Played an Eastman T386 today

**Isorozco** · 06-04-2014, 11:47 AM

Yes it is very comfortable. It's great for jazz and blues. Low action and a rich sound, just get it plug you haven't already you won't regret it

**Bobsynth** · 06-09-2014, 10:00 AM

I have 2 Eastman's a T185 MX and an El Rey ER3. Both have 2 issues. One is the thin lacquer which makes them scratch easily and the other is a heavy head stock which makes them uncomfortable to play standing up. The head wants to dive to the floor all the time so you are constantly fighting it. There are counter measures such as counter weighted and/or leather straps. Does the 386 have either of these issues?

**jzucker** · 06-09-2014, 10:20 AM

The T386 is not neck heavy. i am selling mine for $650 if anyone is interested. Will ship with a gig bag (no hard shell case)

**Isorozco** · 06-09-2014, 10:21 AM

No. The 386 has a wider body so it adds more weight. I play standing up and my issues are my relatively short fingers that work extra hard to play some chords only while standing. However there are some weights to even out guitars, the only thing is they will feel heavier overall

**mangotango** · 06-09-2014, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

The T386 is not neck heavy. i am selling mine for $650 if anyone is interested. Will ship with a gig bag (no hard shell case)

Hey Jack,

It didn't stand the test of time, or are you moving on to something else?

**jzucker** · 06-09-2014, 10:36 AM

This is it. (hottie not included). Selling it because I have 2 bigger hollowbodies and would rather have a Tele if I'm not playing the hollowbodies.

Played an Eastman T386 today-t386-jpg

**s1track3d** · 08-14-2014, 01:48 PM

Has anyone compared the T386 to a thinline hollowbody? (say like the Gibson ES-330 or Epiphone Casino, both have a sound post and reinforced wood for the fixed bridge but not a full wood block like a semi-hollow)

From what I'm reading it seems like the T386 sits in between a thinline hollowbody and a semi hollowbody sound wise? (more 'wood' in the sound than a semi and more sustain that a thinline)

**Melodic Dreamer** · 05-22-2015, 05:33 PM

Just ordered one in Sunburst. After getting an AR403se last year I've had a craving for one of their semi-hollows. I'm stoked! Looking forward to getting it. Just wanted to share my happiness.

This isn't mine

Played an Eastman T386 today-t386sb-jpg

Again this isn't the actual guitar, but I keep looking at this pic. The burst is more of a tobacco burst. The color reminds me of Adam Rogers Gibson.

Played an Eastman T386 today-adamrogers10-jpg

Played an Eastman T386 today-adamrogers10-jpg

**Klatu** · 05-22-2015, 07:17 PM

Congratulations. I always applaud the acquisition of an Eastman.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 05-22-2015, 08:19 PM

Thanks, I'm pretty stoked. This will be a good go between guitar in terms of my fully hollow body and my tele's and Strat. I also own a Ibanez As103, but I couldn't help but want a T386 after the consistent praise they have gotten.

**monkmiles** · 05-22-2015, 08:43 PM

Congrats man!

Coincidentally, I have both an ar403 and t386 too. Great guitars!

**Melodic Dreamer** · 05-22-2015, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by hallpass

Congrats man!

Coincidentally, I have both an ar403 and t386 too. Great guitars!

I remembered you had both. They are both the classic finish too.
I love my 403 in the classic finish, but thought it would be nice to have some variety. Plus seeing Adam Rogers, John Scofield and Matthew Stevens play 335 style guitars in a burst kind of got me drooling. It's sad, but true.

Are you still enjoying yours? Anything you did to it when you got it?

**jzucker** · 05-23-2015, 02:02 PM

i also have a t386. Kept it stock. The pickups sound great. Switches and pots are a little cheap but I doubt you'd hear any audible difference switching those.

**hanktx** · 05-23-2015, 03:03 PM

Congrats! Ordered mine in red earlier this week. Plan is to add a Bigsby and upgrade the electronics (SD antiquities) but I'm in no rush. My 371 is still stock and it was 4 years before I upgraded the pickup on my 810.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 05-23-2015, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by hanktx

Congrats! Ordered mine in red earlier this week. Plan is to add a Bigsby and upgrade the electronics (SD antiquities) but I'm in no rush. My 371 is still stock and it was 4 years before I upgraded the pickup on my 810.

If you are going to do that why not get a t486? It comes with SD pickups and a Bigsby for a little more.
I actually like it's burst better, but I didn't want the Bigsby.

Played an Eastman T386 today-t486_eastman-jpg

Played an Eastman T386 today-t486_eastman-jpg

**hanktx** · 05-23-2015, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer

If you are going to do that why not get a t486? It comes with SD pickups and a Bigsby for a little more.
I actually like it's burst better, but I didn't want the Bigsby.

Good question. I went with the 386 for a number of reasons.

I don't care for the inlay material that Eastman uses on some guitars including my 371. It tends to be milky and not iridescent like MOP or better quality synthetics. The 386 dots will be less of an issue.

Wanted a rosewood board.

The 486 bigsby is licensed and I prefer the USA unit weight and feel. Plus, I can use a Vibramate or Towner so the bigsby is not permanent.

I got my 386 used so even with upgrades I come out ahead with more flexibility over choice of electronics. Really want unpotted PAFs. Although I can (and will) live with the stock KAs for a while.

Also, I dig the sunburst too. But wanted to go with something different for me. So red it is. Doesn't hurt that it captures some of the vintage 335 vibe at 1/3 or less the cost.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 05-23-2015, 06:14 PM

I thought the stock pups were not potted.

**hanktx** · 05-23-2015, 09:41 PM

If it's the HPAN-1 or variant, I was under the impression that it was potted: 6 Shooter PAF Style Nickel Cover. If not, all the better.

As has been mentioned in other threads, they really are decent pickups and I have no issues with the one in my 371. But you know how it goes, at some point the temptation will become overwhelming...

**peskypesky** · 05-24-2015, 02:50 AM

I have really liked all the Eastman acoustics and archtops I've played.

I'm a Bigsby fan, and I love big inlays...so this one makes me drool:

**monkmiles** · 05-24-2015, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer

I remembered you had both. They are both the classic finish too.
I love my 403 in the classic finish, but thought it would be nice to have some variety. Plus seeing Adam Rogers, John Scofield and Matthew Stevens play 335 style guitars in a burst kind of got me drooling. It's sad, but true.

Are you still enjoying yours? Anything you did to it when you got it?

Yep, very much enjoying mine. I use it for rock and jazz stuff. The ar403 just for jazz stuff. I did replace the electronics on both with CTS pots and 57 classic pickups. Happy I did the swap because I know I have quality wiring, jacks, pickups, etc bit tonally not a huge change.

**monkmiles** · 05-24-2015, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by hanktx

If it's the HPAN-1 or variant, I was under the impression that it was potted: 6 Shooter PAF Style Nickel Cover. If not, all the better.

As has been mentioned in other threads, they really are decent pickups and I have no issues with the one in my 371. But you know how it goes, at some point the temptation will become overwhelming...

Yes, the those hpans are the ones that are in the t386. Least it was in mine and my ar403 had the hpag. Like some of us were discussing in another thread, you can see the note on the bottom of your link that in other countries they use the hpan/hpag model name and then manufacture them overseas I think too.

**rkettner** · 05-25-2015, 10:42 PM

Enjoy! I bought a used one a few months back. It's the Natural or violin finish. I love the sounds of the neck pickup. Cool bluesy vibe with the two pickups. Don't really dig the bridge alone. Took a chance on it because I already had a 371. Very happy with both instruments.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 06-04-2015, 09:55 PM

Just a quick update. I finally got her in today. I haven't had a chance to plug her up yet, but let me say she's a beauty. The T386 has a little thinner neck than I am use too, but I enjoyed how well the acoustic sound was. It is very resonant to be a thin-line semi-hollow.

**m_d** · 09-22-2016, 06:09 AM

I just picked up a T386 from the post office this morning, shipped from the US, before leaving for work. Barely had time for a peak, not even tuning it properly, but the overall quality made a big impression, and seemed a huge step up from the Artcore semi-hollow the Eastman will be replacing. More later if/when I can find the time.

**jbear** · 09-23-2016, 04:57 PM

I still have the T165mx that I bought from Jack several years ago...it's a little different in that the block is small and light, so it has a lot of hollow presence while retaining sustain. I love it especially for a Rosenwinkel sorta tone (Seth's in it).
I have a really light 335 that I love for everything. I put Peter Florence Voodoo 59 PUP's in there and it is not woofy at all. I played a ton of 335's before I found this one, and when I picked it up I knew it was going to be different. Just adding this to say that if you try enough of these guitars (if you can)...you may find the one that does your thing.