eastman el rey 1

Bflat · #1 03-11-2011, 06:06 AM

Hi,

I just bought the eastman el rey 1 and it is fantastic! Aside from being a fine art piece it plays and sounds wonderful. The neck is wide and thin making for easy playing. If you are due for an upgraded guitar this is one to check out.

Enjoy.

Steve Z · #2 03-11-2011, 07:59 AM

Congrats! The El Rey is definitely a sweet guitar... looks are stunning, tone is sweet and playability is superb.

Cheers,
Steve

nado64 · #3 03-11-2011, 08:49 AM

Very nice guitar !
I have seen it on Internet but I don't find a store for trying it....
the color is beautiful, very hipe. all my wishes of happiness.

Has it got a block center ?

mangotango · #4 03-11-2011, 09:37 AM

El Reys have never been my cup of tea...but I wish you well to play it, NGD is always good!!

goshawk · #5 03-11-2011, 09:47 AM

I believe that the ER-1 and ER-2 are hollow construction. The ER-3 model has a center block and also has a stop tail. Jeff Hale has a nice series of videos about the different models on his Web site and his YouTube channel.

I've had my El Rey for about 18 months now and still get a kick out of playing it. Congrats. on your purchase.

msr13 · #6 03-11-2011, 11:02 AM

I love the El Reys. Wonderful guitars. Congrats!

RoyaleT · #7 03-11-2011, 11:12 AM

Very nice, congratulations, enjoy.

Steve Z · #8 03-11-2011, 11:24 AM

For those not familiar with the Eastman El Rey...

YouTube Video

Bflat · #9 03-11-2011, 12:47 PM

Thanks all. I can't wait to get out of work so I can go play the el rey!

It is fully hollow and lightweight. I got it on e-bay new (shop worn) with a couple of scratches with a bid of $800. I was kind of surprised they accepted the bid so quickly but it arrived in great shape.

Have a great day.

M-ster · #10 03-12-2011, 12:25 PM

Very nice!

Nice vid' from J.Hale, too. Thanks for posting that, Steve Z.

hurricanebob · #11 03-15-2011, 10:44 PM

Great price on a fine guitar. Nicely done!

heavyblues · #12 03-22-2011, 09:18 AM

Ah! Stunning?? :-)

I got the Eastman thinline myself (t146sm). In my 'defense', I didn't take a look at the El Rey's at the time. Oh the thinline is amazing too don't get me wrong, but is there really anything like that El Rey? Honest question. Basic things like that cutaway, two knobs, one pickup, hollow yet solid compactness, and just beautiful. I think Eastman did something terribly right with the basic design of guitars like this.

Did you ever check out the Eastman thinlines by any chance? Your El Rey and my thinline are the only Eastmans I dig personally(mostly for comforts sake, a normal box is just too big for me

), So awesome. Congrats a million!

By the way. I had the stock Kent Armstrong in my thinline and it was quite a big sound. Switched it for a Lollar CC and it is more 'dynamically responsible' now and a lot more to my liking. None of those huge boomy notes anymore. If you are perhaps considering a switch to a CC style, I can always record a sample or something. However, the rumored buzz of the CC pickup is not a joke-you can hear it.

EDIT: Does anybody know if the lack of F-holes has an effect on the El Rey? Just seems odd that they wouldn't have any. I suspect this could change overall character, if not make certain notes sound differently? Just a thought.

Bflat · #13 03-22-2011, 09:55 AM

I also have an Eastman 803 w/ single pickup. My guitar teacher got the thinline but they look identical. I liked the thicker body better (I guess my arms are longer:-)

I also checked out another eastman smaller body model but the neck was bent pretty good so I didn't want to risk the cheap asking price to find out the tech couldn't fix it. The El Rey is a really interesting guitar! Very little feedback and the pickup gives a full, even sound. Thanks for the advice about the upgraded pickup. I won't fool with this guitar (yet).

The no f-holes reduces feedback.

heavyblues · #14 03-22-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflat

I liked the thicker body better (I guess my arms are longer:-)

I didn't take it personally, I swear! lolol :-) Really though, I have to mention that with archtops its the armpit factor that bugs me. Not necessarily the depth either. A combination of depth and height on archtops just ruin the experience for me. Even a thinline can be annoying if the body is too big (up-down, side-to-side). I actually have long lanky arms and legs, but a smaller torso which could be the reason I can't do archtops(due to scoliosis I think-curved spine). I even had an Ibanez AF-95 which is not the biggest hollowbody out there, and I just could not stand holding it for more than twenty minutes.

The tele and strat fit right in the pocket though, and even though the thinline is less comfy, it still beats a full box imo.

Bflat · #15 03-22-2011, 10:26 AM

check this one out: Eastman 165mx thinline

I almost bought this one but it's neck was warped but the size and thickness was comparable to an electric

markerhodes · #16 03-22-2011, 10:28 AM

Beautiful guitar. Hope it sounds as good as it looks!

goshawk · #17 03-22-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyblues

Ah! Stunning?? :-)

I got the Eastman thinline myself (t146sm). In my 'defense', I didn't take a look at the El Rey's at the time. Oh the thinline is amazing too don't get me wrong, but is there really anything like that El Rey? Honest question. Basic things like that cutaway, two knobs, one pickup, hollow yet solid compactness, and just beautiful. I think Eastman did something terribly right with the basic design of guitars like this.

Did you ever check out the Eastman thinlines by any chance? Your El Rey and my thinline are the only Eastmans I dig personally(mostly for comforts sake, a normal box is just too big for me

), So awesome. Congrats a million!

By the way. I had the stock Kent Armstrong in my thinline and it was quite a big sound. Switched it for a Lollar CC and it is more 'dynamically responsible' now and a lot more to my liking. None of those huge boomy notes anymore. If you are perhaps considering a switch to a CC style, I can always record a sample or something. However, the rumored buzz of the CC pickup is not a joke-you can hear it.

EDIT: Does anybody know if the lack of F-holes has an effect on the El Rey? Just seems odd that they wouldn't have any. I suspect this could change overall character, if not make certain notes sound differently? Just a thought.

I demo'd the Eastman thinlines at the sametime I demo'd the El Rey... in fact, my plan was to buy a T145. Then the ER1 came up on eBay with a ridiculously low BIN, so I grabbed it.

There are actually a few guitars with similar designs out there, most notably the Benedetto Bambino.

I think the lack of f-holes probably has two effects on the sound of the guitar. First, it helps eliminate feedback. Second, it probably reduces the acoustic volume. I haven't noticed that it has any direct effect on tone.

BTW, evidently Eastman did make a few versions of the El Rey with f-holes. Here's one on eBay right now:

New Eastman El Rey ERF-SB - Sunburst with HSC - eBay (item 220749307589 end time Apr-03-11 08:20:28 PDT)

jzucker · #18 03-23-2011, 08:48 AM

i also have an el rey and love it. I actually like the jazz sound better than some of their bigger axes.

Soco · #19 03-23-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

i also have an el rey and love it. I actually like the jazz sound better than some of their bigger axes.

I played one briefly and I really liked it.

Klatu · #20 03-24-2011, 07:23 AM

It's a diamond in the rough. It's small and comfortable while capable of producing more of a big archtop sound than any other small semi hollowbody that I've played (probably because it is fully hollow).

If I could only have one guitar, and I weren't able to ever resell the guitar I owned, I might just choose the El Rey because of its comfort, sound, appearance, and versatility.

Elias Graves · #21 03-24-2011, 08:58 AM

There's a local shop who's a big Eastman dealer. Got to try out several and I found the El Rey a very nice guitar at any price.
Congrats, and the color is sweet!

EG

pollysurfs · #22 04-05-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflat

Hi,

I just bought the eastman el rey 1 and it is fantastic! Aside from being a fine art piece it plays and sounds wonderful. The neck is wide and thin making for easy playing. If you are due for an upgraded guitar this is one to check out.

Enjoy.

i was looking into this shape and found the erf, f hole model. 10 days in and im falling...in love, switched out the maybe 11's d'addarios and threw in the only flats i could find locally, 12's fenders. this baby has the jazz at least when im playing chords

still too blusey note playing, i'll get it in time...hopefully...

anyway with these flats acoustically this baby projects, woke up my gf tonight

gotta get more of a jazzy amp, working with a vox valve and its ok but there's gotta be something easier and more natural.

next is gonna be a full on jb with floating pu

Klatu · #23 04-06-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pollysurfs

i was looking into this shape and found the erf, f hole model. 10 days in and im falling...in love, switched out the maybe 11's d'addarios and threw in the only flats i could find locally, 12's fenders. this baby has the jazz at least when im playing chords

still too blusey note playing, i'll get it in time...hopefully...

anyway with these flats acoustically this baby projects, woke up my gf tonight

gotta get more of a jazzy amp, working with a vox valve and its ok but there's gotta be something easier and more natural.

next is gonna be a full on jb with floating pu

Does the F hole model come with a pickup?

Some of the guitars I buy are fun to play for a while, but I become tired of the tone or the feel and they are eventually traded or sold off. On the other hand, my El Rey 2 has been such a joy to play and hear that I think it is destined to become a life long instrument.

One thing to consider when purchasing this instrument is that the neck and fretboard are quite different than the average guitar. The fretboard radius is extremely flat, and the nut width is 1 3/4 with a bit of extra space on either side of the E strings.

The fretboard radius and spacing may only be an issue if switching between guitars.

pollysurfs · #24 04-06-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klatu

Does the F hole model come with a pickup?

yes, a single fitted pu, i dont think they make this model anymore

Steve Z · #25 04-06-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pollysurfs

yes, a single fitted pu, i dont think they make this model anymore

The f-hole model is rather nice looking. I tend to prefer the cutaway version. A search of Google and I could only find two images though...

Cheers,
Steve

docbop · #26 04-06-2011, 12:17 PM

Sure wish I could find a store with one. I like wide necks, but don't like thin necks. Are they like Ibanez super thin?

jzucker · #27 04-06-2011, 01:40 PM

First of all the el rey's are 1.75" wide as are all eastman guitars. Depth wise, they are about the thickness of an Ibanez gb10 which is not super thin. More of a medium C, not quite as large as gibson's 30/60

docbop · #28 04-06-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

First of all the el rey's are 1.75" wide as are all eastman guitars. Depth wise, they are about the thickness of an Ibanez gb10 which is not super thin. More of a medium C, not quite as large as gibson's 30/60

That sounds good to me, so many of the new guitars have these super thin necks and to me they are a pain to play.

jzucker · #29 04-06-2011, 03:43 PM

I know what you mean. I have small hands so I like the japanese hollowbody necks. My heritage guitars have similar necks. Some of the necks on older gibsons feel clubby and uncomfortable to me but if you have big hands you probably would feel better on those.

carlescountry · #30 04-06-2011, 03:59 PM

Very nice guitar. Has anyone played the semihollow El Rey3?