Eastwood Hollow Body

[bbl4ck]

Has anybody seen or played one of these Eastwood Messenger Hollow Bodies? 
I have been looking for a hollow body for awhile and just stumbled on this and kinda like it's looks.
But, I have never even seen an Eastwood guitar in person, let alone played one.
Also, I am not sure about the New Yorker Mini Humbuckers.  Are they Eastwoods pups or who makes them?

Anybody have any knowledge of Eastwood quality?  I think they are made in Canada.
This model goes for $850 with a hard case. 
I am wide open to any suggestions for other hollow bodies in this price range if ya have any thoughts...

 

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I had an interst in them awhile back.  The company may or may not be Canadian.  I used to get their e-mail newsletter, and this was their rule of thumb for the consumer.  If it's over $500, it's Korean.  If it's under $500, it's Chinese.

I think their pickups if not made by them are made for them.  There little niche is the retro-market.  They may or may not be of decent quality, but I think they are trying to recreate the nostalgia of a lot of those 60s department store guitars, maybe made a little nicer.

The original that this guitar is based on had an aluminum neck IIRC.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

" We make Eastwood® Guitars in three different factories based in Korea and China."

-from the FAQs on the Website.

 

[Doughboy]

I've come close several times to buying an Eastman hollowbody. They look great& the price is cheap cheap cheap. However, when Chinese & cheap meet, the out come is not good.

1st, I asked 2 local luthiers if they had done any work on Eastmans. Both had done quite a few repairs on them & none had much good to say about the brand. Twisted necks, poor binding, finishes that were ultra easy to stratch etc. One luthier had an Eastman there that he was due to work on & I got to play it & the neck was all messed up. The binding was popping out like it was made by Gibson & the finish was so easy to scratch that I accidentally hit the case whiel putting it back in & it got scratched. Now, such a thing would NEVER happen with a normally finished guitar, but the finish on this one was virtually nothing. You coudl press on it with your thumb & almost leave a mark.

Both luthiers said they were great for the price until the warranty wore off & then you were screwed. One luthier said it's almost like they're set to fall apart as soon as their warranty date expires, kinda like american cars. Both said Ibanez made much better hollowbodies for the prices & they were built like a tank, as opposed to the Eastmans.

 

[tfarny]

I have played around with some of the Ibanez hollow bodies and always been tempted by them - but they need some real pickups imhop.

 

[Doughboy]

I have played around with some of the Ibanez hollow bodies and always been tempted by them - but they need some real pickups imhop.

Agreed. The Ibanez PU aren't bad, but the guitar would improve greatly if you were to replace them with a set of 36th anniv PAFs, Air Classics so any good low output PAF.

Godin also makes an AMAZING hollowbody now called the 5th Avenue Kingpin. Having played both the Ibanez & Godin, I'd say Godin all the way. They're the same price & the quality of the godin is a lot better & it comes with Lollar PUs.

Btw, if anyone has a chance to see Robert Godin do one of his seminars, GO. Not only is he a truly nice person who's devoted his life to the guitar, but his seminar is ultra informative.

 

[bbl4ck]

I  They may or may not be of decent quality, but I think they are trying to recreate the nostalgia of a lot of those 60s department store guitars, maybe made a little nicer.

Hey, thanks for the feed back folks.  Sounds like it might be a good idea to stray away from these boxes. 
I know what you mean STDC about the department store guitars.  A lot of their other pieces looks like those Jetson type guitars.  Not my thang...

I have also heard good reports on the Godin's and I might have to check one out.  I just really like those cat's eye f holes vs. the traditional shape. 
Anyway, thanks again &  :rock-on:

 

[TBurst Std]

Every Godin I have played has been an awesome instrument.

 

[bagman67]

+1 on the Godins being well made guitars with decent electronics out of the box.

I have played a couple Eastwoods in guitar shops and have found them to be kinda cheapish, and the fingerboard was too narrow in every case.

Bagman

 

[Doughboy]

I originally dismissed Godin's because of the low prices, but when I actually played a few, I couldn't believe how good they were. It goes to show you how outrageously over priced a lot of guitars are. A godin beats out a Fender, Gibson, Jackson any time for a fraction of the price. I'm REALLY liking the Kingpin Model & will probably pull the trigger this year & get one.

Th Eastmans look great, but when you pick it up, it reeks of low quality. It just feels....cheap. 

 

[Superlizard]

Dude... just buy a Gibson.

*snicker*

 

[Paul-less]

I own two Godins, and they play like heaven. I have nothing except for good words for them. My first guitar was one of the Godins, an EMG series Freeway model.

 

[big bob]

If you want the best, buy a heritage!! not bad on the wallet if you go used... made at 225 parsons street kalamazoo

 

[Paul-less]

If you want the best, buy a heritage!! not bad on the wallet if you go used... made at 225 parsons street kalamazoo

Wow, I thought Heritage shut down. I might have to checksee on a hollowbody from them...

 

[Tempest]

If you want the best, buy a heritage!! not bad on the wallet if you go used... made at 225 parsons street kalamazoo

The few Heritages I have played are EASILY a few of the greatest guitars I have ever played

 

[Superlizard]

If you want the best, buy a heritage!! not bad on the wallet if you go used... made at 225 parsons street kalamazoo

The few Heritages I have played are EASILY a few of the greatest guitars I have ever played

:icon_thumright:  If I truly were to get a Gibson, I'd get a Heritage.

 

[big bob]

If you want the best, buy a heritage!! not bad on the wallet if you go used... made at 225 parsons street kalamazoo

Wow, I thought Heritage shut down. I might have to checksee on a hollowbody from them...

Nope up and running strong, I was just at the factory in aug. picked up my 170 custom. I am biased as I know most of the people who work there. They do make a great guitar, I know, I have five.

 

[Graffiti62]

um..WOW!  I knew about Heritage from the old hermit who runs the music shop near the college in Marquette. He'd order from them at the NAMM show and have them delivered. Tried them out--I liked them aside from the fact that each one he had on display was with a skinny neck. I really like the double-cut with the triple minis--I seriously went 

How are the controls laid out btw? Is that triple volume, or more like a Strat?  The single-cut model you have really reminds me of the Abe Rivera guitar that Kevin Eubanks played for years on The Tonight Show. Very nice stuff!

 

[bbl4ck]

Oh my...
Lance, that is a really sweet collection of Heritage pieces you have.  Both of those arch tops, the acoustic, and the electric are just stunning. 
What model is the electric?  It looks kinda like the H-575, but some of the parts just don't match.  It is a beauty  :glasses9:

Thanks man!  Now you really have me thinking about a Heritage and these are not in the same price range that I was considering. 
You know what that GAS can do to the old bank account.  I will just have to keep my eyes peeled for a good deal on a used model.
Can you get better deals at the factory.  I have a friend nearby that I just might have to visit if they offer something good at the factory.

Thanks for the great pics...  :rock-on:

 

[big bob]

Oh my...
Lance, that is a really sweet collection of Heritage pieces you have.  Both of those arch tops, the acoustic, and the electric are just stunning. 
What model is the electric?  It looks kinda like the H-575, but some of the parts just don't match.  It is a beauty  :glasses9:

Thanks man!  Now you really have me thinking about a Heritage and these are not in the same price range that I was considering. 
You know what that GAS can do to the old bank account.  I will just have to keep my eyes peeled for a good deal on a used model.
Can you get better deals at the factory.  I have a friend nearby that I just might have to visit if they offer something good at the factory.

Thanks for the great pics...   :rock-on:

Yes it is a 575.. plays great.. As for getting a good deal at the factory, you never know. If they want to move stuff they might give you a deal. My last one , the double cut was made just for me by one of the employees on an employee ticket. I had a guitar she wanted (thefirst one she ever made) and she built me the double cut as a trade. you should keep your eye on ebay there are some great buys I saw a 575 like mine go for 999.00 
here is a pic of the one I traded