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Its not a botique guitar but its more guitar than I need.
This one is a 2009 810ce. I wanted a full bodied model with a cutaway. It been about 30 years or more since I bought a guitar so I figure I was due.
This came strung with old TI strings...I think they were 14s...maybe heavier. Even after lowering the action I was biting off more than I could chew without a fight. I strung it up with Some TI Swing 13 and now I can manage it. I still might pull back to 12's but they dont sound quite as good (of course fighting an instrument probably sounds worse). Time will tell.
I will probably take the pickup off my Aria that I put on a few months back (Armstrong P90 single coil tapped floater) and install it. I want to give this one a chance first but I get the initial impression that I get from all humbuckers....a general lack of excitement. I dont gig so I dont need to worry about loud volume and hum.
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10-03-2025 10:53 AM
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I had one for a while, great guitar! Just too big for me. Strings, it depends on the sound you want. I've always thought that a slightly lighter gauge has more acoustic "air," or "ring." Others don't agree with me.
Originally Posted by Sigmund451
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Thanks I think there would be a lot of uses for smaller guitars but I just sit at home and play. For that use I dont find much difference between smaller and larger guitars. Im sure playing out would be a totally different set of variables.
With strings Im pretty pleased with both 12 and 13s.
Im still not convinced flatwourns are my final destination but its what Im trying for a while.
My old non cutaway archtop has rounds on it so I can switch up when I get the itch.
Im putting in time but not the kind to make it easier to handle anything heavier.
I make sax mouthpieces and strings and strength are a lot like wind players and reeds. Everyone hears things just a bit different in their head.
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Congratulations! I love my 810CE, which has carried JS113s for 3 to 4 years now. I’ve tried 112s on it, and there are no clearly audible differences to my ears. But I like the way the 113s feel and respond. For example, finger vibrato is a bit less dramatic and blues-like with the 13s, which I prefer for jazz and general playing on my 16” and 17” carved Eastmans. Originally Posted by Sigmund451
I posted a blinded comparison of JS112s and 113s on my laminated 16” about 3 years ago after the 112s had been on it for a year. I couldn’t hear a difference in electric tone between them, and only half of the 30+ poll participants correctly identified which was which. This suggests that their choices were probably random guesses and that there is no clear difference between the two.
FWIW, after this recorded comparison, I also realized that I didn’t need to replace the year old wound strings yet. I change the E1 and B every 3 to 4 months. But I’m now well into year 2 for the wound JS sets on all of my 16” and 17” archtops, and they’re still fine. I won’t replace them until I hear or feel deterioration.
I use 112s on my 14” carved archtop because it’s my go-to for most gigs and gets used for blues, jazz, funk, and general playing.
A new 810CE now lists for $4439, which pits it against some very highly regarded guitars from independents and smaller production shops. Given the quality, tone, designs, materials, construction, low production volume, and the hand work in manufacturing, I consider it a boutique instrument.
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That's a nice looking guitar. I just got a 610CS which appears to be the same size but mine is non-cutaway. Internal K&K Pickup, which is... functional. I like the guitar though.
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A Best Buy in a 17” Archtop for sure! I had one,and only sold it to fund an Elferink Tonemaster. I ended up changing the original pickup out to a real Kent Armstrong 12 pole peice floater,which helped the amplified tone quite a bit.
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I actually prefer a lighter set of strings on my archtops. I like the TI swing 11's and then I bump up the B & E to a 16 & 12 or a 17 & 13. I prefer the lighter gauge on the bottom strings so it's not so bassy.
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Once I decide on a string set I am definitely considering going with one step lighter and replacing the E and B with a heavier set for that reason (heavy low end sounds). Until then I will buy them as packaged and continue to assess what I want. I do find my self screwing down the pole pieces on the bass. For now that works.
Im going to spend the afternoon playing with amp settings. I want to give the pickup a chance but I cant seem to warm up to humbuckers. For all I know it might be my hearing damage that finds favor in single coil separation. I suppose since Im playing for me thats all that really matters. The good thing is it only costs time to change out the pickup since I already own a nice single floater.
My playing isnt going to impress anyone but I would like to get the sound in my head from a guitar since customizing sound for players (sax players) is what Ive done for the past quarter century (see Phil-Tone.com if you are curious) ...so I do know sound...Im just not a great player. That said, in the grand scheme of things it doesnt really matter as long as you enjoy making music.
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You can buy singles for about $1 each. I get them from StringsbyMail. I usually just get the D'Addario plain singles no matter what brand set I decide to buy. If you like roundwound, the StringJoy Broadways are very nice.
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Very nice
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I use Rogue singles from MF. They’re $2.99 / dozen from 0.008 to 0.022. I’ve never gotten a bad one, and they’re the same as any other plain steel strings I’ve ever used. Originally Posted by Freddels
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I've been doing the same thing for years.People that pay $2 to $4 to replace their B and E are just wasting their money.Those strings from MF feel and sound just as good. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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That is what I gathered from looking at this forum. Im sure not paying for TI single strings!
First off they are hard to find and Im not paying their price.
The places listed so far are in the US but I can still source single strings for a good price in the EU rather than changing out a 20 dollar set of strings.
Im feeling more and more at home on this guitar. I like the 25 Scale. Its a lot like a Gibson but a tad less crowded and a lot more reach friendly than my 25.5 which I will eventually sell. With 13s it just feels rigid and if I wander up to the top of the neck its more reach than I prefer.
Ive been experimenting but I still think that stock pickup (kent Korea from 2009) is gonna go. So far to make it fat on the high string I have to dial it back and kill tonal separation. If I get the tonal separation I want, I tend to end up with a twangy high e....not terrible but just a little which Im not crazy about. My kent handwound sounds like a dream on my cheaper asian guitar. I have a feeling it will pull things together on the Eastman. I will still give it more time.
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Congrats! I absolutely love my 2017 805ce. When I bought it the stock Armstrong pickup was in the case as the previous owner had replaced it with a Lollar Johnny Smith. For my taste, that one is perfect into my Deluxe Reverb. It's brighter and more distinct than a regular humbucker but still fatter than a single coil. I wish I had heard the stock pup on the same guitar for comparison but didn't want to go to the trouble to swap it back in. I have TI Jazz 12's on it and expect to stick with that gauge.
At any rate, the 810 should be a great guitar. My Eastman is my favorite.
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I put on the single coil Kent armstrong and mounted the switch under the pickguard where the tone and volume live. I didnt want to drill it.
Ive been working some tiny bugs out of this guitar as it was used. Ive been chasing an issue and made a few adjustments. I finally found the issue (It should have been my first guess). I was getting some really poor sustain on a few bass notes. Turns out that the fret leveling job (pretty fresh frets) was excellet. That said, the crowning near the edges was lacking. Eastmans spread the strings a hair more than some so maybe thats why it was missed...that or someone in too much of a hurry. I touched those up and it rings out now. Sometime I will yank off the strings and check all of them. Im not up to another project right now.
I also switched back to roundwounds. I will play these for a while. I have to say I like the sound better. I just will need to work on preventing squeaks as much as possible. Next try might be the TI Bebops that some say are kind of in halfwound territory.
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