Eastman E20D vs Martin D28

[@echoguitarist]

I've recently played both side by side and yes, the D-28 does sound better but honestly, not by much. They both were set up VERY well, of course. I ,for one, cannot justify the difference in price. That being said, I plan on buying the Eastman.

[@rickb.299]

The Eastman resonates in the high end Taylor and Collings range which is great for stage presence. I'm really impressed with these handmade guitars.

[@q45ij54q]

That is a great sounding D28! I don't think I've ever played one that sounded that rich. Sounds like a great HD-28V.

[@LottimusMaximus]

That’s a better than normal sounding D-28 for sure. Wow 🤩.

[@Dennzio1]

Thanks Ian!! So I went ahead and saved a couple grand and got the E20D. This Eastman is one hell of a great sounding instrument!

[@Steven-Duffy]

I played one today. OMG 😲 it was like the gates of heaven opened. Going to pick it up in the morning 🌄

[@dannymuhammad8321]

It really is great I bought one couple years ago although I have Martin's also. It doesn't have that scooped out sound the 28 and HD has. The Eastman is more like a D18. it cuts through much better. Especially for single note things

[@byronturnbow2189]

I own both of these guitars. bought the Eastman several years ago because I thought it was the same thing at half the price. Its a great guitar. Its not a Martin. Every time I would go into a guitar store and just strum a G chord on a D-28 I would be blown away at the sound and know deep down that my Eastman can't do that. I eventually bought the D-28 and now I can Rest In Peace and play a beautiful guitar every day knowing its the best sounding guitar I can get.

[@ryangarvey4437]

Really enjoy your playing 👍 great guitars too...I'm more of a d18 guy but that 28 sounds great!

[@frankie_CALB]

Strumming Eastman: 0:00 Martin: 3:47 Picking Eastman: 1:56 Martin: 5:46

[@robertsteinberger]

This Martin sounds amazing.

[@hotlov72]

Got my Eastman E20D today, sounds better than my Recording King Rd328 fuller, louder. Maybe it doesnt have the Martin D28 tone, but its got its own, it sounds very bluegrass on the g runs

[@ianmeadows6351]

Play the heck out of it, it will just sound better as time goes on. Congrats on a great guitar

[@hotlov72]

@@ianmeadows6351 only problem with it so far is the string buzz, neck looks pretty straight but some strings are buzzing when you play them at certain frets.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

@@hotlov72 you probably have some high frets. You need a fret rocker to diagnose which ones are high. It doesn’t have to be much to create the buzz.

[@jimi5037]

Scrolling back and forth @ 0:26 & 4:16 it would seem the D28 has more depth and clarity.

[@sugarlife485]

because it does

[@pinballwizard5232]

The D28 is indeed a great guitar. Bear in mind you've heard a comparison between a sitka top (Martin) and an adirondack top (Eastman). Adirondack takes a few years to open up. Love the sound of the Eastman anyway.

[@hotwireman49]

Eastman sounds like it needs tuning. What strings are on it? Hows the action? The martin blew it away with the first strum. I own the E20D. I've had it since 2014 and it sits on my chair in my living room every single day. I got a good set up on it when I bought it and I play it every single day. It's awesome, but it's not a Martin. I won't sell it though, even if I did have a martin. I have two Taylors, a 520e and a 416ce. Both are for sale and hopefully then I can get my Martin!!!!! Hate the Taylor neck.

[@hotlov72]

I bought the Eastman E20D, should be here Tuesday July 21, then i seen comparison between it and the E20D Tc and im kicking myself! But it was too late!

[@ianmeadows6351]

Just play the crop out of the e20D and age the top in yourself! They are excellent guitars, I bet you will love it.

[@aaronpatton6674]

I’m blessed to own both of those models, but I did upgrade my tuners on the Eastman. Strumming- I pick the Eastman. Fingerpicking- Martin. Lead playing - Martin. Playing with a group - slightly go with the Eastman. Play ability- Martin for sure. The Martin has a clearer sound and more responsive. Tunings stability- Eastman with (Gotoh tuners). Intonation- Eastman by a hair (but I had it set up by an Authorized Martin repair man with a Martin Saddle). Before that the Eastman e20d had bad intonation. I’ve owned 2 Martins, 2 Taylor’s and 2 Eastmans. In my opinion the build quality of Eastman is not as good as Martin or Taylor, but they are fine guitars and a lot less expensive. I would only suggest if you buy an Eastman, try to get a good used guitar at a good price because I don’t think the resale value is real good. Just by one and keep it and you will be happy

[@aaronpatton6674]

That Martin sounds amazing. I own an Eastman d20. But I do hope to get a Martin D28 one day. I love to hear the tone come out of a guitar, and a d28 does that better than most guitars, In my opinion.

[@coolhandlucas4148]

I feel like the Eastman's adi top needs time to open up, whereas the Martin sounds spectacular out of the box. Of course, I don't know the history or age of these particular guitars.

[@ianmeadows6351]

Both are around 4-6 months old! You may be right re: the tip on the Eastman

[@tomformanek3312]

Clearly true. My e20d is gorgeous and well built, but really stiff. I really need to play it more. I presume the TC model might have been Eastman's response to the base model not being greater out of the box. The Martin sounds much more seasoned and resonate.

[@4CloudySky]

This is great video. Thank you! Do you use the same strings when doing this comparing videos? For some reason Eastman uses Daddario EXP Lights for their dreads, which is ridiculous.

[@rorymcclellan3740]

I wondered what the hell they were. I broke one on mine just tuning to pitch. Then when I was taking them off, two of them broke at the peg head as I was just pulling em off like any other string. Oh well. I'd rather my money go into the guitar and it's case than the strings.

[@eunkkonglife]

0:26 1:56 2:44 4:13 5:46 6:36

[@defaultuser6498]

hey ian, can Eastman E40D compare to martin D28/D41/ D42 ? Or you would say martin is just better?

[@jamesbateman7131]

Wow that D28 sounds just like mine, crazy how similar it sounds. That Eastman sounds bloody beautiful and would destroy just about any other guitar in its price range. As a guitar teacher i often suggest Yamaha and Eastman to my clients when looking to buy a guitar under $500. Its amazing how good the PCH series Eastman guitars are for a few hundred dollars. Sure the PCH series are alot cheaper then this E20D but they are really impressive for the money.

[@Steven-Duffy]

I done this comparison myself today and all I can say is it wasn't the D28 that won. The E20D-tc was a far superior instrument. Maybe it was just a bad day at the office for this D28 but you really need to play the instrument and do your own comparison as no 2 instruments are the same. Love your work Ian. I'm going to pick up the Eastman tomorrow. First strum the gates of heaven opened up💫

[@ianmeadows6351]

Thanks for the kind words Steve, glad you found such a sweet axe!

[@meinbiolehrer4728]

9

[@dannymuhammad8321]

I actually have an HD28 and ATC version of this Eastman. I agree with you only up to a point.. The hds are a lot more scooped out.. But these e 20's are excellent guitars with the Adirondack top. For $2300 it's excellent.. And on sessions I use it for solo work cause it cuts through much better than the Martins do.. Except for a D18

[@sc12100]

I had a Eastman E10D for a while and it was a great value guitar. My problem was that I had it for a few years and it never seemed to open up - and yes the adi top takes longer and I am completely aware of that. However, I never heard the progress. It was also a tight sounding guitar with the tone focused on the mids and highs. Bass was there but sounded too clean, light, and empty. On the positive note, its a great build with great quality and although the woods were noticeably not a high grade, its can hang with most guitars that are double the price - and price meaning a new Eastman. I have owned three Martins, one Santa Cruz, two Larrivee's, one Taylor, one Blueridge, and one Eastman and I would definitely recommend an Eastman for a great all solid guitar for someone on a restricted budget.

[@jmdbb]

Exactly my experience with an E10D-TC. Super loud, tons of bark on the highs and mids but the bass seemed lacking. I sold it on for a great price to a guy who absolutely loves it. Prefers it to his Martin custom shop 12-fret Dread. I replaced it (and 2 other guitars I sold) with a Martin Outlaw 17 and it is an incredible instrument. I still want to love an Eastman, I've tried and had 4 of them but sold them all.

[@sc12100]

@@jmdbb I have a newer HD28 and after a couple years of playing, its finally opening up and Im loving it. I would love to get my hands on the Outlaw and have only heard great things about them. I love the look of them as well. Its kind of a like a D18 with Herringbone.

[@jmdbb]

@@sc12100 I have an HD28 as my other dreadnought too. Mine's still pretty new but it's loud and snappy and I love it but it doesn't have the depth of sound the Outlaw does. That's where that authentic bracing sets it apart.

[@sc12100]

jmdbb I almost sold my hd28 after 9 months because it was still tight sounding. I love it now though. I didn’t know the 17 had authentic bracing. I figure it was just forward shifted scalloped. Yeah, I really wanna get my hands on one when I find it.

[@jmdbb]

@@sc12100 Yes, Martin has only made two guitars (as far as I know) with Authentic bracing that aren't part of the Authentic series. The CS-21-11 and the CS-Outlaw-17. Basically, the only thing different between the Outlaw and a '37 Authentic is the adjustable truss rod neck, the drop-in saddle, and the un-tucked bridge plate and tone bars. Pretty sweet mix of vintage and modern features. As far as Eastman, I recently got a deal-too-good-to-pass-up on an Eastman E8D and I really like it. I like it much better than the E10D-TC or E20OM-TC I owned previously.

[@aaronpatton6674]

I recently played my Eastman e20d and then played a Martin HD 28. Same song. The Eastman is louder. But to be fair the Martin had real low action making it lower in volume

[@gatormcklusky5850]

0:01 vs 3:46 tone compare 0:05 vs 3:51

[@gatormcklusky5850]

Huge difference. The martin blows it out of the water. You really hear it using the 5 second & the 351 mark, huge difference, But then again i just looked at where your hand was on the strings in both tests your hand was about an 1.5" farther back on the strings with the Martin so the test really isn't a good compare

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

Interesting. I have a D-28, but was thinking the E20D might be more the equivalent of a HD-28, but this video, imo, clearly demonstrates the Martin's superiority.

[@sc12100]

It would be the most accurate with it being an HD28 with an Adi top compared to a E20D. Sitka top vs Adirondack top is a big difference in tone.

[@acurabby]

28 All the way, but for the price it's Eastman and sound after Martin. I'd go but one time big time here and never have to worry wanting one later = MARTIN😁

[@brucemarrs2596]

Eastman mellower, Martin louder and brighter. Hate to say it - Martin wins

[@el34glo59]

I Cleary hear the strings more with the Eastman. Hear the wood with the Martin, while still being clearer. Martin also just has that thump and growl. Which is why I'm a Martin fan. But the Eastman is a nice acoustic But it's not close imo. That's a good sounding Martin too. Hold onto it

[@ianmeadows6351]

Martin guitars truly rock!

[@HenryPipes]

I just bought a New E20D-TC. If you get your hands on one I would love to hear you compare it to an HD-28.

[@ianmeadows6351]

You and me both. They're pretty difficult to get... What do you think of it so far?

[@HenryPipes]

Ian Meadows I just ordered it online so it won’t be to my house till Thursday. I have an E10D-TC and it is absolutely amazing. It’s louder than any standard D-18 I’ve played. It has that slightly brighter Collings tone, but the TC top gives it a good dry, extremely responsive sound. If the E20D-TC is as good as my 10 I’ll be very happy.

[@hotlov72]

The E20D Tc is one i should have got, sounds awesome! But ill make do with the E20D i guess

[@ronins7754]

The TC treatment definitely gives a boost to the Eastman. Also Adirondack spruce is different than sitka spruce. I think it is a real testament to the Eastman standard e20 for being close to the Martin. I used to own a 2018 Martin D 28 standard. It was a great guitar but for a dream acoustic on my budget I found something lacking. For months I could not figure it out. I was picking up high end Takamine guitars and enjoying them more. It was the total package of the Eastman (sound, feel) that kinda bridged the Martin and Takamine for me. Add the TC and the gorgeous vintage looking top with more open and boomier sound and that was it. Oh yeah and at HALF the price (MSRP) of a Martin. Impressive package!

[@hotlov72]

@@ronins7754 I have the Eastman E20D and I will say, its Adirondack top, it doesn't sound quite like a guitar with an Adirondack top, i find the sound not as responsive as say My Recording King Rd328, but the Eastman tone is louder, but sounds like a regular SItka Spruce top guitar

[@marcserrand4026]

Thanks for the video. What about D28 vs E8D as both of them are sitka spruce top ?

[@donkeninitz4590]

I have both (and a D-41). The E8D easily holds it own against my D28 despite the fact that my D28 is 20 years old. You wouldn't want to live on the difference in the sound, and I prefer the wider 1.75" nut width on the E8D. The D28 is a bit fuller-sounding, but I suspect that has more to do with the fact that it's been played for 20 years than any inherent difference.

[@robertforbes6502]

❤Martin, I want the D28 authentic until further notice, if that will ever come to pass😂

[@rickharp3601]

Similar sounding, edge to martin. Would be very hard to pick a winner if we factored price and playability, two other very important factors.

[@jimmymahone5420]

In a guitar store years ago, had a hot picker play both a Martin D28 and Eastman E20D while I stood perhaps 15' in front of him, eyes closed. New guitars both. After a goodly bit of this, opened my eyes and bought the Eastman.

[@AndrewUnruh]

I prefer the Eastman, actually.

[@AndrewUnruh]

@Jon Oz Unfortunately, most of us play mostly for ourselves and the videos are never mic'd for the way the guitar sounds to the player. I just pulled the trigger on a Guild M20 and although it doesn't sound the same as it does in the vids, it does sound amazing - imo the best sounding small guitar out there - and not all that expensive. Completely different guitar than what you are looking for, though.

[@atiredblue]

No fair that Martin is 18 years old

[@MYdjANDkaraoke]

OMG! I'm a DJ and sound guy by trade cause I'm not good enough to be a guitarist lol so I'm playing this out of a good loudspeaker and that Martin, sounds so good! Weird but at the stores from only playing it you can't truly hear what others hear as you are playing it. I was blown away with some Eastman's at a guitar store played it side by side with some all solid wood Taylor's and they seemed comparable at only half the cost. But I always prefer to have someone else play one if my guitars side by side with the one I'm looking at so I know how it will sound to what I already have. Some people want a guitar that sounds the same others want one that sounds different. I am not good enough to ever have a Martin and I already have Gibson, Guild, and Ovation acoustics so I will likely buy an Eastman even though clearly the Martin is superior!

[@v2807]

If we had to be good enough, Martin would never sell any guitars!

[@fabriziomancuso6549]

as expected...the martin D28 is better in all its sound parts. Martin costs almost twice as much. Is the sound quality of the martin also worth twice as much as the eastman? probably not. When you buy an acoustic guitar though, there are other factors such as branding and resaleability. In my personal experience and that of my friends, though, I have to say that if you buy an eastman there will always be the “ghost of nazareth” flying around the room.

[@lucsaulnier1637]

I just played an Eastman e20d and sounded way better than my2018 d-28. Not even close. So no longer have my d-28 lol

[@abetteryou2025]

no bottom end

[@GShockWatchFan.]

Sorry. The D28 sounds better, you can hear the clearer open bite

[@sugarlife485]

martin alllll the wayyyy but eastman is very nice

[@ianmeadows6351]

Two very good guitars, for sure.

[@videocity4917]

When it comes to Dreadnaught Martin is the dreadnaught... all guitar companies wanted to copy the Martin sound thats why they recreates their own dreads but sorry if it comes to dreads its Martin, if its not Martin its a copy...

[@maxwellfan55]

Video City That's certainly not the case anymore, as serious players already know. Martin gave everybody the template, other improved on it.

[@sc12100]

@@maxwellfan55 I agree. I love Martin and I own two and have owned a total of three which I said in a post on this video. The Santa Cruz D/PW I owned at one point of time was the best guitar I have owned. Typical Sitka over Indian Rosewood but it had a piano like tone to it. Times were tough years ago and had to let it go. I would buy it back from the owner I sold it to if I could and even give him my 2018 HD28 with some money for it.

[@banjo1434]

My Eastman E1 D punches well above it's weight. As does my Yamaha fs820. But as the price points rise it starts to make more sense to opt for the big names like Martin. I'd say Martin is the clear winner here, but my E1D would blow away a 500 dollar Martin, if such a thing even exists?

[@sc12100]

@@banjo1434 I used to own an Eastman E10D. Solid Adi top and solid Honduran Mahogany back and sides. They're a great value guitar with great quality and you dont have to break the bank for one. The only thing I didn't care for was that the tuners were a little sticky - wasn't that big of a deal though. The tone was a little on the brighter side for me and thats why I eventually parted ways with it. Theres a lot of over seas guitars that are better than the cheaper Martins - Eastman, Blueridge - which Ive owned too, and I've heard Recording King are doing good things now as well - never seen or played one in person though. Me personally, I wouldn't purchase a Martin guitar that is below the 15 series models. And IMO, the 15 series is Martin's value guitar. I own a 000-15M and love that one as well. Martin's prices rise like every year or two. Since 2010, the standard D28 series and up have increased almost $1k. I bought my first NEW Martin - HD28 a couple years ago and glad I did because if you wait, your just gonna pay more eventually. Even in the used market, older HD28s start out at usually $2k and only go higher from there. Selling a clean one, you would get between 75%-90% of what you paid for it depending on your patience with timing of the sale. And its typically the same trend for boutique builds as well.

[@gutbucket260]

@@sc12100 I've owned Martin D18, 28 35, Bourgouis , Guilds, Huss and Dalton, but the best dred I ever owned was a Collings D1A. That thing was a monster. I had a Santa Cruz OMPW that was also killer. I own a Eastman E20D presently that sounds great. Monel strings work nice on this particular one.

[@amirrezarezaie]

0:25 4:13

[@auramac]

The Martin sounds way better to me, wishful thinking that the (cheaper) Eastman is better?...

[@jimmy5634]

I’d be hard-pressed to say the Martin sounds better.

[@cliffdykes1171]

Not close, Martin

[@fishersrow]

Martin D28 by a mile. No comparison.

[@fishersrow]

@Doug Plays Guitar I've owned and played lots of both and no Eastman will ever compare to a Martin as they are different guitars.

[@dusanbogunovic6148]

martin d-28 is after bozo western best guitar

[@rikardo1070]

martin

[@MatthewCuda]

Martin wins