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09-18-2018 01:07 AM
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Interesting. I wish he'd played some single-note runs, especially as it's a petite bouche model. As this seems Eastman's first foray into the GJ world, they might eventually bring out other models at different price points. I don't mind the old violin-style finish, though note there is a blonde version too. Retails for just over £1,000 in the UK, with just a padded gig bag.
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International Gypsy Jazz Artist Doug Martin who played the largest role in the design and refinement of the DM1 says, “After carefully studying the design and construction of these guitars over the last couple years and after decades of playing them, I am extremely excited for Eastman to offer one of our own. Though this is just the first gypsy guitar from Eastman, this is just the beginning of great things to come to the world of gypsy swing from Eastman!”
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Qupte from the review:
"There have never been more instrument options for the aspiring Gypsy-jazz student or seasoned vet."
As far as Germany is concerned, this is disputable. I haven't seen many, if any, Selmac-style guitars around at the major retailers, and Gitane seems to have gone completely. Is it any different in other European countries?
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Here's a great video demo with comping and single note runs... impressive!
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Very bright-sounding there, which would be good in a jam session for lead work, I'd imagine, but with a decent mic, I'm sure it has warmth aplenty too.
I've been wanting a GJ guitar for years, and this might be the one. I'll let you know after tomorrow, when one drops on my doorstep...
I've tried playing GJ on my Elferink, and it can sound great, but not quite right, and is not set up for faster playing.
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I always thought that Selmer style gypsy jazz guitars were on the bright-biting side of tone, at least to my ears. Warmth isn't a tone aspect that I associate with Django. Love me some gypsy jazz swing!
I do wish the guitar had a narrower nut though... just my preference.
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All true! Petite bouche are especially bright sounding guitars, compare to grande bouche in particular.
+1 on narrower nut width. All high end master built selmac style i tried had a fat but narrow neck. Super comfortable and ideal for swing chords.
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Would be interested to see how it compares to the Altamira I have.
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Well, Peach Guitars seem to have been the only place in the UK to have one, so I snapped it up. I might be the only person in the UK with one...I know that they made a few prototypes, but I don't think it's one of them, and was advertised as the DM-1, brand new. We shall see tomorrow.
I'll make a video, but clearly I am not a GJ player, but I'll do what I can.
I'm not a great fan of very narrow necks, having very large hands, so I'm glad it's not a skinny one. And, yes, I'm looking forward to getting the GJ bite!
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I played predominately Gypsy Jazz for 16 years and have a 1977 Jacques Favino, a 1999 Shelley Park, a 1997 Gerome, a 2013 Leo Eimers, and a 2010 Manouche Latcho Drom ( similar to an Alta Mira) -- all lefties. Anyway, both Eastman guitars in the videos sound brighter than any of my GJ guitars. Now granted, they are new and may sound different once they are broken in, and from my experience Eastman does a first-class job on their guitars, but I was hoping they would have a less biting tone. Doug Martin is a good man and knows his GJ guitars (played with John Jorgenson and worked with Saga Gitane for years). I expect he will be of great help directing Eastman's GJ efforts. Meanwhile, taken in comparison with my stable of GJ guitars, the brightest guitar I have is the Manouche Latcho Drom. While it is less bright than the Easman examples it is in the same ballpark tonally. Interestingly enough, when it comes time to grab a guitar for a jam, the Manouche Latcho Drom often becomes the guitar of choice since it has the volume and the edge to cut through the mix of other guitars, bass and violin. So in GJ, how a guitar sounds by itself is only one consideration in its total musical application.
Congrats Rob -- looking forward to seeing how you feel about the Eastman and hearing your video!
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That's what I was getting at, Eddy. Very bright, but perhaps a good ensemble guitar. That said, I think the player was just using the mic on the camera, which is never a good choice. Plus I'm hearing it through the crap speakers of my tablet.
Bartok, eh? Good suggestion, neatomic! I've played some of his folk-music settings in the past.Last edited by Rob MacKillop; 09-19-2018 at 03:59 AM.
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I loved the sound, but could never get used to the longer scale of the gypsy guitar. This one is a full laminate model right?
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Solid Sitka soundboard, rosewood laminate back and sides:
DM1
- Neck Material:Maple
- Fingerboard:Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius:Flat
- Neck Profile:Flat D
- Nut:Bone 1 3/4"
- Scale Length:670mm
- Bracings:Ladder
- Body Top:Sitka Spruce
- Body Back/Sides:Rosewood Laminate
- Bridge/Saddle:Traditional Rosewood Mustache 2 5/32"
- Rosette:Laminated Wood
- Truss Rod Dual Acting
- Binding:Top
- Binding Material:Rosewood
- Tailpiece:Traditional Gypsy Style
- Logo:Painted Logo
- Inlay:Pearl Dots
- Side Dot Color:White
- Body Top Finish:Open Pore
- Back/Sides Finish:Open Pore
- Hardware Color:Nickel
- Tuners:Gotoh SEP780
- Strings D'adarrio EJ83M .011-.047
- Action Height:12th fret 3/32" on the bass side and 2/32" on the treble side
- Case:Padded Gig Bag
- Truss Rod Wrench:4mm
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I might swap those D'Addarios for Argentines...
Waiting for the courier...
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Good catch Rob. I'd swap out the strings for Argentines too. And maybe a Wegen pick down the road if you don't already have one...
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I have a Dupont that while bright and cutting is not nearly as bright as the Gitanes that I have owned nor as bright as this Eastman seems to be. I also owned a Favino and a Shelley Park, and both were almost archtop sounding. There is a lot of tonal variation in Gypsy guitars. Some like the super bright banjo like tone, others, like me, do not.
Originally Posted by archtopeddy
Choose carefully.
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Well, it arrived in tune and at pitch. The varnish is a bit odd, but I can live with it. The sound is not as trebly as the other video gave an impression of. It's not of the quality of my Elferink, for sure, as to be expected, but it will serve my purposes as I dabble in the black art of gypsy jazz. It's a very light guitar, which I think might be good for its role in a group.
Here's a video recorded ten minutes or so after getting it. I'd spent last night and this morning playing Nuages on the Elferink, and three Gypsy Etudes by Michael Horowitz of DjangoBooks, so that I would have something to record. They're nice pieces.
Clearly, I do not have or pretend to have a gypsy-style technique, but I'll be looking into it.
It comes with just a gig bag...
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That's a nice sounding guitar, and very pretty playing! It'll mellow out/loosen up a bit with some age and a lot of aggressive playing
I'm really tempted by it. I do own a very nice Dupont, and a JWC, so I don't need it in any real sense, but I don't have a petite bouche, so...
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nice playing and tune selection per usual rob
but why would anyone paint a "sitka spruce?" top like that?!!! only eastman!!...i've seen them with some of the worst finishes on any production made guitars
thank goodness for elferink!
sorry, but i'd send that back
cheers
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There is a blond version, though it looks more white than blonde. But that's not available yet. I really don't care about the finish, it's just a fun guitar to mess around with. The Elferink is in a different league altogether, but it is a different type of guitar anyway. The Eastman will satisfy my GJ gas, plus I'll never be a GJ specialist, a dabbler is all. And that's okay with me.
Yes, it needs some aggressive playing to open up, but it's brand new. Give it time.
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Happy NGD!!! That looks like a very cool guitar. I could never hang with that long scale -- just not in my fingers.
But it makes me wonder if Eastman has a Grand Bouche planned for the near future . . . ?!
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Cheers, guys.
Pickup? I don't want people to hear me play! Ha. Cool pickups, though.
Longways, apparently this is the first of a "number" of GJ guitars from Eastman, and might be their cheapest. The DM2 is destined to be more expensive, half as much again, as it has a walnut neck. I don't know about the size of its mouth...
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Actually, when playing, I never noticed the long scale length. It seems an easy guitar to play.
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love all of robs string efforts..huge fan...and hate to be naysaying his new guitar day..but there's more going on than just looks with that finish
the cratering on the back is a bad sign..this means the outer rosewood laminate was not sealed or filled well and the finish has soaked deep into the wood and into the laminate ply's...this can cause all sorts of problems i.e. splitting, cracking, warping...that's back and sides!!
in luthiery only 2nd tier spruce gets a top finish like that..the nicely grained wood is unstained...they are trying to hide it!!! unsuccessfully...hah
as for my elferink comment..i was in no way a comparing elferinks work to eastmans...(one couldn't do that!)...merely happy that rob has his elferink to see what quality is...(many don't have that option and live in ignorant bliss)...also i was applauding elferink as a wood & finish specialist...(not all luthiers are!)...eastman could use him as an advisor!!
for ex. read-
PREPARED GUITAR: Tone Wood Stradivari brown
ultimately, this is not about cost or country of origin...one never sees an epiphone or even a squier with such a shoddy finish...no other production guitar makers continually send out guitars like that!! at any pricepoint...
i also think he'll take a shot on the resale when he sells it..and knowing rob..he will!!! haha
there's a lot of nice budget gitane style guitars out there nowadays
cheers
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