Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass - General Discussion

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

Richard Hauser — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 02:54:58 +0000

The best guitar I have every played was a Santa Cruz Brazilian Rosewood dreadnaught. I had health problems, could not play, and foolishly sold it. When I started playing guitar again, and being a senior citizen, I did not want to spend $5K + for a guitar. I bought an Eastman E10D TC. I liked it so much I purchased an Eastman E20D TC as well. The E10 cost about $1500 and the E20 cost $1700. Eastman provides a lot of guitar for a very reasonable price.

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

Gerald Borchelt — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 01:33:22 +0000

In 1968 I bought a new Martin D-21 in, of all places, a sporting goods store in Sioux City, Iowa. I believe Martin discontinued that model in 1969. It served me well for many years and the sound kept getting better and better every year. Unfortunately, my beloved D-21 had a terrible accident and was no more. I sure miss it. I'm now playing an HD-28 which I like a lot. I flirted with the idea not buying an acoustic made by Steve Klein several years ago but was scared away when I saw the price tag. Happy playing!

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

Michael Graham — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 20:54:53 +0000

@jocelyn I think the J-15 stacks up well against a lot of guitars, Martins included.

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

C White — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 10:17:36 +0000

The Rosewood really gives such a rich sound.

I wish I could afford a Collings. I've heard a lot of great

things about them. I currently have a Taylor 214ce which has Rosewood on the back and sides

and for the money it has a really nice sound and plays really well. The set up out of the box was pretty good.

I went in and got the action lowered a hair and I did notice a difference in it's playability. I just need to get some

woodtone strings on there. I'm thinking of ordering a pack today after hearing all the good things about them.

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

jerseychicadee — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:25:25 +0000

Sounds like a plan!

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

John — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 22:26:31 +0000

@dom 👍 👍 👍 👍

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

dom — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:59:56 +0000

@jerseychicadee

The owner was a student in Massachusetts I believe, and moved home to Beijing in the early nineties and started making violins and cellos. Then they got into mandolins and guitars. They now make brass instruments as well I think. They are a lot more "handmade" than most guitars these days, for what that's worth.

Eastman acoustics are highly regarded over at Acoustic guitar Forum, though they are not as cheap as they once were. I would certainly check out the OM version of mine (E1om or the E2CD cedar topped version) since I know you like smaller bodies. Of course we are blessed right now anyway with so many other options.

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

jerseychicadee — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 22:31:31 +0000

Right? He said they’re handmade kind of confused me

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

Susan Wagner — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 21:57:13 +0000

The Eastman sounded better than the Seagull, for sure. I've heard a lot of good things about Eastman and I think they're all made in China but very quality made.

RE: Best acoustic guitars for country and bluegrass

jerseychicadee — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 18:29:15 +0000

I watch his videos all the time when shopping guitar models. He’s very clear, plays basic chords and strumming, doesn’t divert. As he started the comparison, I thought that S6 sounds pretty good. He said it was gonna be a little ‘mean.’ I thought, uh oh, that Eastman is going to sound a lot better. When he went from the Eastman to the Seagull it made me grimace. It actually hurt my sinuses! Damn you Dom! Just pushed the Seagull down a step or two. Now I want an Eastman... Add another one to the list.......

🤯🤯🤯🤯