Eastman E1D Review. An All Solid "Class Act" Dreadnought Acoustic at £499

I cannot hide my excitement about this utterly wonderful dreadnought. Solid spruce top with Solid Sapele (mahogany) back and sides. Hand made and just £499 AND it comes with a lovely gig bag too. Without question this is SO much guitar for your money that I would find it hard to recommend any other dreadnought if you have £500 to spend.
To demonstrate the value of the guitar I have played it against the Seagull S6 Original at £439 which has been my long standing drednought acoustic recommendation for maybe 20 years!
Now then... Remember - The Eastman IS more money but you get a gig bag and all solid woods.
If you cannot hear the difference or you feel the Eastman is pushing your budget then The Seagull S6 Original remains a wonderful dreadnought acoustic and still comes highly recommended of course!
Fingers crossed the tonal differences come across on the video and you like what you hear.
For £500 you really could have a guitar for life here.
Eastman E1D rguitars.co.uk...
Seagull S6 Original rguitars.co.uk...
Check out this extremely favorable Guitar Magazine review here which seems to confirm my thoughts on the tone...
www.theguitarm...

[@chris6291]

Hunted down an E1D locally based on this review and bought it on the spot. Amazing guitar, beats my old Martin, can't put it down! Thanks for the review

[@mattmcgriff5952]

I just got in an E1D yesterday and am absolutely amazed at the quality present in this guitar at under $500. Compares in all aspects-wood quality, finish, cleanliness of build, tone, volume, playability to US made guitars with similar specs that I have owned that cost upwards of 5 times what I paid for the Eastman. If this is their entry level, then they have succeeded at reeling me in. I’ll be shopping the higher range models as well. Simply a great guitar and I’d say unbeatable at this price. I’ve owned many Seagulls as well, and they are nice, but this guitar is on another level.

[@whayneneal]

I've owned a Martin 000-28 for nearly 20 years. It has been my only guitar. I recently decided I wanted to try a sapele or mahogany body guitar. I received an E1OM this week and I like it so much I think I'm going to get the dreadnought to keep it company. These are fantastic guitars, period. No, it doesn't sound like my Martin and I'm glad it doesn't. Thank you for your reviews. They are helpful.

[@MaithriSanitgun]

Your enthusiasm is infectious!

[@akgeezer]

Also, the Eastman comes with a nice Gig Bag! Solid wood, bone nut and saddle, ebony bridge and fret board, two way truss rod, and set neck with hide glue, what's not to like? When considering all these upgrades, the S6 is not in the same league. However, I do like the S6. It is a nice guitar, but for the money, I'll take the E1D.

[@bobs2809]

I agree. Just received mine today. I am blown away by how nice this guitar is for just under $500.

[@jasper_north]

I bought two -simply because of practicing in different tunings!!! True story. Love it.

[@discgolfprofessor]

Another great review Sir. I don’t even play electric, but man that is a Beautiful Piece Of Craftsmanship. You might say it looks “Angelic”. It also looks very comfortable to hold and play. Awesome !! 👌

[@GavGreaves]

Richard thanks for making these videos, I totally agree with you. Love the Seagull S6, Eastmans more!

[@jimst3r1]

I just got one... Holy shit... it's awesome, best guitar in that price range, even beat the martins up to £800

[@danielrains2055]

I settled on the e1d yesterday as my live long guitar. It has all the specs together in one guitar that I've come to want after learning n familiarizing myself with wat sounds good. Sapele is just a wonderful tone wood so much more punchy n clear than mahogany. Hopefully it has forward shifted scalloped bracing n the 1 n 3/4 inch nut width is the ticket. Ebony has always sounded boxie to my ear which I dont like. If it has rosewood or especially walnut for fretboard it would be better. Bridge pins r plastic but can be upgraded to wood bone tusq or even brass. I'll get a set of each n do my own comparison n settle on the pins that compliment the tone the best. I have a wonderful n beautiful Jay Turser sloped shoulder that sounds amazing. Copy of Gibson ej160. Really cool guitar. Love it n would be perfectly satisfied with it if I didnt know there was something better lol. I relate to ur excitement. Music is all about tone n wat is pleasing to the ear. This guitar is certainly that. Ty. God bless.

[@silverapperloo3291]

Have you made your choice regarding the bridge pins? Plan on getting this guitar and i am curious what your thoughts are (:

[@stefan77.]

Very helpful and informative, thank you!

[@yamahamusicians]

Great vid Richard. The Seagull S6 has also been one of my favourite guitars for as long as I can remember. The Eastman E1D sounds much brighter and seems to project more. Of course the Cedar top on the Seagull will reign it in a little but yes that Eastman is a beautiful sounding guitar. Also really nice open pore finish.

[@EXT3RMIN8R]

Great Review. I'm picking one up in a few hours once I get off work and I can't wait.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Check out the recent Guitar Magazine review www.theguitarmagazine.com/gear/acoustic-guitars/eastman-e1d/ DID I SAY PCH1D ??!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Its actually an Eastman E1D !!!!!!!!!!! HA HA.... I am a nightmare. Another small edit! I described the Seagull S6 as having laminated mahogany back and sides. It has always had wild cherry laminate but this year they began staining it a "mahogany tone" so I described it as mahogany forgetting it is wild cherry. Sorry about that.

[@jasper_north]

God!

[@gibby6904]

If I were in the market... I would buy that all day long! It's a beauty.......I own an Eastman 305....bottom of their line mandolin and it's spectacular!

[@jonathanwmartinez]

While trying out a Yamaha LL16, I accidentally came across this Eastman E1D at a local guitar shop. It came equipped with an LR Baggs Element Active w/Tone Control pickup for $560 USD. I was blown away at not only the sound quality and response this guitar gave, I also fell in love with it's versatility and playibility up along the entire neck. Along with a free Eastman gig bag/case, I was sold. I completely disregarded the $800 Yamaha 😂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think I made an excellent purchase 🙌 Cheers from USA!

[@daniel7385]

Yamaha does not have warm tone. Their strumming are horrible

[@pauldickinson1434]

Another cracking Vid Richard, love how infectious you are about the products that you sell. I have a Norman B20 dreadnought which I bought in 1988 which has aged with a beautiful sound and I think it's from the same family of products as the Seagull. However; I think that the Eastman definitely has the more pleasing depth of sound and projection. The D'Angelico guitar looks amazing ! I think that Ash is such a beautiful wood for guitars and sorely underused in the industry, it has a wonderful grain structure which looks amazing when finished to a high standard, which certainly applies to the D'Angelico... As below " Buy Both, or all Three"...

[@slowlearner4721]

I think we're hearing the difference between Solid Cedar/Laminate Cherry v.s All solid Spruce (brighter) and solid Mahogany (sweeter - mellower - bassier) = more than £60 worth of difference to my ears. Thanks for the vid Richard

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

I know it may seem strange to compare cedar to spruce but it I only did so because the S6 original is a benchmark at the price and happens to have a different top wood. The difference I am hearing is the same as in the Furch video where I compared laminate cedar to solid cedar - a less "involved" tone. I call it 2 dimensional. There will naturally be a brighter tone to spruce too yes but without question when I am playing it I am far more involved and have a much greater connection with the sound played with the Eastman all due to the solid woods but also incredible build. Even the PCH1 model at £265 with laminate back and sides is INCREDIBLE - I should probably do a video comparing those 2

[@nellatrab]

Amazing e1d…is stunning and what a price!

[@GG-jl8lz]

Thanks to you, I've bought one and it sound marvelously well. A great second guitar next to my seagull SWS maritime. Thumbs up !! ;)

[@joeshea1010]

brilliant presentation thank you

[@rond1763]

Better base on the Eastman! and it sounded high quality in general! 😃

[@dr650dualsport]

My wife always says “buy both!”

[@snowpro1]

dr650dualsport, that's impossible because no wife ever said that in the history of humanity. 😂

[@Furtheronmusic]

Those new d'angelica's are brilliant looking. Personally I'd like a different headstock but otherwise brilliant

[@andrewwilliams5717]

I purchased the Eastman e1d from richard a few weeks ago and I was blown away by the quality and tone at this price point, it is astoundingly good,it blows away my Yamaha ll6

[@LegsON]

Of course, mate! LL6 only has solid top - the compraison is unfair.

[@andrewwilliams5717]

@@LegsON it is fair as they are around the same price

[@LegsON]

@@andrewwilliams5717 I mean there wasn't even a point to compare such constructionally different guitars. You know all solid is better by default.

[@JWNOSNHOJ]

Good honest review.

[@vishtrinity]

thrs something magical about the Seagul s6 Original...the sound is sooo.. soo dreamy.!

[@kaancenksenol6124]

great video Richard, thank you.

[@tbeau6663]

I prefer the E2D to the E1D......... Eastman guitars just get better. I last looked at one in 2014 and they've improved since then

[@lovewalruss]

Thanks great vid. I’m buying one

[@speedy692]

2:39. I thought the S6 had Cherry back & sides? How does the action on the E1D compare to the S6? I have an S6 & the action is slightly high.

[@robbiejguitarist]

So much more character to the Eastman. I was very impressed with one of their more expensive models back along- their version of the J45 with Adirondack top and violin finish. It was absolutely awesome! Their mandolins are bloody fantastic too.

[@henryhartley9993]

Both sound great, seagull s6 has always punched way above its price point...

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

That Eastman sounded very nice !

[@hellomynameislynne3585]

Hi Richard very nice review could you do a review of the Simon and Patrick woodland pro folk or mahogany can't find much information about them online but judging by the spec and what little is online they seem like very good guitars

[@dr650dualsport]

Anyway they all sound pleasing. When I get depressed with my dumb fingers on an electric guitar an acoustic brings me back to life.

[@robertmacmoneagle6917]

We pay too much in this country for guitars as with everything else. I saw an E2D, albeit on sale, for approximately £373 equivalent selling in America. Very annoying.

[@TheScottishDad]

Hi Richard. Do you have a review on the seagull S6? What are your thoughts?

[@dr650dualsport]

Cheers folks! Don’t forget the strings used have big effect on the sound. Maybe comparisons should all be strung up with the same strings.

[@wpkg]

I don’t really think the S6 sounds as bad as it does here. there are plenty of videos where people are playing wonderful stuff on them. E1D sounds good here too, but this is no real example of how good the S6 can sound.

[@kemptonklutz]

That d'angelico looks a really nice guitar, I love the shape. I hate gold hardware though. Is there a chrome version? Great vids as always and great to see your'e doing more of them. Cheers.

[@845ranger]

I need to upgrade my Yamaha FG800

[@fnaticmedia]

S6 original : It sounds like pretty deeper and its mellowing treble soubd (so called 3d effect) due to Cedar Top (its not spruce as you mentioned) Eastman : it sound brighter, open and more throwing tremble due to spruce top which is lauder and rich. I might be wrong but I think that’s the reason.

[@speedy692]

Yes. I have an S6 Original & the top is Cedar & the back & sides are Canadian Wild Cherry, not Laminate.

[@ziggybongwater7915]

What would you recommend for a lowden fan who can't afford a lowden?

[@ronvonryan]

Great video (as usual) and great sounding guitar, but one thing stands out to me, why don't Eastman put a strap button on the neck end of the guitar? The Seagull has one, so do most acoustic guitars, even the cheap all laminate guitars!! With that Eastman that you're playing you can either put a strap with the end tied around the head-stock which I always think put unwanted stress on the guitar neck, or screw an strap button on the heel or side of the heel and risk putting it in the 'wrong place'. I am sure you could fit one in your work shop where you know what you are doing, but I am sure if someone who did not know what they were doing tried it they would make a hash of it. Look at a Fender CD60, to me where they have positioned the neck strap button is ideal, remember on stage not everyone plays sitting down, perhaps you could have a word with Eastman to look into this, and if they adopt my idea I will give you my address to send the cheque LOL.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Hi. Thanks for the feedback. To be 100% honest its a really odd anomaly that is hard to answer. You will find ELECTO acoustics always TEND to have them and yet pure acoustics don't - some do and some dont. I think some of it is down to tradition but some is down to balance and where the player wants the pin located. Different people have different views on where they want the pin located but ultimately...... yeh its a funny one!

[@ronvonryan]

Thanks for the fast reply Richard. I hear what you say about tradition, but like I said not everyone plays sitting down, I play mainly standing up on my Gigs and my 'Nineboys guitar' (you don't see many of them around), came without a strap button and I put one on the guitars heel and it works well. By the way, I'm thinking about treating myself to a new guitar, and after watching your videos and seeing your passion and concentrating on customer service I think I will be getting it from you.

[@reverse.ferret]

Is a high saddle a consistent feature on the Eastman acoustics? My Eastman parlour has an absolutely towering saddle but the action is perfect and it still plays beautifully. I read somewhere that the increased break angle of the strings enhances the tone, but I don't know how much truth is in that. What i do know is that I love my Eastman and have another on order.

[@LegsON]

All the truth in the world. Try to put a thread over your finger. As if your finger is the saddle and the thread is the string. Try raising your finger so the break anngle would change. Notice the changing of the pressure. The increased pressure provides a better string-saddle-bridge-top contact, therefore loss of vibrations is less. If it didn't matter nobody would do classial heads. Nobody would do string trees on Stratocaster. Nobody would ramp the strings in the bridge.

[@CornyChalky]

Nice guitar that Eastman. I own Yamaha, Epiphone, Cort, Ovation and others. There are also other options if you can spend £499 and want best guitar for the money, that means an ALL SOLID WOODS guitar, my favourite list would be: 1. EPIPHONE DR-400MCE AE , 2. CORT L 300VF, 3. FENDER PM-1, 4. SIGMA DMC-15E, 5. CORT AS-OC4 OP

[@akgeezer]

Just a slight correction on the S6. The back and sides are usually laminated (or layered as Seagall calls it) cherry. Possibly your guitar is different?

[@akgeezer]

It would also be even a more accurate comparison with a comparison with Eastman's E2d, as it is also a cedar Top like the S6.

[@StaffordsStudio]

I will take both

[@ubertwerpify]

there is a distinct difference !

[@joriszsz95]

I have the Eastman E1D and my guitar teaches thought it sounded as good as an expensive Martin of his. But the Martin is easier to play and the headstock says 'Martin'.

[@lonelypinesroad9214]

I bet a nice set up would make it just as playable as the martin

[@letitbe978]

Help decide. Which one better seagull s6 or eastman e1om. My regular guitar is martin xc1t ellipse. I want to buy guitar under 1000$ similar to martin

[@wahabali7357]

Sir please give your opinion about Seagull s6 orignal vs yamaha fg830 so i can have better decision.

[@leemartin2978]

I hope you can meet the demand you’ve just created for the Eastman ? 😀 , and don’t get stuck with the Seagulls . I think there will be some new Eastmans at NAM , Limited edition all wood parlour would be nice 👍

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Well they actually did that last year and they were utterly incredible. Totally jaw dropping at around £700!!! But yes - It WOULD be very nice indeed!!! Eastman really are the most exciting brand to be around right now .

[@aland6785]

It"s landed!

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

Seagulls sound tinny to me.

[@jakesmethurst5699]

This guy seems like such a nice guy and a top bloke but he don't half beat around the bush .. I tried too buy a guitar from here said I need it soon as the staff where like we can't send it till we have set it up ( but still i love the passion for making sure things are good this was for postage ) I'd said I don't want you too. I'll set it up how I want it set up anyway long story short got the guitar I needed sooner but .. I will say if I needed a guitar and not in a rush I'd 100 percent go too these guys they seem too care more than any other company in the UK and really do push good quality guitars without the daft names on the stock and I if I worked there I'd edit his videos lovely playing but he talks way too much for someone wanting too see a guitar ( sorry Richard )

[@hahabobblehead2059]

can you please link me to the smaller body one?

[@MrLesterGibson]

That E1D is a great guitar but I'd rather quit playing than buy anything from that shop

[@davidnickless5424]

Richard do Eastman provide an electric version or after-market electronics? Or what pick-up(s) would you recommend for the E1D?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Hi David. We provide professional installation totally free of charge as part of our setup service so you only pay for the pickup. I recommend the Fishman Matrix VT at £159.

[@pbasswil]

Both guitars are indeed about the most you can get for the money in their categories. But tonally I still miss the refinement of a higher end dread. Personally I'd sell a lesser family heirloom and invest _at least_ double this $$ for something that sounds more like the classic steel strings on our favourite recordings. Then you can luxuriate in solid musical tone for _years,_ without your gear-lusting eyes forever wandering, searching, dreaming... That said, these are fantastic beginner/hobbyist guitars.

[@rsmallfield]

What a cool job you have. I’m jealous of you being surrounded by guitars all day.

[@freddymclain]

If you take a virtual tour of the Eastman factory here on KZbin, you'll notice that a good many of the artisans are women.