Eastman PCH1-D Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar #1428

The Eastman PCH1-D pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with laminated sapele back and sides on a full-size dreadnought body, a combination that gives new and developing players real volume and projection without the price tag of an all-solid guitar. Sitka spruce is the workhorse top wood of steel-string guitars for a reason — stiff and responsive, it drives a dreadnought's big, punchy low end.

Laminated sapele behaves similarly to mahogany, but with slightly added punch and brightness, keeping the tone focused and preventing the low end from getting boomy or undefined — a good match for a dreadnought this size. Strummed chords come out bold and commanding, and the guitar keeps up just as well with flatpicked single-note lines, making it an easy fit for a beginner working through open chords or a more experienced player who wants a dependable backup instrument.

A maple neck with a traditional even C profile and a 1 3/4-inch bone nut keeps the feel familiar for players moving up from a smaller-bodied guitar, and the rosewood fingerboard and bridge, abalone rosette, and satin-finished top and back give it a clean, classic look without excess ornamentation. D'Addario strings and a low factory setup out of the case make it ready to play from day one, backed by a padded Eastman gig bag — a dependable dreadnought for a player who wants real tone without a big price.