Eastman DM2/V Douglas Martin Gypsy Jazz Guitar
from Guitar.com review, 01/07/2021:
Almost a century on from its inception, there’s still something about the infectious rhythms and swooping solos of gypsy jazz that captures the imagination. This is due in no small part to Belgium’s dapper guitar legend Django Reinhardt, whose fretboard pyrotechnics remain the gold standard. In an appeal to the pencil-moustached jazz hero in all of us, Eastman Guitars has released this DM2/v model – a rosewood and spruce guitar that, thanks to its Antique Varnish finish, certainly looks the part.
The 1930s were a fascinating time in the guitar’s history. As players around the world pushed the boundaries of the instrument, the connecting theme throughout was a need for increased volume. In this interim period, before the widespread use of reliable amplification, guitar makers developed ingenious designs to give their instruments more punch.
In 1932, French company Selmer paired up with Italian luthier Mario Maccaferri to produce a new design with a large D-shaped soundhole and an internal resonator. The relationship between Maccaferri and Selmer only lasted a couple of years but the company continued to finesse the design until the release of the instrument now known affectionately as the Petite Bouche due to its small, oval shaped soundhole. This was Django Reinhardt’s guitar of choice and is the basis for the Eastman DM2/v – and Eastman has gone deep on the authenticity front in terms of both specifications and aesthetics.
A spruce soundboard with Indian rosewood back and sides is a classic combination for acoustic guitars. In the interests of vintage-accuracy, the rosewood is laminated and has a beautiful, straight-grained figure. Artful ageing aside, the Sitka spruce used for the soundboard is of good quality with some subtle cross-silking.
At the heart of a manouche instrument is the 670mm scale length and domed, ladder-braced top coupled with a tailpiece design that drives the floating rosewood bridge. All are present and correct here, as is the elegant ‘drop’ cutaway. Also pleasing to the traditionalist is the walnut neck and ebony fretboard, topped off with the requisite zero fret and slotted snakehead headstock. The Eastman logo in this case is framed by an attractive decal that borrows from the Art Deco look of the originals. The pearl dot position markers are well inlaid but beware, these guitars traditionally have a dot at the 10th fret rather than the 9th, which can really ruin your rendition of Minor Swing until you get used to it.
The Eastman comes with period-correct chunky neck specifications, which include a shouldered flat D carve and gleefully high action – a vital part of the gypsy jazz sound. Thankfully Eastman has opted for a kinder 1.75-inch nut width – some of the originals came with 1 7/8” telegraph poles and we’re simply not macho enough for that sort of thing.
Features:
Antique Varnish Finish
Sitka Spruce Top
Rosewood Laminate Body Back & Sides
Rosewood Binding
Walnut Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
Pearl Dot Inlays with White Side Dots
Rosewood Bridge & Saddle
Traditional Gypsy-Style Tailpiece
Gotoh SE770 Tuners
26.378" scale FLAT Radius
This guitar is in Brand New condition from Eastman and features a weathered and "relic'd" antique varnish finish. Any "damage" currently on the guitar is as intended by Eastman. This guitar is complete with original hard case and Eastman certificate of authenticity.
USED
$1,639
Almost a century on from its inception, there’s still something about the infectious rhythms and swooping solos of gypsy jazz that captures the imagination. This is due in no small part to Belgium’s dapper guitar legend Django Reinhardt, whose fretboard pyrotechnics remain the gold standard. In an appeal to the pencil-moustached jazz hero in all of us, Eastman Guitars has released this DM2/v model – a rosewood and spruce guitar that, thanks to its Antique Varnish finish, certainly looks the part.
The 1930s were a fascinating time in the guitar’s history. As players around the world pushed the boundaries of the instrument, the connecting theme throughout was a need for increased volume. In this interim period, before the widespread use of reliable amplification, guitar makers developed ingenious designs to give their instruments more punch.
In 1932, French company Selmer paired up with Italian luthier Mario Maccaferri to produce a new design with a large D-shaped soundhole and an internal resonator. The relationship between Maccaferri and Selmer only lasted a couple of years but the company continued to finesse the design until the release of the instrument now known affectionately as the Petite Bouche due to its small, oval shaped soundhole. This was Django Reinhardt’s guitar of choice and is the basis for the Eastman DM2/v – and Eastman has gone deep on the authenticity front in terms of both specifications and aesthetics.
A spruce soundboard with Indian rosewood back and sides is a classic combination for acoustic guitars. In the interests of vintage-accuracy, the rosewood is laminated and has a beautiful, straight-grained figure. Artful ageing aside, the Sitka spruce used for the soundboard is of good quality with some subtle cross-silking.
At the heart of a manouche instrument is the 670mm scale length and domed, ladder-braced top coupled with a tailpiece design that drives the floating rosewood bridge. All are present and correct here, as is the elegant ‘drop’ cutaway. Also pleasing to the traditionalist is the walnut neck and ebony fretboard, topped off with the requisite zero fret and slotted snakehead headstock. The Eastman logo in this case is framed by an attractive decal that borrows from the Art Deco look of the originals. The pearl dot position markers are well inlaid but beware, these guitars traditionally have a dot at the 10th fret rather than the 9th, which can really ruin your rendition of Minor Swing until you get used to it.
The Eastman comes with period-correct chunky neck specifications, which include a shouldered flat D carve and gleefully high action – a vital part of the gypsy jazz sound. Thankfully Eastman has opted for a kinder 1.75-inch nut width – some of the originals came with 1 7/8” telegraph poles and we’re simply not macho enough for that sort of thing.
Features:
Antique Varnish Finish
Sitka Spruce Top
Rosewood Laminate Body Back & Sides
Rosewood Binding
Walnut Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
Pearl Dot Inlays with White Side Dots
Rosewood Bridge & Saddle
Traditional Gypsy-Style Tailpiece
Gotoh SE770 Tuners
26.378" scale FLAT Radius
This guitar is in Brand New condition from Eastman and features a weathered and "relic'd" antique varnish finish. Any "damage" currently on the guitar is as intended by Eastman. This guitar is complete with original hard case and Eastman certificate of authenticity.
USED
$1,639