Eastman AR405E - laminated no-cutaway with single P-90

**Wes Fan** · 06-25-2015, 09:58 AM

Doesn't appear on the Eastman web site yet:

Eastman AR405E - laminated no-cutaway with single P-90-ar405e_front-jpg

**mr. beaumont** · 06-25-2015, 10:05 AM

I strongly disagree with the aesthetic choice of a white P-90, bit this should be a pretty cool guitar.

**EarlBrother** · 06-25-2015, 06:17 PM

I complete concur.

**monkmiles** · 06-26-2015, 09:34 AM

Yea, the white pickup is wrong but otherwise very nice. I'd like to see Eastman make a thinline like the ES125T that Loar has recently (Loar 301, 302, 304) or like an ES330 as well.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-26-2015, 09:51 AM

I think Eastman should pursue a few more original designs. The El-Rey, that was cool.

**Max405** · 06-26-2015, 10:05 AM

I totally agree Jeff. However, what they do copy, is done well. My 580 is my most played guitar. The materials, the looks, the workmanship, the playability and the sound is hard to beat for $1000. I like the weirdness of the ElRey hollow body. Looks like a Salvador Dali guitar. I've never played one though. The EL1 in the for sale section is awfully tempting. I can't though. My wife has too much access to crazy glue right now and I am a sound sleeper.
Joe D

**monkmiles** · 06-26-2015, 10:18 AM

I've owned a few Eastmans over the years (805ce, ar403, t386, El Rey 2). The El Rey was ok, definitely a neat design. Actually the designer of the El Rey (Otto D'Ambrosio) has a shop within an hour of me and I brought it to him for a setup. He was cool and showed me his sketch book in which his designs took form. In the end, it wasn't the guitar for me. The AR403 has been my favorite for jazz stuff.

As far as original designs, I guess I just don't want to dish out the money for a vintage Gibson. So I'm more likely to buy a similar model from Eastman or perhaps step up to a Heritage.

**jzucker** · 06-26-2015, 10:43 AM

Eastman ought to make a guitar with a thicker top and parallel bracing. For both plywood and solid top guitars I think it would get them more into gibson territory. I think their current offerings sound to bright. Just my opinion.

**DanielleOM** · 06-26-2015, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Eastman ought to make a guitar with a thicker top and parallel bracing. For both plywood and solid top guitars I think it would get them more into gibson territory. I think their current offerings sound to bright. Just my opinion.

Ever come across one of the Elite 16 or 17 Eastman specials from Guitars n jazz with heavy parallel bracing? There's some sound clips here. Eastman Jazz Elite 16-6 | Guitars 'n Jazz They say they were recorded with a Fender Super Champ. (Not sure that's different than a Super Champ X2. I really have not been following Fender amps in recent years.)

**jzucker** · 06-26-2015, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by DanielleOM

Ever come across one of the Elite 16 or 17 Eastman specials from Guitars n jazz with heavy parallel bracing? There's some sound clips here. Eastman Jazz Elite 16-6 | Guitars 'n Jazz They say they were recorded with a Fender Super Champ. (Not sure that's different than a Super Champ X2. I really have not been following Fender amps in recent years.)

I have heard those clips in the past and I agree that they sound better than the other eastmans with x-bracing but at the $2k range you could get a used Heritage Eagle, sweet 16 or Guild X-500 which would be better and hold it's value.

Just curious why you're so fixated on the eastmans?

**TheGrandWazoo** · 06-26-2015, 01:30 PM

I like the white. I think it would look better if it was more of a cream/off white color with matching trim. Sets it apart from the run of the mill Gibson look.

**DanielleOM** · 06-26-2015, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

I have heard those clips in the past and I agree that they sound better than the other eastmans with x-bracing but at the $2k range you could get a used Heritage Eagle, sweet 16 or Guild X-500 which would be better and hold it's value.

Just curious why you're so fixated on the eastmans?

I like the AR503CE a lot. I like the 16" body shape, the 25" scale length, nut width and body depth. (I could go a little deeper on the body depth.) I would consider similar guitars from other manufacturers. For an archtop I find it to be very comfortable to play standing up.

Thank you for the question and your interest.

Danielle

**Max405** · 06-26-2015, 03:58 PM

Danielle, I think your 503 is like my 580. They make a nice guitar. And you should be proud of it. Very lightweight, alive and the necks are fast and true. The only complaint I have is mine doesn't fit in the case it came in.
Jack, why not compare a used Eastman to a used heritage or guild? I think Eastman is doing something right. And that's coming from the king of guitar snobbery (me..).

**jzucker** · 06-26-2015, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Danielle, I think your 503 is like my 580. They make a nice guitar. And you should be proud of it. Very lightweight, alive and the necks are fast and true. The only complaint I have is mine doesn't fit in the case it came in.
Jack, why not compare a used Eastman to a used heritage or guild? I think Eastman is doing something right. And that's coming from the king of guitar snobbery (me..).

i have Joe. I'm a former endorser and have owned a dozen eastmans. And I currently own a T386 which I like. I just think their archtops are bright and thin sounding. It's seductive because you're getting a hand-made instrument with a nitro finish but they just can't compare to the comparable gibson or guild guitars. I really like the chinese made guilds. They are cheaper than the eastmans and are built to vintage specs.

**Max405** · 06-26-2015, 04:23 PM

Yeah yeah yeah Jack that's great, but that's not my question. If you are questioning Danielle's fixation on eastmans, why not compare the price of a used Eastman against a used heritage or guild? And why do you constantly challenge other people's opinions? There entitled to their opinions just like you are. Every post that your a part always has to turn into a pissing contest of some kind. Get over yourself.

**jzucker** · 06-26-2015, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Yeah yeah yeah Jack that's great, but that's not my question. If you are questioning Danielle's fixation on eastmans, why not compare the price of a used Eastman against a used heritage or guild? And why do you constantly challenge other people's opinions? There entitled to their opinions just like you are. Every post that your a part always has to turn into a pissing contest of some kind. Get over yourself.

No Joe. I have a right to my opinion. I'm sick of folks like you pissing all over my opinion and taking personal shots just because it differs from yours. I have never made personal remark about you.

Danielle is a friend of mine from way back. So GET OVER YOURSELF and realize that it's ok to disagree. But when you get personal that's not ok so go play your johnny smith arrangments have have a nice day.

**Max405** · 06-26-2015, 05:11 PM

You are entitled to your opinion Jack. Thank god, because your the most opinionated person I've ever come a crossed. And as usual you didn't answer the question. Instead you decided to blow your own horn as usual about how you were an endorser and you've owned dozens of them (Which I wonder how many were returned to the poor seller). I'm surprised you didn't answer my question by telling me about how your luthier works on George Bensons guitars.
Now I will go back to learning The Joe Pass style. And when I am done with that, I'll play some Johnny smith and Barry Galbreath arrangements. I'm damn proud that I'm capable of doing that.
Funny thing, this is 1st time you mentioned my ability to play Johnny Smith stuff. Of course in negative way. While other gentleman around here say, hey nice job Joe, you have no comment. Because it's something you can't disagree on. So thanks for noticing. Have a crappy day.
Joe D.

**jzucker** · 06-26-2015, 05:22 PM

I never said anything negative about your johnny smith stuff. And it's funny that you're whining about my opinion because it doesn't match your opinion but you don't see the irony in that.

I hope you come "a cross" better in your real life than you do here because until this interaction I never took a personal shot at you but you've proven to be a jerk.

Bye. Into the blocked list you go.

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

You are entitled to your opinion Jack. Thank god, because your the most opinionated person I've ever come a crossed. And as usual you didn't answer the question. Instead you decided to blow your own horn as usual about how you were an endorser and you've owned dozens of them (Which I wonder how many were returned to the poor seller). I'm surprised you didn't answer my question by telling me about how your luthier works on George Bensons guitars.
Now I will go back to learning The Joe Pass style. And when I am done with that, I'll play some Johnny smith and Barry Galbreath arrangements. I'm damn proud that I'm capable of doing that.
Funny thing, this is 1st time you mentioned my ability to play Johnny Smith stuff. Of course in negative way. While other gentleman around here say, hey nice job Joe, you have no comment. Because it's something you can't disagree on. So thanks for noticing. Have a crappy day.
Joe D.

**Max405** · 06-26-2015, 05:34 PM

Yeah you never said anything negative about my Johnny smith stuff because you couldn't. Not a positive word either because you just don't do that.
Still no answer to the question Jack. Of course not, because you have no answers. You just disagree. Just like the blowhard little weasel you are. I'm glad I'm on your blocked list because you don't deserve to see anything I have to say.

I apologize to everyone else here who I respect who had to read this. This should not have been done on a public forum and you didn't need to see it. I sorry to all the classy people here who had to read this.
Joe D.