NG -- Eastman Vignola FV-880CE

[Sam Sherry]

Over the decades Eastman has jump-started its guitar lines through collaborations with noted luthiers. In 2017 their work with Utah-based luthier Ryan Thorell yielded a copy of Mr. Thorell's mahagony-bodied Frank Vignola model.

Last year featured the debut of the FV-880-CE, with maple back, sides and neck. The 15 x 3.2 x 25.3" geometry was interesting, the porting and bracing are novel and the fact that Mr. Thorell has never advertised a maple-based Vignola model was noteworthy. I got reeled in, and grabbed this barely-used example from SoundPure a few weeks ago.





Frank Vignola is noted for his fluency both in modern jazz and Manouche-style playing. Because of the association, the flat cutaway and the open headstock the FV-xx0 line has been billed as "a Gypsy guitar." Let's pause right there: You can play anything you like on anything you grab, but beyond those optical cue-points there's nothing particularly "Django" about the Vignola-model's build. It's an archtop guitar (not a flat-top like a Selmer Maccaferi). As noted below, Mr. Thorell's build is braced nothing like a Selmer. At 25.3" the FV is in the normal archtop ballpark (unlike the 26.6" SelMac). 15" body-width is about an inch narrower than the typical S-M. The 3.2" body-depth is noticeably shallower than the 3.8" Selmer. Most importantly, the Thorell model has a raised fingerboard accommodating a floating magnetic pickup. In short, the Eastman Vignola model is in almost every aspect a modern jazz guitar styled with some nods to Maccaferi.





It's pretty in a modern way. I like it. The wood is choice. The poly finish doesn't bother me.




The Lollar OEM low-wind pickup -- that would be 6200 Ohms -- yields a full, clear, balanced sound. Strung with aging flats it's slightly rolled-off on the low E string, but I expect some nickel rounds will cure that. [EDIT: Oh, yeah.] The Lollar matching-coil unit is a good choice for the FV-880. As is my custom, I plan to live with it for at least a year before even contemplating a swap. (That plan has saved me a lot of pretty pointless pickup perusal, folks.)

The Thorell bracing is unique as far as I know. There are two long tone-bars running from near that tail-block toward the neck-block. The treble-side bar stops about 2" short of where the fingerboard extension is and the bass-side extends to right under the 22nd fret. Their ends are joined by a diagonal brace with a cap between the two. It's pretty cool:




A positive word for SoundPure is in order. The pics were clear and helpful. Sales Lead Barrett Brooks was clear, candid and helpful, he knows his merchandise cold and he's fluent in the language of archtop. The guitar was packed in textbook fashion and shipped as quick as anybody could. They hang some nice archtops over at SoundPure and I will enjoy watching.

The bottom line: It's cool-looking. It's fun. It's a very successful modern jazz sound. It's small and large in all the best ways. It fits in with my favored aesthetic, which is, "Somebody wanted it to be like this."



I'm gonna go play some!

[Betz]

Beautiful, and I dig the open headstock.

If compared to your other Eastman or to the Fender, do you hear any difference in the bass response not having any type of f-hole cut into that side of the top?

[Gilpy]

Very nice guitar! I had one, briefly. Beautiful design, workmanship and playability on mine and good amplified tone. It was my first Eastman and I was very impressed. I agree with you....It looks a bit gypsy, but it's an archtop all the way.

Just looking at the design, I was expecting a bigger acoustic sound. Since I play mostly acoustic, I sold it. The guy who bought it from me loved the acoustic sound. So, what do I know....?

[Sam Sherry]

Beautiful, and I dig the open headstock.

If compared to your other Eastman or to the Fender, do you hear any difference in the bass response not having any type of f-hole cut into that side of the top?

Betz, I replied in waaay too much detail privately.
For here, let's just say:
a) Acoustically, I bet that the bass-side sound-port is more-or-less tonally equivalent to a bass-side F-hole;
b) Plugged-in, the Lollar floater isn't designed to sound like the set-in Schaller "Jimmy D" humbucker on the Fender D'A;
c) I dig the Lollar and the Schaller, and expect to be able to equalize things with the right amp and speaker; and
d) I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's gig, weather permitting!

All the best in your quest.

[Betz]

I did see your response; thank you. I have never had a guitar with a sound port, so I did not know what to expect either in addition to two f-holes or in place of an f-hole.

Stay safe with Lee still brewing out there.

Betz

[vinnyv1k]

I’m a huge Frank Vignola fan. A big Congrats on his signature guitar. Enjoy! I’ve seen crooked dots on Gibson’s too.

[tbeltrans]

Congrats on the FV-880, Sam. Seeing those pics of the cosmetic issues, I pulled mine out and took a look - nothing like that on mine. Your post was very informative. When I bought mine, all I did as play it, liked it, bought it without knowing any of the details you provided in this thread. I appreciate all that information about this instrument.

These are a very comfortable instrument to play, especially after a setup to your specs.

Tony

[RJVB]

So much for Eastman's often-cited 'topnotch build work.'

My Eastman Cabaret also has a big glue drip in the middle of the back plate, strange given it's not braced. In your guitar it looks as if there's a crack in the top, in mine as if they had to put a plug in a hole in the back (but I can't see anything from the outside). Plus there's a chisel mark a few cm from that drop, there are a few frets that could have been seated more properly and there's a chip out of the "facing" running along the fretboard that presumably holds the dots. Finish in the headstock slots could have been better too.
I contacted Buscarino about this and he more or less confirmed that these QC control issues happen... (Eastman themselves too).

[icr]

Thank you for posting the picture of the marker dots. I have new binding on one of my Les Pauls and don't have any type of jig to make the holes for the marker dots. I was worried about free-hand drilling them. But not any more...

[Stringswinger]

Congrats on a very cool purchase. May she inspire your playing for many years to come.

[Oscar67]

Coincidentally I spent half an hour playing this model yesterday afternoon. Distinctive, responsive, well-made and inspiring. I wouldn’t buy one myself strictly because of personal preferences but kudos to Eastman for their wide range of happening archtops! Congrats on yours, I’m sure she’ll keep you good company for hours and hours of playing.

[MrFixie]

Agreed - really cool guitar. Does anyone have a view of whether there is a significant difference between the 660 vs 880?


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[2bornot2bop]

I’m a big SoundPure fan, and have purchased 2 used guitars from them at prices that compared to purchasing them from a personal seller.

Highly recommended!