Eastman AC322CE vs AC422CE (Mahogany vs Rosewood)

Apologies if I look a little stressed. I needed to get this video done urgently but really didnt have the time!!!
Visit me at www.rguitars.co.uk if you want to chat to me directly online.
AC322CE online including customers reviews... rguitars.co.uk/products/eastm...
AC422CE online including customer reviews... rguitars.co.uk/products/eastm...
As a rule of thumb mahogany is considered a more balanced tone with less emphasis on highs and lows.
I tend to describe rosewood as more "sparkly" with more dynamics and detail, maybe because it tends to have more emphasis on high and low with less mid range.
Mahogany is considered the "recording" tone as it places itself well in a mix with other musicians and instruments.
However - remember that every brand of guitar will have its own unique voice based on how its made and the cut of the wood - even their wood supplier used.
Never stop challenging what you "think" you know as you may miss out on an opportunity to find your perfect guitar.
The AC322CE and AC422CE are in my personal opinion second to none in the market for the style of instrument they are producing. Mid size, attractive contemporary designs with incredibly high quality electronics (Fishman Matrix - this is a £200 pickup).
Eastman produce acoustics with the highest quality woods I have experienced in the market at this price - way higher quality than the likes of Martin or Taylor and you would never get a Fishman Matrix at this price point from them - in fact you will be lucky to even get a guitar with all solid construction!
Hope you can hear the differences between the 2 guitars and the video proves useful in some way.

[@bobtrebra5101]

Richard, I love your reviews ! So Passionate and explained so a intermediate or novice can understand. I wish you were here in the States!!

[@justme-sd6ye]

Hi Richard! I have an Eastman AC222CE on its way! Best solid body I could afford and will sound somewhere in between the two demonstrated here. This demo turned me on to Eastman. Glad I found you!

[@elleryprescott]

I can hear exactly what you’re talking about. The rosewood is so gorgeous and lush sounding.

[@michaelbehan4021]

Thanks for this video Richard, the sparkle and detail of the rosewood sound is very impressive but I can, only now, understand why mahogany is often described as the recording guitar. Great video.

[@hollywoodactress]

Both sound fantastic! I would say the rosewood reminds me of a very expensive loden I tried once was over 3k. I would describe the sound as very hi-fi. I loved it but couldn't afford it at the time.

[@davidadkins2563]

Thanks for the review,, I have a few other acoustic guitars but wanted to try an Eastman..thanks for helping me choose,, going with the AC422 Rosewood without electronics..found a used one for $500.

[@rickmorse9884]

Good idea, Richard, to compare the two most common body tone woods. I use both for different purposes, but they certainly do have a different inherent sound.

[@chrisjeneson5091]

Staggeringly good tones from both! Difficult to choose between them.

[@ajlmirrormist]

The Rosewood for me...i'd describe the difference as waves... Mahogany as a gentle swell between High and Low...and the Rosewood a little more undulating. Both nice though

[@mrpoorboy64]

Great guitars, soon has you started playing the rosewood, I went wow!!!!

[@sammopet789]

Bought my ac322ce from Richard 3yrs ago now my first guitar and hasn't been a day when I've not picked it up ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT

[@vegaa.1645]

How does it sound today. Has the sound opened up?

[@chunga1958]

Eastmans aren't sold by the major on line outlets here in the US. But I found a couple shops nearby. I want to try one out but you, Richard, have me very interested in Eastman. I've played Taylors and want to sit down with an Eastman now.

[@MegaPortenio]

Excellent comparison. Eastman is really killing the competition. They are also handmade!

[@winogod917]

Both excellent, just something about the rosewood for me

[@brucemarrs2596]

Yup, Rosewood overtones and reverb, Mahogany clarity and warmth. really good sound recording.

[@brendangray]

Mahogany vs sapelle back and sides? Can’t decide between the eastman e1d and the e6d. Thanks 🙏

[@maelali4244]

Sir, can you compare the sound between 422 and 722

[@PowMusic]

Mahogany is just very balanced and strong sound throughout the mid section....less powerful bass for sure, but find nothing lacking in the high end

[@alanshewitt]

Are we just hearing the lav mic? Or is there an off-camera mic and we’re hearing them in the room? It would be helpful to know how they’re being recorded.

[@paolot3578]

Am I wrong if I say that AC222ce (Ovangkol) is in between, soundwise?

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

☑ when I was young and discovering tone woods I thought the higher price and model number the guitar tranlated into a better sounding guitar ; when all it meant was that EIR build was more expensive wood to build with than mahogany ; now I'm some sixty guitars later and am 100% convinced both standards are great for building but good Mahogany is at the top of my tone wood list followed by Koa followed EIR and other exotic rosewoods ❗👍

[@peterurban7594]

Mahogany sounds nicer to me, also like the look of solid mahogany!

[@ParaBellum2024]

I've generally preferred rosewood back & sides, but have one guitar with mahogany and it's excellent, while definitely having the more mellow tone that Richard describes.

[@LegsON]

howardsinclair Like the rosewood is for party and mahogany is your go-to. :)

[@daveydoodle1916]

I like them both but lean to the Mahogany. Thanks for doing this.

[@andrewwalsh531]

Even to an uneducated ear such as mine, the difference is apparent. Thanks for making the video! Several years back I was fortunate enough to stumble upon & recognize a great deal on a Furch (aka Stonebridge here in the US) G22CM-C acoustic.....the CM stands for Cedar/Mahogany......I hope to one day play well enough to justify owning such a fine instrument.

[@Purple_Pixel]

These sound better than the similar Taylors like the 314 and 414 but how does the playability compare to Taylor's perfection in this area?

[@mikeydvd1]

Wow either guitar sounds awesome for me. I don’t have a guitar yet. So either one is better then what I have lol. Both sound awesome. I think I like the mahogany a bit better. This was is an awesome review.

[@zamannabijan4689]

Hi richard so I took my gift card after watching this and ordered the ac322 ce I already have a rosewood acoustic which I love but being a singer who does solo gigs I wanted a solid mahagony back guitar couldn't find one. Till now hope I did the right thing

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Hi. Not through me?

[@zamannabijan4689]

@@RichardsGuitarshop I wish I was in UK I live in NY next to me is rudys music and an eastman dealers my mind was leaning to a mexica. Martin until I aaw your demo on eastman

[@zamannabijan4689]

I love your passion

[@philipdonovan6510]

Damn, its just too easy to appreciate the different elements of either wood. Can we have a switch that toggles between Rosewood and Mahogany? Naw, I didn't think so. Well then, the jury is in. Over time you just have to have both and play the one that fits the particular song, or your particular mood. In my new forming acoustic trio I'm leaning towards the rosewood as perhaps being more utility and covering more of the genres and styles of the 60's, 70's and 80''s material we'll be doing. But, I could really live with either one quite fine. Perhaps at 62 years old with my ears doing a gradual low pass filtering I appreciate the extra added highs of the rosewood. May not be fair to the audience but it may inspire me to play better for them. I've had my eye on the E20D the E20om or the rosewood version of this one. All so very nice, and such a painful choice between them. Nice video and very good explanation of wood tone differences and applications. That's not easy to do - "dancing about architecture". Thank you!

[@Five-1]

I know the rosewood is nice and chimney but I do prefer the mahogany(ac322) here.

[@lightwarriors7778]

I just sold my Breedlove AC25 SR plus for $650 I had upgraded with giraffe bone nut and saddle to buy an Eastman ac422ce for $850.

[@tbeau6663]

On that model....it's the rosewood version for me

[@starpaolo]

I like more the mahogany one for the warmer and balanced tone

[@Nick-bq2th]

which one looks more like a taylor 114ce rosewood or mahogany on the sides and back in sound?

[@vegaa.1645]

The Tommy

[@carlomaletti4284]

To my ears the 422 sounds janglier and more sparkling than the 322 in this video. Having said that, the 322 also sounds very good and nicely detailed. Given the choice, l think I would go for the 422. “Think” being the operative word here.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Hi . That would make total sense too as mahogany is a more balanced sound across the frequencies where rosewood tends to be more focused toward bass and treble which creates the sound you are describing :)

[@dontsubscribeme9547]

Does pickguard possess any restrictions on soundboard vibration.???

[@favoriteblueshirt]

That's an interesting question. Used to build acoustic guitars and always thought there was something wrong with sticking a sheet of plastic on the soundboard. Never empirically tested though as new guitars are a bit stiff and I never built two alike.

[@TheHobieBoy]

Yes!

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

NO! have owned over sixty high end guitars, some with , some without , some removed , and some added pick guards ; and one cannot tell , atleast I as the owner player could Not tell the difference at any time ‼️☻️🙃

[@anthonylane9547]

Richard. Did both guitars have the same top.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Yes. They both have solid spruce tops.

[@hotwireman49]

Do they have a tuner in that store?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Thanks for your feedback. We don't sell tuners but am sure you can find a tuner online these days.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Give Richard a break. He is a bit stressed in this video 😅 but I too hear the slight out of tuneless on the 422. That’s why I’d go for the other one. Just kidding.

[@MrDai_]

I like rosewood, but I like the color of mahagony

[@jameshill2015]

Rosewood...uggh.. what tone! That is stunning mahogany back and sides and based on the estetics alone ld go for the mahogany but as nice as it sounds the rosewood has simply a more high-end tone.. it is pure beauty of tone.. are they offering the AC422 with a thermo treated top??

[@patricklundquist9869]

Some folks fall into the trap of believing rosewood must be a better tonewood than mahogany because it costs more. The truth is mahogany costs less due to availability, not tone. They are both excellent tonewoods. After that it comes down to taste, which can vary on any given day, so what you really need is one of each.

[@theone262]

Rosewood for me

[@johncooper16]

Is that the AC322CE that I received today?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Oh hang on..... no.... The one in the video..... A customer asked me to A/B the two guitars. We are dispatching the A322CE to him on Tuesday. The AC422CE however left about 10 minutes after! Both of them were set up beautifully for dispatch. I play test before dispatch so this was a perfect opportunity!! If you received on today then thats coincidence but no doubt equally as lovely I promise!

[@davidadkins2563]

Oh great,, now I may need a 322 also. Lol

[@MatthewCuda]

Mahogany is a natural compressor

[@arnoldrutjens6663]

It took me a long time just to find out when ore which guitar sounds good, but all depents in what context you gonna use it, a guitar can sound at first horrible to your ears, but in a certain mix of a certain music style it can be just perfect, so it all depents what jou want to play ore do with it, so it will be a search in that context.

[@reverse.ferret]

Rosewood is great if you don't have to faff about with bloody CITES.

[@anhthainguyen3613]

I didn't think Ryan Giggs has much knowledge about guitars

[@daveydoodle1916]

The more I listen the harder it gets. Tuff choice. I wished you did finger picking for us peeps who want to finger Pick. It’s important 😊

[@musikus7092]

Rosewood sounds a bit better, but not 300 Euro better

[@duaneholcomb8408]

My Brazilian rose wood. Has a smooth. Balanced tone. Compared to. My mahogany. And not quite as bright. With maybe a little more base. Strong mid tones. As well,, Some songs play out better on,one or the other. So I have both. Its when you play finger style. That the difference is really noticeable or when your alternate picking. Hard strumming is about the same. Its hard to describe. Unless you have both in,your hands and can play both. For your self. They both have a wonderful sound just slightly different. I finger pick,a lot. And just some songs sound better on one or the other depending. That's why guitarist usually have several guitars. Like me ,, as they say every guitar has its. Own voice so to speak..,,

[@jerbear1601]

Mahogany has an even midrange thing and rosewood is richer and more full of overtones with a scooped mid.

[@noelocs]

I think Mahogany will be very good for recording for cleaner pop, but rosewood will be good for live or indie acoustic session (or enjoyment). Wonder why is that Mahogany wood damp the resonance around?

[@woodge4248]

Rosewood all day long

[@justray510]

My old ears can't hear much difference so for me the best price (cheapest) wins!

[@larryweathermon3960]

I have always liked mahogany to go with my low voice. Please check out my songs on youtube at " The Newbie Brother's".

[@desdearibasiempre2545]

I will give 10 years and estman will be over Taylor and other brands.

[@carlomaletti4284]

Not entirely sure about the “10 years” (5 have already gone by since your comment, so that only leaves another 5 to go) but l agree: Eastman deserves a considerably larger slice of the market. I think they are slowly but surely getting there.

[@Nick-bq2th]

3:31 e 4:34