Eastman AR403

**monkmiles** · 11-03-2012, 03:17 PM

Thanks all! Yes, I'm a sucker for this finish from Eastman. Yes, Tom, I am obviously a copy cat and our guitars will meet each other soon!

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Congrats on your Eastman NGD!!! So you sold the Ibanez and bought the 403. I thought you were considering a Heritage 575 as a replacement?

Thanks! Yes to all the above. An AR371 was also in the running. Actually it started with the AR371. Then I thought I'd put together more $ and go with a used H575. In the end the AR403 seemed the best fit for me (single pickup, laminate top, affordable new, looks I loved, etc). I might consider trying a Seth Lover pickup in it.

Unfortunately it's not yet in my hands. It should be within a week after they set it up and send it out.

Originally Posted by calgarc

i have hacked their servers and rerouted the shipping over to my place

AHHHHHH!

**Spook410** · 11-03-2012, 03:21 PM

The lines on these are very elegant. Are you going to swap the pup?

**monkmiles** · 11-03-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Spook410

The lines on these are very elegant. Are you going to swap the pup?

Probably, considering a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover.

**Retroman1969** · 11-03-2012, 10:23 PM

Congrats! Those are fantastic. Everything you need, nothing you don't, in a nice light and resonant package. I had actually thought about getting a second Eastman laminate Archie to experiment with different pups, etc, on.

**pingu** · 11-04-2012, 09:01 AM

I like the look of those .........
have they got as much bass as the 175 copy ?

Its a slightly thinner body I think

**monkmiles** · 11-09-2012, 09:52 PM

My AR403 came in yesterday. I played it last night and tonight. Love it.

They set it up with flatwound 12s by my request. It plays really nice. I have played fellow member's Tom Karol's AR403, so I knew what I was getting into. I've also previously owned an AR805CE and an El Rey II. For the past 4-5 years my Ibanez AK105SM had been my jazz guitar though. So that's my immediate reference as comparison.

First thing I notice is it's light weight. Feels and plays like a more true hollow body, even though it's a tiny smidge shallower in depth than my AK105. It's definitely thinner finished, which maybe let's the wood vibrate a smidge more perhaps. Finish is a tad lighter than it appears in the pictures, but it looks just as beautiful. Love the matching rosewood pickguard and tailpiece - prefer this look over the AR371. This guitar definitely feels more like an acoustic instrument than my AK105SM. Yet it's a laminate top, so feedback shouldn't be an issue typically. I feel like the stock pickup is fairly neutral or transparent. The neck is definitely a bit wider for me and I think I'm going to like that. Though it will take a short time to get used to. Definitely a more woody tone than the AK105SM.

Fretwork is clean, I haven't noticed any frets edges needing smoothing (not sure how in depth the setup by Bernunzio was). My only complaint is the tight fit of the case. The case itself is nice, but I have to almost squeeze the guitar in. I have to ask Tom if his is like that or maybe ask Bernunzio. Not a big deal at all though and it actually makes me feel like the guitar is really safe and sound in the case.

I have to say what an enjoyable experience it was buying from Bernunzio Music. I'd never dealt with them before and have bought a few new guitars from dealers online in the past. This was my best experience so far. The gentleman I worked with over the phone was very friendly, listened to my questions, etc. Their website is up to date and has high quality, high resolution, professional pictures. Although mine still does say "sale pending"!

**Tom Karol** · 11-09-2012, 11:35 PM

WooHoo! Glad you like it! We'll have to make comparisons of the guitars (and cases) real soon! According the the COA, mine was finished on 11/3/11 and I first played it only 22 days later - I bought it less than 2 months after that - so that may have had something to do with it needing a bit of post-purchase setup work. But it's been quite stable since then. One thing I'm pretty sure of: you'll get addicted to that 1.75" nut real quick - trust me!

**Retroman1969** · 11-10-2012, 06:29 AM

Agreed, I feel cramped on anything less than 1.75" myself these days.
I'm not surprised you dig how it feels and plays.

The 403s must come with the same case that some of the solid-topped Eastmans come with. The interior padding is so thick you almost need a rubber mallet to get the guitar in there.

**Tom Karol** · 11-10-2012, 09:03 AM

My case is a flat-topped hardshell case identical to one from Epiphone that sells for $89. It's snug but not tight, but it seems deeper than necessary. However, the guitar does not move around in it, and the extra depth gives it a deeper string compartment plus room for the strap wrapped in a scarf on top of the body. I prefer it to the fiberglass cello-style cases that come with the more expensive Eastman models.

**Retroman1969** · 11-10-2012, 10:36 AM

Okay, that sounds like the same one my 371 came with.
The 605s and 805s appear to come with an archtopped tolex case with really thick grey padding inside. Takes a bit of work to get the guitar down in there. That's what I thought of when hallpass mentioned the slight difficulty with the case fit.

**pingu** · 11-10-2012, 10:45 AM

Theres a sunburst one now I see

Anyone know what PU these laminate Eastmans come with ?

**Retroman1969** · 11-10-2012, 01:49 PM

This one was just pulled out of mine...

Actually a decent pickup, but a little weak and sterile.

**bluefonia** · 11-10-2012, 02:07 PM

My only complaint is the tight fit of the case. The case itself is nice, but I have to almost squeeze the guitar in.

The case for my AR403 is also very tight, - too tight I think. But that´s the only complaint I could possible have about this guitar. I´ve had mine for 9 months now and no issues what so ever.
I gave the 403 a setup myself to suit my personal preferences and since then I have only adjusted the neck a bit to compensate for different wetherconditions related to the seasons.
I replaced the pu for a VV HCC, but that's just a personal preference.

So congartulations, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy the guitar.

**2bornot2bop** · 11-10-2012, 04:05 PM

to Eastman cases:

yes, they're generally snug.

What works for me is to hold the neck at the joint with one hand while guiding the guitar into the case at the tailpiece first, at an angle, and only when the butt is partially in does the guitar go in without an issue...trying to shove it down vertically, even on all sides, is the only time I've had issues getting it in...give it a try...*ss first, *oobs 2nd. Okay, guess that emphasizes where my mind is at.

**Retroman1969** · 11-10-2012, 07:55 PM

Hey hallpass,
I replaced the pup with a SD Phat Cat P-90.
I'm going to give a rundown of that in another thread here in a day or so when I get a free moment.

**monkmiles** · 11-18-2012, 04:34 PM

Well, I have to say I am loving the AR403.

For a laminate guitar, it's acoustic qualities are good. Significantly better than my old Artcore. In fact, I can now see myself practicing acoustically with it, which I did not enjoy with my old Artcore. In fact, my 2.5yr old daughter enjoyed it as much as my solid cedar top Seagull and had a special request of Old MacDonald Had A Farm. Playing time is scarce some weeks, so I'll take what I can get at home!

Seriously though, the tone of the AR403 is a more open, woody, acoustic tone than I had. Really liking that. It's not to be confused with a bigger bodied, solid top archtop, but it's what I was looking for. I love that Jim Hall tone on his Trio album, the one he does Stompin' at the Savoy on for example. I expect Jim was using his 175 on that, but I don't know. Anyhow, it reminds me of that tone...though not saying it nails that, but it's much more in that neighborhood than I was previously getting. The pickup is growing on me...I initially thought I was certainly going to replace it, now I might not, we'll see. It's sounding great into both my Bandmaster 2x10 combo and my new AI Clarus 1 Raezer's Edge 1x10 cab (which is a topic for another thread).

Here's a few quick pics using my cellphone camera. The ones from Bernunzio are far better quality and are of the actual guitar.

**4mal** · 11-19-2012, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by hallpass

Probably, considering a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover.

You might want to chat with Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars. I have several of his pickups and like them a lot. You can get fully custom for about the price of off the shelf... His stuff seems like it should be delivered in a jewelry box, it's that beatiful and they sound fantastic...

**monkmiles** · 11-19-2012, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by 4mal

You might want to chat with Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars. I have several of his pickups and like them a lot. You can get fully custom for about the price of off the shelf... His stuff seems like it should be delivered in a jewelry box, it's that beatiful and they sound fantastic...

The pickup is growing on me...I initially thought I was certainly going to replace it, now I might not, we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look him up.

**4mal** · 11-19-2012, 11:55 AM

I'm in a similar place with my 810. I'm pretty sure the pickup can be improved. I'm not sure how... Mine has treble and depth it could be more complex in the mids. Maybe a tad softer. Alnico III and a slight underwind ? Something coil tapped would be sweet with an under wind and over wind tap - no way I'm wiring anything like that under the pickguard though... On the 403, a pull pot would accomplish that easily. That could be pretty cool, kind of a PAF setting in the normal, pull up for a bit more clarity... Options, life's all about options...

Truth is that I'm enjoying the guitar so much that it would be difficult for me to put it down long enough for the swap. Playing guitars is way more enjoyable then working on them IMO...

I pinged Pete to see what he's done in the past and will report back if I take the plunge. [email protected] is the email for him.

**benjazzman82** · 11-21-2012, 08:56 AM

Hers is my Ar403CE in use. (...not in the pics but it gives you an idea of stock PUP sound through a roland cube 40XL.)...

**Klatu** · 11-21-2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by benjazzman82

Hers is my Ar403CE in use. (...not in the pics but it gives you an idea of stock PUP sound through a roland cube 40XL.)...

The tone seems bouncier and more acoustic than a typical 175 style box. I like it.

As I posted in your other thread, i am very impressed by your playing. There is an fluid and happy tinge to your playing which makes for an enjoyable listening experience. Please post clips more often.

**qualizon** · 12-21-2013, 04:24 PM

Nice demo Tom, I'm a beginner looking to get an archtop also, how do you like your 403 after owning it for close to 2 years?

**Tom Karol** · 12-21-2013, 04:34 PM

Thanks! I still love the 403. HallPass got one after trying mine. Check out Eastman's 371 as well. Incredible values!

**qualizon** · 12-21-2013, 04:52 PM

I saw someone selling a custom modified 403 with an additional bridge pickup, and I'm on the edge of pulling the trigger.

Is the 403 slightly better than the 371?

Did you do any mod on the 403 other than adjusting the pup?

**monkmiles** · 12-21-2013, 06:01 PM

I can't speak as to the comparison of the 403 and 371... But I can say I've owned my 403 over a year now and still absolutely love it. Totally cured my jazz guitar GAS. I personally replaced the electronics but it's certainly not a must.