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From my track record, I have a tendency to buy/sell/trade quite (too) frequently. I think some is out of inquisitiveness and some out of impatience. I previously listed my modest collection individually by year, make and model in my signature. It got a little cumbersome with all of the changes, so now I have two I feel are forever guitars - 2013 Walker Wise River and 2018 Eastman E40OM - and "other comings and goings". I thought I would give a quick history of the last three months and of how I arrived at where I am today. The first picture is from 2/7/22 and the second exactly one year later. (Total coincidence)
February 7, 2022 Family picture ![[Image: DwtE2NY.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/DwtE2NY.jpg)
February 7, 2023 Family picture ![[Image: GllZbhA.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/GllZbhA.jpg)
Since 02/07/2023:
Traded Gibson LG2 - second from the end on the right - traded for a 2021 Martin 000-18 Standard. I also have a Farida OT-22W and who needs two "like" guitars. Plus the Farida covers the foul weather requirement as it is laminate and fairly inexpensive, so it has other uses for me. The Farida is not on par with the Gibson, but close enough for my purposes. I was a little concerned with the Martin MLO but I thought I would give it a go. By some, the Martin 000-18 is supposedly the Swiss Army Knife of guitars. Nice balanced tone with very good projection. Smaller body and short scale leading to a little easier to handle than a dread. The construction is top notch. It truly is an excellent guitar deserved of its reputation. The MLO is a little on the thin side.
Purchased - new Eastman E20SSv - I played one at Sky Guitars last year and became enamored with everything about it except the 1 11/16" nut and thinner neck. I then read Josh Henderson's in-depth review and it rekindled that interest. I contacted every dealer I could that had one in-stock and ended up purchasing one through Edmunds Guitars in OK. It is a 1.744" nut with a little fuller neck than I remember from previous Eastman slope models. I wish the varnish finish was slightly more polished, but otherwise I can't find a fault with this guitar. If you want to know more about the E20SSv, check out Josh's review - https://www.eastmanguitarfans.com/Thread...ull-Review . I can't argue with a word he wrote. Plus the quality of any review I could write would pale in comparison. (Edit - I forgot to mention this one has me strongly considering putting it into the signature and not as one of the "comings & goings")
Sold E6SS-TC - (first on the left) - great mahogany slope. I loved it when I bought, but I started noticing that when I felt like playing a mahogany slope, I would pick up the Walker 19 times out of 20. It really isn't fair to compare the E6 to the Walker Wise River. The Walker is 3X the cost and single luthier made. It is on a higher plane than most mahogany slope guitars from any manufacturer. Sold via the assistance of an EGF member. (edit - A Walker Wise is about 4.5X the cost of a new E6SS-TC. I bought it used at 3X the cost.)
Traded Leo Posch Advanced Jumbo - (2nd on the left) - for a 2006 Martin 000-18 GE. I really liked the Posch. It was my first foray into single luthier built guitars. But it appears I have a preference for short scale slopes and I have that covered with the Walker and Eastman E20SSv. Plus the Eastman covers the rosewood b/s itch. The 000-18 GE 1937 has a few pluses over the current standard 000-18 - Adirondack top and bracing, 1937 bracing pattern, lighter build and most importantly a soft-v neck shape. The 000-18 GE is a definite step up over the standard. The addy top really is noticeable in comparison to the standard's Sitka but the bracing and lighter build have a contributing affect as well. The acquisition of the GE version with the v-neck design concludes the MLO neck test for me. One of the reasons I like Eastman over most Martins is the neck feels a little fuller in my hand. There are other reasons as well.
Sold Martin 000-18 2021 Standard. My experiment with the current Martin MLO is concluded. Kind of like Taylor guitars, - great guitars and well built, just a little thin on the neck for my preference.
Purchased Pono 00-30 Sitka/Rosewood. This was a complete impulse buy. I have never owned a Pono (designed in Hawaii & made in Indonesia). This one is 00 size with 12 fret neck. Slightly wider nut at 1 13/16' and kind of a flatter neck. The construction is all wood including the binding. This is a very nice delicate fingerstyle guitar. The smaller 00, narrow body makes for a comfortable couch noodling guitar. I have tried three other 00 models with no luck. They always seemed to be insufficient on the bottom end. I was hoping the 12 fret neck with the bridge moved more towards the center of the lower bout would improve the bass response. Some - yes. Enough for me - probably not. But it was a local buy, used and at a very good price, so I can move it without too much financial pain. I have really been wanting to try a 00 Deep Body, but the models in which I am most interested are a little pricey - Kopp, Walker or Fairbanks. The search continues.
Purchased - Eastman 2021 E1D with K&K pick-up. I picked this one up from EGF/AGF member Uncle Jesse. I mean - all solid wood dreadnaught with K&K pickup in excellent condition for under $500!! The top is probably torrefied Sitka (looks almost cedar) with Sapele back and sides. This has the unfilled satin finish. I just received it last week and I am quite impressed with the volume and quality. A little brighter on the tone scale but that might be the Sapele. UJ slotted and ramped the bridge and changed the pins to unslotted. The gig bag is fine. I find the Gator soft sided to be of much better quality. After only a few days, I find this to be a lot of guitar for very short money. It will make an excellent lake, beach, cabin, jam guitar that I won't worry about getting bumped or bruised.
Thank you for your indulgence. It has been a busy 3 months. I previously thought 3 was a good number of guitars for me. Obviously I am a little north of that number. I decided to stop focusing on the number. I obviously enjoy variety and trying things new to me. This acoustic guitar rabbit hole is rewardingly deep. Pay my bills, don't take food off the table, save for tomorrow - after that anything is fair game.
The family today - top row L-R - Walker Wise River, Eastman E20SSv, Bourgeois D Vintage Touchstone, Eastman E40OM, Martin 000-18 GE 1937 & Pono 00-30. On the floor (L) Farida OT-22W & ® Eastman E1D.
![[Image: lue7Np7.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/lue7Np7.jpg)
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And now we wait …. Pending NGD