Guitar Tone Tuesday: Ep 215 - Blind Tasting; Martin 000-15SM VS Eastman E6OM

[@bagginsoddie6434]

Great video, love your channel!

[@LucasHaneman]

Thanks so so much! I really appreciate that.

[@guyb7005]

yay!!! I finally got one right!! I found the guitar #2 slightly more muted, especially in the upper register, but with a clear attack. Guitar #1 had a less aggressive attack, but more sparkle and resonance. I think mahogany top and rounded shoulders were a factor. Sound-wise, I don't hear one being $1200 superior, so that would leave it to playability. -- Great comparison.... love the playing on these!

[@LucasHaneman]

Very thoughtfully worded and I agree with your assessment, my friend. Thanks for playing along as always, and I appreciate you commenting on the video!!

[@tontrenner]

Hey Lucas, nice comparison. I was quite shure, that I heard the Martin as guitar no1. The fuller sound and the woody deeper basses. But luckily you lifted the secret to my pleasure and it was the Eastman (again). Still the most surprising brand for me. Meanwhile I own three of them my own. E1D, E2D and A122-2CE. Maybe there will be aanother E3OME or AC222CE in the future, cause of the interesting Ovangkol sound I'd like to get. Kind regards from northern germany :)

[@LucasHaneman]

Super cool! You’ve got a nice collection of Eastmans there. I do highly recommend the 222 from the AC range if you can give them a try. Did A review on one a few years ago and man what a great instrument! Thanks for watching

[@tobywilkes1670]

Guessing before the reveal ... 1 Martin, 2 Eastman ... Perhaps. 1 to me had the all mahogany blues solo sound

[@tobywilkes1670]

Hah funny. Our ears play tricks on us. I didn't have a preference to get hobest. Both really good. Didn't hear a 1200 difference

[@LucasHaneman]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@babbapappa1]

So haven't seen the reveal, they both sounded sweet cap dothed to your playing🕶 I thought guitar number 2 sounded ever so slightly warmer on the finger style and sounded like it was easier to play with the pick

[@LucasHaneman]

Right you are. Guitar number two was the Martin so A little easier to play. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@ckdurso5326]

Lucas, we enjoy these pop quizzes you challenge us with; i own both a Martin and an Eastman so i might be expected to discern between the two; during the enjoyable video above, i pick no1 is the Eastman and no2 is Martin, but what do I know? My Eastman e3OM is great fun to play, projects well, great sustain and costs about a tenth of what my wonderful Martin is valued at now

[@LucasHaneman]

Super cool that you have some insider first-hand perspective with both brands. I will say you were 100% correct with your assumption. I hope you continue to enjoy both guitars, and thanks so much for watching!

[@deb8tn]

I lean towards #2 being the martin. I was expecting the Martin to be a bit warmer and less bright therefore I thought I should be able to tell based on that alone, but I could not. I could not hear a $1200 difference. I was not at all sure which was which. I ultimately chose thinking the Martin should sound at least a little better and #2 sounded just that little bit better. I have always heard great things about Eastman guitars. They seem like great value instruments. Cheers Luc

[@LucasHaneman]

Thank you so much for watching and congrats on choosing correctly! They are both pretty special to play and I feel lucky to have been able to showcase them both!

[@최해룡-e8g]

한가지 궁금한 점은 E6OM TC입니까?

[@LucasHaneman]

I have played some of the TC guitars. I would say that your chances of getting a great guitar are just the same as if you were getting a normal non-TC guitar. Hope that makes sense. I still think you have to try a few to find the right one. The TC process does change the sound of the top of the guitar, but to me it’s much more about the specific would used in the entire instrument.

[@최해룡-e8g]

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 정말 재미있는것은 최근에 제가 어쿠스틱기타를 가지고싶어져서 제일먼저 고려한것이 마틴 15씨리즈였다는것입니다 그러다가 나의 심장을 뛰게하는것은 깁슨이라는것을 알게되었고 j45빈티지를 목표로 삼았습니다. 저는 일렉기타도 깁슨을 주로 사용하기 때문이죠. 그런데 최근에 급히 돈을 많이 쓸일이 생겨서 저렴한 어쿠스틱기타를 하나 알아보려고 매장에가서 이스트만을 연주해 보았습니다 그때 원래 치고싶었던것은 E6om이었는데 품절이라서 E20omㄹ과 E1om을 연주해보았는데 20은 상당히 고음이 아름다운소리지만 코어 사운드가 좀 아쉽게 느껴졌습니다. 1도 거의 비슷하지만 그래도 가격이 저렴하고 몽환적인 매력적인 소리라서 마음에들었습니다 나는 기타라는 분야에서는 상당히 보수적인 사람이라서 깁슨과 펜더가 최고라고 생각하고 마틴과 깁슨이 최고라고 생각하는 사람입니다. 그런데 이스트만이 최근에 상당히 인상적이라는것을 인정할수밖에 없었습니다. 그 특유의 고음은 내 생각에는 단단한 프렛 재질때문인것 같아요. E20om의 사운드는 내 톰앤더슨 스테인리스프렛 기타를 케이블을 안꽂고 연주한소리와 매우 흡사했습니다. 아무튼 이번영상에서 분명해졌습니다. 고맙습니다 루카스 제 다음기타는 E6om 입니다

[@LucasHaneman]

Thanks so much for watching! It’s amazing what we can find in the guitar market when we open up our mind to all these alternative brands. I love Martin, Gibson and Fender etc. as much as anybody, but I have opened my eyes to the world of these smaller companies over the past many years, and it’s been a great experience. I won’t say that the Eastman guitars are all perfect by any means, but if you look around for the right one you will be pleasantly surprised and will end up with an instrument that you love picking up every single day!

[@JohnWagner-k4c]

I did pick correctly. I use to own a 000-15 Martin and got rid of it because I didn’t like the neck, and frankly I tired of the all mahogany sound. I’m very much considering the Eastman E1 OM special. It’s all your fault, Lucas, for turning me in the direction of Eastman guitars.

[@clarkeduggan]

I just bought an Eastman E1OM Special and it's really great. Amazing for the price. I greatly prefer the sound to the non-special one, which I don't like at all. (I briefly owned it, as well as the E2OM). TC top makes a big difference, and the gloss finish is very premium.

[@LucasHaneman]

Thanks for tuning in guys! I’ve only briefly played one of the specials so far but man it was sweet! I’ll have to do a review sometime soon on the channel. Thanks to both of you for watching and I’m sorry, but not sorry for making you an Eastman addict haha 👍🏻

[@clearmind3022]

Good old inflation. The balloon just keeps inflating until it's pop.

[@LucasHaneman]

Too true!

[@mooseymoose]

Yeah the Martin sounds way better to me. I’m not the one to ask about value perception though, given my penchant for “lawyer wood”. Lol! I haven’t even looked at my other guitars besides the even more insane acoustic since the Collings came to live with me. Officially spoiled.

[@LucasHaneman]

For sure. I’m blessed to have a couple of really nice acoustic guitars in my arsenal by small builders and indeed there is no comparison. That said I am happy to have my Eastman for certain occasions, like this past Sunday when I played an outdoor festival and it was so Hot that the power went out. I love/really prefer to play my nice acoustics, but I wouldn’t want to put them through that kind of torture. This is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. So happy that you are loving that new Collings!

[@mooseymoose]

@@LucasHaneman Yeah a “beater” guitar is amust have definitely.

[@Acoustic_Music-h6x]

Not much difference in sound considering one has a mahogany top. Without switching back and forth between sound samples I could not really detect a difference. I also suspect your playing makes every guitar sound good. Martin Plec their necks on all US built guitars. A Plec job is $200US at Sweetwater.

[@LucasHaneman]

AH, that’s very very nice of you. Regarding the pleck job, yes this can make a big difference in providing that buttery smooth feel that we all want with a guitar. I’ve never actually had this Eastman properly set up, and I am sure that would be beneficial. Now you’re making me think about taking it into my tech :-) The only reason why I haven’t is because it’s been remarkably stable, A testament to Eastmans consistency.

[@kensternberg3780]

Before I watch where you say which guitar was which, I’ll guess that no.2 was the Martin. Slightly fuller sound finger style, much fuller when picked. Now I’ll return to your video.

[@LucasHaneman]

You choose…..wisely! Congrats and thanks for watching!