Martin D42 VS Eastman E20D-MR TC - Acoustic Guitar Shootout

In this video we are comparing some of the similarities and differences between the Martin D42 with Alpine Spruce Top and Madagascar Rosewood back and sides up against the Eastman E20D-MR TC which is a Adirondack Spruce top also with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides.
Both guitars were freshly strung with a set of 13 gauge Stringy Fox Glove coated strings.
The audio samples are conducted blind for fairness. Stay tuned to the end of video where the guitar results will be posted.
Audio gear used in this video Lauten Audio FC-387 microphone placed 10 inches off the 12th fret of the guitar into a Focusrite ISA Two Preamp, into the Line In on Apollo X6 rack unit model into Pro Tools.
Find Eastman for sale online.
www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...
Find Martin for sale online (Keep in mind this is the regular spec'd version not the Madagascar Rosewood version)
www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...
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0:00 Intro
4:34 Audio Samples
7:46 Thoughts on Sonics and Build/Broll
17:35 The Reveal

[@jaimiestead254]

The Eastman sounded much better to me. Time for the US companies to up their game on quality control and how their guitars play off the shelf.

[@JoshuaKrell]

Definitely a strong contender!

[@shawnsnow6413]

I think the Martin was in a different league. It was obvious once I heard B. The Eastman sounded fine, but there are 10 other companies that produce the same tone. Nothing sounds like a Martin.

[@DjBydLo]

Well done comparison, thanks.

[@JoshuaKrell]

Thanks man! 😊

[@shawnsnow6413]

If you know the Martin sound, it was obvious. Both are great instruments, but the Eastman was excusably outclassed imo.

[@JoshuaKrell]

I’d have to agree with that assumption of knowing the Martin sound. It’s very distinctive finally. It even smelled like a Martin 😅

[@shawnsnow6413]

@@JoshuaKrell I believe Martin Uses Spanish Cedar for its Kerfing. I traded my D-41 years ago, but i'll never forget the way it smelled 🥲

[@davidcaddock96]

Fantastic

[@JoshuaKrell]

appreciate it man!

[@shadowm3ld]

I was surprised how dark the Martin was compared to the Eastman. I thought the Eastman sounded more balanced, but the resonance of the Martin seemed a little richer and longer lasting. Are both guitars all solid back and sides? Great video!

[@JoshuaKrell]

Thanks man! Yes, both are solid wood top back and sides. Solid Adirondack spruce for the Eastman and solid Alpine spruce for the Martin top. Then back and sides are a Madagascar Rosewood. The wood types are very similar but this variation of the Martin was a little over $7k new whereas the Eastman is just over $2k at time of this video.

[@theapplepaul]

I paused it so before I know which was which: A sounded better to me initially on the strums- but then B sounded better on the fingerpicking.

[@JoshuaKrell]

I appreciate your thoughts!

[@ZionForman]

well done, I listed to the audio samples, and before you reveal which guitar is which I am guessing A is the Eastman and B is the Martin. A sounds brighter than B. I liked B for the first two examples, but heard more clarity in guitar A for your third, fingerstyle, example.

[@JoshuaKrell]

Well said! There’s obviously a noticeable difference. My question is, is it a $5000 difference. That Martin went for over $7k originally whereas this Eastman runs a ballpark of $2k. Different guitars for different situations 😊 however, it is cool to see the amount of value you can get in a guitar now. I remember even when I was starting out how bad guitars were sub a grand!

[@ZionForman]

@@JoshuaKrell , a D-18 or a D-28 would be a more appropriate comparison, at least pricewise. the 42 has all the trim, inlay, and binding that make it cost more, but it's not a better guitar than several lesser expensive Martins. for me, I think a D-18 is about as good as dreadnaught style guitars can get. played many Eastmans and found them a wee heavy. I own and enjoy an Eastman mandolin.

[@JoshuaKrell]

@@ZionForman as someone who has owned both a D18 and a D28. The d18 is Martin’s most balanced recording dreadnought. It’s what nearly all my luthier contacts recommend in Martin’s lineup due to mahogany being significantly more balanced as a tone wood for recording. I would also say, as someone who has owned both, the e20d which is exactly spec’d as a 28 and the e10d eastman’s d18 clone having played both side by side the Martin equivalents, playability is significantly better on the Eastman. I have had 4 students in the last year buy Martins. 18 and 28 and return them and swap out for Eastman just because of Martin’s poor quality control. And had two students last year buy a 42 and a 41 and have issues and trade them in for a couple different Eastmans. Food for thought. Curious what you mean by heavy? Do you mean actual weight wise? That’s super cool about your mandolin. I’ve been thinking about adding one as well!

[@ZionForman]

@@JoshuaKrell , by heavy I mean weight, I like a guitar under four pounds (preferably), dreadnaughts around 4 lbs. anything 5 lbs. or more is too heavy. usually this is due to a guitar being overbuilt. that has been my main criticism of Eastman guitars. I also teach and so have probably touched over a thousand guitars in my lifetime, if not many more. haven't noticed a pattern of quality control issues on either Martin or Eastman, though I have seen issues, maintenance, and sometimes repair needs on all instruments. I don't think Martin makes the best guitar on planet earth (though I love them), and I do think Eastman is a good value (I like them).

[@JoshuaKrell]

@@ZionForman I can appreciate that. I have noticed that on eastman’s line are slightly heavier. That’s good to hear you haven’t run into any issues. I have seen thousands of guitars through my studio and done setups on and repairs on many of those I don’t send off to my luthiers. Hundreds of Martins of every shape and style. About 40 percent have complaints. I should also note that the two aforementioned 40 series martins were bought directly from Pennsylvania and shipped from Martin not a retailer which is disheartening. May-haps it they would’ve faired better with Sweetwater’s 55 point check over 😉 or if not at least they’d have a whole bunch of voicemails from their rep!

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

If you're done reviewing the Eastman, can I have it?

[@stenmartens7179]

could clearly tell the difference between the two. im an eastman owner looking for a dread. the reasonances are completely different especially after you stop strumming. over all the martin takes the cake here for having a wider more balanced sound whereas the eastman has a more presend mid scoop.

[@JoshuaKrell]

Appreciate the comment! I thought it was pretty incredible just how different they sound between the two with such similar tone woods. Even the bracing is virtually the same. I would agree tonally for playing the Martin does have a wider more rich tone and larger bottom end. But in terms of balance I would disagree. I recorded a couple albums now on Martin d41 and d42 and for recording these do record very well. They are unbalanced due to the massive low end. Even with good mic placement I still spent a lot of time with eq and multi band compression to get them to sit properly in a mix. And in a live environment it’s the same thing as well. My luthier actually always recommends mahogany back and sides guitars over rosewood for this very reason. The Eastman does record slightly better in this case and sticks out in the mix better just naturally due to a less massive low end. That being said, the 42 is remarkably enjoyable to play. With better fretwork it would be even better. This is the 7th 40 series Martin I’ve seen in the last year that has less than solid fretwork! 😬

[@LeoWal01]

The Eastman (A) was brighter, the Martin (B) sounded warmer. Wished my Eastman E10D would sound more like that E20D. Mine is also warm sounding, where I'd like a little more brightness...

[@JoshuaKrell]

It may have to do with the Madagascar back and sides which is known for being more balanced. I have recorded several other 42 recently of East Indian rosewood back and sides and they are significantly more boomy and harder to record. Even this Martin sounded more balanced then the East Indian rosewood versions I’ve recorded.

[@stillwaterband]

eastman is great, but i did order one that came with the nut slotted wrong. also you will want to lower your saddle .

[@JoshuaKrell]

I have a luthier work through all my guitars just like every guitar. Every Martin I’ve ever owned needed nut filing and saddle adjustments as well as fret filing in all but one case. Out of curiosity, where did you order your Eastman?

[@billcavin3554]

Until about two years ago I would've disagreed with everything I was completely sold on Martin still am I guess but these new re-imagined are not good at all. I went with cash in hand to buy a D42 it took 2weeks to even get it to the store, not only did I almost throw it to the ceiling when I picked it up it was so light, like it was made from Balsa wood. the sound was flat and a $600 guild blew it away. I'll check out the Eastman from this if anything get a couple just for handy open tunings but if anyone is looking for a Martin and you can deal with a few scratches (I hate that) then get a used pre re-imagined those are still the best Martins....

[@JoshuaKrell]

100%! I wouldn’t buy anything new from Martin. Last year I had a student buy a brand new Martin d41 from the factory and straight up it needed $500 worth of luthier work just to make it play well… not a good sign for a guitar with that price tag.

[@LegsON]

Extremely hard to believe.🤔 Lightweight is good by the way

[@JoshuaKrell]

@@LegsON I’ve seen so many larger name guitars come through with glaring issues it’s ceased to surprise me now. I literally just had another higher end Gibson come through picked up by a student straight from their factory who didn’t know any better. It had raised frets at numerous spots and a nut cut so low that it was fretting out terribly.

[@LegsON]

@@JoshuaKrell I can easily believe US guitars often have awful setup, but it's hard to believe a very inexpensive Chinese Guild sounds better than them, since Asian factory guitars are almost always overbuilt when compared to US ones. Plus they often have much thicker finish. I say that as an avid lover of Asian budget brands myself.

[@JoshuaKrell]

@@LegsON I def take your point on that. I will say that this specific e20D was heavier than previous models I’ve played. And by contrast, the 42 in this video was significantly lighter than any 42 or even just Martin dread in general that I have played which I considered a good thing as I contributed a lot of that to why it resonated so well.

[@eladh.brooke5460]

No comparison really… nothing beats the harmony of the Martin’s 40 series. The eastman sounds like a cheap tin guitar. Sound like a 6000$ difference in worth, at least for an ear trained guitarist

[@JoshuaKrell]

I think there are many guitars that are competitive or superior. If you are wanting to spend $8k on a guitar there are plenty of great offerings. Collings, Santa Cruz, Thompson, Lowden, Bourgeois all have great if not superior offerings in the same price range. To say nothing of Greenfield, Beneteau or Olson. My point is Eastman punches above its weight and offers a more affordable but well made alternative.

[@georgeargon5113]

You compared apples to oranges and ought to know better.

[@JoshuaKrell]

@@georgeargon5113 I would say that was the very point. I recorded numerous projects with Eastman guitars right alongside Martin’s, Taylor’s and Gibsons of high end make. I would hazard very few could hear the difference. But you are right in a sense. I compared a mid tier Eastman up against Martin’s high end. I’d love to eventually do a higher end Eastman up against a higher end Martin. I think it would be really cool to hear.

[@scottadams8636]

Im a frog.... Im a frrrroggggg... .Im a frooooogggggg... vocal fry at its finest LOL

[@JoshuaKrell]

Appreciate your engagement LOL

[@stillwaterband]

check out my page, im playing an eastman e20d on my videos. thermo cured . great sounding. ive had it 3 yrs and it just keeps getting better