Another nice 175 alternative

[Doctor Jeff]

Came across this the other day…Eastman AR372-CE P90. It’s on Eastman’s website, but not on Sweetwater so far. (On Reverb tho at $1359.)

AR372CE-P90 - Eastman Guitars

Looks more than decent. I’m not a huge fan of that antique violin finish—I think when this first showed up on my Facebook feed it was a traditional burst. They’d be crazy not to offer them in trad burst and natural.

Anyway, there are some interesting possibilities in hollow laminates with a cutaway—this guitar, the AR372-CE classic, the new Ibanez Pat Metheny guitar, and of course there’s always the Godin Kingpin 2 (a steal at $766) and Gretsch offerings.

I won’t part with my ES-175 or Gretsch 6117 Double Anni reissue, but if I didn’t have them, any of the above would be worth considering.

[Gitterbug]

Looks like Eastman is seriously back in the race with archtops. Being all maple, the 372s I've tried are clearly brighter than ES175s. What the P-90s bring to the party, no idea.

[Herbie]

Looks like Eastman is seriously back in the race with archtops. Being all maple, the 372s I've tried are clearly brighter than ES175s. What the P-90s bring to the party, no idea.

More brightness?

(Can be tamed with 300K pots, of course.)

[lawson-stone]

More brightness?

(Can be tamed with 300K pots, of course.)

What would be the point of buying a guitar with bright pickups only then to "tame" them by switching the pots? I buy what I buy because of the distinct features, not in order to mitigate or minimize the features.

[Herbie]

What would be the point of buying a guitar with bright pickups only then to "tame" them by switching the pots? I buy what I buy because of the distinct features, not in order to mitigate or minimize the features.

I agree. That was why I am so glad that my ES-175 Reissue 1954 with P90s had the 300K pots ready when I bought it.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

What would be the point of buying a guitar with bright pickups only then to "tame" them by switching the pots? I buy what I buy because of the distinct features, not in order to mitigate or minimize the features.

By the same token, most of us have loved everything about a particular guitar except the amplified tone. If I love the look, feel, neck, size, shape etc but want a bit less brightness, I can swap pickups, caps etc.. Some love the look of P-90s but want a PAF sound or a quieter pickup. So they install one of many HBs that look and/or sound like P90s.

Waiting for the perfect guitar is a lot like waiting for the perfect mate - the hours are long and the pickin's are slim. At least on a guitar you can change components.....

[vinnyv1k]

I like the Eastman 480 John Pisano model.