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i ended up selling my T386 and bought a gibson 339 instead. The difference in quality and tone is night and day. The eastman is a great, "inexpensive" guitar but is not in the same league with a well made 335/339/AS200/SA2200, etc.
The hardware (switches, wiring, pots, etc.) are also very cheap on the eastman.
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09-23-2016 05:38 PM
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My experience was different.
Originally Posted by agentsmith
I replaced my T386 with a Gibson CS336 for a "wee bit" more money...
Couldn't sell it fast enough!
Replaced it with a Walsh small body semi... almost, but...
Next, an Eastman T184.
I'm done!
YMMV
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Different strokes for different folks I guess. Someone mentioned earlier selling a 339 after hearing the Eastman. Having never played a 339 I have no idea how they compare, but "cheap" doesn't describe the Eastman, it's very high quality. Originally Posted by agentsmith
Last edited by m_d; 09-24-2016 at 08:20 AM.
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Is someone really saying they put cheap hardware on high end Eastmans? Really? Switches, wiring and pots, that is cheap mundane stuff. Unless you believe in gold-plated stuff or care about the ornamental qualities rather than the mechanistical ones.
It always pisses me off when someone comes and says some brand that isn't considered top tier brandname-wise use cheap parts on their expensive guitars. Especially when it comes to the electronics.
Or that their mahogany is inferior as it is not specifically selected for their 'tone wood' qualities. Or that the hands of Mexicans working in the US are superior to those of workers in China, S Korea, Germany or Japan.
I bet the Japanese consider US-made guitar inferior, because Americans are obviously less skilled workers than Japanese.
In the end it all depends on how strict your quality control is. How many guitars are you going to reject. How skilled should a worker be before they can move on to working on your high-end models. And the price is a matter of supply and demand, brand name value, and worker cost. There is no direct correlation between guitar quality and price. No company prices up or down a guitar depending on how good or bad it is.
T386 isn't in the same price range as a T186. You cannot expect the same quality control. Don't compare a low end Eastman to a high end Gibson.
I am not convinced a 4000-6000 euro Gibson Memphis is better than a 2000 euro T186 or Gibson studio, despite being 2 to 3 times the price. Do any of them have cheap parts? No. Does a 500-1000 euro guitar from Epiphone, Ibanez or Eastman? Maybe. Depends on the model. Do cheaper parts actually function less well? Debatable. They are all machined using the same raw material. The more expensive parts may be machined with more accurate CNC machines. Depending on the part, they may just looked better and be identical in functionality. Or they may perform a bit better.
Guitarists being emotional, irrational, conservative customers, the marketing departments of guitar companies create a parallel universe especially suited to meet to the expectations of the emotional, irrational, conservative guitar player with GAS.
Originally Posted by Bobsynth
Buy a headless with a natural finish. Even semihollows aren't designed for comfort. There's a reason why almost everyone performs with a jazz box sitting down.
And lacquer being thin or not, if it scratches, it scratches.
I guess if you get wear and use marks on a Gibson, it gets more valuable, as it is more vintage. But when you do the same to an other guitar, it is bad.Last edited by Almeisan; 09-24-2016 at 05:53 AM.
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That is true, although I've found brand snobs and tone gourmets to be a bit more widespread in the electric guitar world. Opinions about Eastmans are far more balanced on acoustic guitar forums. There's no hysteric reaction when people mention their Eastmans in the same sentence as their Martins, without obligatorily having to say the Eastman is inferior. People are just happy Eastman gives them a different option.
In my opinion, Eastman IS a top-tier manufacturer. While not the type to flip guitars every week, I've owned some nice guitars, an American Strat and a Guild Artist Award in particular. For semi-hollows, my point of comparison is a made in China (like the Eastman) Ibanez Artcore, my first semi, which I've played every day for two years. The Eastman is a huge step up. It is much closer in build quality and beauty to the Guild, than it is to the Ibanez Artcore it is replacing. It is 1/6th the cost of the Guild, and only marginally more expensive than the Artcore. It may not hold the top spot in the major league as a choice Guild or Gibson would, but it is definitely in the same league. Which isn't to say that there aren't some exceptional Eastmans too; but there isn't nearly as much cork-sniffery around Eastmans compared to the "top-tier" brands, so no one really knows for sure.
In comparison, while serviceable, and a good instrument, the Artcore is strictly minor league. It is a well-made mass produced instrument and that's about it. It plays very well, but had to have a fret levelling to get that way ($150); the hardware ranges from acceptable to horrible (the bridge in particular), and changing those parts would have made it almost as expensive as the hand-made T386. Ibanez uses the same parts on the AS153 which costs about the same as the T386. There was no way I was going to risk buying that model. No parts need to be changed on the Eastman (it has a high quality Gotoh bridge, for instance). All the demos I heard of the T386 sound from good to superb; there was no mention anywhere of anyone changing the wiring or anything. They may be using cheap pots and wiring, but why would they, to save $15?
I don't have the data, but my guess is the margins on Artcores and comparable mass-produced Chinese guitars are enormous, while Eastman's margins are just normal. They are a great company and to me represent the best of a Chinese tradition of beauty, excellence and individuality which, incidentally, their police state has tried very hard to repress. They do beautiful work. Comparing them to the mass manufacturers is a bit like comparing a robotic Beijing opera dancer to a master fighter with centuries of a noble tradition built into his art. Ok, maybe not the best comparison, but they deserve some respect. Really.Last edited by m_d; 09-24-2016 at 08:29 AM.
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I've heard that China makes it difficult to export instruments that have non-Chinese hardware. That may explain the use of less than top-grade components. Originally Posted by Almeisan
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Again, it's not the case with the t386. The hardware is fine. Not so on the ibanez Artcore it replaces.
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I'm in the midst of saving for a new guitar and have decided to go with a semi-hollow. I've been going back and forth between the d' angelico ex-ss and the t386. I played my friends ex ss and loved the neck, and sound. But I am open to other options and would sincerely appreciate any insight. The t386 would obviously be cheaper $ which is always nice for a broke jazz performance major. But I'd be willing to wait it out for the ideal guitar due to planning on not being able to purchase a new guitar for the foreseeable future. Hope I didn't get off topic here and if I did just say so!
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The 336 is a totally different guitar than a 339 or 335. apples/oranges. Originally Posted by RonD
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I'll chime in here owning several Eastman guitars over the years (JP 880,805CE,810CE,803CE,El Rey 2) All of them were excellent instruments in terms of build quality, attention to detail,etc. Only the 810CE had a p/up I didn't think was that great sounding( JS Floater type) The only other issue was the thin finishes on some of the earlier guitars which were not very durable over time. But they have fixed that as well. I only wish they offered other neck shapes and widths, but for the price they are great guitars!
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Yesterday I picked up a very sweet, almost like new Eastman T386 in tobacco sunburst. Very nice guitar that feels to be a very quality build, and sounds excellent. It may be Chinese made, but they did a very good job. Can't beat the price at $675.
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A pretty guitar at an attractive price! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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Congrats on your guitar! I have a similar guitar, the t486b, which has a bigsby and seymour duncan phat cat p90s. I've never really got along with 335 shape guitars but even after 2 years it astounds me every time I play it. The workmanship and wonderful neck profile should be essentially the same as yours. I also paid less than $700 usd.
I played one of the more expensive models with the solid top (t186 I believe) but I found the weight balance not to my liking (a bit neck heavy). While the t186 was livelier (especially acoustically) I found the electric tone on mine preferable to my taste. I've been curious to try the model you have but haven't seen one in person.
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A good choice in pups. My 486 has the standard SD's which I do not like much, their saving grace is they sound very good (as does everything else) in my old Polytone amp. Originally Posted by Dylan Martin
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Ironically, for years, I wanted a 335 with a Bigsby and humbuckers. I initially saw the t486 with the SD humbuckers and the t486b with the PCs I really wished Eastman had made a humbucker/bigsby model. Then I came across the t486b on craigslist. I was really impressed with the phat cats which opened up a whole new dimension for me beyond my expectations and original thinking. This, combined with the neck profile made me very happy Originally Posted by GNAPPI
> I still struggle a bit with the form-factor of the 335 body though. My right shoulder is more comfortable with 16 inch archtops and telecaster bodies.
That said, I've always been a humbucker guy and am not usually too picky about them so I'd still be curious to play a t386.
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I have a T386, as well - absolutely love it. Playability, tone, finish work, all are perfect. Zero flaws. You will love that guitar! Enjoy it!
PS: here's a shot of mine.
Attachment 56004
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Eastman seems to really be building and designing for Tone (s) and it's working - judging from the Demos .
I'd like to play all the El Reys back to back for example....
I only need to play them in a quiet room unplugged ...if a Guitar has the deep resonance thing , even- ness for chords
AND playability for me ...I can always have electronics changed.
Funny thing - they don't carry at least as of a few years ago the electric Eastman's in or near the little City I live in .......Miami ...lol.
Looking at that Headstock- Eastman needs a hair wider for straight string pull but especially - the Olympic/ Guinness Book Race between
Heritage and Eastman for World's Longest Headstock needs to end.....
But if one sounds great...plays great ...I would live it ( and might ) .Last edited by Robertkoa; 11-19-2018 at 06:16 AM.
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Brought mine earlier this week from Guitar Village (in the UK) for £799 (which post disaster budget is an absolute steal) and I’m absolutely blown away by it! Flawless build, superb playability and sounds fantastic through my blues cube hot. It’s also really versatile.
This is the second Eastman I have brought, the first being the acoustic E20SS, and they are both just outstanding instruments.
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Today I play a T64 Eastman!
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I recently owned an Eastman T486B and the workmanship was first rate, plus it had Phat Cat pickups and a Bigsby.....but.......the weight was out of control - it was in the realm of a heavy Les Paul and the neck was a little beefy for my tastes so it got listed for sale within a week. I had high hopes as I play a lot of Chet/Merle stuff and thought this would be a good choice but, alas, not.
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The T64 is ultra light
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