Eastman Pagelli ?

[Sébastien]

I’m curious about the Eastman Pagelli with its « interesting design / look ».
Does some forum members have experience with these guitars (PG1 or PG2)?
How does it sound, how does it feel to compare with a traditional 17 archtop?
What about the construction (braces?), its ergo fit, workmanship quality?
Thank you

Seb

[guavajelly]

I have no experience with the Eastman but I talked to Claudio at the Frankfurt music fair for my report for Archtop-germany.de and played his offset archtop design (either the gringobeat or jazzability) – it feels very comfortable and just more compact and ergonomic than other 17" archtops.
Ergo fit = great!

[Sébastien]

Thank you guavajelly

[Woody Sound]

I would think it depends on how high you hold the guitar, dictating where your arm sits.

[Vermelho]

I love mine! Sold my Eastman 810 after I got it. (Had Gibson super 300, Fender Pat Metheny, Ibanez L5 clone before).
It's surprisingly strong acoustically, fairly thin body, very comfortable to play with the offset and all I need.
I also picked up an Eastman ER-O and an Eastman 7-string 810 since, but these are less often reached for

I am looking for a quality gig bag that fits, as I don't have a case for it, and I don't need the original heavy hard case for my outings with it.

Sean

[Oscar67]

I’ve played several and they always impressed me. Very, very good guitars. If you want a superb modern archtop for a good price, then you won’t be disappointed. Buying new might be risky because they might not hold their value. Expect it to be worth at least 25% less the moment you buy a new one. I’ve tried to sell a Romeo, which is a magnificent guitar. Couldn’t give it away and decided to keep it. I’ve easily sold other guitars of lesser quality for much more money. It matters what’s on the headstock.

[jads57]

Nice guitar the Blonde one I played some years ago. Just remember not liking the thinner neck profile as on many of the Eastmans. I got lucky finding a JP880,803CE, and a 810CE models with larger depth neck shapes.
Great guitars and wished I had kept the 810CE. I commissioned a
Tonemaster from Elferink and have played that for around 8 years now.

[hidesert]

I bought a blonde Eastman Pagelli locally from Bill Eisle, a forum member who introduced me to this group. I was looking for an acoustic archtop to complement my Johnny Smith.

The Pagelli model has been a delight to play, especially as an acoustic-electric. Bill had ordered a pair of hand wound Kent Armstrong pickups, a single coil (my preference) and a humbucker, and had each installed on their own Pagelli ebony pickguard. This made switching amplified tone a simple plug and play. I haven’t tried the stock Kent Armstrong humbucker.

I have yet to experiment with different strings…especially flats, which I suspect will add some warmth and subdue what is a fundamentally a loud and bright acoustic sound. But the ergonomics (17” body that feels like a 16” because of its offset design), quality solid carved tone wood build, large C neck profile, 25” scale, jumbo fretwork, perfectly fitted ebony full contact bridge/saddle…it’s a unique package that I continue to enjoy. I would highly recommend it as a great value.

The best part of acquiring the Pagelli was that I met Bill, his wife, and a whole new group of music and guitar friends here in Santa Fe.