Good online dealers that sell Eastman guitars?

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 12:06 AM

I'm planning on getting an Eastman T185MX but there are no local dealers that sell them here where I live so I'll have to order one online. I'm not sure what online dealer I should order from since there are quite a few online dealers around. I thought I'd shoot up a thread here and see what you guys say. Any particular online dealer you recommend (that sells Eastman guitars)?

**tonedeaf** · 04-23-2014, 12:10 AM

Lou at Guitars 'n Jazz - 400 Archtops in stock - choose don't settle.

**DaBoz** · 04-23-2014, 12:45 AM

I bought my Eastman archtop here: LA Guitar Sales

best price I could find period. These guys are highly regarded on The Acoustic Guitar Forum.

**StevieB** · 04-23-2014, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by DaBoz

I bought my Eastman archtop here: LA Guitar Sales

best price I could find period. These guys are highly regarded on The Acoustic Guitar Forum.

And I got my AR880CE John Pisano @ LA Guitar Sales. Ted and Helene are great.

**djelley** · 04-23-2014, 08:19 AM

I got one of mine from Eastman Guitars | Soundpure.com

Great guys to deal with.

**loudneighbor** · 04-23-2014, 08:51 AM

Also got my eastman 580ce from Lou at Guitars 'n Jazz. Highly recommended.

**bigdaddyguitar** · 04-23-2014, 09:03 AM

check out Guitars 'n Jazz in New Jersey . Eastman dealer . Ask for Lou or Joseph .

**JSanta** · 04-23-2014, 09:30 AM

Got my Eastman 807-7CE from Lou at Guitars n' Jazz. Another fantastic Eastman dealer (my personal favorite guitar shop) is Bernuzio's in Rochester, NY: http://bernuzio.com/

**monkmiles** · 04-23-2014, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by JSanta

Another fantastic Eastman dealer (my personal favorite guitar shop) is Bernuzio's in Rochester, NY: http://bernuzio.com/

I have bought two Eastman's from Bernunzio and highly recommend them! Have a look at what's in stock on their website and then call them to talk about them, examine the ones you are unterested in, etc. I worked with Robbie both times.

**jazzrat** · 04-23-2014, 11:09 AM

I also bought two from Bernunzio's...long distance I might add. Good experience both times.

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by tonedeaf

Lou at Guitars 'n Jazz - 400 Archtops in stock - choose don't settle.

Originally Posted by loudneighbor

Also got my eastman 580ce from Lou at Guitars 'n Jazz. Highly recommended.

Originally Posted by bigdaddyguitar

check out Guitars 'n Jazz in New Jersey . Eastman dealer . Ask for Lou or Joseph .

That site looks pretty good, they list every single guitar they have in stock which is pretty cool. And I can't go to New Jersey and check them out because I live in Iceland so that's why I'm ordering online.

Originally Posted by DaBoz

I bought my Eastman archtop here: LA Guitar Sales best price I could find period. These guys are highly regarded on The Acoustic Guitar Forum.

Originally Posted by StevieB

And I got my AR880CE John Pisano @ LA Guitar Sales. Ted and Helene are great.

Thanks for the recommendation but it doesn't look like they sell the T185MX model that I'm looking for.

Originally Posted by djelley

I got one of mine from Eastman Guitars | Soundpure.com Great guys to deal with.

Seems like every T185MX on their site has been sold...

Originally Posted by JSanta

Got my Eastman 807-7CE from Lou at Guitars n' Jazz. Another fantastic Eastman dealer (my personal favorite guitar shop) is Bernuzio's in Rochester, NY: http://bernuzio.com/

Originally Posted by hallpass

I have bought two Eastman's from Bernunzio and highly recommend them! Have a look at what's in stock on their website and then call them to talk about them, examine the ones you are unterested in, etc. I worked with Robbie both times.

Originally Posted by jazzrat

I also bought two from Bernunzio's...long distance I might add. Good experience both times.

Thanks for the recommendation guys but they don't seem to sell the T185MX model that I'm looking for :/

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-23-2014, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by HlynurS

That site looks pretty good, they list every single guitar they have in stock which is pretty cool. And I can't go to New Jersey and check them out because I live in Iceland so that's why I'm ordering online.

The penny drops!

**Wes Fan** · 04-23-2014, 11:35 AM

Not as large an Eastman dealer as the others that have been mentioned, but Elderly Instruments usually has a few Eastmans in stock, and I've always had good luck with them:

Elderly Instruments - Welcome - Elderly Instruments

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

The penny drops!

I have no idea what that's supposed to mean

Originally Posted by Wes Fan

Not as large an Eastman dealer as the others that have been mentioned, but Elderly Instruments usually has a few Eastmans in stock, and I've always had good luck with them:

Elderly Instruments - Welcome - Elderly Instruments

I have ordered some D'andrea pro plecs from them and they seemed to be very nice to deal with, doesn't look like they have T185MX in stock right now though.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-23-2014, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by HlynurS

I have no idea what that's supposed to mean

It means "A-ha! The truth is out." I think it's useful if people identify their locations. In you case, maybe a European dealer would be better.

**newsense** · 04-23-2014, 12:35 PM

If you want to buy in Europe, you might try these guys:

T185MX-Sunburst Thinline Guitar | The Musicroom - Online

I played some of their stock recently. Bizarrely, the in-shop prices were cheaper than their on-line prices. You might be best trying to contact them (phone is probably best) and trying to do a deal. I got the feeling they were trying to sell-off all their Eastman stock.

Alternatively, London's "premier" jazz guitar shop has one in stock: Eastman T185MX Thinline Electric - Sunburst. Mairants is probably more used to shipping overseas than is The Music Room.

Thomann (Germany) only have it in Classic finish: Eastman T185MX CL - Thomann UK

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

It means "A-ha! The truth is out." I think it's useful if people identify their locations. In you case, maybe a European dealer would be better.

Haha yeah ok I see what you mean, I guess I'm not hip to the American lingo

Perhaps a European dealer might be a better choice but I'm not sure if that really matters that much to be honest. The Guitars N' Jazz site looks promising to me but I'll keep looking to see if I see some European sites and if you guys know of any European online dealers then let me know.

**newsense** · 04-23-2014, 12:40 PM

I'm sure the penny in question was originally an English penny and not an American one.

Anyway - see my post above for 3 European sources of the elusive T185MX.

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

If you want to buy in Europe, you might try these guys:

T185MX-Sunburst Thinline Guitar | The Musicroom - Online

I played some of their stock recently. Bizarrely, the in-shop prices were cheaper than their on-line prices. You might be best trying to contact them (phone is probably best) and trying to do a deal. I got the feeling they were trying to sell-off all their Eastman stock.

Alternatively, London's "premier" jazz guitar shop has one in stock: Eastman T185MX Thinline Electric - Sunburst. Mairants is probably more used to shipping overseas than is The Music Room.

Thomann (Germany) only have it in Classic finish: Eastman T185MX CL - Thomann UK

Holy moly, those dealers are selling the guitars for about $1000+ more than for example Guitars N' Jazz... I think I would rather save that much money and buy from the states instead... jeez.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-23-2014, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by HlynurS

Holy moly, those dealers are selling the guitars for about $1000+ more than for example Guitars N' Jazz... I think I would rather save that much money and buy from the states instead... jeez.

Would there be an import duty cost applied to bring it in from the US, versus Europe?

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Would there be an import duty cost applied to bring it in from the US, versus Europe?

I doesn't matter where I buy from I'll always have to pay 25.5% of the price of the guitar+shipping to get it out of customs, it's the same if I order from Europe or from the States.

For example if I order from Mairants it will cost 1599 GBP which is about $2681 and then there would be the shipping fee which might be around $150 so that's $2831 and then the 25.5% on top of that would make the total cost for me about $3553

If I order from Guitars 'N Jazz it will cost $1719 and let's say about $150 shipping which adds to $1869 and then I have to pay 25.5% which brings it to about $2346

So that's about a $1200 difference... hot damn

**newsense** · 04-23-2014, 12:56 PM

The European dealers are all quoting prices inclusive of VAT, so there are no additional taxes to pay within the EU. If they were to export one to Iceland for you, they should be able to sell it free of VAT, which would make the price about 20% less as it leaves the dealer. I believe that there is no import duty (customs charges) on guitars entering Iceland, so you might get a similar price form Europe as from the US.

**StevieB** · 04-23-2014, 12:59 PM

Ted @ LA Guitar Sales can easily get any Eastman Archtop you are interested in. Added benefit is his shop is very close to Eastman's US headquarters.

**HlynurS** · 04-23-2014, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

The European dealers are all quoting prices inclusive of VAT, so there are no additional taxes to pay within the EU. If they were to export one to Iceland for you, they should be able to sell it free of VAT, which would make the price about 20% less as it leaves the dealer. I believe that there is no import duty (customs charges) on guitars entering Iceland, so you might get a similar price form Europe as from the US.

Iceland isn't in the European Union so I don't think that applies, you have to pay 25.5% on top of everything you buy, doesn't matter where it comes from.