Congratulations - I have never owned a PCH but for what they are as a laminated back and sides guitar I have read great things about them. I am not sure of how you would define "break the bank" but some others to consider:
E1/2/3 - all solid wood guitars with either spruce or cedar tops and sapele or ovangkol backs and sides. (mahogany like and rosewood like respectively). Open pore finish. They only come with gig bags and no pick-up although there are some /E models designating a pick-up is installed. A lot of love on this forum for these models. I think the current street price is about $500-600
AC122ce or 222ce - these are cut-away grand auditorium design similar to Taylor X14 type guitars. All solid woods. Full scale, 1.75" nut, 25.4" scale. Satin finish. They come with a deluxe gig bag. Street price is in the $700-$800. They have under saddle Fishman Sonitone pick-ups installed which make them plug-in ready but there are much better pick-ups to be had.
E6 or E8 - OMs. slope shoulder dreads (Gibsonish) and D-14 full dread (Martinish) body design. all solid woods with torrefied Sitka tops and either Mahogany (6s) or Rosewood (8s) back and sides. Full gloss finish with new TrueTone water base finish on models made in '20/'21 or newer. You can also find used versions in standard Sitka or some limited edition torrefied Alpine spruce tops. These are similar to Martin 18 series (mahogany) or Martin 28 series (rosewood). $1100 - $1350 street prices or so. They come with hard shell cases. You can usually find good used versions for about 20-25% less. Example - I have an E6OM-TC Alpine spruce that I will be listing for $800 in excellent condition.
Above the 6s and 8s there are the 10/20/40 series and prices keep going up. On the the AC models you have the 322-922 with the same increasing price the higher the number. You also get some nice features, better woods and amazing aesthetics the higher you go. With Eastman you don't just a good guitar at a great price, you get a great guitar. IMHO. They don't compete with the boutique, single luthier builders but I would put them up against any Yamaha, Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson, Martin etc and at a much lower price point.
Good luck with your hunt.
E1/2/3 - all solid wood guitars with either spruce or cedar tops and sapele or ovangkol backs and sides. (mahogany like and rosewood like respectively). Open pore finish. They only come with gig bags and no pick-up although there are some /E models designating a pick-up is installed. A lot of love on this forum for these models. I think the current street price is about $500-600
AC122ce or 222ce - these are cut-away grand auditorium design similar to Taylor X14 type guitars. All solid woods. Full scale, 1.75" nut, 25.4" scale. Satin finish. They come with a deluxe gig bag. Street price is in the $700-$800. They have under saddle Fishman Sonitone pick-ups installed which make them plug-in ready but there are much better pick-ups to be had.
E6 or E8 - OMs. slope shoulder dreads (Gibsonish) and D-14 full dread (Martinish) body design. all solid woods with torrefied Sitka tops and either Mahogany (6s) or Rosewood (8s) back and sides. Full gloss finish with new TrueTone water base finish on models made in '20/'21 or newer. You can also find used versions in standard Sitka or some limited edition torrefied Alpine spruce tops. These are similar to Martin 18 series (mahogany) or Martin 28 series (rosewood). $1100 - $1350 street prices or so. They come with hard shell cases. You can usually find good used versions for about 20-25% less. Example - I have an E6OM-TC Alpine spruce that I will be listing for $800 in excellent condition.
Above the 6s and 8s there are the 10/20/40 series and prices keep going up. On the the AC models you have the 322-922 with the same increasing price the higher the number. You also get some nice features, better woods and amazing aesthetics the higher you go. With Eastman you don't just a good guitar at a great price, you get a great guitar. IMHO. They don't compete with the boutique, single luthier builders but I would put them up against any Yamaha, Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson, Martin etc and at a much lower price point.
Good luck with your hunt.
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. John Lennon
Current stable - prone to frequent changes
Current stable - prone to frequent changes
