New Guitar. A Decision Must Be Made.

[Gal]

You should be excited by a new guitar. It should be something that makes you want to play it.
Ignore what others tell you and go with your heart. Your mind may say that (*insert ultra healthy food here*) is good for you, but if you don't like it, you're never going to keep eating it.

I like your thinking. This made me smile.

 

[GGJaguar]

go with your heart.

Yes, this.

 

[GAD]

Decades ago I had a friend give this advice when I was shopping for a guitar: "Buy the one that sings to you."

Of course that's more difficult when shopping online.

 

[chazmo]

Decades ago I had a friend give this advice when I was shopping for a guitar: "Buy the one that sings to you."

Of course that's more difficult when shopping online.

So true, @Gal. Whatever you do, make sure there's a viable return policy that you can use if necessary.

 

[Gal]

Thanks bhoys (I'm presuming you're all men). Some top advice here.

Going to let my subconscious & soul speak to me. As said, I've told the dealer I'll let him know this Tuesday as he has to order either in from mainland Europe.

Good thing is he'll do a pro setup on either before he ships to me.

My soul wants the Guild. It's just cooler. Although my logic keeps telling me the Eastman will be a good buy; especially with sell on value. But F that.

Anyway, as said. Thanks to all.

Some guitar forums can be full of pricks, but everyone here has been proper cool.

So thanks.

 

[Opsimath]

The wood is nice on the Eastman, but the Guild in your photo is drop dead gorgeous! I know nothing about the sound of either since I'm acoustic. This is your guitar, not your gigging buddy's and not your son's. Treat yourself with a decision made with you in mind.

Good luck.

 

[GGJaguar]

This reminds me a bit of when I purchased my X-170 back in 1990. I actually was in the shop to try out a (brand new) Gibson ES-175. I had read up on them and knew that would be a good choice for me. The shop owner also gave me the X-170 to try out. My head kept saying "Gibson", but my heart was totally with the Guild. I left the shop with the Guild and absolutely no regrets.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Listen to your soul and go Guild!

 

[mavuser]

Eastmans are fine i'm sure, but to me they are nothing so special. I actully had an odd first impression of one. Remember it is always the player that will make the guitar sing (unless you find a really, really, bad guitar). So, get whatever guitar you want. If it were me, I would get a Korean Guild over anything made in China or Indonesia. I also would not buy an Eastman, even if I did not buy a Guild. If you can afford a Newark Street SF-4/5/6 made in Korea, just get that and stop thinking about it. It's a thousand times nicer than any Eastman. if "your boy" is so passionate about the Eastman, maybe he should buy it!

 

[bobouz]

It’s probably far from a coin flip. If you had both instruments available to compare, one would most likely jump clearly out on top due to playability & tone considerations. Look carefully at the neck width & overall profile, fingerboard radius, fret size, scale length, pickup reviews, etc. In a perfect world, buy them both & keep the winner! As for first hand info, I can share that the build quality is very clean on my Korean-made 2014 A150b:

 

[Prince of Darkness]

I love my Guilds, but I've also heard a lot of good things about Eastman. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll get a great guitar that you'll love, but also be left wondering how the other guitar would have compared. Just a shame that there is far less opportunity to try and compare guitars in shops compared to the past.

 

[starfire4]

I agree- follow your heart. I recently got a great deal on a Newark St (bluesbird). I don't like buying guitars without trying them first, but I have to say I'm quite pleased with the quality of this instrument. The only thing i might advise is try to get info about the neck size, because that's a personal preference that really affects your ability to enjoy it. On my Bluesbird, the neck's a bit thinner than i like them. It's not my preference but i can't complain because it's built very well. But otherwise, I'd say yeah- be like John McLaughlin and "Follow Your Heart"

 

[Opsimath]

Anxious to hear which guitar was ordered.

 

[Gal]

Anxious to hear which guitar was ordered.

Ha. Had a couple of overnight jobs this week so things have been a bit
mental. But will try & order it by Friday. Will post when done.