Can someone who belongs to AGF too please pm me? I need to get ahold of a moderator over there by email. I tried letting my iPad assign a strong password over there while changing my password and now I’ve effectively locked myself out of my account.

Hey everyone! Full disclosure, I'm a newcomer and don't currently own an Eastman myself (yet), but I've become quite smitten with them from what videos and photos I've seen online. As it stands, I plan on treating myself and getting an SB59/v in a year's time or so when I can hopefully afford it.

That said, I noticed that there was a similar thread over in the Acoustic Guitar section, but I've been wondering what we might see next from Eastman over on the electric side of their lineup. Obviously it will probably be awhile before we hear anything official from the company since Winter NAMM 2021 is cancelled due to COVID, but I think it's still a worthwhile topic to discuss. 

Seeing as how the company's electric guitars largely draw influence from classic Gibson guitars of the 40's and 50's, do you think they'll continue with that direction and eventually release their own takes on designs like the Explorer, SG, Firebird or Flying V? Or do you think Eastman will continue more in the direction we've seen so far with the Romeo and begin to branch off into making new body shapes that somewhat evoke ideas of the electric guitars of yesteryear?

I’m falling more in love with my E8D-TC every time I pick it up. This weekend I changed the strings from the D’Addario EJ’s that came on it, to the John Pearse PB’s, thus far my favorite strings hands down. It now has more warmth, bass response, and maintains the overtones I love, but with a little less “metallic sheen” that I find the EJ’s to exhibit.

“What does all this have to do with tuners,” you ask? Well, the Pings seem have extremely short and thin posts. I can’t get the number of winds under the E and A strings that I typically like to, and they just generally seem cheaper than should be on a guitar of this caliber.

Years ago I had a tech swap the Pings for Grover 18:1 Sta-tites on my E20OM. I loved the 18:1’s, but I know that he had issues with the hole circumference, and that it was a bit more of a chore.

Anyone have preferences, thoughts, etc. on tuner replacements for the E series? Any direct swaps for the Pings that are higher quality, or do I bite the bullet, grab the Grovers and start boring out the holes?

Guitarist magazine's Gear of the Year choices includes two Eastman guitars, one each in the Solid Body Electric and Semi Solid Electric categories
Eastman SB55/v:- ‘’Closest thing you’ll get to the real thing [vintage Les Paul Junior] at a fraction of the price.’’ And ‘’more proof that China can build superb guitars.''
Eastman Romeo:- ''The Romeo is a thoroughly modern take on the electric archtop, built exceptionally well and with its custom Lollar Imperials being the icing on the perfectly baked cake.'’ 

I would note that Guitarist magazine features little coverage of out and out acoustics.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Eastma...-Guitar.gc

I came across this story on the FB Eastman page. It lead me to a longer read that I am slowly plodding through about the experiences and data Finnish luthiers have collected over the last 20 years on thermocuring. I don't profess to understand a fraction of it, but I found it interesting.

Attached Files

Thermally-Aged-Tonewood-2020.pdf

File size: 2.7 MB

Downloads: 203

Hi folks, just wondering how many of you have had the bridge slotted on your guitars? As I tend to have the "keeper" mentality and change strings fairly regularly part of me says it would make sense in the long term to have the job done. The bridge on my E20D is nicely ramped from new so the appearance wouldn't be affected. I'll probably ask a local (USA trained) luthier to have a look at it in the new year (I'd read somewhere that many UK luthiers are reluctant to do the job). I'd also appreciate any comments for or against. Thanks.

I'm late to the game on these limited gems, but I ran across an E1SS-LTD-CLA in a local shop right before Thanskgiving.  It was my first trip to a guitar store in well over a year...maybe 2...and I was just kicking some tires.  When I saw the slope with the burst-ish finish, I had to play it.  I've been dread-less for two years and while I love my Larrivee OM, like so many before me, I miss the depth of tone you get with a dread.  

Everything about that E1SS blew my mind...tone for days, power, clarity, and a very comfortable neck.  Gosh, it was great.  We've had a boatload of medical bills this year, and while I was super tempted to buy it on the spot, I knew better.  I couldn't get it out of my head though, and today I reached out to the store to check on it...only to find it had sold.  

The proverbial one that got away.  

There are still a few of the standard finish in the wild, but that classic finish really captured my eye.  Also, the fear of buying online makes me apprehensive as I know full well that there are less-than-stellar examples of every guitar out there, and the one I get may not be close to the one I played in store. 

Moral of the story?  Don't play when you can't pay, I guess!

What are your thoughts on which process is better?
I've watched tons of guitar factory videos lately, and the whole process intrigues me.

Eastman does every step in person...hands on approach...and we know what kind of guitars we get becasue of it.

However, companies like Taylor use robotics and machinery to ensure everything is 100% the smae between every guitar build.
They have amazing quality, but prices are skyrocketing.

Which process is better and why, in your opinion?

A lot of boutique biulders do it all by hand without machinery...the old fashoined way.

so if you take boutique builder A, their guitars cost about $5 k.
Taylors and others, being mass manufacturered, cost usually $2k and up.
Eastman, however, start in the mid hundreds and go up to about $2.

Is the simple economics due to cost of labor, or what else is involved?
Which do you prefer and why?

Greetings all,

Many of you chimed in (much appreciated, by the way) on my earlier thread regarding the TC and "regular" versions of the E8D.

Well, I'm excited to report that I ended up picking up a new TC from Douglas and Co. over at Midwood Guitar Studio in Charlotte, NC. I'd never heard of them prior to finding their ad for this TC, but working with them was amazing and Sage did a set-up on this beauty to my spec that came out wonderfully.

It arrived Friday, but with the 24 hour acclimation period (it was cooooooold) combined with a busy Saturday, I didn't even crack the box open until 11pm or so Saturday evening. But, it was gorgeous when I finally did!

I understand the descriptions now of the TC. The strings are brand new, the guitar is brand new, you can tell it's brand new, and yet, there is a quality to the tone that isn't typical of a new guitar. It's difficult to describe - I know it will continue to open up, get better with age, but it feels like we've skipped a step, if you will.

Life is extremely busy, so play time has been limited to roughly 15 minutes a day since Sunday. So far though, it has not disappointed!

Here she is... I'll write more as I am able. Thanks again to everyone for the help!