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680 has mahogany for back and sides, hence the woodier tone.
You should try a heavier gauge for sure, and flats since you like a darker tone.
Also, Pass has a different sound that Green than Wes!!
It's really difficult to sound close to three totally different and great guitarists, good luck with that!
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12-02-2013 07:10 AM
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Thanks for your suggestion
I will be satisfied if i can get the sound from either one of these greats ( just a dream).
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Pay attention to where you're picking. If you're picking closer to the bridge, the sound will be more "twangy" as opposed to picking closer to the neck which gives a much darker tone.
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Having owned both the 880 and a Yunzhi copy of the 880 with a floater (check my avatar pic) I will attest to having the same dilemma with the 880 a guitar strung with TI 12 flat wounds, the guitar needs a pickup like a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover or a Gibson Classic 57, pickups designed to give a more ELECTRIC tone, like Wes or those others. The Kent Armstrong pickup is a real nice pickup, but it is DESIGNED to give a more acoustic tone, not electric tone, which is what I believe Mr. Pisano was going after when he laid down his specs to Eastman. Really lovely instrument though. Get that Seth Lover on there and I think you will be playing that 880 a LONG time. One of THE most comfortable necks I've ever played.
Good Luck
Mike
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I don't mean to confuse the OP, but I have to disagree with that statement (sorry Mike). I have used many floaters: Gibson Johnny Smith and BJB; DeArmond FHC and 1100; vintage Bill Lawrence; Ibanez GB; Kent Armstrong Asian copies, 2D Slimbucker, and the 12 pole adjustable PAF being referenced here.
Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
The KA 12 pole adjustable PAF is a very powerful, warm humbucker - easily the best PAF style tone I've ever heard from a floater. I realize that you have a set in version on that Pisano, but it's got to be similar, probably even warmer and richer.
Personally, I'd like to hear the OP play some guitar - on any guitar. If this is his first archtop, I'm betting we're talking about issues beyond the guitar itself, such as lack of familiarity with jazz guitar technique and gear in general. We've got light strings and a very small amp going here (15W solid state). Put some 12-52(53) flats on that guitar, use a pick of about 1 mm in thickness with a soft material such as Dunlop Tortex or celluloid, turn UP your amp so you hear the electric tone clearly and strongly, and pick just to the right of the pickup.
Follow the advice to listen to yourself through headphones if possible, which will isolate the electric tone. Carved solid wood archtops always impart an acoustic sound to the playing experience; that's why we like them! But if you don't have the balance right and you're inexperienced with this type of instrument, it may be the issue.Last edited by rpguitar; 12-02-2013 at 10:10 AM.
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THIS. Follow this advice. Most of the tone will come from your playing technique and knowing the guitar/amp well enough. Heavy, flat-wound strings. Heavy pick. Proper position on strings. Proper pick angle. Proper control of body with your right arm. Tone and volume controls. Acoustic/electric mix...There are a LOT of variables. Originally Posted by rpguitar
The other stuff, like what the pickup is, the wood of the body, is secondary to the basic stuff.
Bob
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Check this out. I think this is 880. Again, it sounds a lot warmer than mine.
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Another thing to bear in mind is that the tonal property of carved topped instruments change with more playing.
I know I sound like a nutter but playing in an instrument helps improve its tone. Try playing extended chords on a folk musicians flat top acoustic and it'll sound 'meh!' That's due to it being played in one key centre with, at best, an occasional dominate 7th chord. Play a 9/13 chord and you'll feel the top plate fighting against itself and no bell like resonance ringing through.
If I get repairs for flat top acoustics I will always set the guitar in front of a loud stereo and play it some classical music with some solo acoustic guitar music as well. This makes the top vibrate and in doing so forces any moisture from the softer areas between the grain.
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So what I'm saying is that the Pisano will improve with you over the years!
Have fun!!!
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Some say a new guitar needs at least a year of playing to open up acoustically.
With classical guitars they also say that the sound starts to deteriorate after 10-15 years.
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After a few weeks, I think my pisano is not a bad choice.
I just found a new video on youtube for those who are interested to how it sound.
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Really sounds great, but please tune and/or intonate yours better than he did.
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I have been in the hunt for a mid-priced jazz guitar for about a year now.
I decided that my second jazz box would be something I could play acoustically or amplified, especially in church, which is the place where I'm cutting my chops, comping the choir and, this Christmas, playing solo.
I tried many of the guitars mentioned here. This old thread and the many reviews on this forum were immensely useful. I've played most of the guitars mentioned. But I brought home the Eastman 810CE on the day before Thanksgiving - and I think I can get used to this ... the tone is rich and warm, especially when amplified.
I am having a local luthier check it out and address a few bugs (fret overhang, low-level buzzing when plugged-in but not played). Hopefully, these issues will be resolved. This box is growing on me.
Attachment 16167Last edited by Bflat233; 01-06-2016 at 02:13 AM.
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I have the same model number. My favorite violin style design with fine violin type woods. None better like it in my opinion in all ways for any price. MAYBE better only my bigger older GIBSON L7 as a player. artb
Last edited by artb; 12-02-2014 at 09:43 AM.
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Great purchase, congratulations. Playing a real solid carved arch top is an experience that not a whole lot of guitarists are privileged enough to experience. I have an Eastman 810 that I hold in very high regard. It sits in my collection of vintage Epiphones and acoustic Heritage guitars without giving any ground.
Some of the complaints I've heard concerning Eastman guitars are attributable to lousy setups. As far as I'm concerned, this is an easy remedy so long as a competent tech is available in your area. The problem is that I've also seen some Eastmans with neck issues such as bumps or twists that can't be remedied by a simple setup. For this reason, I find it crucial to either find a store where you can physically play multiple instruments or deal with an online retailer with a firm reputation and liberal return policy.
If your tech is able to properly set up your instrument, you should have an excellent instrument that should provide a lifetime of joy.
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Congratulations on NGD 3rdwaverider!
I own an AR910CE, 2011, I absolutely love the guitar, excellent compliment to my 175.
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Congrats! I've owned a 905-7 CE for a few months now, and I have a lot of respect for the Eastman build (it's my first Eastman). The electronics are not up to par (IMO), but that's an easy fix. The acoustic sound of the guitar is excellent, and the neck plays like "buttah". From what I have experienced, it's hard to go wrong with any of the 8XX-9XX Eastmans (but I defer to folks like Klatu who have more experience with the brand than I do). I hunted for a Blonde 905-7 for months before making my purchase. I knew I wanted the 16" bout as my 17" Imperial feels too big. The 16" fits just right.
@Klatu - the point about a lot of guitarists not having the privilege of playing a carved instrument is one I have never spent much time thinking about. Thanks for giving me something to ponder. Perhaps us older guys have more discretionary income to spend on arch tops. OTOH, when I was single and trying to make it as a player back in the dark ages, I managed to save enough cash (a lot of cash, actually) to purchase a very old German 3/4 upright, so maybe it's priorities. I need to think about this.
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What's wrong with the electronics? Do you mean the pickup or the actual wiring?
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I bought an AR810CE in March. I compared it to the 805 and 610 and it just sounded fuller. I had to get the frets leveled an the binding around the pickguard came loose but I got that fixed. I also had a Benedetto pickup installed which made it sound better. I want to replace the tone/volume because they go from full to off in just a fraction of a turn. I think I'll order the Schatten pair from StewMac. Overall, I am very happy. The neck is full but not too big. The finish other than the pickguard binding is first class. It takes a bit of getting used to amplified. Too close to the amp and certain frequencies are exaggerated making it woofy and boomy. Too much volume and it howls with feedback. But get into a decent sized room and sit 8 feet from the amp and it really shines.
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The 810s are terrific guitars. I own a really old Eastman prototype of an 810 and it's so nice. Someone else had already had the frets dressed and installed new pots and wires and an old hand wound by Kent Armstrong Benedetto floating pickup. You'll love the way it sounds if and when you upgrade to a better pickup wiring. Nice thing is it'll be fine until you get the say $300.00 you'd need to really do a bang up job on replacing all that stuff. That violin finish is so pretty, I'm a natural guy myself but doggone the violin finish is really nice. Here's my 810 prototype next to a Yunzhi 810 5th Anniversary copy in the violin finish. Two great guitars, next to them on the right is a Eastman 146smd that had Seth Lover 4 wires and push pull pots, another fantastic instrument. These are all highly underrated, our little dirty secret if you will.
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The Eastman is from their original launch and passed thru two owners so all the kinks had been worked out.
The Yunzhi I got used on eBay for under $600.00 shipped, it too had been fine tuned by the previous owner. Workmanship, neck, tone and everything else was stunning on the Yunzhi. UPS lost that guitar during the winter and I was scared to death it'd be all mangled firewood if I ever got it. They found me and overnighted it to me from a lost parcel office in Missouri.
Look around and make your own informed decision. There are many really great used Eastman guitars out there - you get lucky when you least expect it. That T146smd, I'd seen it sell on eBay and about 10 months later it was for sale again, I couldn't BIN fast enough, I think I paid 1k for it (with Seth Lover 4 wires, new wiring and push pull pots). Another time I found an Eastman AR880 John Pisano in blonde on CL in Missouri, the seller only wanted $1350.00 - he'd only played it out at church. It was a NAMM guitar. There are deals to be had. A lot of people want to work inside a network of authorized dealers, you pay more for that. Yunzhi puts out a great guitar but it will need some fret work and some wiring redone but they make a remarkable instrument too.
Currently I own an Eastman T186mx in white (with sort of ivory binding) that I had Seth Lover 4 wires, SD Triple Shot pickup rings and ebony knobs installed. Gorgeous screaming guitar. I have like $1200.00 in that one.
I own the Eastman 810 Proto you see in the photo, I have $1500.00 in that.
And I own a Yunzhi John Pisano copy that has a neck mounted Bartolini 5J in it. My tech did the frets, did a little shaving of the back of the neck, refinished the neck after the shave and installed Schatten stealth pots on the new pick guard. I have around $1550.00 in that... That is the guitar I reach for now. I love that Pisano 16 inch lower bout and the neck is a breeze. It's also the loudest guitar I have acoustically. LOVE IT
I say look around a lot. The market is very soft and Christmas is coming, people need money for their furnace fuel, Christmas for the missus and kids and bills. Save your money, you see something that appeals to you PM me, I'll be glad to give you my 2 cents, I think it's still worth 2 cents. LOL
Mike
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Here's the Three Amigos shot on the back deck. Sorry for the shadows.
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That's a great looking Eastman collection.
Concerning the Pisano guitars, why are they priced so much higher than the rest of the Eastman range? Have you found added attention to detail or any other factors that may influence the price?
By the way, how do you enjoy your 186? I have one that I am quite fond of.
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I would say to me the Pisano is in the top 3 guitars of the Eastman arch top lineup. Right up there with the AR910 and the kooky shaped Pagelli. It is the most remarkably comfortable guitar to hold and play and is very loud acoustically. I sold my AR880 to a fbroker I know, bought it back from him when I was flush and sold it to him again. And he had the worst time moving it because it had this gold MEL BAY "inlay" on the 3rd position of the fingerboard. It had the nicest woods, so gorgeous. Much to my dismay he eventually found a buyer that knew what he was getting. That Yunzhi copy is more me - in that it has a floating pickup and having been a long time GB10 owner that floating sound is me. Yeah the Eastman Pisano is all that and a bag of chips. Someday I'd like to get an AR680, the mahogany version of the Pisano as I bet it is really warm sounding. Don't get me thinking about it, I got Christmas to pay for.
THe T186, that whole T range are great instruments. The classic 335 shape, but with carved top of maple and back of mahogany and a tiny 2x3 inch block under the tailpiece and bridge. And with Seth Lover 4 wires and the SD Triple Shot rings it's got every tone variation you could ask for. I paid $700.00 for the 186 shipped and then have the pickups, switching rings, pots and wiring in it. I've got 11 flat chromes on it and it does everything...
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Hi,
I'm considering buying a new guitar. Now my main guitar is ibanez AF 75, and to tell the truth, it's... just playable, but the amplified sound isn't great (about acoustic sound, there's almost none). It's muddy and unselective. Overall, owing to my Henriksen's EQ controller, the sound is ok, but I'm looking for something better. Having classical background, i play fingerstyle a lot and often practice unplugged, so i'm thinking about Eastman Pisano (680) because of it's bright acoustic tone. But I've heard opinions that the sound is even too bright. Unfortunately, in Poland I can't try Eastman myself.
When playing with a pick, I'm aiming at that sound .
Of course, I know that Mark Whitfield is playing George Benson's vintage D'Angelico, but i'm just talking about the direction.
Any ideas?
Thanks for help!
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I have been very happy with my 05 880 since I purchased it new. The 680 was not available then (Maple vs. Mahogany), however I would have considered the 680 at that time. The 1 3/4 nut and 25" scale makes it a breeze to play on a long gig. It has been a workhorse for me. As I have posted in other threads, my main working guitar is a 90 Benedetto Cremona, however there are certain gigs that the Pisano works better on, specifically a big band gig I'm in.
The neck on my 880 is a outstanding profile. I kept the original pickup but some guys changed theirs. I would recommend it highly.
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A really nice pickup in a cheap guitar
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