Eastman Guitars - Who has experience with them and what are your opinions?

[coyote-1]

Sure, but producing competing products isn't very different. If they continue to produce the earlier mentioned model with set PU and controls, why add a very similar one? One that's expensive to produce too if we assume that they just changed the way PU and controls are installed on an otherwise identically built body.

Then again they already had the AR8x0 and AR9x0 series which to me are essentially the same.

The new iteration of the AR805/810ce also has the pup and electronics mounted in the carved top. This leaves only the 905/910 as ‘floating’ arrangements.

[RJVB]

True, actually one of the reasons I didn't try to locate one in a shop to try.

[2bornot2bop]

The AR610 Mahogany back, probably the finest guitar they ever produced. Harder to find today. I purchased this one for $1500 last year from Sound Pure.

[Ekovah]

My experience with Eastman has been very bad. I ordered a beautiful AR580CE based on the internet hype. Played it for few weeks and sold it as fast as I could.

Very good looking for sure, kind of violin red and a stunning glossy finish, but horrible intonation and muffled bass strings. Brought it to a master luthier who told me I couldn't save it.

I asked the shop for an exchange, they did it. I paid a ton in shipping. In the end, the intonation was a bit better but still bad, and the low strings were as muffled as the first one.

Based on that, I can just recommand buying something else.

[coyote-1]

The AR610 Mahogany back, probably the finest guitar they ever produced. Harder to find today. I purchased this one for $1500 last year from Sound Pure.

That’s the finish I would have wanted had one been available. But given I got mine just a few months ago for $1790 new, I can live with the classic red wood finish. Yeah, I think the mahogany back & sides lend it an acoustic warmth you cannot get from the maple guitars, a design IMO more suited to big band rhythm guitar. (Mine, for reasons unknown, has ebony appointments instead of rosewood.)

[Webby]

I really like my AR405E

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[Tal_175]

I compared an AR503 with an 80's Gibson L4C. I was surprised how much closer L4C sounded to Benedetto or Eastman type archtops compared to the Gibson CES models. I actually preferred the AR503 to the L4C but ultimately I'm a CES guy when it comes to archtops.

The problem with Eastman 800 and 900 models is that the low E string is very boomy when amplified and I bet you can induce feedback even with phone speakers if you try to. I think the 500 and 400 models are much better for amplified use.

[sgosnell]

The Pisano model AR480 sounds very good to me, from what I've seen and heard. Frank Vignola has been playing one at his guitar night at Birdland for awhile, and I like his tone with it. I haven't always been a huge fan of Frank's tone, but the AR480 sounds good, maybe better than his signature Sadowsky.

[ccroft]

A year old set of Tomastik flats helps a lot with that boom, along with the right EQ. I love my 880.

[Ukena]

I have two – a 16" Eastman Charlie Christian Otto D'Ambrosio signature, and a PG2 Pagelli signature. I bought the CC first, and really love the sound. The PG2 is incredibly light and is the easiest guitar to play I have ever owned. The sound unplugged is lovely, and the plugged-in sound is very jazzy. It's a 17" body, but since it is asymmetrical, it feels like a 16" in one's lap. Since I bought my Triggs New Yorker, I have been playing it the most, but yesterday I pulled out the PG2, and was reminded how light it is and how easy to play. On both, the fit and finish are superb.

[RJVB]

I'd love to hear her true/acoustic voice too!

[coyote-1]

I'd love to hear her true/acoustic voice too!

IMO not as rich as the 605/610, but a bit nicer than the 8xx / 9xx:

[RJVB]

IMO not as rich as the 605/610, but a bit nicer than the 8xx / 9xx:

You'd really have to hear the same player play the same thing on a 6xx but this one does indeed sound nice. It probably also sounds even more "flattoppy" than the 8xx/9xx.

Or maybe I should say that it sounds more like I'd like a flattop to sound... let me post Michael Watts's latest video as an illustration in a new thread.

[RJVB]

BTW:

Not the best sales argument for *nice* tone(?)

I'd completely forgotten about the AR804CE, btw!

[Ukena]

I just did a down-and-dirty version of Nuages on my PG2 with no amplification. I didn't take time to warm up, so it's a little rough.

It has oldish TI GB112s on it, but not so old as to need replacement. I think the sound is more representative (of my PG2, anyway) than the other videos are. I like the sound of the flats...

[RJVB]

Indeed, very nice and mellow!

[coyote-1]

Indeed, very nice and mellow!

Pretty much what I imagined it would be. The low E string, while not as fully represented as on the AR6xx, is nonetheless clear and full enough to be very pleasing.

[RJVB]

Well, I can add a datapoint about that new Eastman finish.

A cat must have knocked over a small (I think walnut) table next to which I kept my Cabaret on a Hercules stand (too close, @#$*U!!). Coming back up from cleaning out the litter box that normally sits on the other side of that table (and prevents the cats from bumping into it) I found the table reclining against the guitar

More shock than horror; the "clamp" on the stand holds the headstock loosely enough that it's a bit like a swivel joint and since the instrument is extremely light it was mostly pushed out of the way. Still, there's now a shallow depression (bump? ding?) of about 10x3mm in the back, roughly in the cutaway area; the table must have had some momentum when it struck.

No marring or cracking of the finish; if I hadn't known better this ding could have been there before any finish was applied.

I think I would have preferred a cute claw mark though, in terms of personal history

[Prof Silverhair]

I've recently been turned on to the AR603/5/10. From what I can tell, it seems to have a pleasing warmer, woody tone - I'm guessing due to the mahagony. I played an 805 and 503 and found the highs a bit sharp for my taste. Any insight or experience on the Eastman line, especially around the AR60X is welcome!

[RJVB]

Did(n't) you see the messages about the AR610 above?

[WestMan]

I have the same AR503CE, sounds great acoustically or amplified, easy to play and provides a lovely warm jazzy sound. I found it used a few years ago and I haven't regretted picking it up, it gets played daily.

Recently I needed a flat top acoustic so I took a chance on ordering one directly from Eastman. I normally wouldn't buy a guitar without playing it 1st but the price was so attractive I thought it was worth a try. Really glad I made the decision, the guitar arrived last week, model E3MOE, and about 6 notes into playing it I knew we were friends for life. I've had a lot of expensive guitars and I usually found some issue that resulted in listing them for sale. Pretty confident that this one belongs in the collection, I can't stop playing it.

I'd recommend Eastman to anyone who is searching the market. They may or may not be the answer for everyone out there but these instruments are definitely high quality and I'm really happy with both of them.

Hope this is helpful and good luck to everyone who is searching for the 'magic axe'.