Eastman AR605CED vs. AR503CE

[player100]

Hello!

I have a exclusively problem. I want to buy a archtop guitar, but in Austria I have no chance to test my favorite models.
I'm only able to test the AR503CE - but not the AR605CED. So maybe someone played this two models and can give me some advise.

To my playing style: I'm a acoustic player (mainly a H&D TOM-R) and want to search for some diffrent sound colors in my songs. I play much fingerpicking with thumbpick.
The other reason that I want such a guitar is, that this year I've sold my last E-guitar (PRS Custom 24), cause the fretboard was too small for my playing.
But I own a Yamaha G100-212III Transistor Amp which nobody is interesting for.
So I think archtops with pickup would be sound very nice over this amp and I can do some recordings with this (like Chet Atkins Style).

Eastman seems really good for me, cause the guitar / price relation is good. Also they have mainly a 1 3/4" nutwidth - this I also have on my H&D.

The laminated versions are not my favorites, cause I love acoustic sound and I think that's worth for massive tops. This I can hear in some youtube-vids.
And I'm not playin in band - so feedback is no problem for me.

Next week I'm going to test the AR503CE, but I know yet, that some questions would be stay:
* Is the acoustic difference really that big and audible from the partially massive to the massive guitar. Or are they just nuances?
* Do I need the bridge pickup to get a "chet atkins sound". Is the additional pickup the thing which make this guitar more versatile?

I know that all in guitar and sound is personal taste - but maybe some owner can tell something about.
The price difference is exactly 1000Eur, it's a lot of money but full ok for massive wood guitar. If the AR503CE sounds good for me than it's ok to buy it.
But I'm afraid if later I have the chance to play a AR605CED I'll think "Oh my god, what a difference - I bought the wrong one"

It's really difficult, cause I knew, when I'm able to play all two guitars and can compare it, that in a half hour I can decide which is the right one for me.
The chance to play all two is to drive 800km (to germany) - there's the next store which have both. In times of covid-19 not so easy...

So please let me know your experience

cheers
Walter

[RomanS]

Servus Walter,
not sure whether you're interested in buying used, and whether you live near Vienna, but there's a used 610CE for sale here:
Eastman AR610CE (Handcrafted) Jazz/ Archtop Gitarre, € 1.600,- (1080 Wien) - willhaben
(No affiliation with the seller - I'm just on the lookout for Eastmans in Austria myself...)

[player100]

Servus Walter,
not sure whether you're interested in buying used, and whether you live near Vienna, but there's a used 610CE for sale here:
Eastman AR610CE (Handcrafted) Jazz/ Archtop Gitarre, € 1.600,- (1080 Wien) - willhaben
(No affiliation with the seller - I'm just on the lookout for Eastmans in Austria myself...)

Thanks Roman! I know it, but I am not shure if it's the right one. The mainly thing why I'm thinking about the AR605CED is the 2nd pickup. Im no jazzplayer, I'm looking for a versatile sound acoustic AND plugged in. So I think a 2nd pickup give more options for experimental recording. And the question about acoustic: is there a big difference between the 5 and 6 series? If the 5series has one guitar with 2 pickups AND a 1 3/4" nut I thought that would be the best choice for me - but there is actually no one.

[Cunamara]

You can worry yourself into paralysis trying to find the "right" guitar, especially if you're trying to compare one you can play and one you cannot. No matter what anyone here can tell you about the guitar, the only way to know is whether you try it for yourself. Failing that, play the one that you can and decide whether or not it's good enough.

any arch top guitar with two pickups mounted into the top, however, is going to have a deadened acoustic sound.

[player100]

You can worry yourself into paralysis trying to find the "right" guitar, especially if you're trying to compare one you can play and one you cannot. No matter what anyone here can tell you about the guitar, the only way to know is whether you try it for yourself. Failing that, play the one that you can and decide whether or not it's good enough.

any arch top guitar with two pickups mounted into the top, however, is going to have a deadened acoustic sound.

Thank's for reply. I don"t know that the 2nd pickup has such an inpact to the acoustic sound. But you're right, I have to hear it for myself.
So maybe there's a chance, that the music store in vienna get a AR605CED for comparing (normally they do it not by Eastman).
Cause one thing is clear for me, I don't buy any guitar which I have not played.

[KirkP]

Those two guitars differ not only in number of pickups, but also in wood and body thickness. They might sound similar plugged in (on the neck pickup) but they’d differ a lot acoustically. You’d definitely need to play them to see if they fill your need for an acoustic guitar.
AR503CE - Eastman Guitars
AR605CED - Eastman Guitars

If you are really going for a Chet Atkins style seems like the bridge pickup is a necessity. His Gretsch G6120 had many other differences such as a laminated maple top and back, Bibsby, pickups, etc. and probably wasn’t too useful unplugged. But maybe with the 605 you could get a little Chet vibe.

I love Eastman necks. My AR810CE is my #1 when playing in small rooms.

[Socalbill]

Hi. I also came to arch tops from acoustic guitar and I’m a finger style player. I found Eastman early on and I owned the 805 ce for a number of years but I sold it and owned the 503 ce again for years and sold it as well. Both were great guitars for fingerpicking Chet type stuff. I sold the 805 because I wanted the thinner rim of the 503 for comfort and I wanted that set in pickup. I was much happier with the 503. I thought it was a more responsive instrument and plugged in the set pickup had a more defined tone then the 805’s floater. I sold the 503 and took a chance on one you haven’t thought about I’ll bet, the Eastman T64 thin line. Hollow with no block and two p 90 pickups. Super light and comfy and very versatile. Try one if you get a chance.

[player100]

Hi. I also came to arch tops from acoustic guitar and I’m a finger style player. I found Eastman early on and I owned the 805 ce for a number of years but I sold it and owned the 503 ce again for years and sold it as well. Both were great guitars for fingerpicking Chet type stuff. I sold the 805 because I wanted the thinner rim of the 503 for comfort and I wanted that set in pickup. I was much happier with the 503. I thought it was a more responsive instrument and plugged in the set pickup had a more defined tone then the 805’s floater. I sold the 503 and took a chance on one you haven’t thought about I’ll bet, the Eastman T64 thin line. Hollow with no block and two p 90 pickups. Super light and comfy and very versatile. Try one if you get a chance.

Thanks Socallbill! That means that I'm on the right way for my search. I'll try a T64 when I can catch one, but I think I'm also search for playing unplugged with this guitar, and then the 8xx 6xx or 5xx models should have more power. I know that's mean that they are have a bigger size. But I'm looking a little bit of both worlds - the amplified fingerpicking and the unplugged practicing.