Tried an Eastman AR403CE-SB - Liked it alot!

**Tom Karol** · 11-25-2011, 09:47 PM

Just got back from visiting relatives in Maine for Thanksgiving. Stopped by Buckdancer's Choice in Portland, as I often do, on the way home. I'm in the market for an affordable full hollow electric archtop to go along with my Tele-type and 335-type. They're an Eastman dealer. OK, so:

They had a new AR403CE. List is $950; price with case was $715. All maple laminate. Single set in humbucker. Very nice build quality and very pretty - extremely classy look and feel for this price range. Body size felt perfect - 16" wide by 2 9/16" deep. Fairly light and well balanced too. 25" scale and 1.75" nut width was great for chord solo styles. It had wimpy strings on it (11's maybe). Acoustically, it was just OK - good enough for practicing without an amp without feeling deprived - but electrically though a Princeton Reverb Reissue it was very nice.

I'd love to compare it to an AR503CE which has a carved spruce top (still maple laminate sides and back) and an ebony board and bridge instead of rosewood. Lists for 300 more. They didn't have one.

They did have an AR605CE. Lists for $1895. I think they had it tagged at $1250 - or maybe $1295. It's got a carved spruce top and carved mahoghany sides and back. It's 16 x 3 1/4, and comes with a floater, but I didn't try it with an amp. It sounded better acoustically, but not that much better, and the deeper body was not nearly as comfortable. Nice, but not the one for me.

The also had a T184MX (14" - same as a 339). Too small; I'd go for the T185MX (15") if I became an Eastman fanatic and decided to replace my (16") 335 type.

Oh, and Mr. B., they also had a Hofner VeryThin - don't know what vintage. I didn't try it, but they weren't kidding when they named it! It looked like it was about an inch deep!

**Tom Karol** · 11-26-2011, 09:09 AM

Forgot to mention - they had a couple of El Reys too. Didn't try them, because that size wasn't my focus, but I probably should have based on all the positive feelings expressed about them around here. Anyway, after sleeping on it, I think the 403 will fit my needs and budget better than anything I've considered so far.

I should mention that I'd immediately spend $40 on smoothing out the fret ends and having the nut cut perfectly for my ultimate choice of strings. And of course, replacing the pickup is always an option down the road.

**Tom Karol** · 11-26-2011, 09:30 AM

One last thing (for now): This particular 403 had large plain pearl-like block inlays on the fingerboard as fret markers. (The picture of it on the Eastman Website just shows dot markers.) Looked a bit gaudy, actually, but I think I could get past it; that sort of thing does seem to impress the general public!

**rowbear39** · 11-26-2011, 04:08 PM

I will soon have an Eastman T185mx--got it from a friend--I used to play the gibson 335s alot and liked them, but the necks were too narrow--like the 1 3/4 nut width on this better--any other comments about Eastmans?--they look very top quality for the money--just watched a documantary on how the company was formed---Eastman Strings, and they made mostly concert violins, cellos, etc.--they got some ideas from Bennedetto and started on the arch tops--top quality woods, and top notch craftsmen making them--a third of the price for an US model of equality, but thats just my humble opinion--would like to hear from others about them--thanks Bob

**Tom Karol** · 11-27-2011, 08:50 AM

I've given it some more thought - actually I've thought of little else! Though I've never played one, spec-wise I think of the AR403CE as a poor man's Sadowsky Jim Hall. At least that's the way I'm thinking of it in order to rationalize getting it!

**dmorash** · 11-27-2011, 01:32 PM

Sounds like a lot of guitar for the bucks.

**Tom Karol** · 11-27-2011, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by dmorash

Sounds like a lot of guitar for the bucks.

Yes, that's it. Obviously not heirloom quality, but seems like an excellent value. This was my first foray into Eastman territory, and I was impressed at what you get for what you pay.

**Soco** · 11-30-2011, 01:49 AM

Sounds like you had a nice day.I really like the Eastmans I have tried.

**Tom Karol** · 11-30-2011, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Soco

Sounds like you had a nice day.

It gets better: It's just in a little non-descript strip mall, but there's a great drum shop (for my son) 3 doors down in one direction and a Dollar Store (for my wife) 3 doors down in the other direction.

**Tom Karol** · 01-06-2012, 03:31 PM

Joyful update: After finally selling the requisite amount of stuff, I just called the store and put a deposit down on it - I'm going up to get it on the 16th, so Martin Luther King day will be a special holiday for me this year!

**monkmiles** · 01-06-2012, 08:15 PM

Nice, enjoy it! Seems like a great guitar. I used to have an 895ce and an El Rey...nice guitars, but I think Id prefer the AR403ce or AR371.

**Retroman1969** · 01-06-2012, 08:31 PM

Congrats,
I look forward to a review and pics when you get it.
I picked up the AR371 and love it, especially for the price. I was curious about the 403 as well, but none have hit shops around here yet.

**Tom Karol** · 01-07-2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

Congrats,
I look forward to a review and pics when you get it.
I picked up the AR371 and love it, especially for the price. I was curious about the 403 as well, but none have hit shops around here yet.

Your AR371 looks beautiful! I like the slightly longer scale and the thinner depth of the 403. Of the 371, 403, and 503 the one I'm getting is the only one I've found to be available within reasonable proximity. I wasn't even aware that these models existed when I happened onto this one! I'm sure glad it was still unsold when I was able to sell the gear to finance its acquisition. Pics and a review will definitely be forthcoming.

**Retroman1969** · 01-07-2012, 03:20 PM

Thanks Tom,
Yeah, they're just trickling in at the moment. I would like to have tried the 403 and 503 myself had they been available here.

**Jazzman301** · 01-08-2012, 11:53 PM

Hey Tom where in Maine are you buying this? Lou over at Guitarsnjazz quoted me a rather higher price than $700 and change.

Great looking instruments.

'Mike

**Tom Karol** · 01-09-2012, 09:42 AM

It's a store called, "Buckdancer's Choice," one street off Congress Street in Portland. They have a number of Eastmans there (see the first few posts in this thread). I didn't haggle with them: they said the AR403 lists for $950 and they sell it with case for $715 plus tax. One week and counting!

**Jazzman301** · 01-09-2012, 10:57 AM

Thanks so much. I have had good experience with Lou and his prices have always been fair. I am surprised he is about $200 more than the competition.

'Mike
ps have to post a YT video of this thing when you get it!