Eastman T486

[Rob MacKillop]

After two days with the guitar, I'd like to update the previous post by saying that I now absolutely love the T486!

It took me longer than usual to dial in a good sound, but in my defense I'm all over the place just now, and dealing with a new amp and an old, forgotten overdrive. The sound I'm getting now is very beautiful in all pickup selector positions.

The neck is effortless to play - I couldn't be happier with it.

I was in the Edinburgh guitar store today, and walked home with a Fender American Vintage II 1951 Blackguard Telecaster, informing the salesman that I was either going to return it or the Eastman on Monday. But now I'm in a real quandary, as the Tele is also stunning. I want to keep them both...but can't.

They are very different guitars. The 51 Tele has an extremely even tone, beautifully mellow, and for some reason I find myself wanting to play single-note solos like a poor-man's Mike Stern - poor in my relative playing, but the guitar is deserving of someone of Mike's stature running around on it. I've never played a better-quality tele.

The T486 has me in BB King-style Blues Heaven. I've spent a good few hours jamming with YouTube backing tracks, and loving every minute of it. It beats the 339 and 335 guitars I played in the store today.

I'd say the guitars are equally as good, the Tele leaning (for me) more to jazz, the T486 more to Blues.

A tough decision has to be made...

[GuyBoden]

After two days with the guitar, I'd like to update the previous post by saying that I now absolutely love the T486!

It took me longer than usually take to dial in a good sound, but in my defense I'm all over the place just now, and dealing with a new amp and an old, forgotten overdrive. The sound I'm getting now is very beautiful in all pickup selector positions.

The neck is effortless to play - I couldn't be happier with it.

I was in the Edinburgh guitar store today, and walked home with a Fender American Vintage II 1951 Blackguard Telecaster, informing the salesman that I was either going to return it or the Eastman on Monday. But now I'm in a real quandary, as the Tele is also stunning. I want to keep them both...but can't.

They are very different guitars. The 51 Tele has an extremely even tone, beautifully mellow, and for some reason I find myself wanting to play single-note solos like a poor-man's Mike Stern - poor in my relative playing, but the guitar is deserving of someone of Mile's stature running around on it. I've never played a better-quality tele.

The T486 has me in BB King-style Blues Heaven. I've spent a good few hours jamming with YouTube backing tracks, and loving every minute of it. It beats the 339 and 335 guitars I played in the store today.

I'd say the guitars are equally as good, the Tele leaning (for me) more to jazz, the T486 more to Blues.

A tough decision has to be made...

I find solid body Tele type guitars are just a bit too heavy in comparison to a very light weight carved archtop. With a Tele type I have to get the seated position exactly correct, with the body just resting on my right leg.

Just my personal experience, but we're all different.

Here's a very blurred old photo of my seated position with a 7 string Tele type guitar.

[Rob MacKillop]

Not the best photo, Guy, but I ‘ get the picture’.

7-string Tele, Eh? Not something I’m contemplating.

Thankfully I have no problem holding either guitar with straps.

They are both equal contenders still. I might have to sell something else, and keep them both.

[Hexachordia]

Just one tip for a more jazzy sound. Just got the Thomastik Bebop strings.

They are wound but sound very different than regular D'addarios. Much warmer. 011s are good for jazz. Makes a huge difference and takes the brightness away.

[Rob MacKillop]

They are already in the post on their way to me