Eastman AR405 P90 Review Video

**Rob MacKillop** · 04-22-2026, 02:45 AM

This is the first review video I’ve seen. I wasn’t overly impressed, and think his comments are fair, but it needed better recording gear and some TI flats. I hope they bring out an 800-series version. As things stand, it pales compared to the Gibson ES 125, but the price is quite low, and that will make it attractive to many, maybe with a change of pickup and strings.

**Sigmund451** · 04-22-2026, 05:25 AM

Like a lot of these videos the room and recording quality really makes it a guess as to how it sounds. Id assume that Eastman skimps a little on their pickups in these lower priced models. They used to skimp on all their electronics. However, they kicked it up a notch or more with the upper end guitars. The first thing I did on my older 810 was to yank the pickup. It was ok but not at all interesting. Id go into this latested model with the willingness to change out their pickup. I agree with him that the current 125 prices are pretty crazy....but then everything is a bit nuts these days. Its nice that they bind the fretboard...unlike the original 125s

**garybaldy** · 04-22-2026, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

This is the first review video I’ve seen. I wasn’t overly impressed, and think his comments are fair, but it needed better recording gear and some TI flats. I hope they bring out an 800-series version. As things stand, it pales compared to the Gibson ES 125, but the price is quite low, and that will make it attractive to many, maybe with a change of pickup and strings.

Andy is a great guitarist. I had the pleasure to do a gig with him once a few years ago but he's never asked me again!

**Rob MacKillop** · 04-22-2026, 06:44 AM

You stole the limelight from him, Gary

**garybaldy** · 04-22-2026, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

You stole the limelight from him, Gary

Nice of you to say Rob but I don't think so!!

**AllanAllen** · 04-22-2026, 09:21 AM

Seems pretty cool to me.

**Cunamara** · 04-22-2026, 10:39 AM

In the video he says it's a Tonerider dogear P90, but Tonerider doesn't have a dogear P90 on their website. A one-off? I have heard of them before but know nothing about them.

**John A.** · 04-22-2026, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by garybaldy

Andy is a great guitarist. I had the pleasure to do a gig with him once a few years ago but he's never asked me again!

I played one of these (granted, an earlier version) side by side with an es-125 and a Godin Kingpin a ways back. In terms of build quality and general nice-ness, my recollection was that Eastman was a cut above everything in that niche (except maybe a Guild Savoy), but it has the typical Eastman brightness that makes it sound like something other than a Gibson archtop. Not a bad thing if that's what you're into. But since so many people (including me at the time) are chasing the idea of a poor man's ES-175 (which is what the 125 was until they became collectible), it doesn't quite fit the bill. The Godin comes much closer and is IMO the best deal in archtop-land.

**John A.** · 04-22-2026, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

In the video he says it's a Tonerider dogear P90, but Tonerider doesn't have a dogear P90 on their website. A one-off? I have heard of them before but know nothing about them.

Dog ears and soap bars are the same thing with different covers. Maybe Eastman sourced the cover separately from the actual pickup.

**garybaldy** · 04-22-2026, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

In the video he says it's a Tonerider dogear P90, but Tonerider doesn't have a dogear P90 on their website. A one-off? I have heard of them before but know nothing about them.

I have Tonerider A4 HBs in one Fenix LPC copy and a Generator HB (like a SD JB) in another. They are nice pickups.