NGD: Eastman Jazz box

grayn · October 2023

Well, after many years of looking into and nearly getting a hollowbodied jazz guitar, I finally succeeded and brought one home with me yesterday. I went over to Frets Guitar Centre, in Cleveleys, to try out 3 jazzers in my price bracket. I mostly went to try out an Eastman AR580CE but they also had some cheaper models I wanted to compare with. These being an Epiphone Broadway and a Hofner HCT-J17. The Broadway is quite a handsome guitar, with some decent build quality. The Hofner does look quite cheap, close up. And it is the lowest priced of the three. But I really liked the pickup on it, which had a full, clear tone. All 3 guitars were pre-owned and I could have bought both the Epi and the Hof, for the price of the Eastman. But as soon as you pick up the Eastman, you can see and feel why.

The AR580CE oozes quality, with it's spec and build/finish qualiIty. It has ebony fingerboard, bridge, pickguard, tuner buttons and tailpeice; quilted maple binding to body, neck, head, f-holes and pickguard. Other features include a solid spruce, hand carved top, Gotoh tuners, pearl split-block markers on the fretboard, a Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup, a Switchcraft jack socket and a brass underside to the ebony tailpeice.

Yes, this Eastman is a real looker, with it's honeyburst body and beautiful overall finishing. More importantly, it plays very smoothly and comfortably and the Seymour Duncan pushes out a very full, sweet tone. The 16" wide 2 9/16" deep body isn't the biggest but I see/hear that as an advantage. Acoustically it has a well balanced, very well defined tone. Not swamped by the bass, a much larger body might produce. This amps up well and again, has lots of vibrant, well balanced tonality.

The guitar came with some brand new D'addario Chromes flatwounds on. I like these, they feel good and are surprsiingly vibrant. Though I may, in the future, try out some Thomastik BeBop round wounds.

So, I am improving on my chordal range and structure and enjoying that mellow, single lines mood. Just need to up my game, to make the most of this Jazz box.

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RichAC · October 2023

That’s the second new jazzbox day post in a row!

That’s really nice. I love the colour. Happy new guitar day.

danishbacon · October 2023

Beautiful. These eastmans are some of the best jazz boxes you can buy, irrespective of price. Happy new guitar day!

theatreanchor · October 2023

Eastman do make some cracking jazzers. Congrats!

guitarjack66 · October 2023

In the words of John Thomson aka The Fast Show Jazz Club host 'Nice!'

Teyeplayer · October 2023

Love an Eastman, I’ve an SB59 and Juliet, want a T64 or Jazzer next. They just make great guitars.

Power_Freak · October 2023

Congrats, they are killer guitars. I'm always on the lookout for an Eastman 7 - but they're hard to find! Enjoy

Wonky · October 2023

Now that does look lovely. I think that's a guitar I'd like myself

Barney · October 2023

They are lovely guitars ...I have a Eastman it's a AR810 CE with the volumes behind the scratch plate ....possibly putting it up for trade soon cos I just don't use it

EvansDrD · October 2023

Very nice indeed!

I think you’ll notice a very big difference once you get the TI strings on. I much much prefer them to D’Addario Chromes

You probably know this but remember to go ‘up’ a gauge when using TIs (their 13s = most other manufacturer’s 12s in terms of tension)

smigeon · October 2023

Nice! I almost bought a second-hand one of these a few years back at the now-defunct Sounds Great shop in Cheadle. But I already had an AR371 at that time, and told myself I couldn’t justify another Eastman! Of course, now I wish I had. I still love the rawness and immediacy of the 371 in a (jazzish) band mix, but would probably also have loved the more refined sound of the 580 for solo stuff.

CoffeeAndTV · October 2023

Wow!!! Happy new archtop day!! That’s a quality instrument!

Basher · October 2023

Lovely stuff. I really like the Eastman range and the guitars I've played have been great. That's such a "proper" looking jazzbox with a beautiful finish. Enjoy!

grayn · October 2023

Thanks for all the positive comments.
I forgot to mention how light this guitar is.
So much lighter than the other Jazzers I tried.
It's a real thoroughbred and inspiring some lovely melodies.
A joy to look at and play.

spir4L · October 2023

It looks wonderful

Congratulations

Howdy, Stranger!

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NGD: Eastman Jazz box

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