Martin + Taylor + Eastman Sapele Dreadnought Comparison

Taking a look at three Spruce Top/Sapele Back and Sides Dreadnoughts from a few prominent acoustic guitar manufacturers, Martin, Eastman, and Taylor.
As always, these videos are just for fun. When I have similar spec'd guitars lying around I like to make comparisons with them, and hope that someone else might enjoy them too.
Martin D10-E
Strumming 0:01 Flatpicking 5:09 Fingerpicking 8:34 Fingerpicking2 12:22
Taylor 310
Strumming 1:39 Flatpicking 6:45 Fingerpicking 9:51 Fingerpicking2 13:35
Eastman E1D
Strumming 3:14 Flatpicking 7:45 Fingerpicking 11:03 Fingerpicking2 14:47
Recorded with Shure KSM32, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, Logic Pro, no additional processing.
Ian’s Favorite Guitar Stuff:
1. Nickel Bronze Strings - amzn.to/2qDOwty
2. Phosphor Bronze Strings - amzn.to/2YtzjHS
3. Shubb C1 Capo - amzn.to/2rrAfAs
4. American Stage Cables - amzn.to/2E1dmXj
5. Acoustic Soundhole Tuner - amzn.to/355bPLw
6. String Winder & Cutter - amzn.to/2P1Z5Qe
7. Boss Pedal Tuner - amzn.to/38kuGV1
8. String Winder & Cutter - amzn.to/2PElHpp
9. Snark Headstock Tuner - amzn.to/2YEW4sF
Things Used In This Video:
4k Camera - amzn.to/357AFuo
Shure Condenser Mic - amzn.to/36mQrlv
Microphone Stand - amzn.to/2Ytag7G
Camera Tripod - amzn.to/38mdf6E
My Original Songs - • My Music

[@scotpetri7630]

Just bought an Eastman last week. Amazing guitar.

[@tedc6694]

time stamped hyper links make this demo amazing. not everyone does. by far the best way to hear the differences. thank you

[@elborrego5643]

In this video, through my headphones, the Eastman is my favorite sounding. I own a 2017 Taylor 310, and absolutely love that guitar, has a special tone, and is hard for me to put down when I start playing it. I bought it from a shop that had Eastman and Martin, and spent a lot of time playing between brands before I purchased it. In the end I walked out the door with the 310, had something special to my ear that the other two lacked. All solid brands though, and would love to get an E20D, and a D18 someday. Thanks for your videos, they are always well done.

[@CurtisTate]

E1D for me.

[@mikequilici9298]

Eastman E1D $530 Martin D10e $849 Taylor 310 $1800+- Eastman is a steal. Martin is still an amazing deal. Taylor is great but way over priced.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Taylor’s never cease to underwhelm me tbh. Thanks for the comparison.

[@SuperImmunologist]

Martin just has that sound though. Fell in love with it

[@Nathan-du6uq]

The Eastman wins this by an absolute mile!

[@wistman-folk]

this is such a wonderful and sonically informative video, the time stamping and like for like comparative segments are absolutely ideal, thanks so much for doing this!

[@ianmeadows6351]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@banjo1434]

My E1d gets better every day. So happy I bought it.

[@BGM6474]

lol i bought one at my local music store last friday and it was used and it was brand new and had old strings on it nor set up but tho i got it for 450$ no sales tax a free hardcase and free set of strings all i did is ask how low could you go and does it come with a case

[@55TeleMark]

Thank you for not playing so hard that guitars lose their tone. You make the best videos.

[@jessmonsam25]

just brought the Eastman E1D yesterday, it's an awesome guitar

[@aindriubradleymarshall6226]

Agreed, I've had one for 18 months, incredible guitar , just put on a set of Roto Sounds stings, just phenomenal.

[@danielslaats5817]

Gonna buy this guitar soon 🎉

[@tccgrad1999]

That Eastman just blows my mind.

[@myguitardetective5961]

I have a 5 year old Eastman E40 D and it smokes my '74 Martin D -41 by a mile...better sustain, warmer on the bottom and it just rings forever...These guitars are beyond belief.

[@lukemc9090]

Great comparison /playing. To my ear the Martin still sounded the nicest..... However with that said... listening to the Eastman .. wow ..I’m amazed that it keeps up with the big boys at like half the price!

[@brandonknapp3328]

Eastman is really killing it.

[@eertje01]

The E1D sounds most 'open' to me. I might be biased though since I own one

[@dibuccio]

Eastman killzzzz

[@silversparrow6656]

So much of it depends on the music you want to make - that's the real question to ask when you're buying a better guitar. Have you settled on a genre? Is it country or 'bro' country? Then you should probably buy a Martin. If it's airy, 'John Mayer' sounding music (to attract the ladies), then get a Yamaha ll16... For me it's Martin all the way. For what it takes to truly become proficient in a style - and for how little time we can really spend learning every year - most people only really have the opportunity to get a real grip on one style (which has transferable value in experimenting in other styles). So getting a guitar that really accents and enhances your chosen style will just reward you that much more as you improve. Find your style and you've found your guitar 😊

[@kristiangurholt59]

That’s a great comment, I guess I’m a ladies man lol! I love my LL16, it’s so beautiful both in looks and sound, but I equally appreciate my Eastmans more focused and woody tones.

[@weaselpopper]

Sold my US Taylor 310 bought a Takemine Japan Pro series cedar top have never looked back.

[@laisanzuilaisanzui5964]

Hi sir may i know what series model your Tak’ and back / side woodtype

[@nellatrab]

Yep Eastman, has it here in the tone-test @ $580 bucks/ Martin second @ $950 bucks/The old Taylor comes in last 😶Who cares where a guitar is made when it sounds really great!

[@alanveris1335]

i really like the martin and the taylor is just underwelming. but the projection on the eastman is just out of this world it wins imo

[@cooloutac]

what? lol...

[@upcycleelectra8311]

The Martin Best all round sound.. but the Eastman E1D wins hands down on bang for ya Buck..& the E2D for £499 is a tone monster check it out guys

[@kristiangurholt59]

I can vouch for the E2D! Big and warm sound.

[@upcycleelectra8311]

@@kristiangurholt59 yeah & deeper bottom end than the 1ED Both great Guitars for the money ( solid Wood ) i picked up a Has New Eastman 1ED still bubble wraped of Ebay for £300.. Loudest Acoustic in my 30 Dreadnaught Guitar collection.

[@kristiangurholt59]

@@upcycleelectra8311 Wow, that’s saying something! My E2D is currently hanging out with its little sibling E1OM.

[@jamescoughlan8193]

Eastman sounds very close to the Martin but a little bit thinner, Taylor least favourite, considering the Eastman would be half the cost of a Martin I guess it's good value.

[@javigar133]

You can buy that Eastman for 500 Bucks... Thats all you play, and you won't ever sell It, they really play great

[@gearhead4005]

I found if you replace the Eastman ebony bridge pins with bone its louder and clearer.

[@normanbyers-ND]

The Eastman is beautiful.

[@christiankabengele9181]

Martin > Eastman > Taylor. Though I prefer mahogany over sapele. IMHO the Taylor has annoying trebles, the Martin does a good job of taming the Sapele overtones. The Eastman is pretty neutral.

[@bobaldo2339]

Totally agree!

[@davidarnold6376]

The Martin and the Eastman kill the Taylor. Martin seems to have a touch more low end of course with less highend sparkle. The Eastman has more note to note clarity and is more projective and louder. That being said, lets look at pricing and materials Martin vs Eastman. Martin plastic nut and saddle/ Eastman bone, Martin Richlite fretboard, Eastman ebony, Martin no binding, Eastman tortoise binding, Martin has a cheap pickup, Eastman none, Martin HPL headplate, painted logo, Eastman ebony, pearl logo. Martin plastic pins, Eastman ebony, Martin hardshell plastic SKB case, Eastman rigid bag. Martin $950.00 Eastman $570.00.

[@viniciusvilaca4616]

Taylor all the way for me

[@darrellmorris821]

The Martin and Eastman both blew away the Taylor in my opinion. The Martin has a bolder more condensed sound whereas the Eastman has more distinction between the notes. I like them both very much. I think I would prefer the Martin because the sound was more controlled. Great vid.

[@santacruzman]

In a few of the samples the Eastman seemed to be blowing out the mic. I wonder if that shows up in the levels. The Taylor as well, but less so. Maybe the mic should be moved away a little for the Eastman and some for the Taylor. I wondered if this is what you meant by the "more controlled" sound of the Martin. The tone of this Eastman is closer to what I like to make music with than the other two, but it is important to understand that this can vary a lot just from instrument to instrument of the same model, by the same luthier. Also, one's ability to assess sound improves with experience - what one thinks sounds good to them today may not be the same thing at all that appeals to them after lots of experiences with lots of instruments.

[@weaselpopper]

The Eastman sounds almost like the Martin with just a tad bit more top end but know where near the annoying Taylor overbearing bite. Really like the Eastman.

[@jamesallen6309]

I'm a Eastman fan. In this face off it was between Martin and Eastman. I would give it to Martin by a whisper. The thing is with many of these comparisons I find tracts of music when one guitar is better. Then another guitar is superior during other tracts. ( to my ears). Another thing is individual instruments. At present at my local music store is a E1D that sounds better than any of the above guitars. And the best guitar I ever played was a Taylor. I usually detest Taylors. I find them scratchy, thin sounding and too bright. But not this Taylor. The store manager bought it after telling me it had already been sold.😠

[@lonelypinesroad9214]

Keeping in mind that the Martin is twice the price I’d say Eastman won but Martin did sound maybe just a tiny bit better. The Taylor was just weak next to these two despite its price.

[@alberto3028]

1:17Those sweet high harmonics from Martin are unique!

[@hotlov72]

The Martin is very clean sounding, kind of bright treble but not too much, love the Taylor for it all-round mid bass highs. The Eastman is very close to the Martin

[@rudykizuty]

Martin, hands down.

[@e.b.4872]

My ears are maybe in errors due to the video audio and headphones but... The cheap Eastman seems to sound better even for the price !?

[@paulliversidge1083]

Eastman

[@bobaldo2339]

Martin wins the tone battle hands down, and is very well balanced for a cheap Martin. I prefer the specs on the Eastman - especially the rounder fretboard radius. I have never played any of these 3 models, however.

[@joeshea1010]

Eastman. brilliant comparison. many thanks

[@javigar133]

For the price The Eastman, for the sound? I could get an E10 or E20 for what you play for that Martín. Nobody beats Eastman in value. Play great, sound great, feel great, look great...

[@upton_ogood]

The Taylor sounds as good as the Eastman on some of the tracks, and as good as the Martin on others. I too have always been underwhelmed by Taylors when I've played them, tho you make this one sound good. wudda liked to have heard the Eastman and Martin in same playing style, without the Taylor between them.

[@iryan9]

would you recommend the martin d10e or the eastman e1d having played both? For mix of strumming and fingerpicking.

[@brfam1977]

Eastman takes this one

[@simongayther3202]

Martin all the way, damn!

[@shaneroberts9466]

Normally I go Taylor, and I have an Eastman that is really good, but to my ears in this video I rank Martin sounding best, then Taylor and Eastman at bottom. The Taylor and Eastman here sound strangled. For you in person maybe different sound.

[@dontsaythetruthytwillkillu5784]

Eastman richer harmonic content. It would sit in a mix much better. I remember the first time I played one, I was blown away.

[@RafaelAlves-kf5xh]

Hello! What about playability of these guitars? Is the neck profile confortable, easy to play? I have small hands, and usually i play on a Taylor guitar. What do you think comparing to this others two guitars, for example? Tks

[@mikehoehn1475]

Ian, can you suggest some sapelle solid wood om guitars. Under $ 500.00

[@asskicker917]

You really have to play the Eastman to realize it's miles above those other guitars at half the price and more

[@77guitarts22]

I believe you, mine has to come hopefully this week. But how can they do it in China better than everyone else? Global market has exceeded expectations... I also love the Cort Gold series, Epi Masterbilt and such ... All made in the big China. It used to be a downside to have anything made over there. It seems like not anymore if you know they are quality products.

[@youareinflames]

Eastmandela!!!!!

[@dwightpeters]

What strings did you use for the comparison? Seems like you prefer the Martin and Eastman, but what strings would you suggest would sound best with this model of Taylor? Thanks and best wishes!

[@ianmeadows6351]

Hey dwight - daddario ej16 on everything unless otherwise noted. I try not to overthink it too much, daddario makes a great, consistent product

[@dwightpeters]

@@ianmeadows6351 thanks! I've enjoyed your videos and appreciate the reply!

[@spada60]

Im a Taylor guy but Martin in this video beats them all

[@jdstan9650]

E1D is 1/4 the cost of the Taylor, 1/2 the cost of the Martin....and sounds better...it's a no brainer.

[@BaresEatBeats]

The Taylor is really, really weak by comparison. Very occasionally, I’ll come across a Taylor that sounds heavenly, but, more often than not, their sound seems frail for the price. Edit: The Eastman and the Martin are very different, but both great. Personally I prefer the depth and warmth of the Martin.

[@tonyrollins8757]

The Taylor is shockingly bad the Martin and eastman sounds equally as good

[@powbobs]

Smaller Taylors are fine. But Taylor dreadnaughts are just bleh unless you don’t like bass.

[@ton28559]

Eastman sound the best, Martin sounds like a toy, gitaar,,. Taylor, sound warm,also good

[@louisondelomez6077]

I am hesitating between Martin and Taylor. But Eastman is quite cheaper

[@l.a.cantinabandofficial1541]

Get the Eastman. You won’t regret it

[@louisondelomez6077]

Thanks. But I just was speaking about the sound on this video. I already have a Martin d10e, it is an amazing guitar. However I recognize that Eastman seems good as well.

[@javigar133]

Get the Eastman, then in the near future great yourself with a more premium one. I have an OM1 and other much more expensive acoustics, Guess which one is the one I play every day, everywhere? A keeper

[@powbobs]

Martin > Eastman >>>>>>>>>> Taylor. Also I really dislike Taylor necks.

[@powbobs]

I just bought an E1D. 😂