Is Madagascar Rosewood REALLY Worth the Hype? Comparing 5 Brands

[@elisrtt]

From a price point perspective, the fact Eastman is even involved in the conversation is incredible. It says a lot about the outrageous prices being charged these days for acoustic guitars, when Eastman can build a better sounding guitar for a fraction of the cost than most of the guitars in this video.

[@captainamerica9353]

So you still have not figured out that a Communist-backed company employing slave labor can make copies for cheap?

[@G_Demolished]

Calm down, the Eastman is great for the price but it isn’t “better”.

[@jim4588]

At a bare minimum, from this video's back to back section I'd agree that Eastman does not sound better. But I also agree that it's great that they're building high enough quality guitars to be in the conversation.

[@philkinzer6486]

Out of all these guitars I have to say I was most impressed by the Atkin. Hitting on all 6 cylinders, volume and frequencies. I also prefer the way it looks.

[@texhaines9957]

Love the Eastman E20 MR TC from Acoustic Shoppe! I'd be happy with most any of these, possibly the Bourgeois or Boucher depending on the neck profile. The Martin has a neck profile that gives my wounded fretting hand issues. ThAnks John, Jeremy, Liz, and Regan with getting me that E20. Oh, and my audience heard the difference from the beginning. And loved it.

[@risermoreriser4237]

To me, John's guitar definitely sounds the best. The others seem very equal to me. I have a Eastman E20 MR TC and love it. Definitely the best for the money.

[@captainamerica9353]

The Eastman is the best deal for the money? Really, you mean Communists can copy Western products and use slave labor to sell stuff for cheap?

[@Dantoob1]

Fantastic 5 guitar back-to-back segment at the end. Production, playing & editing are excellent.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you!

[@BradMaestas]

I am the proud owner of a Bourgeois D-LSH in Madi and it is by far the finest acoustic guitar I've ever owned or played. It is just as happy being flatpicked or fingerpicked. Super responsive with a very light touch but also tons of room to push it with a flatpick. Incredible balance, clarity, and projection. Couldn't be more impressed with that guitar.

[@DM-rd7og]

The Eastman and Boucher were the standouts to me.

[@joekagerer]

I really need to have my hearing checked. I listened to this on a computer with Bose speakers cranked and I can hear a slight difference, but to me I'm always just taken in by John's playing and all of them sound fantastic. I really think KZbin audio compression stomps all over the harmonics that you hear live.

[@philkinzer6486]

Third and final comment: LOVE this video guys! This is why y’all have become the go-to for everyone who wants a review of bluegrass acoustics.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks so much!

[@williambutler8624]

Just want to thank Acoustic Shop for introducing me to Boucher Guitars 🎸 I purchased a Boucher SG-42 last year, one of the best guitars I've ever played, all of the guitars are great,love to own all of them #1 for me is Boucher, Robin and his crew build some of the best!

[@FunsongsMusicByPeterRahill]

To the hard-of-hearing, he didn't say "Mad At NASCAR"... nothing to do with race cars. 121st subscriber LIKE; 2,676th desktop guitar-fan view. In the comparison segment, I was surprised how I gravitated towards the tone of the Atkin... some tough competition - they all sound good; couldn't go wrong any one of'em.

[@ericecklund676]

John, I'm definitely a Martin fan, but I love how well defined the sound of your Bourgeois Dread is. My personal Large Soundhole Dread is a Martin CS-Bluegrass-2016. Thanks to both of you for putting this comparison together, Well done!

[@tdkrei]

To me they are all fantastic guitars however having said that I preferred the Atkin for the overall attack in the full range of notes. Low to high they balanced better than even the Martin. That's just what I heard everyone else will hear something different. Thanks guy and , keep on smiling.

[@nathanbaker9837]

I agree.

[@gammaraygem]

I own an Eastman ED20 TC but I have to agree. Dont know the pricetag of the Atkin, probably could not afford it anyway, and quite happy with my Eastman.

[@afisher555]

Eastman is punchy but balanced. Will be amazing when opens up. My fave!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Absolutely!

[@seancurran6727]

The Atkin, the Martin and the Bourgeois were my faves, of course I want 'em all........Of those 3, Bourgeois first, Martin second, and Atkins 3rd.

[@nathanbaker9837]

To my damaged ears, the Atkin sounded the best out of a group outstanding, stellar Dreadnought guitars. My budget only allows the Eastman (presently on order through the shop), but my confidence level is high that I will be delighted. I have a European made flamenco negra with Madagascar back and sides, and although sometimes temperamental, the punch, resonance, and response inspire me. It's esthetically appealing to my eyes as well. Cheers!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Out of all of these brands, not a single one is a disappointment, also the Eastman is an amazing value for what you get!

[@born2push]

Great demos! As you played the Eastman it seemed to open up. Initially was a little dry sounding. It was great for lead play! 👏 All were great sounding.

[@nellatrab]

All great guitars...but comparing the actual difference in tone here, I would have to put my money on the Eastman...the price to tone ratio dictates the Eastman. Oh and BTW...there will always be stand outs in like models from the same builders, due to wood grades and selections....there will also be those that don't stand out comparably. That being said, I still prefer mahogany for my dreads and flatpicking.

[@anthonyedwards4475]

#1 The Tony Rice Model. #2 Martin . #3 I would toss a coin for any one of them. Only my opinion after 50 yrs of playing!

[@jamesakers1175]

Awesome content guys. I loved the Bourgeois larger sound hole dread. My second favorite was the Eastman. They all sound great. Buy the best you can afford and play it often. They will open up more as you play it.

[@philipdeppen3189]

I have an Eastman e6dtc Swiss alpine top and I find DR rares always bring the bass out more without being boomy on mahogany back and side acoustics. Clear low tight bass. I love these strings

[@R.L.Humpert]

All 5 are super. Martin still remains the king for me.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

I did own a Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton guitar that had stunning Madagascar rosewood back and sides. I am convinced that it did add something very nice to the mix that was audible. Unfortunately the Carpathian spruce top started misbehaving after a year and it was necessary to sell the guitar. I would definitely own another Madagascar guitar without question.

[@captainamerica9353]

What happened to your top?

[@RSNflatpickn]

Well great bunch of guitars in 1 place And thanks for bringing this kind of content for everyone to be able to watch and enjoy My pick just like everyone else opinion only Atkins , bourgeois, boucher., Martin, eastman I think the Atkins more full and clean at same time

[@kelley71]

I had this on in the background and you can pick that Martin tone a mile away. All great guitars reviewed. The Akin was a close second. My D-18 I have just sounds like history when I strum it even though there are some many great alternatives now.

[@johnwashburn3793]

John, you have a beautiful guitar. I love the low end of my Martin hogs but I think I need some rosewood.

[@mr.drewpaintswithyou9034]

Very cool! 😃👍. Thanks guys! Do you get many Collings guitars in? I’d love to hear some of them compared with these.

[@AcousticShoppe]

We would absolutely love to get in more, we actually aren't Collings dealers but we get them in used from time to time! Hopefully one day we'll be a dealer!

[@stephenkim7277]

Eastman E20D-MR-TC has forward shifted bracing. I measured mine,and X bracing cross is less than an inch from the bottom of sound hole. According to Martin, it’s forward shifted bracing. Replacing ebony bridge pins with plastic pins (high end Martin has it) made its sustaining and sound better.

[@stephenkim7277]

In addition, if use Ebony bridge pins for high E and B string only, and use plastic pins for the rest, the sounds are much more balanced. I use Martin strings. MA540 phospher bronze.

[@sidweazel2883]

Best video so far. Great shoot out really well edited, thoroughly enjoyed that: My deaf ears said Atkin best with Eastman close.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you so much!

[@codyhead124]

Love Eastman guitars but you can definitely hear the difference due to the forward shifted braces on the other 4 models...

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

The large sound hole alone adds quite some very audible attack. Enjoyable comparison.

[@neilperrin1871]

Great video this guys interesting to see n hear all 5 different MR acoustics... I've got my eye on the eastman E20D.

[@OliverAndTheTwist]

The only thing I hate about this video is that there's no clear winner - all of these guitars sound great and seem up to player preference.. I know I finally got myself a Madi/Adi/Hide Glue/Non-VTS Martin Custom Shop OM after about a decade of playing like an entry level $600 Martin and oh my lordie I will be absolutely buried with this guitar this is my most prized possession in life - great video and playing guys

[@dcallan1]

Excellent editing. I thought it was a fun comparison. Not sure there is enough ability for mics to capture the differences. However, I appreciate the attempt. Oh, and I liked the Martin ;-)

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you! I can agree with that, the differences are always much more dramatic in person!

[@thunderbugcreative7778]

That Atkin sounds more like a Prewar Martin then a Prewar Martin! The Large sound hole Bourgeois looks so bada$$! Love how the fretboard invades the sound hole. In addition to madagascar I feel like bubinga is a very high quality sound replacement to Brazilian. To me its crisper and more articulate while maintaining bass response.

[@pmscalisi]

My Mossmans have the bolt on neck system and, for me, you'd never know it The Martin has their classic sound , Bourgeois would be next , but, I'd have a hard time picking one over the other.

[@zororosario]

Superb video of the high end dreadnoughts👍All are more than desirable than the average. I seriously liked the Boucher followed by the Martin 😊, but that how it comes through on KZbin 👌

[@DaveDiprose]

I like the Martin best cause I just love that Martin classic tone (always). But hey, what can I say, I own one and love it. It plays great rhythm in a band but flatpicks sensationally. I also play a lot in the bottom end and ther Martin does that well. Cannot play an East Indian anymore because the Madagascar is just that much better.

[@R.L.Humpert]

I’m not going to argue the East Indian vs. Madagascar rosewood but my custom HD 28 with the Indian rosewood still sounds just amazing and I would take it over any of those guitars in the video other than the Martin Madagascar. I just think Martin is the best guitar made. Congrats on owning the one you have. I have a 000-18 and my custom special HD 28. Both are amazing.

[@steveyarbrough2300]

They all sounded great to me. But I’d take the Bourgeois over the others, with the Martin second.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for sharing!

[@billdedrick1914]

For specifics, you should be describing the top bracing type, material, position (rear, mid, forward shifted), scalloped or non scalloped etc when you have the guitar in hand during it's demo. This information and specifics have a very big impact on the tone, sound, volume, bass, resonance etc. The two best sounding are the Martin D28 Authentic 37' and the Atkin D37 Pre War... both of those sounded very similar..To my ear, I prefer the Martin slightly to the Atkin.

[@JorgeTheilacker]

Liked most the Bourgeois and Atkins. Then Martin. Boucher a little below and then Eastmann... All wonderfull outstanding guitars... Which are the prices range? About 7 to 8 thousands. down to 1,7 thousands?

[@EarlMalmsteen]

I can say I have noticed a huge difference within Martin custom shop guitars. Their EIR ones just don’t have it relative to the ones with Madagascar rosewood.

[@bennyblanko3]

Fun video! Thanks!

[@davidboyd1745]

John, you are certainly an expert compared to me. EIR low E is “mushy”? Hmmmm? Maybe just stay with a great mahogany . I have 3 fine EIR guitars for sale because I agree with you. Mahogany is best. My BG-52 is an exceptional rosewood guitar.

[@captainnapalm8207]

Haven't had the chance to watch this yet, but seeing as the Eastman E20D-MR-TC is current dream guitar (I'm broke, and therefore not too terribly ambitious, lol), I can't wait to finish this video tonight and see how it stacks up!!

[@ginomarra96]

Atkins is a monster guitar

[@mesimeriaris]

Atkin dwarved all the rest. Louder, deeper and more resonant, by far. I loved it , if i lived in the States I d probably buy this one. Edit: I wouldn't I, just saw that it has a 1 11/16 nut.

[@paulvidani1752]

Q. How can you predict the sound quality in the future for these guitars using newer glues, woods and thermo aging techniques. Sound great today; what about tomorrow.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

I prefered the Martin D-28 Custom Shop Expert Authentic non aged version with truss rod against the "real" Authentic D-28 with Madagascar.

[@panayotiscanellopoulos8696]

Question: Is the Madagascar Rosewood also with the name Ovangkol?

[@AcousticShoppe]

Ovangkol is actually a different Tonewood completely, but it does have some Rosewood characteristics & similarities tonally.

[@panayotiscanellopoulos8696]

@@AcousticShoppe Thanks for he clarification!!! I appreciate it!

[@philkinzer6486]

Can someone tell me if John’s Bourgeois is AP Glue and AT Finish? Thanks

[@AcousticShoppe]

The answer is yes to both!

[@Dave-rk2nl]

@@AcousticShoppe John sounded like you wanted the martin authentic. I could trade you my authentic for the Bourgeois and throw 500 and we talk 🤫🤫

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

So a question that might be asked, is Brazilian Rosewood really worth the hype..?

[@DUMONTBILLY]

If you play this at playback speed 0.5X, when they are talking,they sound like they’ve been drinking. 😊

[@AcousticShoppe]

Solid advice! 😂

[@DUMONTBILLY]

I hope I wasn’t offending anyone. You guys are awesome. I love what you do.

[@AcousticShoppe]

@@DUMONTBILLY you weren’t at all! Thanks for supporting us!

[@ddean8395]

I'm confused. I like them all.

[@cosmonaut9942]

The commonality between all of these guitars seems to be balance.

[@DannyBrooks1]

Wish you guys would add time stamps to the videos.

[@AcousticShoppe]

We add them to all of our descriptions, they should be popping up?

[@TheManofgod57]

John have you ever played a Blueridge guitar just wondering 🤔

[@TheManofgod57]

Amen Brother guitars for very rich people and that is absolutely ok its just not for me who is on a fixed income.

[@joekagerer]

The Eastman is in the $2500 range and I thought it stacked up fantastic compared to the big guns... Granted $2500 is 5 or 10 times a cheap guitar, but in today's world doesn't seem that out of reach for many people. I may be way out of touch, there are a lot of nice instruments in the $500 range, but compared to the others, it's a fraction of the cost.

[@GibsonF4F5]

Being that most people listen to these videos on a speaker the size of a rice kernel through their phones it’s difficult to discern all the tonality qualities of each guitar. The Martin has my ear…

[@el34glo59]

I'm personally more of an Indian fan. I tnink Madi sounds nothingness like Brazilian. Comes down to the specs, bracing and the builder

[@AcousticShoppe]

There is definitely truth in the fact that it depends on the builder, bracing & other specs!

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Sorry, if I'm laying down 8 to 12k for an acoustic guitar, I'm not going to ask how the wood was harvested. If a builder is charging that kind of money, it is his responsibility to ensure everything is legal.

[@daveredcay7066]

Martin in my ears sounds best

[@ShamanicSavant]

None of those are particularly nice examples of quality Madagascar. The Bourgeois looks like sapwood, and none of them look like properly quartersawn wood. Always buy based on the guitar, not the specs. I wouldn't buy that Bourgeois for the maddy, but I would for the sound. My Takamine EF75M-TT uses madagascar, it's a perfectly quartersawn and grain/color matched set. I'm more concerned with the quality of the wood than where it came from. I'd put my Tak up against any of the guitars here and just smile :)

[@mertcolak952]

Hello, what is that mic?

[@AcousticShoppe]

We use Ear Trumpet Labs Mics!

[@startreker8591]

The reason they mix Asian made ax with USA😂 is?

[@anthonyfowler2623]

Guitars for rich people

[@bennyblanko3]

You'll be even poorer if you buy one, because you won't stop playing it, and loose your job - unless you are a working musician, and then others will love hearing it, but you won't make any more money, because nobody can tell or care, but you. They are worth the money, if you are rich ... heh heh ... if you are poor, and can save and pull it off, I think it probably isn't worth it, but you will have a guitar for the rest of your life.

[@bennyblanko3]

Just buy a varnish finish eastman slope dread, and play it for 6 months. They turn into awesome guitars once they open up. They are still 2k though.

[@dantemusic2]

I absolutely love the Eastman OM20-MR-TC. Madagascar Rosewood really brings incredible sound to fingerpicking!

[@sc12100]

You mean “guitars for people who are good with their money “!

[@G_Demolished]

The internet is for rich people. It’s all relative.

[@philipchung9492]

So much BS

[@kking9184]

I'd pick the Boucher... but if I got to keep the change, I'd defo take the Eastman