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Podagee57
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
 Posted - 01/18/2010 : 09:35:27 AM
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A local music store has added Eastman Guitars to its product line. They say they're all solid woods. Sound good and look beautiful. And they are about half of what you'd expect to pay for guitars with the same features. $895 for jumbo body 12 string. Guess they're "handcrafted" in China. I found a little info via internet but not much. Anybody here own one of these or know anything about the quality? Seems like a pretty good value.
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What? You mean high "E" is the TOP string. No way dude! That changes everything! |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
524 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 07:11:49 AM
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| Eastman hit the US a few years ago making guitars (archtop particularly) and mandolins. They are pretty good instruments, in the mid level or both price and quality. For a while they were using two hundred year old wood salvaged from planks and beams from an old factory that was torn down. During that time period some of the instruments were amazing for the price. But that old wood is long gone now and the current Eastman instruments are back to "decent at a decent price". They are made in China, but the quality of Chinese intruments is getting better, with Eastman seeming to lead the pack. If you find an instrument that speaks to you, go for it. |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 10:12:41 AM
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That is interesting about the woods, Earl.
I have an Eastman 16" single cutaway archtop w/ a floating pickup. It's a fantastic little axe, and a heckuva lot less worrisome to take on a gig than, say, a vintage Gibson L7. I've had it for maybe four years now and I love it.
A buddy of mine was an unofficial product tester for the Eastman F-style mandolins. He tried to get them to drop the fingerboard extension.. sure, Lloyd Loar put it there, but it gets in the way and nobody except may Radim Zenkle ever plays up there.
Anywho, he got one of the first Eastman mandos and its a real peach.
The workmanship is very good, and the word is they are actual craftsman-made instruments. Both the archtop guitars (including the very cool round-hole one) and the mando are real carved tops & backs, unlike the pressed wood instruments you usually see at that price point.
Like Earl sez, if ya find one ya like, then you found one you like. |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
524 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 1:05:15 PM
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I didn't know that you knew Radim, Mark. I know him from the Acoustic Alaska Guitar Camp, where he has been the guest mandolin teacher for a few years now. We have jammed together several times, and spent many an hour at the campfire making music. What an awesome player! I learned more in a 60 minute workshop with Radim than almost any other single workshop or class ever, and I am NOT a mando player by any stretch of the imagination.
BTW, next August I am teaching a workshop at the camp, "Intro to Slack Key for Regular Guitarists". If there is enough interest in the possiblity of a week's worth of beginner and intermediate classes, I will be floating your name (yet again) to the camp director. There is a certain amount of skepticism about learning slack-key in Alaska instead of the islands, but the music will win out.
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 3:18:22 PM
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Thanks, Earl. I'd love to get back to Alaska.
Yep, I've known Radim for a long time. He's an astonishing musician.
Here's something: Radim has gotten into the ohe hano ihu bigtime. He can play the heck out of it!
Life never fails to amaze me. |
Edited by - Mark on 01/19/2010 3:19:19 PM |
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Podagee57
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2010 : 11:45:04 AM
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| Thanks for the input guys. Really apprectiated. |
What? You mean high "E" is the TOP string. No way dude! That changes everything! |
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Eastman Guitars
