You’ve done well describing and demonstrating your guitars. Well done! Merry Christmas!

I’ve read a lot of your posts on the forums over the years but just discovered your KZfaq channel. You really know a lot about the instruments, and I like your approach when you assess their merits. I’m looking forward to more.

Your podcasts are entertaining and educational. I like your style. Merry Christmas.

Great comparison Andy. Love to see your demonstrations. My preference is the Collings. Warmer tone, in my opinion, and I like warm toned guitars. Hope you have a good Christmas and a great 2024!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Andy. I like the open chord comparison because I can hear whether I can sing with an instrument or not. I'm mostly a singer. The guitar helps keep me in key and rhythm.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Prosperous new year. I hope all is well.

My recommendation is to keep doing what you do so well! I always enjoy seeing your videos and I occasionally miss one now and then. I watch when I find later. I was curious about your opinion on these two. For the money, I would take the Eastman. I did consider it strongly before I bought a CEO 7 for about $400.00 additional.

Nice presentation and history lesson. Thank you!

I use the XS strings.Love them: the sound, the feel and the longevity. Great guitars you have there. Would love to have both, but my heart wants the collings more.

Just old Don here again, nice picking too on such Beautiful Guitars, sincere thanks 😊😊😊

Very informative comparison, thank you!

Andy, great comparison, both sound great and I would love to have either. Collings are fantastic guitars, but are definitely in the boutique end of things, and are priced accordingly as you know. Eastman guitars are great quality guitars and I think are a high value for the price range they are in. Now your Eastman E40-00 is very special, I am still not seeing that model readily available in the US market, so must have been very limited or special run. I do see the E40 - OM , but not the 00. You are a lucky man! I hope you and your wife have a very Merry Christmas, and a safe prosperous New Year!🌲🎅 I hope your right hand / wrist gets better!! Cheers from Sherman, Texas!🤠

Merry Christmas Andy, thanks for your content in 2023. Looking forward to more in 2024. I recently noticed that Eastman now offer the E1OP parlour in left hand (thru Richard's Guitars in Stratford) which now has me wondering how I can find the cash.

Hello, matey. I hope you are well! and are enjoyiing good health and good fortune Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts on instruments and music. Merry Christmas to you. All the very best! Cheers, Jerrel

Thank you for your videos. I'm a recent subscriber, but I've enjoyed every one I've seen so far. My guess is that you and I are roughly the same age (if hair color is any indication), and I've been trying to play guitars for about 65 years. I had the monumental good fortune to start with my great-grandfather's 1924 0-45, and I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the extraordinary qualities of small-bodied, 12-fret guitars, and the magical tonal palette and timbral range they provide. I recently bought an Eastman E40OO guitar. I'm astonished by the capabilities of the luthier(s) who built it, and I'm hoping that some descendant of mine will get to hear it in 100 years.

I enjoy your videos and your presentations. They say what needs saying in a concise manner. I prefer 00 and 000 size guitars over larger bodies. I haven’t found a single O that appeals to my ear yet. I have not had the pleasure of trying a Collings but have owned or own Eastman, Gibson and Martin 00 and 000 guitars. Your two guitars each sound very good with a subtle difference along various chords . Very hard for me to say which I prefer. Both special in their own way. Thank you for your video

Excellent comparison, and you've certainly got some nice guitars! There's not much to choose between these two (that doesn't mean they sound at all similar), the Collings sounds very attractively 'mellower' and the Eastman projects beautifully - in an ideal world you'd have one of each haha :)

Very nice job explaining the models and the history. I wonder how these would sound with mahogany back and sides.

Hi Andy! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your good lady. PS. I recently grew a beard and ‘tache for the first time in my 72 years, (not quite as magnificent as yours). I just shaved it off yesterday, I couldn’t deal with all the soup, beer, snot etc.) PPS. Both guitars sound great! Hope this helps…

Nice demo of the guitars… I agree with the others that are saying to keep doing what you’re doing… nice clear playing

I'd settle for either one lovely playing as usual.can I ask what is your recording set up.have a great Christmas and new year.

Yes, it would be fun to compare those to my Martin Music Villa Custom Shop Custom Shop 00-28 12-fret. It has a special inlay on the back of the headstock in memory of my Dad. It has protien glue, modified low oval neck profile, and K&K pickup.

Thanks and to you. I am loving my latest buy a Taylor 520 all Mahogany short scale slotted head stock, lovely warm tone not Tayloresque at all ,Looking for a 12 fret in the future. Would love a Collings or Larrivee.

Always a pleasure watching your videos. Are you really comparing a Collins to an Eastman or are you comparing a Sitka top to an Adi top? In your video, I prefer the Collins tone over the Eastman tone. But I prefer Sitka to Adi. Nearing age 78 myself, I would probably prefer the guitar that was easier on my left hand. Just for grins, have you the weight of each guitar?

Happy holidays. Excellent video. I thought the instruments were comparable in sound. I did notice the on the headstock that the openings on the Collings are squared off and, on the Eastman, they are rounded off the squaring off requires more time. I have been told the close grain and open grain are not really important in sound. Visually however I prefer close grain soundboards. I used to own an Eastman 00 instrument, and it wasn't a fancy version like yours. Are you sure your Eastman doesn't have an Adi top (wide grain) on it, mine did. Sadly, Eastman is severely curtailing their construction of lefty instruments, so I only buy American. The American big three will build any of their models for left hand players. A bad move on Eastman's part. I use D'Addario XS strings almost exclusively, they are long lasting, and for someone who uses the entire neck of the instrument, they really cut down on finger noise. Sometimes I use Elixir Hybrid (13-53) strings with the nano coating forelow finger noise and if I want the first and second string at a higher tension.

I’ve been interested in smaller guitar sizes lately. Curious as to why there are so few “size 1” guitars out there vs even the smaller “size 2” which seems to be slightly more common (from Martin anyway). I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. The overall volume for me isn’t a concern at all, but I’m lookin for balance, and responsiveness for delicate finger picking.

Collings has a bit "warmer" tone? Eastman perhaps a hair "louder" with more aggressive midrange? Fun to hear the same size with different top woods. Both sound excellent!

Interesting and enjoyable thank you

they are both lovely instruments. i'd say the collings is a bit more compressed and "warmer" sounding, with a fairly balanced eq. whereas, the eastman has that classic martin sounding "scooped" eq and is a bit more resonant and complex. lovely comparison-thanks as always!

Thanks for the comparison. As a lefty growing up in the 60’s a decent guitar was out of the question. Over the years as I’ve been able to find and afford better stuff I have owed quite a few. I had a Collings CW Indian and it never felt right in my hands. On the cheaper end I have a blueridge br180a that is a dream to play. Most high end guitars are not that different from the Eastman and blueridge and even some of the Yamahas nowadays. Play what feels and sounds good to you. Of all I’ve owned the Taylor 810 is probably my favorite guitar. I bought mine online for $1900. Hope this helps potential buyers.

Mr. Silly, I too after owning many guitars (Martin, Taylor, Gibson etc) over the years find myself playing two Eastmans E20D and E10D and a Collings D2HG. The tone profiles complements each other. Between the rosewood guitars the Collings really is a better guitar and it should be when you consider the price. The Collings is clear, balanced with fantastic responsiveness, it can be big and powerful or soft and light. However their are some songs that just sound better (to my ear) with the sweet rich Eastman tone. Your guitars both sounded great. BTW please keep up the good work. Cheers

Pleasant sounds from both but I prefer Martins. My OM has alot of over tones with non coated strings not so with XL'S?

Both sound great..!

Interesting video. Both instruments sounded very nice. I was expecting to like the Collings better but after hearing both instruments I liked the Eastman as well and maybe even better than the Collings. If I were to listen blindly I would be hard pressed to pick a "better". I do believe that sound is the major consideration in choosing an instrument but I can't ignore the appeal of various woods for their appearance and other appointments of the guitar. I think you have the ultimate answer in your hands. Own them both!

I hope you’re doing well. Looking forward to more from you. Most of my Guitars are electric, or Bass Guitars, so we fill out the picture pretty well. My acoustic is a copy of a Martin Dreadnought. A D28 I think… as it’s not as fancy as more expensive ones. I’ve had it for about 40 some years. It sounds beautiful and full, but I’m afraid it’s on its way to a neck reset pretty soon. I’ve got the saddle pretty low, to get the action nice. Doesn’t sound like it’s taking any volume away, though. Thank goodness! Hope to hear from you… and maybe strike up a friendship of sorts. I’m in California USA. I Love hearing about the different kinds of acoustics… and may get an arch top or something else for fun, because I’ve got a lot of free time these days, with which to try new Guitars. I must admit though, like you… I have so many Guitars now. 😳😂🤣😂✨ Take care!

What sounded/felt "better" to you, Andy?

What is the wrap on your wrist and thumb if I may ask ? And where can I get one ?

I recently heard of a brand Faith guitar. Have you ever heard or played one. I think they are made in England. Thanks, Jim.

The Eastman holds up a reasonable effort. Brighter which maybe the Adirondack top contributing, but it’s never that simple. Definitely prefer the Collings. I do like mine. Maybe play them both a little more up the neck and also capo them up for a little bit. Dig in a bit on the trebles to see if they get ‘whispy’. I know the Collings has a strength of note on these particularly. The video is clear as is the sound - the acoustics of the room giving them both a natural sound. Thank you

Very good comparison. It's clear to me the Collings has better projection and clarity.

Don here again, and just my thoughts Sonically ( and I'm listening through Earphones, to make sure I don't miss something) I Really couldn't tell any difference, they are Quality Guitar's, Without Doubt. My guitars are 3 Yamaha's FG 830 c/a/way, LJX6, & FGC-TA, a Martin- HPL, & a G series Takamine, a Recording King dreadnought an old Yamaha FG 180, Laminate Top but easily the equal sound wise to my other ( younger) Yamaha's. Take care now, regards Don 😊😊😊

Apart from the appointments, the Eastman looks like an E20 OO. Does it sound about the same as yours?

Thank you for another great video. Agree with you re. demo style. A talented player can make anything sound good to an untrained ear like mine. Id rather just hear the instrument.

Does the Eastman have a fatter neck than Collings ?

Eastman guitars continue to impress me. To my ears, both guitars sounded a lot alike. The Eastman has the right amount of bling. Time will tell how it sounds after that Adirondack top opens up. I'm a Dreadnaught/Rosewood fan, so both of these guitars were lacking the bottom end that I prefer.. However both were pleasant to listen to.

Interesting. I found the Collings to be more balanced and less harsh in the trebles than the Eastman, although both sound very good indeed. The difference might be due to the age difference. I always feel that a full demo of any guitar should also include closed chords and keys not associated with open guitar chords (Bb, Eb, etc). If you are going to compare using scale tone chords, you should keep a consistent voicing (drop 2 or drop 3). You actually know all of these chords because I have seen you play them in context of tunes and you just used the drop 2 version of the bm7b5 (the 7 chord in C major). Feel free to disagree...

=== Do a demo for Lowden guitars one day that I own as they are great sounding guitars. The warmer sounding guitar for Lowden use Cedar tops in case anyone was wondering. I am a Sitka top man, brighter sounding. ===

== I use XS and they are great. Much better than the Martin Strings. D'Addario have been making strings before Martin made strings which are coated for longer lasting in months. Leave them on and you will see how long they last and nicer sounding they are. PS Your presentations are great and wouldn't change a thing. Thank you.

Nice guitars. I prefer the Eastman.

Eastman is making some nice guitars.

Collings has the right mids. Eastman sounds like it has a newer set of strings maybe.

Excellent as always, but I hope you will forgive a small piece of pedantry. Martin in fact made dreads from 1916, just not under their own name, but branded for Ditson. So, technically it is true that you couldn't get a dread from Martin till 1931, Ditson could and you could get one from them! 😂 Oh, and by the way the Collings is richer and less bright - mind you, it is a good bit older.

Point taken, yes I know what you mean.

The Collings is more open.

Guess I'm the odd ball out. The Eastman sounded better to me. Sound is subjective as to the listener's preference.

Thanks very much ; chinese guitars are now very good and can compare to any other brand imho

Well done video. Tonally we are splitting hairs, craftsmanship we are splitting hairs. It comes down to two things price, and whether you want to buy an American product or a Chinese product. The American guitar, Collings, is significantly more expensive than the Chinese built Eastman. Most people will not be willing to pay that price increase for essentially the same guitar. That being said if it was within my budget I’d buy the Collings. If the Collings was not within my budget, I’d buy the Eastman.

Eastman , no doubt are good but I just can't bring myself to buy anything from China.

Nice sounding guitars... I prefer Not buying Chinese Guitars

=== I forgot to add. The Eastman sounded better. Was very surprised by that. === Collins are good guitars but here Eastman stole the show. Maybe because it is getting harder and harder to find old growth woods these days. It is a shame with the pillaging and raping of our planet earth for the sake of profit and greed and living life for making shelters. Wood is amazing also by that of design. Revelation 11 : 18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” ==== Daniel 2 : 44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever, ==== Evolution = Self Assembling Atoms = Impossible ====

you're comparing a $6K dollar guitar to a $1,600 dollar guitar. I'm guessing at the numbers here, but I'm probably not that far off. I know that the Eastman is a good deal, and so is the Collings if you're Bill Gates.

Its not about the quality of the instruments. I am just anti China guitars, washing machines car parts or what ever. I nearly bought a Guild made in China but bought an american made one in the end. Every time I would have picked the guitar up I would have seen that " made in China" lable. Nothing against Japan though, would love a Yairi.

thanks bro love the playing and the guitars .me D45