Eastman AR403

[Melodic Dreamer]

:Another update:

Not that anyone here probably cares, but after sending my guitar back due to a pretty bad blemish, I finally received my new one yesterday. Shes plays great, sounds great and is definitely a beauty.
Overall I'm really happy with her.

Thanx Eastman

[DanielleOM]

I haven't tried the TI Bebop rounds myself. But as far as stringing the TI Swings up, it is a little tricky getting the silk wrapping through the tailpiece slots. Just takes a little jiggling to work them through and a smidge of patience. The good thing is I'm finding these strings last me approximately 6 months.

Although I have made this comment before in other threads, I thought it appropriate to add it here. With that Eastman tailpiece you do not have to pull the wrapped twisted wire through the tailpiece. To start the process, push the ball up so that the ball is inside the tailpiece and the wrapping is outside of the tailpiece. You then can slide the ball into position while the wrapping is outside of the tailpiece. It's a lot easier than trying to pull the wrapping through.

[DanielleOM]

Mine is X-braced too, and the thing about it is that the darn thing sounds good unplugged too! I'm playing with the idea to sell it and get a 503, but every time I pick it up and play it, I wonder if I'll ever get that tone out of the 503. Although I've customized mine a bit. The tone on your is exactly what you want on an archtop, sounds like a $6,000 guitar....

Cheers,
Arnie.

I realize this is an old posting but this photo caught my attention. I understand this is an early Eastman AR403CE. I gather it's an early one based on the color and tuners. Was it modified? I have not seen a tailpiece like that on an Eastman before.

[arnie65]

Yes, the tailpiece was replaced by a solid ebony tailpiece made by luthier Bill Gannon. The pickup was replaced by a Ken Armstrong handmade 12 pole pickup.