Hey folks!! Thanks so much for watching this demo! Just wanted to make a correction about the frets on this guitar. They are Jescar 22 Medium Jumbo 47104 18% Nickle Silver. Not stainless steel.
I just discovered Eastman guitars the other day. Went back to the store where I discovered them and the store owner pulled out this exact model....to say it was love at first touch is an understatement. I was utterly blown away by the quality and tone and overall feel of this guitar. It feels like a high end gibson custom shop; plays absolutely perfect and the lollars are incredible. This guitar is a total game changer for me. Great video Shawn!
Its nice to see someone appreciating the build quality rather than where is was made. Ive spoken to guitarists who turn their noses up at eastman purely because they are crafted in China. I think they are some of the best instruments on the current market regardless of price or where they're made.
In general, I'm only concerned with craftsmanship. If an instrument is poorly built, "I don't care where it was made". If an instrument is well crafted, "I don't care where it was made". Thanks so much for watching!
I enjoy listening to you play even when I have no interest in the specific piece of gear you're demoing. There's a crispness in your attack - even when you're not using a pick! - that I really dig.
No idea how I could miss this video when it came out... finally saw it a month ago and bought the guitar (in Antique Classic varnish with the Bigsby) the next day. Damn, that is the second guitar you made me buy (the Duesenberg Gran Majesto was the other one). It is simply unbelievable, absolutely everything about it is perfect, and the pickups are the best P90s I have ever heard (and I do have more expensive ThroBaks and Kloppmans in some other guitars). One little details that got me absolutely excited is that the neck binding is not just called Ivoroid, it actually is Ivoroid and feels so much better than the ABS plastic used in some other guitars costing 5 - 6 times as much. I did change the tuners to Gotoh locking tuners and that solved all issues with the Bigsby getting out of tune - it is as tuning atable as my PRS or Knaggs guitars. Bottom line I even saved some money, as I finally sold my Collings a week after receiving this one.
The bigsby can be improved a little with a better roller. The licensed Bigsbys made outside the US use a plastic sleeve bearing but you can upgrade it to be the same as the US version.
Great playing and review of course, as usual! A correction about the fret material - I checked with Eastman, and they said that the Jescar 47104 frets are nickel silver, not stainless steel. I guess it would have been nice if they used stainless steel frets (from a wear standpoint).
I’ve been wanting a hollow body guitar, one with a Bigsby, and one with P-90’s. Never even thought that I could kill those three birds with one stone, and enjoy it. Definitely gonna have to try one of these out
I just played one of these at Sky Guitars in Denton Texas, and immediately fell in love. It is SO responsive and the Lollars sound amazing! I believe this will be the next guitar I add to my arsenal. Happy to have found this video by one of my all time favorite players reviewing this fantastic guitar!
For a water buffalo ;-) that opening is a beasty groovy tune. Pretty guitar. I would fancy one without the trem. Those P90's sounds snappy and creamy at the same time. Superb demo!
I don't know how the heck I missed this video from three years ago Shawn but I am just now watching it and like you I am really impressed with this guitar. Like others I was a little apprehensive about seeing the word "China" on a guitar but after you listed all the "top of the line" parts on this guitar and ran it through your (as always) amazing demo I changed my attitude. I've been looking for a thin-line guitar with a Bigsby and no block inside and I was kinda leaning towards a used Gibson ES-330 but I love the fact that this T64 has a thin varnish finish, laminate body, ebony board and Lollar pickups. Those ingredients almost guarantee sweet tone which was proven to be true by your spot on demo. By the way Shawn, nobody else on earth plays like you and I'm still wondering what planet you are from!
2:52 I visited their website, and although they do use Jescar frets, I don't think they use stainless steel ones. www.eastmanguitars.com/electric_thinline For the T64/v, it says it has - Fretwire:22 Medium Jumbo Jescar 47104 www.jescarguitar.com/fret-wire-specifications/ The specifications of Fret Wire 47104 shows that it's Nickel-Silver. Whereas Fret Wire 47104-s would be the stainless steel, and the Fret Wire 47104-EVO would be the EVO gold. Damn, I think I wouldn't even think twice of purchasing their guitars if I knew they used Jescar stainless steel frets. I think that's what Suhr uses.
Shawn, I know you’ve said your a Lollar fan and so I wanted to know your opinion about the Imperials as a drop in replacement for my Les Paul R9 which has Custom Buckers. They’re pretty good but the Bridge is uncovered and isn’t quite as warm as I like and was considering my options. I’m looking for warmth with good overall balance and great clarity.
I really like the Imperial Low Winds but they might not be hot enough for you. I was borrowing a friends LP R9 for a while and he had the Lollar Low Winds in it and I loved them. They're open sounding but have just the right amount of vintage PAF compression. The top end is really airy and sweet sounding. The standard Imperials might be the way to go for you. Here's a video from a while ago with me using that R9 I mentioned. th-cam.com/video/IuSuNDAO4kc/w-d-xo.html
Yet again, the playing by Shawn Tubbs is worth tuning in for - regardless of the product(s) he is showcasing... I have heard though that 'Laminate' is more of an issue for Feedback. The only Hollow body guitar I own is the PRS Hollowbody ii - a guitar with a solid and carved maple top and back - with a mahogany (carved out rather than 'moulded') to create the sides. This doesn't really feedback and, if you watched NAMM and in particular PRS with Bryan Ewald playing a 594 Hollowbody (same construction as my HBii), states that the reason its not feeding back despite sitting close to an amp with high gain (MT15 I believe) was because PRS use solid Maple - not Laminate... I am not accusing you of lying here at all, not PRS either, but its interesting that people have differing opinions - maybe both are right with the particular shape or some other 'construction' technique - meaning that both are right with their particular guitars...
Thanks for watching! It is true that in general, a laminate guitar will be less apt to feedback based on the structure of a tightly compressed laminated wood. This particular guitar is completely hollow and there is quite a lot of wood surface vibrating compared to a PRS Hollowbody II which is also completely hollow. The 594 Hollowbody is also completely hollow but also has less surface so it might very well be less apt to feedback than others. My Collings I35LC is NOT completely hollow but I still chose a laminate model because I just prefer that sound.
@@justinlangley9529 Yes, he's apparently heard that a laminated top is more of an issue for feedback but that has not been my experience. Truth be told the feedback issue is secondary to the tone. I like the tone from laminated top, thin line guitars.
Hi Shawn. Amazing playing. You tipped me over the edge of whether or not to buy one of these...it’s been ordered! Which up are you using here? Beautiful playing!
hello luey in the Netherlands the price for a this guitar is about 1900-2000 euro , so that's a lot cheaper than a gibson es 330 wich are at least 3200 euro or more
and to add to this ,they sound a lot better then the " authentic " gibsons , wich is an overrated brand , and that's al all it is , just a "brand " ,so do yourself a favor and stay away from the "brands " , they are not making guitars for you or me , there just making money so there ceo's , managers , laywers ect . can go home every month with a sick amount off money on there paycheck
antoon hermans I bought an entry level Gibson earlier this year (Les Paul tribute). While it is my most expensive, it looks pretty pedestrian , as far as Les Pauls go. No flame, no nitro , no binding....just lightly finished satin over plain maple (top). And it needed a setup like a landmine victim needs a band aid! The rosewood was so dry it looked a mouse brown worse than pau Ferro! I have a PRS with stunning specs (flame etc) for nearly half the price, and played like a dream, straight from the box. I love my PRS. Gets the most airtime of all three of my axes. But. ... The Gibson's tone is out of this world. Just a snarling, dripping-with-attitude , rich, fat, thick, harmonic , monster of a tone machine! I can't begrudge a cent I laboured min wage for it - really. There may be some copies that capture some of this....but for me, Gibson stands without equal, in their particular tone niche. I ain't defending them. I am not a Fanboy. It's Just undeniable...... the pulsing, living, bristling charisma that springs forth from this guitar. It's palpable. So I would say in response.... No, I think Gibson is not "just a brand." They got something real special with their guitars. They might fumble the ball on many fronts, but when it comes to tone (which, really, should be our chief concern), Gibson brings the Dogs of War! (Sorry, I got a bit verbose! )
@@lueysixty-six7300 hi luey , i also own a les paul tribute and i'm very happy with it , and i must admit that this is a whole lot of guitar for an fair price . I also have an fender american special strat and tele , and same as the gibson, these are fine guitars and i paid less then 1000 euro for them . I guess it's anybody choice to decide how much there willing to pay for a well known brand guitar . Luckaly these days it's possible to by a usa made fender/gibson for less then 1000 euro/dollars wich sound and play well , but the thing i guess what has me wondering about people , is the ones that pay 4000 up to 8000 for a so could "custom shop " guitar wich in in my view is throwing away money because these guitars really don't sound or play so much better to justafy the insane pricetag . This is for me the "branding/marketing "issue i was talking about . So when i was looking for a thinline semihollow or fullhollow guitar i stumbled up on a second hand eastman T64/v wich i bought for 1100 euro and man does it sound and play like a dream . I've tried out several gibson es 335's and es 330's who are much more expensive but not one played or sounded like my eastman . And although this is a chinese guitar it's nothing less or maybe better then a gibson , and what i have been seeing the last 10 years is that even the so called "budget " guitars who are made in the far east are pretty good , so that i guess this is an other reason i'm not willing to pay a to big amount off money on a so called "custom shop " from fender or gibson . Take care , gr. toon.
antoon hermans ok. I would not be above buying a cheaper Chinese knockoff brand, if I got it in my hands and found it basically did the same thing the origin brand does. I don't think it's fair play....but as a battler, that's for them to work out. I'm just doing my best to realise some of my dreams, before I bite the dust, lol! So... Eastman, you say, is :-. a) Chinese b) Gibson clone C) well made, good tone ??? If so, I'm going to have to be on the lookout for suppliers in Australia... PS (what tribute did you get? Goldtop? Honeyburst? Tobacco..? Other? Just wondering.... [I got honey - 2018, '60s thin neck, trapezoid inlays, chrome cover hbs - but now wish I'd gone with goldtop....Ah well!])
@@kodiakandgrizzlybears3787 but epiphones are mass produced, Eastman guitars are each built by hand, the fact that Eastman are cheaper than a standard Gibson is crazy when you consider that. The difference between an epiphone and these instruments is night and day.
@@curteisj9491 Gibson over Eastman at any time. Eastman guitars are mass produced as well. No, the difference between Eastman and Epi is NOT like night and day (just the price tag)!!
Hey folks!! Thanks so much for watching this demo! Just wanted to make a correction about the frets on this guitar. They are Jescar 22 Medium Jumbo 47104 18% Nickle Silver. Not stainless steel.
Lovely as always!
I just discovered Eastman guitars the other day. Went back to the store where I discovered them and the store owner pulled out this exact model....to say it was love at first touch is an understatement. I was utterly blown away by the quality and tone and overall feel of this guitar. It feels like a high end gibson custom shop; plays absolutely perfect and the lollars are incredible. This guitar is a total game changer for me. Great video Shawn!
I am alone in the house so I had to grabbed a pillow and did some waltzing as soon as that intro some kicked in. Thank you for being so awesome.
Great demo! So glad to see this guitar getting a proper demo and showcasing its capabilities. I love mine!!
SICK opening groove!! Couldn't stop smiling listening to it. Backing track PLEASE. Nice guitar and even nicer demo, brother!
I always enjoy listening to your hybred picking. Sounds so full.
Woo wee that sounds so sweet in a master artist hands. Great review Shawn!
Reminds a bit of the good ole Casino, with a modern flair... Nice playing Shawn !
Yup, it's a Casino on steroids.
I enjoyed your playing - how you insert those educated licks into the pentatonic scheme. very nice.
beautiful guitar with a beautiful sound !!!!!
Its nice to see someone appreciating the build quality rather than where is was made. Ive spoken to guitarists who turn their noses up at eastman purely because they are crafted in China. I think they are some of the best instruments on the current market regardless of price or where they're made.
I think they are USA made. Check out their website.
@@hawg427 The custom models are built in Pamona CA but the production models are hand built in Beijing China.
In general, I'm only concerned with craftsmanship. If an instrument is poorly built, "I don't care where it was made". If an instrument is well crafted, "I don't care where it was made". Thanks so much for watching!
@@ShawnTubbs well said! thanks for the reply :)
So would that 59 LP copy that cost $2000 be from China or CA? I think Guitar World did a piece on it. @@ShawnTubbs
This guitar really surprised m, sounds superb! Such a lovely open acoustic sound. P90 Tastic!
I enjoy listening to you play even when I have no interest in the specific piece of gear you're demoing. There's a crispness in your attack - even when you're not using a pick! - that I really dig.
Very very beautiful guitar. I have an Eastman SB57 that I absolutely love.
Yo Tubbs that pick looks massive !! 4.0 m. I just got a lower end Eastman semi hollow 346 black one.
Sounds shweet. Nice playing and that vibrato, killer
Interesting take on the bigsby, not sure I understand the explanation, but I d never have thought of that. Now you're making me reconsider :)
Great opening jam. Loving this guitar and Eastman in general
No idea how I could miss this video when it came out... finally saw it a month ago and bought the guitar (in Antique Classic varnish with the Bigsby) the next day. Damn, that is the second guitar you made me buy (the Duesenberg Gran Majesto was the other one). It is simply unbelievable, absolutely everything about it is perfect, and the pickups are the best P90s I have ever heard (and I do have more expensive ThroBaks and Kloppmans in some other guitars).
One little details that got me absolutely excited is that the neck binding is not just called Ivoroid, it actually is Ivoroid and feels so much better than the ABS plastic used in some other guitars costing 5 - 6 times as much. I did change the tuners to Gotoh locking tuners and that solved all issues with the Bigsby getting out of tune - it is as tuning atable as my PRS or Knaggs guitars. Bottom line I even saved some money, as I finally sold my Collings a week after receiving this one.
That's awesome! Glad you've found a guitar that is a fit for you!
Those are some tasty licks Shawn! Pretty guitar!
Jeez this bridge sound is godly
Outstanding playing as always, Shawn! I always learn something. :)
V stays for "Varnish" finish, and GB stay for "Gold Burst". Beautiful guitar!!!
That would have made Albert smile! Very nice playing and tone!
Fantastic playing Shawn, you make the guitar sound great...
Welcome to the Rubb-a-Tubb Jazz Clubb. Great vid, Mr. Tubbs.
Awesome guitar. I think about buy it myself
The bigsby can be improved a little with a better roller. The licensed Bigsbys made outside the US use a plastic sleeve bearing but you can upgrade it to be the same as the US version.
Oops just realised these are propper US Bigsbys already installed.
Those pickups sound great! Nice growl for sure!
Great playing and review of course, as usual! A correction about the fret material - I checked with Eastman, and they said that the Jescar 47104 frets are nickel silver, not stainless steel. I guess it would have been nice if they used stainless steel frets (from a wear standpoint).
Great guitar, amazingly great playing…subscribed…WANT
Thanks so much!!
@@ShawnTubbs my pleasure…truly great player…I can only dream, lol…
I’ve been wanting a hollow body guitar, one with a Bigsby, and one with P-90’s. Never even thought that I could kill those three birds with one stone, and enjoy it. Definitely gonna have to try one of these out
I just played one of these at Sky Guitars in Denton Texas, and immediately fell in love. It is SO responsive and the Lollars sound amazing! I believe this will be the next guitar I add to my arsenal. Happy to have found this video by one of my all time favorite players reviewing this fantastic guitar!
Yeah, I love mine!!
For a water buffalo ;-) that opening is a beasty groovy tune. Pretty guitar. I would fancy one without the trem. Those P90's sounds snappy and creamy at the same time. Superb demo!
They sell them without trems
They sell them without trems
I want this badly. The no bigsby version though
Tasty little opening piece, I clicked "Like" about 5 seconds in!
Sublime
Pretty Cool Shawn,,it sounds like the day👍👍🍻🇺🇸
I don't know how the heck I missed this video from three years ago Shawn but I am just now watching it and like you I am really impressed with this guitar. Like others I was a little apprehensive about seeing the word "China" on a guitar but after you listed all the "top of the line" parts on this guitar and ran it through your (as always) amazing demo I changed my attitude. I've been looking for a thin-line guitar with a Bigsby and no block inside and I was kinda leaning towards a used Gibson ES-330 but I love the fact that this T64 has a thin varnish finish, laminate body, ebony board and Lollar pickups. Those ingredients almost guarantee sweet tone which was proven to be true by your spot on demo. By the way Shawn, nobody else on earth plays like you and I'm still wondering what planet you are from!
You're very kind! The T64 is pretty hard to beat for sure!
2:52
I visited their website, and although they do use Jescar frets, I don't think they use stainless steel ones.
www.eastmanguitars.com/electric_thinline
For the T64/v, it says it has
- Fretwire:22 Medium Jumbo Jescar 47104
www.jescarguitar.com/fret-wire-specifications/
The specifications of Fret Wire 47104 shows that it's Nickel-Silver.
Whereas Fret Wire 47104-s would be the stainless steel, and the Fret Wire 47104-EVO would be the EVO gold.
Damn, I think I wouldn't even think twice of purchasing their guitars if I knew they used Jescar stainless steel frets. I think that's what Suhr uses.
That axe is sugar sweet, in all the right places
Shawn, I know you’ve said your a Lollar fan and so I wanted to know your opinion about the Imperials as a drop in replacement for my Les Paul R9 which has Custom Buckers. They’re pretty good but the Bridge is uncovered and isn’t quite as warm as I like and was considering my options. I’m looking for warmth with good overall balance and great clarity.
I really like the Imperial Low Winds but they might not be hot enough for you. I was borrowing a friends LP R9 for a while and he had the Lollar Low Winds in it and I loved them. They're open sounding but have just the right amount of vintage PAF compression. The top end is really airy and sweet sounding. The standard Imperials might be the way to go for you. Here's a video from a while ago with me using that R9 I mentioned. th-cam.com/video/IuSuNDAO4kc/w-d-xo.html
Yet again, the playing by Shawn Tubbs is worth tuning in for - regardless of the product(s) he is showcasing...
I have heard though that 'Laminate' is more of an issue for Feedback. The only Hollow body guitar I own is the PRS Hollowbody ii - a guitar with a solid and carved maple top and back - with a mahogany (carved out rather than 'moulded') to create the sides. This doesn't really feedback and, if you watched NAMM and in particular PRS with Bryan Ewald playing a 594 Hollowbody (same construction as my HBii), states that the reason its not feeding back despite sitting close to an amp with high gain (MT15 I believe) was because PRS use solid Maple - not Laminate...
I am not accusing you of lying here at all, not PRS either, but its interesting that people have differing opinions - maybe both are right with the particular shape or some other 'construction' technique - meaning that both are right with their particular guitars...
Thanks for watching! It is true that in general, a laminate guitar will be less apt to feedback based on the structure of a tightly compressed laminated wood. This particular guitar is completely hollow and there is quite a lot of wood surface vibrating compared to a PRS Hollowbody II which is also completely hollow. The 594 Hollowbody is also completely hollow but also has less surface so it might very well be less apt to feedback than others. My Collings I35LC is NOT completely hollow but I still chose a laminate model because I just prefer that sound.
@@justinlangley9529 Yes, he's apparently heard that a laminated top is more of an issue for feedback but that has not been my experience. Truth be told the feedback issue is secondary to the tone. I like the tone from laminated top, thin line guitars.
What a great player!
more importantly ........through what amp ?
Darn it, I have this guitar! Why don't I sound like you? Betrayal! (The sunburst looks much nicer in person, btw)
Nice playing. Reminds me Robben Ford
Hey Shawn what amp were you using . In a room full of gear could it have been a Surh?
Shawn do you own this guitar? I've got my eye on one.
Very tasty playing! Does the lack of access to the upper frets ever bug you?
If you're trying to get up to the dusty frets, it can be a problem for sure. It just depends on the player.
Hi Shawn. Amazing playing. You tipped me over the edge of whether or not to buy one of these...it’s been ordered! Which up are you using here? Beautiful playing!
Thanks so much for watching! I was using my RedPlate Blues Machine Amp.
I regret that I have but one like to offer to the cause.
Dig it
GREY GUITAR AND PLAYING ,CHEERS
May I ask... Is this more expensive than a Gibson? (Same? Less?) Ty.
hello luey in the Netherlands the price for a this guitar is about 1900-2000 euro , so that's a lot cheaper than a gibson es 330 wich are at least 3200 euro or more
and to add to this ,they sound a lot better then the " authentic " gibsons , wich is an overrated brand , and that's al all it is , just a "brand " ,so do yourself a favor and stay away from the "brands " , they are not making guitars for you or me , there just making money so there ceo's , managers , laywers ect . can go home every month with a sick amount off money on there paycheck
antoon hermans I bought an entry level Gibson earlier this year (Les Paul tribute). While it is my most expensive, it looks pretty pedestrian , as far as Les Pauls go. No flame, no nitro , no binding....just lightly finished satin over plain maple (top). And it needed a setup like a landmine victim needs a band aid! The rosewood was so dry it looked a mouse brown worse than pau Ferro! I have a PRS with stunning specs (flame etc) for nearly half the price, and played like a dream, straight from the box. I love my PRS. Gets the most airtime of all three of my axes. But. ...
The Gibson's tone is out of this world. Just a snarling, dripping-with-attitude , rich, fat, thick, harmonic , monster of a tone machine! I can't begrudge a cent I laboured min wage for it - really. There may be some copies that capture some of this....but for me, Gibson stands without equal, in their particular tone niche. I ain't defending them. I am not a Fanboy. It's Just undeniable...... the pulsing, living, bristling charisma that springs forth from this guitar. It's palpable.
So I would say in response.... No, I think Gibson is not "just a brand." They got something real special with their guitars. They might fumble the ball on many fronts, but when it comes to tone (which, really, should be our chief concern), Gibson brings the Dogs of War!
(Sorry, I got a bit verbose! )
@@lueysixty-six7300 hi luey , i also own a les paul tribute and i'm very happy with it , and i must admit that this is a whole lot of guitar for an fair price . I also have an fender american special strat and tele , and same as the gibson, these are fine guitars and i paid less then 1000 euro for them . I guess it's anybody choice to decide how much there willing to pay for a well known brand guitar . Luckaly these days it's possible to by a usa made fender/gibson for less then 1000 euro/dollars wich sound and play well , but the thing i guess what has me wondering about people , is the ones that pay 4000 up to 8000 for a so could "custom shop " guitar wich in in my view is throwing away money because these guitars really don't sound or play so much better to justafy the insane pricetag . This is for me the "branding/marketing "issue i was talking about . So when i was looking for a thinline semihollow or fullhollow guitar i stumbled up on a second hand eastman T64/v wich i bought for 1100 euro and man does it sound and play like a dream . I've tried out several gibson es 335's and es 330's who are much more expensive but not one played or sounded like my eastman . And although this is a chinese guitar it's nothing less or maybe better then a gibson , and what i have been seeing the last 10 years is that even the so called "budget " guitars who are made in the far east are pretty good , so that i guess this is an other reason i'm not willing to pay a to big amount off money on a so called "custom shop " from fender or gibson . Take care , gr. toon.
antoon hermans ok. I would not be above buying a cheaper Chinese knockoff brand, if I got it in my hands and found it basically did the same thing the origin brand does. I don't think it's fair play....but as a battler, that's for them to work out. I'm just doing my best to realise some of my dreams, before I bite the dust, lol!
So... Eastman, you say, is :-.
a) Chinese
b) Gibson clone
C) well made, good tone
???
If so, I'm going to have to be on the lookout for suppliers in Australia...
PS (what tribute did you get? Goldtop? Honeyburst? Tobacco..? Other? Just wondering.... [I got honey - 2018, '60s thin neck, trapezoid inlays, chrome cover hbs - but now wish I'd gone with goldtop....Ah well!])
"Sympathetics behind the bridge?"
Very tasty!
NOBODY TELLS YOU HOW MUCH GUITAR WEIGHS NIGHTMARE.
Dang thems some Super groovy licks there , mate! Making my stock standards sound kinda pedestrian...😣 Would not like to follow you in a blues jam!
Thanks! You're very kind.
Just started watching the video and ....
Nothing else to say
Expensive for a Chinese made axe.
Totally handmade though? Are you suggesting the craftsmanship is worse just because it was made in china?
@@curteisj9491 For a Chinese product it's TOO expensive. For the price tag you may procure 5 Epi 335 axes (made in China as well)!!
@@kodiakandgrizzlybears3787 but epiphones are mass produced, Eastman guitars are each built by hand, the fact that Eastman are cheaper than a standard Gibson is crazy when you consider that. The difference between an epiphone and these instruments is night and day.
@@curteisj9491 Gibson over Eastman at any time. Eastman guitars are mass produced as well. No, the difference between Eastman and Epi is NOT like night and day (just the price tag)!!
@@kodiakandgrizzlybears3787 you haven't understood my point, nevermind!