Eastman John Pisano Model Advice/Opinions - Page 2

jzucker · #31 04-08-2011, 12:08 PM

isn't the pisano just a fancy 803?

ooglybong · #32 04-08-2011, 01:35 PM

<< isn't the pisano just a fancy 803? >>

Hmm. Not sure, but it is "Handmade to my specifications" (John Pisano's—not mine!) as per label inside and hand-signed by Mr. Pisano himself. (It doesn't look like a stamped signature.) So I would naturally think that it's got to be more than just some (very, very understated) bling being added to an 803. I could be wrong, though; who knows?

(OK, I just checked Eastman's site. While generally rather similar, the 803 has parallel bracing whilst the Pisano has X-bracing, both on carved tops. [I'm no acoustics engineer, but I'm sure that would make a substantial difference in tone somewhere along the line. And my Pisano's acoustic tone is superb, BTW.] Also, the 803 comes with a standard Kent Armstrong pickup whilst the Pisano has a "Custom" KA. [That sounds like hand-built to me, but then again, I don't absolutely know.]. Then there are Gotoh tuners on the 803 and Schallers on the Pisano; according to some, various tuners' weight and/or design can also make *slight* differences in overall tonality. And lastly, the Pisano's headstock also has an ebony "facing" on the entire rear side—usually added for strength—and here it's not only pretty nice looking but also possibly adding somehow to the overall mass of the headstock and thereby the tone. Like I said, though, I'm no acoustic engineer. All I know is how good it sounds—at least this one, that is.)

FWIW, I haven't tried out too many Eastman archtops. There aren't many to ever be found around these parts, and the two dealers I know of that are even remotely close only stock the acoustic guitar line. (But I'm buggin' 'em.)

I did get a chance to play an 800-level used Eastman archtop about a year ago (at the same store I got the Pisano at), but, as nice as it was (and it was), it really did nothing special for me above and beyond my other archtops. This Pisano absolutely did.

Larry H.

jzucker · #33 04-08-2011, 02:00 PM

so do you think that every guitar is shipped from China to Maryland (where their distribution center is located) and then shipped to Pisano in LA and then back to Maryland and then out to the dealers? Or is it possible that they just send Pisano a batch of labels which he personally signs?

Regarding the parallel vs X bracing, yes that would be a significant difference. The X bracing makes for a more lively acoustic response whereas the Parallel bracing makes for a stiffer top and a quicker sharper attack. The gotoh tuners are superior to the schallers and don't make any noticable difference in tone. The ebony facing is cosmetic.

ooglybong · #34 04-08-2011, 03:47 PM

<< so do you think that every guitar is shipped from China to Maryland (where their distribution center is located) and then shipped to Pisano in LA and then back to Maryland and then out to the dealers? Or is it possible that they just send Pisano a batch of labels which he personally signs? >>

Ha. I dunno. These companies *do* do things in a round-about way sometimes. When my 1985 Fender D'Aguisto went back to the Fender factory for servicing in the late '80s, "Jimmy" was the only one *allowed* to ever touch it. Apparently, according to this Fender clinic/factory rep, Mr. D'Aguisto also was to play each and every D'Aguisto Elite, etc. model as they came in from Japan. ("You wouldn't believe how many he thew into the chipper", the rep told me.)

So whether Mr. Pisano has to get them shipped to him first, or he merely signs a bunch of blank labels, or if he makes an occasional trip out to Maryland, etc., well... I dunno. (IMO, traveling to Maryland seems more appropriate, doesn't it? I do believe that I had heard somewhere along the line that he'd actually inspect and play each one to see if it passed his personal standards. How else could he "personally" endorse each guitar—assuming that he actually does. I'd kinda like to think so. :-) (According to the same Fender rep, Jimmy D'Aguisto allegedly travelled out to CA from Long Island every month or two in those days for his Fender business—including playing each D'A guitar and servicing them. He was "the only one allowed".) Eh, who really knows? Urban guitar legend, right? ;-)

<< Regarding the parallel vs X bracing, yes that would be a significant difference. The X bracing makes for a more lively acoustic response whereas the Parallel bracing makes for a stiffer top and a quicker sharper attack. The gotoh tuners are superior to the schallers and don't make any noticable difference in tone. The ebony facing is cosmetic. >>

So the Pisano would be significantly different than an 803, according to what you know. It certainly has a nice acoustic tone (really the only one of my archtops I'd consider playing unplugged. Which says a lot considering I always prefer plugging in, no matter how softly.) However, interestingly enough, you're saying that Pisano prefers the inferior tuners. Hmm, OK. However, I only partially agree with you on the ebony rear facing being only cosmetic. If a poly finish can make a difference on a guitar, then can't a slightly thicker, weightier headstock also subtly affect tone as well? (I just checked, and it's about 1/16" thickness on the rear ebony layer. It probably doesn't make any significant difference, but I do bet there's something subtle going on in whatever sonic direction, no?)

Whatever, it's a great guitar, and I look forward to playing it. But didn't you used to own one? I can't keep track. ;-)

Larry H.

jzucker · #35 04-08-2011, 03:56 PM

Jimmy didn't do that. Fender couldn't afford to have him do that and eastman can't afford that.

I owned an 803 and sold it. I also owned a pisano for one day but it needed a fret level and so I returned it to bernunzio because they were supposed to have done that before shipping it to me and I didn't feel like messing with it. It sounded pretty good but I only played it for a few minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooglybong

<< so do you think that every guitar is shipped from China to Maryland (where their distribution center is located) and then shipped to Pisano in LA and then back to Maryland and then out to the dealers? Or is it possible that they just send Pisano a batch of labels which he personally signs? >>

Ha. I dunno. These companies *do* do things in a round-about way sometimes. When my 1985 Fender D'Aguisto went back to the Fender factory for servicing in the late '80s, "Jimmy" was the only one *allowed* to ever touch it. Apparently, according to this Fender clinic/factory rep, Mr. D'Aguisto also was to play each and every D'Aguisto Elite, etc. model as they came in from Japan. ("You wouldn't believe how many he thew into the chipper", the rep told me.)

So whether Mr. Pisano has to get them shipped to him first, or he merely signs a bunch of blank labels, or if he makes an occasional trip out to Maryland, etc., well... I dunno. (IMO, traveling to Maryland seems more appropriate, doesn't it? I do believe that I had heard somewhere along the line that he'd actually inspect and play each one to see if it passed his personal standards. How else could he "personally" endorse each guitar—assuming that he actually does. I'd kinda like to think so. :-) (According to the same Fender rep, Jimmy D'Aguisto allegedly travelled out to CA from Long Island every month or two in those days for his Fender business—including playing each D'A guitar and servicing them. He was "the only one allowed".) Eh, who really knows? Urban guitar legend, right? ;-)

<< Regarding the parallel vs X bracing, yes that would be a significant difference. The X bracing makes for a more lively acoustic response whereas the Parallel bracing makes for a stiffer top and a quicker sharper attack. The gotoh tuners are superior to the schallers and don't make any noticable difference in tone. The ebony facing is cosmetic. >>

So the Pisano would be significantly different than an 803, according to what you know. It certainly has a nice acoustic tone (really the only one of my archtops I'd consider playing unplugged. Which says a lot considering I always prefer plugging in, no matter how softly.) However, interestingly enough, you're saying that Pisano prefers the inferior tuners. Hmm, OK. However, I only partially agree with you on the ebony rear facing being only cosmetic. If a poly finish can make a difference on a guitar, then can't a slightly thicker, weightier headstock also subtly affect tone as well? (I just checked, and it's about 1/16" thickness on the rear ebony layer. It probably doesn't make any significant difference, but I do bet there's something subtle going on in whatever sonic direction, no?)

Whatever, it's a great guitar, and I look forward to playing it. But didn't you used to own one? I can't keep track. ;-)

Larry H.

ooglybong · #36 04-08-2011, 04:39 PM

<< Jimmy didn't do that. Fender couldn't afford to have him do that and eastman can't afford that. >>

Well, that's what you say. As I'm sure you know, back in those days, most Fenders were coming out of Japan, and Fender was fighting to regain its past credibility. Having signed D'Aguisto was, in itself, an industry coup of sorts, and so perhaps the idea of having the man himself traveling out to CA every now and then to check on "his" guitars might not be such a fallacy after all. Who does know? Not me.

All I know is that it was three months since my D'Aguisto got shipped back to the factory, and so I cornered a Fender factory rep at a local Robben Ford clinic and asked him what could be keeping the guitar at the factory for so long. "Because Jimmy hasn't gotten to it yet", was his immediate (and very business-like) answer. Being a teacher, I tend to read people pretty well, and he appeared to be dead serious. A bit incredulous myself (and not one said to be gullible in the least) I pushed him a bit more, hence the gory details about D'Aguisto traveling out to CA every now and then, etc. (along with the guitars-into-the-chipper story).

All I know is that when my guitar finally came back to me a few months later still—and after all its several "unfixable" problems (or so said the local dealer. Pickup cutting out over several "repairs", several dead frets, overall tone lacking, pick guard falling off all the time...)—well, it *was* 100% fixed, set up perfectly and playing like a dream. Never had another problem since, either.

I hear what you're saying, and normally, I'd probably agree. But this was a factory rep apparently telling me straight (AFAIK). And again, the results seemingly proved it to me once I got the guitar back. Woulda thunk it, y'know? Of course, you can believe his story yourself, or you can leave it. I prefer to believe that it was true.

As far as Eastman goes, I really couldn't hazard a guess about Pisano actually inspecting each and every guitar, although it's fun thinking it, isn't it? (Really... how many of his higher-end guitars could there be to inspect every once in a while?)

Eh, who ever really knows?

ooglybong · #37 04-08-2011, 04:54 PM

OK, thanks. I will.

wiglebot · #38 03-26-2012, 07:42 PM

I got a used Pisano (maple back) and the action was very high. It had a strange string combo but I bought it anyway. The guitar shop controls the humidity, but when I got it home the frets buzzed when I tried to lower the action just a little. Also I thought the intonation was off on the G string, so I was thinking someone put improper round wounds for the guitar.
1. I put flat wounds 11s (even though I like a 12 #1) and things started sounding better.
2. checked the groves in the nut and bridge and they seemed OK. The Flat wounds fit perfect. Not sure if 13-53s would work.
3. check the new tension on truss rod. The neck curved just right, but was read to give 1/4 or 1/8 turn. And it was pan flat from the 10-12th fret on (perfect)
4. checked the fret radius to bridge (mentioned above). I didn't think it matched, so I eventually set the action to 3/64 in 1st string and 4/64 on 6 string and this seems perfect.

This guitar now plays perfect with low action. I have metal gauge that is 3/64 and it is very tight under the 12th fret (1st string).

Also the Pisano seems to arch more than the other Eastmans' (on the back and front) it starts flat and has a very defined arch -- like a cello. So I would say it is its own thing. I love them. And will always use its design as a reference point if I get a custom archtop.