Eastman E16SS-TC-LTD: DS Thermo Cured Sitka/Maple

The Eastman E16SS-TC-LTD is a highly regarded, limited-edition acoustic guitar that features a classic slope-shoulder dreadnought design combined with premium tonewoods and Eastman's meticulous hand-craftsmanship.

Here are the key features and specifications for this model:

Model Overview

• Model Name: E16SS-TC-LTD (Limited Edition)

• Body Style: Slope-Shoulder Dreadnought (16" body width)

• Aesthetic Influence: Classic Gibson J-45 style slope-shoulder design.

• Limited Edition: This model was produced as a limited run (often cited as around 200 pieces worldwide).

Key Construction & Tonewoods

• Body Top: Solid Thermo-Cured (Torrefied) Adirondack Spruce.

  • Note: While the user request mentions "Sitka/Maple," the E16SS-TC-LTD is most commonly known for its Adirondack spruce top, which is considered a premium tonewood. The "DS" likely stands for "Dreadnought Slope."

  • Thermo-Cured (TC): A heat-treatment process that removes moisture and resins, mimicking the sonic properties of a guitar that has been played for decades resulting in enhanced volume, resonance, and a vintage, "played-in" tone right out of the case.

• Back & Sides: Solid Bookmatched Quarter-Sawn Maple (often highly figured or birdseye maple).

  • Maple provides a focused, articulate, and bright tonal character with exceptional clarity and a quick decay, which perfectly complements the warm power of the Adirondack top.

• Bracing: Hand-Carved Scalloped X-Bracing (a hallmark of Eastman's traditional building style, allowing the top to vibrate more freely).

• Finish: Gloss Finish on Body and Neck.

Neck and Playability

• Scale Length: 24.75" (Short Scale). This results in lower string tension, making for easier bending and a slightly warmer, rounder tone.

• Neck Material: Maple (or Select Mahogany, depending on the specific batch, though Maple is common for this Maple/Adirondack pairing).

• Neck Profile: Traditional Even C

• Nut Width: 1 11/16" (43 mm)

• Nut/Saddle Material: Bone

• Fingerboard: Ebony

• Inlays: Elegant Pearl Diamonds (often a pattern associated with the Otto D'Ambrosio style).

Appointments

• Binding: Tortoise Shell binding with Herringbone purfling (Top/Back).

• Bridge: Ebony, Reverse Belly Style.

• Pickguard: Firestripe (classic vintage look).

• Tuners: Open-Gear (Nickel).

• Case: Includes a Hardshell Case.

The E16SS-TC-LTD is highly praised for blending the strong, woody projection of a vintage slope-shoulder with the clarity and note separation that high-quality maple provides, all enhanced by the benefits of a thermo-cured top.