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Hello all, first post here. I have recently become enamored with Eastman Archtop guitars. I think they really fill a void in the (albeit small) market for high quality carved guitars that do not cost the same as a car. I'm really excited about how many great guitars they offer.
After more or less settling on pursuing an 805CE with the floating pickup, I stumbled across a 905NC (non-cutaway?) with highly flamed maple all around. It seems like a big step up from the 805 cosmetically and I love a Blonde Archtop! I also prefer a non-cutaway and an archtop without a pickup if possible, though I may explore not invasive pickups at a later time. It has not arrived yet but I am trying to learn everything I can. I'm an annoying person who likes to know where and how the screws are made on a guitar I own haha
I went ahead and ordered it, but I can't find much information about it anywhere! I found one person who claimed there was an 805 and 905 NC as a dealer exclusive and is hard to find. Once the guitar arrives, I'll reach out to Eastman for more information, but has anyone ever come across one of these? I'm interested to know which dealer they were exclusive to (if accurate) and rough production numbers, features etc. I'll attach some photos here.
So far, I know that this is a 16" non-cutaway archtop with a 1.75" nut, and 3.25" body depth. It has a solid carved sitka spruce top and solid back and sides. I assume the back is also hand carved as opposed to pressed? Curly maple binding is a big selling point for me, especially when it runs along the neck, around the headstock, AND inside the F holes. That is ultimate luxury IMO.
I have Martins and other flattops, but the only other archtop I've owned was a The Loar LH-600VS which I really liked except for the fret work and lack of hard case. I play in a 30 piece orchestra that plays all kinds of weird folky, medieval, classical type stuff and I think this sound (and presentation) will be a boone to the group dynamic. I hope that Eastman helps to bring back acoustic archtops to the mainstream, and if they don't I will enjoy being a little different by enjoying the heck out of this guitar. I can't imagine that we won't get along.
Many thanks for any information you might have and can share! No detail is too small! I'm attaching the photos that accompanied the sale.
Best,
Geoff
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09-12-2023 08:41 PM
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Can’t help you with extra info, but that’s a stunner! Congrats!
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It looks like a 910CE non cutaway. I’ve no idea why this would be labeled a 905CE NC because the 905 always has a half or horizontal cutaway. I’ve never heard of a 905 non cutaway. This guitar has the neck back and the Scaller Ebony peg heads of a 910CE.
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Very nice. I love my all-acoustic AR910C!
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If it’s a 16" size, it will be a 905, whereas a 910 would be a 17" body.
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It was described as a 905 NC with a 16" lower bout. I'll have to look at the label when it arrives, but you can understand why I am looking for information about it. It's a bit of a puzzle! Thanks for the responses so far!
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I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this guitar is an ar905 (without the NC), like this one.
In the ad, the seller calls it an ar905, and NC is just to indicate that it's a non-cutaway version. The "05" part means that it's a 16" guitar, and the "9" means it's fancy maple back and sides (8 means less fancy maple, 6 means mahogany)
Guitars 'n Jazz lists the ar905 as a model on their site, fwiw, though none are in stock. I can't recall which Eastman non-cutaway acoustic archtops I've seen in the flesh in shops (never really looked for one), but I'm pretty sure I've seen ads at one time or another for all the permutations of 6, 8, 9, 10, and 05. I've definitely seen an ar905ce, though; a friend of mine has one.
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Thank you John, I think that is pretty definitive and good find on the Guitars N Jazz website. The ONLY thing is that the Blonde finish seems unusual for Eastman so Im curious if they offered this for a short period in blonde. Apart from that, that seems to be the exact guitar.
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Actually, I just phoned that Guitar store in NJ, and Louis said they were always offered in blonde, but the non-electric, non-cutaway is no longer available. So I guess that pretty much answers it! I am curious about production numbers, and the years this particular variation was offered.
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If you write to Eastman via the contact link on their website you may be able to get some of that info. I had a question about the Eastman flattop I bought used and they answered me quickly. I'll go out on another limb and say that they probably made very few of your specific model (I wouldn't be surprised if it's only a few hundred total over the entire production run). The cutaway models with floaters are reasonably common, but acoustic archtops aren't, and overall Eastman is a pretty low volume builder.
Originally Posted by geoffcarter
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They stopped making these bc people like cutaways and pickups, but this was a standard but less common model. I had an AR910NC for a while. Wonderful guitar. Sounded much bigger and fuller than the AR805CE I also had at that time.
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Thanks for the message! Do you think the bump up to 17" makes a huge difference in sound? I've never tried a 17" archtop!
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All things being equal a 17 inch will produce more volume and that would be my choice for a non-cutaway. Actually I wish Eastman made an 18 inch body. Originally Posted by geoffcarter
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The 17" would give you more bass and treble. It depends on the sound you're looking for. I have found eastman's 16" acoustic archtops to sound fantastic as well.
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Yes. Normally 17s give more. Except it depends on the 16 in question, as you suggest. Some can be more substantial in this respect than many 17's and make a good tonal impression. Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
I've played some pretty nice Eastman, both 16 and 17, but never a non-cut. The OP's looks great. Would love to take it for a drive!
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They still make both a 16” and a 17” nc acoustic archtop. I had a lovely 605 at one point years ago. The neck was a bit narrow for my preference, but it sounded very full. Martin phosphor bronze strings worked best, and I tried a lot of different strings on it. I’m thinking of ordering a new one. That’s how much I miss it Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Around 2005 or slightly earlier Dusty Strings in Seattle had a new Eastman AR905 similar to yours. It had an exceptional tone. But at the time I wanted a cutaway and didn’t want to pay the premium for the 900-grade cosmetics. I think you’ll enjoy it.
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I think the 16” 905 is has a slightly deeper body than the 17” 910, which along with lack of a cutaway helps compensate. A 17” bout might give you more volume and a 16” bout a sweeter voice. But there are many other variables and each carved archtop has its own voice. I hope you got a keeper. Originally Posted by geoffcarter
Oh, and if your tailpiece has a hinge, watch for metal fatigue there. When my AR810CE hinge failed, Eastman sent me a replacement with a bend in the metal instead of a hinge.Last edited by KirkP; 09-18-2023 at 01:51 PM.
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Beautiful guitar! The 900 series are really nice, especially with that wooden binding.
FWIW, I love my 805ce, both acoustically and amplified. I tried several archtops, looking for something that, as you phrased it, didn't cost the same as a car. I found a 5 or 6 year old used model at a great price, and although it was somewhat more expensive than the low end stuff I started with, it has stopped my search for another.
I've got a 2017 PDF catalog from Eastman and the only 900 series models they list for that year are the 905cd and 910ce. Both were available in "classic", sunburst, and blonde.
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