Archtops: Eastman vs. Gibson

Acoustic archtops from different eras in a very casual face-off. 2008 Eastman AR-904CE vs. 1935 Gibson L-12. D'Addario EXP 80/20 bronze strings (12-54) on both.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Acoustic
• archtop
• guitar
• Gibson
• L-12
• L12
• L-7
• L7
• Eastman
• 904
• AR904
• AR-904
• oval
• hole
• Roger
• Placer

[loupsnoir57]

gibson L12 and the more rare L10 are my favorite guitar,i'm a luthier and i think that your L12 is not a 1935 but a 1937 because of the flat plate tailpiece with cutouts who start in 1936 on the L10 and was add to the L12 and L7 in 1937 but was stop for most in 1939 when the L10 was discontinued.some have it untill 1941 but not after it.

[rpguitar]

@loupsnoir57 - It's hard to piece together Gibson archtops from this era according to their components alone. My L-12 has a serial number 927xx. The last serial in 1935 was supposedly 92800. 1937 would be 94101-95200.

[HendrixcommaMartin]

You get a supremely clear sound out of your thumb. It's almost uncanny. You somehow get all the clarity of a pick and all the warmth and juicy goodness of flesh. I love it! Any tips?

[rpguitar]

@HendrixcommaMartin - Wow, thanks. Playing Flamenco on a traditional guitar meant for that music really helped. I focused on it for a year before I realized it was such a profound music that I would practically have to live another life to get really good at it. However, what I learned helped me with all the other styles I play as well. "Pulgar" is thumb technique and it's very important. I grow the nails on my right hand just beyond the fingertip.

[Ningirsutyr]

I would never imagine myself saying this in a million years but I have to admit that the 2008 Eastman model sounded much better and more lush to my ears whereas the 1932 Gibson is a bit treblier sounding :O

[rpguitar]

@Ningirsutyr - You can't tell very much from a YouTube video, but also, it's important to remain unbiased. The Eastman is from their 900 series, which are crafted with their best materials and care. It is no cheap Asian guitar by any stretch. If you handled these two in person, you'd see that both are excellent, detailed, and beautiful sounding - but with different strengths and qualities. They are both "good" guitars, regardless of their different heritages.

[dtrailen]

Did this guy actually play "My Woman from Tokyo" on an archtop?

[englishdeltajazz]

Superb dem...thanks

[HARLANGENEPARROTT]

I like the ?

[MaximusDowns]

both of those guitars sound fantastic

[lee95757]

The old Gibson sound much better to me. No fret buzz like the eastman. A much more solid tone.

[gangstercorleone]

Nice technique. Nothing beats the sound of the naked thumb-style accompanied by complementary finger pickin' or plucking. There is absolutely no way to fake that sound. Combine that technique with a good acoustic guitar and you are in sound heaven.

The Gibson sounded richer to my ears (as in restrained but more richer) vs the more open sound of the Eastman.

I'm GangsterCorleone