-
How about the brightness? I've heard some people saying that the sound suffer from lack of depth.
EDIT: Also, 880 is much more expensive than 680, isn't it?
I've got an option of buying used, 8 years old Pisano 680 CE for 900£. Is it a good price?
Last edited by katamaranos; 03-28-2015 at 04:43 PM.
-
03-28-2015 04:34 PM
-
Not a issue with mine, I'm sure other JP owners will chime in. I find my 880 to be very rich and warm sounding running my amps (I gig w/two- a Shertler Unico and a Mesa Subway Rocket) set just about flat. I do use a Baggs Para EQ in front of the Unico, however it's pretty much flat also.
I think there was a blond JP in the for sale section a while ago. Beautiful instrument.
-
I'm not feeling good and my poor eyesight is really giving me fits but let me post.
About 5 years ago I saw the AR880 and wanted one, well I too couldn't handle the price so I had been looking at Yunzhi and ordered an AR880 copy from them. Well it was going to take about 11 weeks unil it shipped. Funny thing after it was well in progress I found a real score, an Eastman AR880, a NAMM Show guitar that had been made for Mel Bay Publishing (Pisano has a cd on their label) for a song, $1300.00 !! All natural finish and really gorgeous. Then I get word the Yunzhi is ready to ship and see photos. OOPS they put a floater on it !! I thought hey that's cool. A Pisano floater. So for some time I had the two side by side, actually a couple years. Though I loved the look of the Eastman I too found it too bright. So once I got the Yunzi and A/B'ed them I held onto the Yunzhi and sold the Eastman to a broker friend of mine. Then I got a nice birthday check and bought it back, then a year later sold it again, then again bought it back. The Eastman AR880 had the most remarkably perfect neck in my hands but the floater version is loud and articulate. Eventually I got the Yunzhi neck profile carved down a little, had them install a neck mounted Bartolini 5J and install a new pick guard and Schatten pots, new wire to the new output jack. The Bartolini sounds amazing. It's my baby now. So the Eastman is on the left and the Yunzhi is on the right, taken 3 years ago.
And here's the Yunzhi all finished.
So then two weeks ago I see a Yunzhi made AR680 copy in all natural finish. I know the seller, he and I have talked many times. He would contract Yunzhi to build him a batch of guitars to his spec and then cherry pick one or two to keep for himself and sell the others. So I get the Yunzhi copy at a great price and will do just what I did to the other Yunzhi, same pick guard and Schatten pots but a top mounted Bartolini PBF-49 that will mount into the top. Now if you are looking at this one you're saying "what's wrong with this picture. Well all the Eastman AR680s are either a sunburst or the classic violin stain all over, very classy, Mr Pisano has extremely good taste. This one has a natural finish spruce top and natural finish on all the mahogany parts. And when I'm done it'll be very nice also...
'
You cannot ever go wrong with one of the Eastman models and if you look around you may score a really great deal. I love mine. Wish I had thought to change the pickup in the AR880 to this Bartolini PB-49. Best of luck. I'll check in in a day or so when I'm feeling better.
Mike
-
That's about 981 US and I would think that would be an excellent buy for a 680, depending on condition of course. A huge upgrade for you-go for it!
Originally Posted by katamaranos
Yes the 880 usually is more expensive.
-
Thanks for doing the conversion rate, yes that is a good price, heck that hand wound Kent Armstrong pickup and the mahogany body and spruce top will be a great paring. You cannot go wrong with an Eastman and the resale value on that Pisano will always be pretty high.
SCORE !!!
-
Really like everything about my 880 except for The Frog.
-
@BigMikeinNJ: how much does it cost you the Pisano yunzhi copy? is the nut width the same as pisano's?
-
asedas,
I don't know what Yunzi would charge for a Pisano copy these days I have not bought from them in 4 years. Search on Yahoo and look up their site and talk to them. My new mahogany/spruce model is 1 3/4 but I did not buy it from Yunzhi, the guy I did buy it from has ordered from them in bulk lots for years and has a negotiated deal by buying in volume directly from Mr. Li. In this batch he ordered a few of them and asked for a slightly flatter back on the neck. The one I got was his last and I think he is not going to buy and resell any more.
As for the new guitar. Actually I only got it Thursday and have had little time to play it. He only got it in from China a few weeks ago and when you open the case it still smells like too fresh lacquer. When things quiet down here I'll have a place to air it out and post a review. Someone is literally moving out of my house as I speak.
I have thoroughly examined it and it's flawless, if you are over in Europe I would suggest you try to find an Eastman Pisano there like Katamaranos did, that is an extremely good deal. With the Yunzhis there can be a whole bag of issues that may require additional money and experienced technical work, there are countless threads here so look for them and read and learn. I think Americans are better off buying Yunzi's because better pickups and accessories are easier to find and cheaper in America. It seems like everything on the European side of the Atlantic Ocean is higher priced.
Try to find an Eastman. That is the very best advice I can give you. If necessary just take your time and save you money, they really are very very worth the price paid.Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 03-29-2015 at 07:32 AM.
-
One note about Eastman Pisano guitars: I've never read a review of someone not liking the feel or having a setup issue. Every time someone has been less than blown away was when the sound didn't quite fit their needs.
-
This is becoming the Pisano Fan Boy Page !!! LOL !!! But deservedly a nod to Mr. Pisano
-
You're right, but the love is well deserved. I'm impressed by the high standards that Mr. Pisano set and the way in which Eastman has been able to meet them with laudable regularity. Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
-
Would think it would be pretty obvious that I love my 880 enough to hold on to it after obtaining my BC. The BC is in a totally different league, a stunning instrument of the highest caliber. But at the end of the day there are different tools for different tasks and "Mr. P" just gets the jazz done!
-
About the Pisano's (to owners):
Does this video show the sound, which one is closest to the reality and (despite the player...) is the mix between acoustic and electric sound accurate on this vids?
Sometimes this guitar sound a bit muddy...is it true or just impression?
-
The first clip is Rich Severson, an excellent player/educator out of Oakhurst, CA, probably playing along with tracks at a guitar show where he promotes his Guitar College program. I know that Rich has many, many fine archtops at his disposal and chooses to play his Pisano quite often. Sound on that clip is hard to judge.
I would say the Sound Pure clip is a close representation of a 880-remember not only is the demo through one of the finest ever amps for this guitar (Evans), but much high end studio recording gear. Third clip-not a good representation IMHO.
These online demos are a excellent way to experience a instrument before purchase, however so many variables. I doubt you will be disappointed with a JP.
-
Having owned both the 680 and 880 for my money the 680 is the one to own. I love the feel of the neck and fretboard on the Pisano's. They're exceptional guitars.
-
The Eastman Pisano as w/ most of their archtops is not as dark as say other equivalent Gibson archtops. I think they use thinner carved tops and backs in general. They are well built archtop and a great deal as well,especially in the used market. If you like a darker acoustic sound and have the $$$ go for a Gibson, Campellone, etc.
-
I've just bought 680 for 800 GBP, I hope i won't regret xD
Reply With Quote
Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
Today, 05:20 AM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos