Does anybody have knowledge of Eastman Guitars

[Gstring]

I understand these are Chinese made Les Paul copies with upgraded hardware. e.g. . SD 59 pups and Gotoh hardware. But here in the UK they seem almost the same price as the real thing! People also seem to be asking very high prices on the second hand market. compared with other LP copies.

 

[NegativeEase]

I have several -one I even tour with. They can be great guitars or average -depends on the model -as it's all contract manufacturing overseas. My guitar is the Sidejack Baritone -it's stability with the strap locks staying in the wood body being the only issue in 3 years with the construction of the guitar -I rebore the holes with much bigger screws after the toothpick/glue trick didnt work well. -Also when I opened up the pickup cavity it found saw dust all over the place from the original cavity work -no big deal -but a little slack if you ask me.

I changed out the pickups on my gigging one but the stock Eastwood pickups sounded great -they were just a little noisy for being on stage with lights, electrical (maybe unpotted - need to open them up and see) -I had Fralin wind me some for the sound I was looking for in a noiseless configuration -The Duncans version were not available for like 12 weeks and I had about a dozen gigs in November and December -the Fralins are great.

I mean, if the real thing is very close, I'd go with real thing.....but for a deal, the Eastwoods can be great.

 

[jeremy]

the ones ive played have been very nice. not just the gibsonish ones, even the more oddball stuff. they arent inexpensive but do seem to hold their value well, at least for now. who knows how that might change in a few years. i was in the market for a lp, for example, id try a few different brands and see what suits me best. for example, i have a hamer monaco elite which is similar to a gibson lp. usa made with the right woods, duncans, good hardware, no corners cut. it doesnt sound like my lp. both even have antiquity buckers in the bridge. is one better than the other? nope. but they do sound and play different

 

[Mincer]

I had one that looked like an ES-335. Good guitar, but a little heavy for its size, and it sounded closer to an LP than a 335. But it was a good sound. It had sort of a relic'd finish on it too. I sold it to fund a Gibson Howard Roberts.

 

[ICTGoober]

I have 2 Eastman carved top archtops. Both about 10 years old, an AR 804 with oval soundhole, and an AR 810 with F-holes. Local jazzers have played them and said they are as good as any Gibson L-5 (all of them currently own or have played L-5's in their careers). The build quality is clean, woods are excellent, the finish is topnotch. I plan on getting an Eastman El Rey one of these days.

Not many of these in town, but the ones that have crossed my bench were all very good, needing only a setup to be excellent players. I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on any Eastman you want. They are world class guitars, especially anything that lists for over a grand. The good stuff is handmade. I've seen videos and very little machining is done - the factory is very quiet. Craftsmen work away carving and fitting, old school methods. I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[NegativeEase]

I think if I was in the market for LP style guitars that are not LPs, Id look at ESP LTDs before Eastman

 

[Condemnedsoul]

TS-484
This is the Eastman version of the Gibson ES-339. I had if about a year and a half so far. It hasn't left the house, so I can't give a real world review of the guitar.
The guitar is well-made and the parts, the fit, and the finish are all first-rate. Since this is the Duncan board, I feel obligated to mention the pickups. The guitar came with mismatched pickups. The neck has a SD Jazz neck and the bridge has a SD 59. I would not have picked the 59. Now that I've got some time on the guitar, I feel that the pickups compliment each other. The Jazz has a touch of mids and the 59 has some scoop. The contracts work well, switching between the two.

Yes, I would buy this guitar again. It fits nicely into the spot between my Charvels and SG's.

 

[Gstring]

Thanks for that Condemned Soul Apologies for delay in getting back to you. The reason for post was that a young acquaintance was recently bequested 1000 pounds"to buy himself a nice guitar" A luthier friend had recommended trying to find a second hand Eastman 59 ,Sadly even second hand they are too expensive. Guy is currently still undecided over an Epi Custom ,or an Epi 59 Standard using left over cash to buy another guitar from Harley Benton or a Gibson Tribute.. His sole electric at the moment is a MIM Strat.

 

[playas]

Epiphone, PRS SE, ESP etc. etc. and maybe an upgrade or two should get a great guitar for that price.

Check out new and second-hand.

 

[GuitarStv]

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/for...e-orpheo-guitars-les-paul-silverburst-edition

Talk with Orpheo about this guitar . . . he makes pretty darned good Les Pauls. Way better than Epiphone, PRS SE, ESP, etc.

 

[playas]

Yeah. If he's into it that's a no brainer.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Colin on the guitaristas youtube channel has reviewed a couple. He seems to like them over genuine Gibsons.

 

[Mincer]

Colin on the guitaristas youtube channel has reviewed a couple. He seems to like them over genuine Gibsons.

Mine was as good as any ES335 I've played.

 

[Gstring]

Thanks for that. Would be more interested in contacting Orpheo if he was in the UK . Import duties and hidden Custom charges plus 20% V AT are a real pain.

Suspect his guitars are awesome.