with a prejudice against mahogany because of an old all solid mahogany Martin that sounded dull to my ears. The Eastman mahogany tones just blew me away with clarity, woodiness and great note separation. I think the rosewood overtones are far enough apart from the primary tones that it sounds like other instruments are playing along. The mahogany overtones arrive so close to the primary tones that at times it sounds almost like a spring reverb. I'm guessing that's what they mean by, "more immediate?"

[@tedc6694]

Im amazed at value esstman gives and how alive the guitars sound in person. One of my few concerns is how theyll record compared to a martin d18 with sounds to me like it has a less zingy and more compressed sound

[@fjmilleriii9704]

Outstanding picking! The guitar sings well under your control. I've always been a hog guy but the 422 sounds exquisite!

[@kalvino67]

I second that!

[@vegaa.1645]

I third! The articulation of the rosewood just gives it an edge over the mahogany!

[@asskicker917]

They had an ac322ce at kennelly keys and an ac522ce but i thought the 322 sounded fuller and had more character! I usually dont like mahogany but that guitar was incredible

[@mrslowpoke8171]

Well. Congrats Artisan Guitars. You have made me come out of my comfortable read-only zone. Had to register in youtube to post this. Anyhow. I just wanted to say thank you for your work and effort to make these videos. Thank you! From now on you can be sure that you have one gratefull and very happy minion somewhere in the deep bowels of Eastern Europe. You are the only team that does Eastman reviews currently. Please keep them coming

[@ArtisanGuitars]

Slowpoke, thanks so much for this awesome comment! We're so glad to hear that you're enjoying our videos! We're having a lot of fun making them and love getting reactions like this. As for your question about comparing them to more expensive models, one of our videos puts the E10SS Varnish against some more expensive slope-shouldered dreadnoughts. Check this out! Thanks again! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzMY4pnh8eci5I

[@patrickmurphy8428]

this guy is the goods..funny but lets the guitars do the talking..great mic setup really helps us 'hear' the real tone...thanks brother

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

☑️ 👍 322 mahogany is the definite preferred for my taste ‼️☻️🧜‍♀️🧜 _probably why I already own three mahogany Eastmans , one maple and two EIR _honestly though _ selling off some high end domestic build acoustics previously acquired 🙃🤑

[@akfisher7138]

Are those Eastman's straight oot the box with no setup? Or do you have to tinker a bit? Cheers for informative and entertaining videos

[@ArtisanGuitars]

All of our guitars are inspected and set up as they arrive. These haven't required a ton of work on first inspection.

[@GregsMusic61]

You've made me want a Eastman 422 although the 322 sounds awesome too. Would you recommend an IR for this for amplified use or an Anthem SL upgrade? Which one? Enjoy your playing.

[@patrickmurphy8428]

Just a note if its helpful...i have a furch with lr baggs vtc and an eastman e10d which i had installed an lr baggs anthem sl...The sl is a stunning pickup...and such a natural acoustic tone compared to the std? vtc lr baggs..if that helps..i wouldnt go passed the anthem sl for all future guitars myself because of the natural tone they produce

[@AssTroll]

So I own a 422ce and it doesn't have the embellished fingerboard inlays like I've seen other 422ce models have and curious why ad mine was manufactured in 2020. Mine just has dot inlays lol. Either way, I'm satisfied caus3 mine has a much prettier back wood pattern tha. The one seen here in this demo but damn I feel I got cheated on the fingerboard inlays! Haha. I actually live here in franklin, TN and am sad you all moved away from the factory. I miss just walking in there and getting to try out some amazing acoustics.

[@MrHeliosoul]

Is the lower bout on that first guitar symmetrical?

[@jeffhassell1725]

? Would you choose a Eastman AC322CE or a Martin GPC11E if choosing between the two?

[@keestoft250]

I'm drawn to the Auditorium shape, it is the all-rounder but couch playing wise it loses out to the OM or 000 for me. Just ordered an E1OM here in the UK and gonna get the shop to hoof an LR Baggs element in for me. I wonder if a narrower body Auditorium would be a winner? 🤔

[@UCS0608]

I swapped my Taylor CE 414 (from 2010) for the Eastman AC244 CE. Though the Taylor was way more expensive, I prefer the Eastman, especially when it is amplified. The LR Baggs is much better that the Taylor ES-1 system. I liked the LR Baggs VTC so much I even put it in my 1973 Martin D-35.

[@PJ-ff5jy]

I swapped my Taylor 314ce for an Eastman e20ss never looked back or regretted it.

[@johngraydon506]

Like the demo, just looking at a Hog for a change

[@wm2205]

I have the ac322 and it is the best guitar. It sounds better and plays better than Taylor 414ce in my opinion

[@drothberg3]

Nice playing. What are the haters talking about?

[@ArtisanGuitars]

They're crazy!

[@vegaa.1645]

422 or Taylor 114e?

[@crackleford7377]

It's weird, you often reference negative comments... I never see them. Anyway you should do some sort of reaction video to these comments.

[@messengerofiexist2139]

The low end sounds better on the 422 your playing. The 322 you played was a little to chimney.

[@RonaldMacDonald-hd8gh]

Nice sound.

[@peterd5901]

Just a random observation but I literally don't think you played a note on the low E string the entire video LOL

[@MrHeliosoul]

Is the lower bout on that first guitar symmetrical?

[@ArtisanGuitars]

Yep! See a better photo here: artisanguitars.com/products/eastman-guitars-ac322-ce-grand-auditorium-14577

[@MrHeliosoul]

Thank you sir. Sorry about double posting. I don't know how that happened. Cheers!