Martin D-28 vs Eastman E10ss 

I'm definitely in the market for an Eastman. Looking at the AC322ce (as soon as wife approves). I'd love to buy Martin (OOO-15sm) I really would but for one thousand dollars extra...

I bought the e10ss after trying out a lot of guitars, best sounding guitar I've ever played.

If I was offered one of these as a gift choice I would choose the Martin. If I was buying between these two it would be the Eastman.

I have an Eastman E10P and love it. The difference in cost between the Martin equivalent and the Eastman are huge and the difference in sound and playability are negligible.

The only reason people are drawn to Martins is they pushed martin guitars on players by giving them free guitar in the 60s and 70s that in its self put the sounds of those guitars into people's memory's. I own the Eastman 10ss and it's a fantastic guitar for half the cost of the martin

Excellent review! Thankyou! 👍

I'm a proud owner of an Eastman E20 OOSS, a fantastic smaller bodied guitar with a huge voice. Both guitars here sound great and are useful in a number of applications. The OOSS sounds brilliant for finger-picking especially.

They both sound great but I think heavier strings would help them Both sound better

I have an older E10ss with a rosewood fingerboard, which I think is from 2015. The Adirondack top has broken in nicely and gives a beautiful harmonic bloom on strummed chords after the attack dies away. The top has a tight grain, and the back and sides has beautifully figured mahogany. Everyone who picks it up remarks how light it is, how loud and how easy it is to play. It's just a great guitar - especially for the $675 used price.

I'm shopping for my first quality guitar. Around a 2k budget. Its agonizing, I've probably watched 100 videos and I think its between a Guild m20 or a a Yamaha fs5. Sweetwater keeps trying to steer me towards Taylor but I don't like the way they sound.

I’ve had my Eastman for a year , it’s a Canon love it . I’m definitely buying another

I have two high end Eastman acoustics. They are both amazing.

Martin for me. It's crazy how many overtones are in there... but Eastman seems to be a very nice sounding guitar also. Each of them has their utility - use the right tool for the right job !

I switch the strings on my Eastman E 10 SS to D'Addario 80/20 coated strings and it really improved the tone of the guitar. With 80/20 strings it doesnt sound scooped, it now sounds more balanced.

This was a great comparison. I love straight-braced Martins from the late ‘40s, ‘50s and some from the ‘60s but am less enamored of the later ones, included the reimagined D-28. The Eastman sounds a good bit more versatile to me. They are making some amazing guitars of late, and I have to believe the Dana Bourgeois influence has a lot to do with it. Also, as others have noted, really fine playing. Thank you for this.

The Martin had more consistent growl across base and mids trebs a bit more sparkle in the Eastman. The Eastman mids are presence they just have as much growl and sweeter. Like both guitar maybe the Martin for that deeper tighter strum because the base and mids are closer so it sounds tighter and the Eastman a little less tighter on the strum because there is more distance between the base growl and mids sweet tones. So that seems to break up the strum some. Just a thought. Also I think the the D-28 is 25.4 and the Eastman is 24.75? Thanks!

Excellent video Taylor!!!👍👏🎸

I am about to order the Eastman. Love a Martin or a J45 but can’t justify the extra cost. Everything I have seen says the the E10 build quality is good. Thanks for your review

Eastman has interesting full bass contrasting more with the high strings but in a pleasing, rich way. I didn't hear similar textural subtleties from the Martin, but the Martin had perhaps a fuller, more well rounded tone. I thought Eastmans were handmade in California. No?

I played an E10SS, E20SS, and an HD28 today. All sounded really great and played excellently. The HD28 was dry and woody and smooth sounding, while the two eastmans had a more modern sound to them and were brighter and to my ear clearer than the Martin. For my playing style, the E10SS was outstanding and what really resonated with me. I am trying to figure out how to come up with enough funds for it. That guitar just hit me to my soul. I may sell my guitar I said I would never sell in order to get it. Lol

My E10ss is in the same ballpark for sound quality as my Martin 000-28. Impressive. I can’t let it go!

Came for guitars, stayed for good playing. Have you tried E10SS/v? Same guitar, but finished with varnish, like a violin (which seems to be a rather unique feature for Eastman, I haven't seen other acoustic guitar makers doing that). I wonder if they sound different.

The D28 is rosewood and the Eastman is mahogany so it's apples and oranges

Thank you for this comparison. Both are wonderful sounding but different. The Martin was a bit warmer but less musical than the Eastman, which was sweet and woody and maybe a bit more open, while the Martin sounded more compressed. For me, the Martin wins on warmth. The Eastman wins on nuance. Awesome guitars and great playing.

Just hearing the mics and not privy to being in the room, the Eastman wins it for my ears. I wonder how they would differ between the E10SS and E20SS. That and saving a TON of $$$ between the Martin and Eastman this makes it a no-brainer.

That wide 1 3/4" nut width makes a BIG difference in the hand. Martin has become obsessed with it but my left hand just doesn't feel free with it. Can't get used to it, believe me I've tried. I much prefer the 1 11/16" for all round general playability and, of course, for throwing my thumb over. That's why I bought the Guild D40 Traditional, it's got everything. I'm tempted by that Eastman though - very sweet. Good vid Taylor, thanks.

Nice. Good comparisons! Great playing too.

You should get an E20D-TC and make a comparison vs the Martin.

I own various Eastman electrics and a beautiful Custom-Shop HD28V. Through my monitors the Eastman is definitely scooped in the mid-range, and your comments regarding the Martin's overtones also ring true. This is less about one being better than the other and more about reasons for keeping both.

Nice vid but I find Elixers are kinda of a tone killer. If you want a coated string try out StringJoy out of Nashville. Their coated strings are very nice.

I like the bottom end of the Eastman a tad bit more. Plus given the price difference I could actually play it and not be so darn precious about it Lol. Happy New Years!

Eastman for me. I have the same E10-SS and totally love it.

I bought eastman e10ss and can confirm that the feeling of this recording. She’s amazing. On the past and, after sold two different type of acoustic by Gibson (dove and after j15)..different models,scale and woods compair about eastman e10..but now I know just one thing…Eastman will remain!

I own 4 Martin's and 4 Eastman's... You can't beat the value that Eastman delivers in their builds..

I have both & like you said they are both great & probably used in different situations…the Eastman is super cost efficient & the Martin well it’s a Martin. Nice playing & I must try those strings…hear lots about them. Enjoyed your video. Peace out.

How often to you need to change strings on these guitars using 11's?

Nice comparison and nice playing :)

Those sound amazing, both of them. What's that microphone you're using there?

I was wondering what was different about that D28. You have 11s on there. Guitar was built for 13s. Although your playing is really nice, the guitar sounds a little pingy with that light of strings on it.

Good review man. New sub here

Am I missing something? Why are you comparing a Rosewood back and sides with Sitka spruce top dreadnought against a mahogany back and sides Adirondack topped slope shoulder . Two different animals all together. Should be the Martin DSS-17 versus the E10-SS for a closer comparison.

Sorry, but I don't get why the comparison. The Martin is a long scale rosewood b&s, square-shouldered dreadnaught. The Eastman is a short scale, mahogany b&s slope-shouldered dreadnaught. They aren't meant to operate in the same space. The Eastman is like a J45 where it's warmth makes it a perfect companion for a solo singer. The mids and bass predominate. The Martin, being rosewood is more scooped toward highs and lows and is great for leads and runs. If anything rather than compete I wonder if the video shouldn't instead be about how they complement each other. Think about it. Viewers love competitions and to justify their choice but this is like comparing a Tele to a SG.

My ears like the Eastman E10-SS better then the Martin D-28

The bass runs on the Martin pop way more than the Eastman.

I’ve literally just bought the Eastman E10ss today, I played over 10 guitars including Martin, Gibson, Furch, Faith, and this guitar was just a dream to play, the resonance is crazy and the the bottom end is a dream! And for half the price of a j45… so well made! The mahogany back and sides are nothing like I’ve seen before, gorgeous looking. Added an LR Baggs pick up to compete!

Both great sounding guitars! Nice job showing these two!

Hey Taylor, what gauge are on your Eastman?

Eastman making some great guitars. Looking farward to the bourgeois /eastman collaboration Vintage 3 dreadnought Must admit I'm a Martin fan Tried loads of guitars, just love the American sound Dean 🇬🇧 🙏. It's all down to the player really Tone comes from your finger tips. Just not mine. Ha🤣🇬🇧🎸

The Eastman sounded great ... until you picked up the Martin which put it to shame. Even with your electronic reverb on, one could still hear the Martin's clear note definition (which the Eastman lacked) - especially when you played them finger style.

Seems like you like the Eastman little bit more Just saying.

Sorry, but a Martin always have to be the best one. Why? Couse there is my Name on it ;-)

Not sure if it is your mic or post processing or what but that has to be the brassiest Martin I have ever heard

Not sure why you would compare a Martin dread and a Gibson style SS. Totally different guitars