Eastman Experience

[Mincer]

Stopped by Paragon Music in Tampa today to play a few Eastman archtops at what they called the 'Eastman Experience'. Many of these have Seymour Duncan pickups. These are exquisite guitars, and have great prices. The ones I played today were excellent. I wrote a blog about them here. You can read more about the specs on their instruments here. I played archtops today, and they were wonderful. Here are some pics:

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Eastman Experience

Dude, nice stuff!

[kramersteen]

Re: Eastman Experience

You didn't buy one.

[Darg1911]

Re: Eastman Experience

I've played the Eastman 335 like thinline double cuts. If I wanted a Gibson 335 style but couldn't afford the 335, I would probably buy the Eastman. I think it's the nicest of the 1K range 335 "copies" that I've played. But, it's not a good 335. I went another direction with a Godin Montreal Premiere. Not a 335 either, but not supposed to be. I love that guitar.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Eastman Experience

Epi makes a good 335 style guitar too
I have played the Eastmans at a semi local shop
They are nice, have a good feel
Nicely appointed for the price
Bound necks and nice inlays
But priced between Epiphone and Gibson isn't a good place
Musicians are polar
Either poor/cheap
Or extravagant
Not really a middle ground

[jeremy]

Re: Eastman Experience

nice looking guitars! i dont see many eastmans around here

[Mincer]

Re: Eastman Experience

I may buy one. It is between an Eastman and a Godin. Both are hard to find here, so I either have to wait until NAMM to try them, or buy them sight unseen. So when one of these types of things happen around here (this one was an hour away), I go. It doesn't hurt that both brands come with SDs stock, and I've written blogs about both brands.
I have to say, the Eastmans are better than any Epi, and most non-vintage Gibsons. I'd take their variation on a 335 (true hollow, carved instead of laminate, ebony board, flame maple 'binding') over a current production 335. You also get size choices, either 14", 15" or 16" across.

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Eastman Experience

Not a fan of the Headstock/Plain-ish Logo but they've infiltrated my local MGR and do look like very nice Jazzers.

[ICTGoober]

Re: Eastman Experience

I have 2 very nice Eastman archtops - an F-hole and an oval hole. They both play and sound great acoustically and plugged in. I would like to get one of their new SB's when they come in.... (they look like a Les Paul).

[Mincer]

Re: Eastman Experience

Those SBs come with Antiquities. Very cool looking guitars!

[gnappi]

Re: Eastman Experience

I have or will have two, one here (a T-165MX) and one incoming (a T-486). I also have Gibson, Epi, Ibanez, Peerless, and D'Angelico models and the Eastman takes a back seat to none. Add to that stock many models are now coming with SD pups which makes them a great buy.

[treyhaislip]

Re: Eastman Experience

I've liked every Eastman I've played--acoustics, electrics, solid bodies, semis and hollowbodies.

Superb tone and playability for the price.

[voggin]

Re: Eastman Experience

I stupidly passed a great one by used. It was a semi-hollow with no f-holes, with a body kind of like the old 70s Gibson L5S's. I kept thinking, this is way too cheap, I must be just attracted to how it looks. But it had great frets and a great acoustic tone (I didn't plug it in). When I finally decided to buy it, it was gone. That thing with a set of Seths would have been an awesome jazz guitar.

[Mincer]

Re: Eastman Experience

I stupidly passed a great one by used. It was a semi-hollow with no f-holes, with a body kind of like the old 70s Gibson L5S's. I kept thinking, this is way too cheap, I must be just attracted to how it looks. But it had great frets and a great acoustic tone (I didn't plug it in). When I finally decided to buy it, it was gone. That thing with a set of Seths would have been an awesome jazz guitar.

Most likely an El Rey. That was the first Eastman I played, too. Wonderful instrument with a very modern design.

[chadd]

Re: Eastman Experience

I've played a bunch, very hit or miss. Very few great ones that I would put on par with my 335, a few more decent ones and probably half that I wouldn't take if they were free.