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Pappy |
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No Dots?? I was at least waiting to find out what flavors they came in?
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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dmcowles |
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Here's what I did on my vacation.
Steve had close to a half dozen Stanfords on display, including PSD 10, PSRD 10, PSD 20, PSD 21, and a PSRD 20. I played them all, and there wasn't one of them that I wouldn't have taken home with me, had I not been fully satisfied with my current instruments. The PSD 21 stands out, however, as about as good a spruce/mahogany dread as one can get. He had one Potomac out, an all solid, spruce/rosewood dread that goes for around the $500 range, and was a mighty fine guitar in its own right. I saw nothing lacking in fit and finish, and despite being a bit more heavily built, hence not as loud as the Stanfords, it sounded and played like a quality guitar, at least on a par with the comparable Blueridge and RK models. It was evident to me that whoever is manufacturing and importing the Potomacs knows what time it is.
Eastmans: Wow. If I were in the market for something other than my bluegrassy models, I'd go straight to the Eastmans. They are drop-dead gorgeous, and have a fantastic, more modern voice. I'd grab one of these guitars over any Taylor, or other "contemporary" voiced guitars in a heartbeat. I also played a few mandolins Steve has on the wall, a few Eastmans, which are well made, but hit-or-miss in the sound department, so wise to play before you buy. He has a "The Loar" LM 600 F5 style there, one of the Music Link products that has since been superseded by the LM 700, which you can't hardly find. I was monumentally unimpressed by the LM 600. Although touted as hand-carved, all solid woods, it sounded just like most other pacrim starter mandolins, thin and lacking in fullness of sound. So there ya have it. If you're in East Tennessee and have finished oohing and aahing at the scenery, go see Steve and buy something from him, or spend some time letting him work on your current instruments and talking your ear off. It was great fun, and I guaran-damn-tee you, I'm going to do it again. Dave
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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intune66 |
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Nice review of the store stock, Dave.....
So in your comparisons you found the PSD-21 to sound better than the PSD-10? Sounds like the Eastmans are as good as mentioned. Potomacs would appear to be an excellent lower priced guitar. Good trip. Glad it went well! Fun.
Ryan
_____________________ Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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Grenvilleter1 |
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Glad you had a good time on your vacation Dave. Also glad you made it safely. I really want to try out a PSD-21 sometime.I was crestfallen when it was
announced Stanford would no longer make the 21 but that seems to have changed since then . I got a chance to try out the Loar 600 a couple weeks ago and I
would rate it about the same as you did. I'm really curious about the "new improved" models.
Steve don't strike me as an ear chewer type but probably, like me, likes to do his conversing face to face. Also glad to hear your evaluation on the Eastman stuff. Sounds like a nice alternative to something Martinish sounding. Thanks for your report. Terry |
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Pappy |
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dmcowles wrote:What did I tell you Dave, they are amazing guitars! Did you try any of the OM - OOO sizes? Like to know how you thought their sound volume was. As I never have had a dread and have nothing to compare my "little guitars" to.
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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dmcowles |
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Pete, there weren't any Eastmans but dreads out for hands-on play.
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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intune66 |
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Pappy wrote: Pappy....... You don't have a dread but you do have a BR-163, right? How do you assess the difference in the Blueridge and Eastman? Like the Eastman better, I take it?
Ryan
_____________________ Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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Pappy |
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intune66 wrote: Like 'em both. Right now with same type and aged strings for my fingerstyle style of play the Eastman projects better than the 163, yet volume wise they are pretty close with a slight edge to the Eastman. However, strumming chords the 163 shines -- it then is louder than the Eastman, part of that is that I have the action set so ridiculously low on the Eastman, it can't take much whacking! For what it's worth the Eastman is hog, and the 163 EIR . The Eastman has a much fuller robust tone while also having more note separation. It is a
great guitar.
Little more twang to the 163, and I 'm using it to do a little bit of blues right now. I don't think I'll ever give up the 163, unless I felt I
needed another of the same type, maybe bigger But I most definetly would plunk down considerable money for another Eastman if I can't find a really good 4K guitar that makes me stop in my tracks and write a check. It's amazing how easy it is to make a no buy decision when you play it side by side with a prospective purchase. And Dave is right. I've now played it against a bunch of 3K Taylors and I ain't writing no check yet! That's why I'm still planning the great guitar hunt - starting with a Stonebridge, if I can find one. More Guitars = More Happy
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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intune66 |
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Pappy wrote: I for one will be very interested in hearing about your impressions if you get your hands on a Stonebridge or 2. They aren't exactly cheap but I think they are another level or 2 up from what we are playing now. I just get a feeling that a Stonebridge might make you forget about a $4000 guitar because there is likely little to no difference in them. I'm amazed at the quality tone of the Stonebridge recordings I've heard on youtube. Good luck finding some to play.
Ryan
_____________________ Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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Pappy |
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That's whay I'm hoping Ryan. I expect the difference at that level to be so minute to my ears that I couldn't justify the expenditure, even if I
could hear it. I'm looking hard at playability too, so that will be a major factor also. I figure I can use the same money to get
two really good guitars.
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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intune66 |
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Pappy wrote: What few reviews I've read quote the playability of the Stonebridges to be exceptional as well. One of these days I'll take a road trip up to Rochester and check out that Stonebridge dealer. He has some pretty high end stuff in the store as well. Maybe I can find an Eastman dealer out that way too, so I can get a feel for them.
Ryan
_____________________ Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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Fstpicker |
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Thanks Dave, for your lengthy review! It was good to hear your opinion on some pivotal guitars we all are interested in these days. Sounds like the Eastmans
have won your heart for a more modern guitar sound. Wonder how their sound compares with the Larrivee's sound?
Jeff |
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intune66 |
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Fstpicker wrote: Quite well if you ask Broadus (Bill). He sold the Larrivee and kept his Eastman not long ago.....
Ryan
_____________________ Some of my Guitars: Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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dmcowles |
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The Eastmans I played were a couple of notches soundwise above Larrivees, IMO. They have what I can only describe as a "sophisticated" sound, whereas
the Larrys I've played had a more fundamental sound. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against Larrivees, they are fine guitars.
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
Last Edited By: dmcowles
06/22/09 12:15 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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Fstpicker |
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Hmm, that says quite a bit. I may have to find one to play someday.
Jeff |
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Pappy |
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All welcome, come into the light ! Come bask in the glory that is Eastman ! I guess I should have asked you Dave, how they played volume wise against dreads you're familiar with, since you only played the dreads. Might give me some indication how I might want to go in the future.
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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dmcowles |
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Pappy wrote:They have plenty of punch, Pete. They're no shrinking violet in the volume department.
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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Broadus55.acousticfingers... |
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Dave, thanks for sharing your impressions during your vacation.
**Pete, what Eastman do you have?** And Ryan is right--I sold my Larrivee OM and kept my Eastman. Part of the reason was that I felt the Larrivee would sell easier than the Eastman. Another part of it was that I felt I would miss the Eastman more if I let it go. Also, finding a used Larrivee in the future should be easier than finding a used Eastman. I'm continually impressed with the volume and tone of my Eastman OM. I think Dave nailed the Eastman sound compared with Larrivees. I love Larrivees, but my Eastman has more bottom end and volume than my Larrivee OM-03R had. Bill
Broadus on AGF, HCAG, and the Larrivee Forum
Eastman AC710S The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647) |
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Pappy |
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I've got a 508S Bill; and may move up to a bigger size like the 522 or 522CE the Grand Auditorium size if I end up getting another Eastie. Only problem with their cutaway models, is they all seem to be acoustic/electrics. I'm leary of guitars designed for plugged in play. Based on trying out A/E Taylors they don't seem to play as well unplugged as straight acoustics. I'd rather get an acoustically designed model and add a pick-up if I was so inclined. Then again I've neither seen nor heard an Eastman CE model They may be just as good unplugged as a straight acoustic model.
So many guitars....So little time.
So many taxes......So few guitars
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Broadus55.acousticfingers... |
I'll try this one again | ||
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(Don't you hate it when you've typed a response and Yuku decides it's time for you to log back in and your entire response that you tried to post
is erased? Is there some option I can change so that doesn't happen?)
Pete, as you probably know, the ACx08 is Eastman's grand concert and the ACx10/12 is their orchestra model. The only difference between the two, according to an Eastman rep, is that the upper bout of the GC is smaller than that of the OM. What effect this has on volume, I do not know. I do know that my Eastman OM has considerably more volume than my Larrivee OM-03R had and as much if not more than the Covey custom that I had for a few days before returned due to UPS damage. Bill
Broadus on AGF, HCAG, and the Larrivee Forum
Eastman AC710S The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647) |
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