Eastman AR603CED-15 vs Eastman Romeo

[moejo313]

Good morning All,

I really love this forum and you all have been amazing with responses on previous threads, I'd like to leverage your experience once again . I've narrowed my search to these two models and was curious to hear from owners and/or folks who might have played either model on their opinions: Eastman AR603CED-15 and the Eastman Romeo. I haven't had a chance to try either of these out, my only run in with an Eastman was a T386 but I'm comfortable with the 1 /3/4 nut size that I see mentioned often; I play a nylon string primarily so a wider nut doesn't bother me.

[jads57]

Think of the Romeo more like a smaller Gibson ES-330 hollow body.
And the 603 as smaller Gibson ES-175 but solid woods instead of laminates. This makes it more prone to feedback at higher volumes.

You won’t go wrong with either! Eastman is building some great instruments and people are finally catching on!

[wzpgsr]

I have an Eastman Romeo SC (noiseless Tele-style single coil in the neck position) and I think it's a fantastic guitar: carved spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 24.75" scale, lightweight, ergonomic, versatile pickup configuration. It's actually for sale on this forum—I included a bit of video of the actual instrument if you want to get an idea of how it sounds in a jazz context.

[burchyk]

I've tried Romeo and a 330 style Eastman side-by-side in the store and they were very different. Romeo has much less acoustic resonance. Closer to 339 I would say.

Then the AR is a fully hollow jazz box.

Very different designs, they are not interchangeable in my opinion. I would recommend you to try other fully hollow and semi-hollow guitars in the store or listen to the demos in order to make up your mind on which style you really want.

I tend to like Eastmans in general. Was also curious about Romeo on paper but was not super impressed in practice. Not that there was anything wrong with it, just personally enjoy their other models much more.

[EastwoodMike]

@WZPGSR
Does your Romeo's construction have a small block under the bridge, linking the top to the back?
Or is it simply a block under the tailpiece to give something to anchor the bridge and tailpiece to?

EMike

[wzpgsr]

@WZPGSR
Does your Romeo's construction have a small block under the bridge, linking the top to the back?
Or is it simply a block under the tailpiece to give something to anchor the bridge and tailpiece to?

EMike

It appears that the block connects to the back as well.

[Bflat233]

I have owned a Romeo for going on two years. I wrote a post here on my impressions. I also own a T386. Both are thin lines with dual humbuckers, but that's where the similarities stop. And both are worlds apart from the 603 - a carved, full-bodied arch top. I wondered what aspects of these guitars drew you to them?

[EastwoodMike]

I guess that would explain why an ES-330 style sounds so resonant in comparison.
A closer comparison would be the Eastman 184 MX thinline.

I think the Romeos look lovely but I find the choice of solid top contradictory- lots of effort to make, but using set-in pickups, a coupled top and a small body surface area.
Still look and sound lovely.

eMike.

[JohanAbrandt]

I guess that would explain why an ES-330 style sounds so resonant in comparison.
A closer comparison would be the Eastman 184 MX thinline.

I think the Romeos look lovely but I find the choice of solid top contradictory- lots of effort to make, but using set-in pickups, a coupled top and a small body surface area.
Still look and sound lovely.

eMike.

Solid, but is it carved and tap tuned? If not it is just cnc router time