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I really like my 2022 GB10 but sometimes wish it was lighter (I'm old, you understand). Assuming same or better overall build quality, what's out there? Budget would be <4K and used is fine but must have ebony FB and prefer neck only pickup. Bambino and Joya are cool but beyond my budget. Does Eastman have a 15"-ish carved top that would be <6 lbs? Would a carved top that small even have much of an acoustic voice? Mostly solo chord melody use if it matters.
Again, just thinking........
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06-06-2025 10:32 AM
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The Eastman El Rey has a surprisingly big acoustic voice and is light as a feather. They made a few models, at least one of which had only a neck pickup. Production stopped years ago, but used ones come up fairly often. I suspect that they’re prone to feedback, since carved Eastmans have thin tops. But the small body should minimize this compared to a 16 or 17 (in which I use f hole plugs). IIRC,the early El Reys had sound holes but the later ones didn’t.
Apart from that, the only small hollow or semi hollow archtops I’ve seen for reasonable prices are Chinese or Vietnamese. Reviews on the IYV have been excellent. One forum regular who happens to be a luthier plays and loves another one (Chinese, I think). On arrival, many need setup and some fret leveling / crowning / polishing to play really well, but I’ve been considering one for a while now. I just want to see and play one first, if possible.Last edited by nevershouldhavesoldit; 06-06-2025 at 11:05 AM.
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Hi Skip!
Although both are hollow, neither is meant to be an "acoustic" guitar, but my Holst is < 6lbs and my Forshage < 5lbs, both wonderful for standing-up (or sitting-down) gigs!
Marc
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This Enya is very very light, because it is carbon fibre. $189.99
Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber Guitar
– ENYA MUSIC INC
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The Eastman El Rey is still in production.They just came out last year with it in a beautiful goldburst color.There are many for sale on Reverb.
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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I've had plenty of small body hollow guitars over many years, one of the main problems you need to test "IS IT NECK HEAVY".
You can add weights that will counter balance the neck.
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You are correct. I was thinking of the 7 because that's what I play - and they were D/C 'ed some years ago. The models now run from $2300 to $3700, but they're all 6 strings. The last time they made an El Rey 7, it was considrably less money than any of those. They're still excellent guitars - but at those prices, you can probably get a very nice used Forshage or other luthier built small 6 string archtop for less than the equivalent El Rey bought new. You may even be able to get a basic Forshage Orion new. So there are choices for a 6, but sadly not for a 7. Originally Posted by nyc chaz
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You can occasionally find Eastman T145s and T146s available used. They're both fully hollow carved-top thinlines, very light, and differ in lower bout width. They've been offered in both single and dual pickup versions. I had a single-pickup T145 for a long time, and I regret selling it. They're excellent guitars and excellent value.
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Although considered more of an entry level model from Eastman, their ar503ce has a solid carved top and laminate back and sides, just a Seth Lover neck pickup, ebony fingerboard, 1.72" nut, 25" scale, however, dimensions are 16 3/16" x 2 9/16", which is a bit wider than your requested 15".
That being said, I own both an Ibanez GB10se and the ar503ce and actually find the Eastman a bit more comfortable to play due to it being roughly 1/2" thinner. A quick check of Sweetwater's website has these weighing between 5 lbs. 6 ounces and 5 lbs. 11 ounces. After going back and forth between the two of them, I find the Eastman preferrable acoustically, likely due to the solid carved top and feel that the neck Seth Lover pickup covers my needs soundwise when plugged in. The Eastman is at least a lb. light, maybe a lb. and a half lighter.
Eastman does have a 15" standard hollow body, an ar603ced-15, all solid wood, ebony fingerboard and just a hair under 6 lbs. Dimensions are 15" x 2.75". But......it comes standard with a neck and bridge pickup, both Seth Lover. It's also around $3000 new, where the ar503ce is roughly $1700.
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I play a 15" because I loved my GB10 but I play 7 string now. I had this built for me and I actually prefer this over another guitar (a really fine 7 string but 17") that costs about 60x this one. It's literally my number 1 guitar. I love it. It was custom built for me to my specs, precisely because I couldn't find what I wanted in anybody's catalogue.
It's light as a feather. Solid woods. Mahogany/Maple 3 piece neck, solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard, I have a Duncan Benedetto S7 floater on it. It's a working guitar and it's a serious professional studio/concert instrument.
Yeah, about $1,200.
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So I can relate to anything over 7 lbs at my age 68. And it’s my shoulders that have the hard time at a gig.
For the last few years I’ve been playing some Carvin,Kiesel Alan’s Holdsworth guitars 6 lbs approximately for the headless and 7 lbs for the Fatboy model.
There were two issues for me concerning these models 24 frets and getting a good Clean Fat tone on the neck pickup.
I resolved that with replacing the neck pickups on both guitars with a Dimarzio Tone Zone in one and a Lace Blue/Gold Dually in the Fatboy. That way I don’t have to have the back or second coil picking up any string vibration.
The Headless model is chambered alder with a maple cap and neck.
And the Fatboy is hollow same wood configuration as well They are medium D shaped necks with a flat 20 radius,large frets, 25&1/2” scale length. These guitars have pretty much ruined me from playing bulkier guitars and even my Benedetto Bambino and Elferink,Lol!
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Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno is ~5.5 lbs.
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Frameworks- about 2kg.
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Only matches some of your criteria, but the PRS Hollowbody SE series might fit some of them. Lightweight (6 lbs 2 oz = 2.8 kg), smallish, less than $4k ($1100-$1600, more or less), ebony fb. Because of its shape it hangs well on a strap. Hog or maple top probably laminated, 2xHB or 2xHB + piezo Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
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I'm 71 and can't relate to people feeling a 7 lbs guitar is too heavy, but that's me... However, if you have a Carvin Holdsworth or Holdsworth Fatboy, consider a pair of Seymour Duncan Alan Holdsworth p/u's from their custom shop. Spot-on Holdsworth beyond the Carvin or Keisel p/up stock.
Phil
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Unfortunately, Eastman (like many others) has raised their prices dramatically over the last several months. The 15” 603cd is now $3800. The 503 currently lists for $2500. Originally Posted by shekie
I love my Eastman guitars and am in the process of acquiring a third one. But their current list prices are pitting them against formerly higher priced alternatives both new and used. The 810ce now lists for $4439, which is a 100% increase over about 5 years. You can get a decent L-7C for that kind of money - so Eastman has been pushed into competing solely on quality and resale value. I love my 16” and 17” carved Eastmans. But if they had cost $4k when I bought them, I’d have ordered new ones from Dale Unger instead. Because of price, one would have been his basic laminated model, but I’ve played them and they’re excellent.
I think Eastman quality is outstanding. I love the way they sound and play and look, and mine are keepers. But it remains to be seen if they can hold their own at price parity with new and used luthier built competitors that were 50% more not that long ago. Used Eastman prices have not yet risen along with new ones, and that’s also a strong consideration for many (if not most) buyers.
I think that most buyers of new Eastman archtops when their best models were under $3k new considered them a step toward a “better” one. Now that their top archtops have topped $5k, they’ll have to be thought of as top tier and considered good enough to keep (especially if they continue to sell for so much less used). It will be interesting to see how they do.
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I am really enjoying the Godin 5th Avenue TL (thinline) guitar with the (2) Godin P90 style pickups. Weight is close to 5 lbs.
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Agree with everything here. I spoke with a large Eastman dealer just a few days ago in pursuit of an all acoustic archtop before they become unobtanium and/or financially out of reach for me, and was told in July prices are going up across the board 35%, on top of a 10% increase from last year.
A feather light Eastman parlor I had years ago was one of the finest sounding little flat tops I've ever played and unlike vintage or boutique, I was comfortable bringing it camping, or a day on the water. Not sure that stays true if they get into boutique territory.
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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It might be noted that Yunzhi was started from the top luthiers from the Eastman shop making out on their own. They have managed to keep their prices to roughly 1.2K.
I've searched for a 7 string 15" Eastman for years. One came up about 9 months ago and it was gone before I could even release the funds from my bank.
Eastman. Love 'em. I happen to and they're going to have their own legacy, but yes, they're not as easy to get as they once were.
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My Conti Entrada is much lighter than my GB 10, and has one neck humbucker. Because you buy directly from Mr Conti, the lower price reflects no middleman involved. The fit, finish and playability are similar to the couple of Eastmans I tried out a few years ago, at half the price. Lots of sound samples on the website. Made in Korea, not further specified as to which factory.
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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