Eastman AR405E

[Mark M.]

I got a sweet deal on this used Eastman AR405E today. It has been in a local shop for the past few months and I figured they were ready to move it. I have been wanting to find an inexpensive archtop with a P90 for some time, and this really is the ticket. It’s maple laminate construction with a Kent Armstrong P90. It has a really nice neck and plays exceptionally well. The pickup really sounds fantastic - very clear and warm for chord melodies and yet when I dig in with the pick it has a very funky Grant Green sound on single note lines. It’s exactly what I was looking for. Between this beauty and with installing a Lollar CC in my Tele PartsCaster I have been able to really expand my tonal choices with relatively inexpensive options.

[Rob MacKillop]

Congratulations, Mark. It looks great.

[TOMMO]

Happy New Guitar Day - it's beautiful!

[silvertonebetty]

Congrats. I want the 610 ? I think it is


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[patshep]

that's really cool, i assume it sounds like a 125 a bit? i keep hearing great tones from those style guitars, and want one of my own !!!!

[Mark M.]

that's really cool, i assume it sounds like a 125 a bit? i keep hearing great tones from those style guitars, and want one of my own !!!!

Yes, I’d say it’s similar to an ES 125. I got to A/B it in the store with a ‘48 ES125, and the Gibson was certainly the nicer guitar. The P90 was stronger, the acoustic tone was better, etc. But the 125 was about $2,500 and the Eastman was $600.

All that said, I’d definitely recommend one of these. It’s a good bang for the buck.

[EllenGtrGrl]

Ooh! That looks nice!! I bet it has post-war 40s jazz tone in spades. Congrats!! Eastman is really making some nice guitars nowadays - not at all like the ones I tried out 10 years ago. I was impressed by the last one I tried out several weeks ago.

[neuroscan]

Around £1,000 here in UK...

[citizenk74]

Very cool! Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[mmdavis]

Very nice - it looks great, and I bet it sounds great too! Congratulations! What does this weigh in at? (roughly)

[Mark M.]

I haven’t weighed it, but it’s very light. I used it for the first time at big band rehearsal last night. It was very comfortable to play (much lighter than my Gibsons) and sounded great.

[arielcee]

Looks great. I wouldn't mind having a 17" version myself. Congrats on the acquisition.