Epiphone Broadway vs. Eastman AR372CE

**kstinehour** · 12-15-2021, 11:37 AM

Hi all,

I am virtually brand new to playing jazz guitar and I'm looking to buy my first box. I've narrowed down what I like the most in my price range (sub $1000 and can be a used instrument) to the Epiphone Broadway and the Eastman AR372CE. I was wondering what some more expert players' thoughts were on these 2 guitars. I personally prefer the sound of the Eastman, but I'm curious about playability. Any thoughts. Also, if there are any excellent alternatives that I may be missing, please let me know! I'd like to go for a full hollowbody, but if you think there are any semi-hollows in my price range that would be good for a beginner, also feel free to offer any advice.

Cheers!

**mr. beaumont** · 12-15-2021, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by kstinehour

Hi all,

I am virtually brand new to playing jazz guitar and I'm looking to buy my first box. I've narrowed down what I like the most in my price range (sub $1000 and can be a used instrument) to the Epiphone Broadway and the Eastman AR372CE. I was wondering what some more expert players' thoughts were on these 2 guitars. I personally prefer the sound of the Eastman, but I'm curious about playability. Any thoughts. Also, if there are any excellent alternatives that I may be missing, please let me know! I'd like to go for a full hollowbody, but if you think there are any semi-hollows in my price range that would be good for a beginner, also feel free to offer any advice.

Cheers!

I'm on the record here many times saying I did not think the 371/372 were Eastman's best efforts, nor do they sound much like a 175, the guitar they are copying, but my opinion is based off the experience with 2 instruments I came across several years ago. It is not scientific, exhaustive, or anything other than an opinion.

The Broadway is a larger guitar, but also slightly less deep. So it become a matter of what is more comfortable for you personally. Both could certainly be set up to play to your liking.

**kstinehour** · 12-15-2021, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I'm on the record here many times saying I did not think the 371/372 were Eastman's best efforts, nor do they sound much like a 175, the guitar they are copying, but my opinion is based off the experience with 2 instruments I came across several years ago. It is not scientific, exhaustive, or anything other than an opinion.

The Broadway is a larger guitar, but also slightly less deep. So it become a matter of what is more comfortable for you personally. Both could certainly be set up to play to your liking.

Do you have any other preferences in the $800 - $900 range?

**citizenk74** · 12-15-2021, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by kstinehour

Hi all,

I am virtually brand new to playing jazz guitar and I'm looking to buy my first box. I've narrowed down what I like the most in my price range (sub $1000 and can be a used instrument) to the Epiphone Broadway and the Eastman AR372CE. I was wondering what some more expert players' thoughts were on these 2 guitars. I personally prefer the sound of the Eastman, but I'm curious about playability. Any thoughts. Also, if there are any excellent alternatives that I may be missing, please let me know! I'd like to go for a full hollowbody, but if you think there are any semi-hollows in my price range that would be good for a beginner, also feel free to offer any advice.

Cheers!

My jazz partner of many years had an Epi Broadway. He sounded great on it (or anything). He did use cello-tape over the soundholes to abate feedback. It was an invisible solution to a common nuisance. It was the perfect companion to the Emperor Regent I used at the time.
No experience with Eastmans; their reputation is very good.

**mr. beaumont** · 12-15-2021, 01:16 PM

I still think, many years later, that the Godin Kingpin represents the best value in budget archtops. But I don't think your above choices are bad, I like Epiphone's offerings quite a bit, and I think pretty much everybody else likes the 371/2.

**John A.** · 12-15-2021, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by kstinehour

Hi all,

I am virtually brand new to playing jazz guitar and I'm looking to buy my first box. I've narrowed down what I like the most in my price range (sub $1000 and can be a used instrument) to the Epiphone Broadway and the Eastman AR372CE. I was wondering what some more expert players' thoughts were on these 2 guitars. I personally prefer the sound of the Eastman, but I'm curious about playability. Any thoughts. Also, if there are any excellent alternatives that I may be missing, please let me know! I'd like to go for a full hollowbody, but if you think there are any semi-hollows in my price range that would be good for a beginner, also feel free to offer any advice.

Cheers!

Lots of people like both of these guitars, and they're both good enough instruments to make good music. The Epi has a 17" wide body, 25.5" scale length, and 1-11/16" nut width. The Eastman has a 16" wide body, 24.75" scale length, and 1-3/4" nut width. Those differences make for a difference in how comfortable the guitar is for you to hold/play and in how the neck/action feels, but those differences are subjective (and matter more to some people than to others). No one can tell you which is better for you; that's something you have to figure out yourself by trying out different guitars.

There are actually a lot of sub-$1000 archtops (especially if you go used), and many threads here on that subject. So my first suggestion is to do a bunch of searches of the forum on brands (I'd suggest Epiphone, Ibanez, Eastman, and Godin), prices, and things like "ES 175 clone ["copy", etc.], and read what people have to say. I'd also suggest you explain how you narrowed it down to these two, that way people won't suggest things you've already considered and ruled out. Ditto for semi-hollows. There are a whole lot of 'em under $1000 used (e.g., Epi, Ibanez, D'Angelico, Guild, Eastman, to name a few), and a whole lot of discussions here.