Today's try-outs at nearby GC

[Shortfinger]

Last to first. I played three fine guitars.

Eastmann E10OOS/v (used): great blues box, but should have been strung with PB, IMHO. Low action and had some fret buzz but the neck was dead straight. A truss rod tightening will surely correct it to the proper relief. I liked the size, and the 12" r. fretboard. Nicely figured spruce top. Thought the finish looked old, and that it had wear on the forearm edge, but I found out after that it's the antique look they do at the shop. Nice! $400 off the new price.

Gibson J-200, new. Beautiful big guitar and surprisingly light. Bling galore. Played some of the Daddy Stovepipe blues I'm learning and it did fine, but it really boomed for me when I played "The Weight," as taught me by my other TouTube teacher, JamesJames. He's using his D-41 but Mr Mustache J-200 did just fine.

Taylor V-class 314CE, new. My favorite one of the three. Neck, strings, fret finish, fretboard radius, all perfect for my left hand. I've played a dozen or more Taylors and they always came across as tinny, but this one had all a guitar should have.

I hope I can have the opportunity to play this same Taylor alongside the new Ibanez Fingerstyle-class deep-body, soon. They aren't here yet, but look to be a dead match for this Taylor. Every single line item in specs.

If you're jonesing for a beautiful parlor-sized beauty and in Chicagoland, you need to play that Eastman at GC in Algonquin.