Eastman vs. Epiphone 175

[rsh]

I cannot wait for my NGD!!! ETA is Monday or Tuesday. I'm an English teacher and Football coach at a local high school, so I foresee a "sick" day in my future....

[Frank67]

The only Epi I have been in touch for awhile,was a Joe Pass Emperor II....
the most horrible guitar I have ever met,in fact it's gone,into the trashbin literally,in a rage attack...and do not regret it at all
I kept only for a month maybe,and everyday it was getting worse,someone said tha Epi 175 has the "tone"...??
Wich one? ? cause the one from the JP was a joke.....let alone the hardware ,electrics etc..etc...

Sorry to hear that! My Epi Joe Pass is a joy to play after a few mods. I replaced the nut with a bone nut, put an ABR 1 bridge in that I had left and really good PAFs (and replaced the pickguard). It plays nice, looks nice and sounds pretty much as good as much pricier guitars.

I also had an Epi ES 175 for a while and put classic 57s in. It was a fine guitar, played ok and also sounded ok. But after getting a Gibson ES 175 I realized that there is such a big difference that I did not consider it worthwhile to further try modding the Epi. The Gibson is in another league (of course that it is expected at 5-10 times the price).

I have no experience with Eastman guitars.

[peterpanico]

Sorry to hear that! My Epi Joe Pass is a joy to play after a few mods. I replaced the nut with a bone nut, put an ABR 1 bridge in that I had left and really good PAFs (and replaced the pickguard). It plays nice, looks nice and sounds pretty much as good as much pricier guitars.

Yes me too,the day I got it,I was after an AF125 really,but the stock was gone so tried that in a rush not really convinced 100% ( my fault...!)
I knew the 125,having played from a friend of mine,again I did not expect the Epi to be a Gibson,I had a couple in the past,and own a CS 336 as of now,but neither that cheap.....
My friend to be honest,If I had to replace nut,bridge,Pups and pickguard.....well I'd be rather after another guitar,really....a poor guitar overall,even with better pickups,it's still a poor guitar in my opinion.
This is more true to me,expecially when we talk about semis and full Hollows,less with a solid body,and honestly all the Epis I have been in touch with,be them LPs or Casinos,I did not felt worth the mention,but again it is a personal fact,I tried a Washburn J6,and although it's in the same league than the Epi,it looked to me way better than the JP,same I can say with the AF 105 and 125 i tried,they were better to me.

[Doctor Jeff]

To each his own, as they say. I have an Epi Joe Pass that I really love. I did replace the pickups, electronics and tuners, but I find the feel of the neck and playability to be superb. And I say this after having a Gibson ES-175 I never really bonded with.

The Epi 175, which I think is no longer being made, seems like an ok guitar, though I'd immediately plan on a few upgrades... However, it does not have the bling of the JP, with its gold appointments and more detailed binding.

Re' the Eastman, I am jealous of folks who live in other parts of the country and have access to try all these different guitars (also Washburn, Loar, etc.). I have visited dozens of guitar places in the Midwest and have rarely seen an Eastman. A dealer in Council Bluffs IA recently started getting quite a few Heritages which have piqued my interest, but if I ever got an Eastman it would probably be sight unseen.

[rsh]

Hey Jeff,

I bought mine unseen! Very hard to find around here as well. There is one dealer in town who has them occasionally, but did not have the 371.

I should have mine by tomorrow. I will post pics ASAP.