Eastman T64v

[Skip Ellis]

Anyone have any experience with these? I play a lot of Chet Atkins/Merle Travis stuff and looking for something other than my Tele and the Gretsch Nashville Classic is heavy and above my pay grade. I've had the Eastman T486 with Bigsby and it's too heavy as is the Ibanez AS153. The T64v is hollow like a Gibson ES330 and much lighter (6 lbs or under from what I've seen). Not sure about the pickups (P90s) but I guess there are some P90 footprint humbuckers out there somewhere. None I can play locally, so it's either Reverb or Guitars n Jazz. What do ya'll think?

[Mark M.]

I had one and liked it a lot. They are indeed very light and the P90’s sound very good. The playability was excellent. I wish I still had it but needed to let it go to afford a custom classical build.

[Rustic]

I have a T186 and can’t recommend it highly enough. It is lightweight, all wood (spruce, hog), has a 1.75 nut and maple bindings. I tried a number of 335s, 330s, etc, and like it better than all of them, at half the price. It is probably not as good as a 335, or a 335 copy, for playing punchy blues or rock but it is better for jazz in that it has more sweetness and warmth.

[Daddy Dom]

I tried one out today and found it was a gorgeous guitar and beautiful player but the neck pickup left me wanting.
Not enough low-down heft for me but possibly a 175-type with humbuckers is the go-to suggestion around here.

That said, I get a great low-down tone with my Esquire that the Eastman couldn't get near and has Lollar P90s.