It goes without saying that the bridge and bridge/top interface on an archtop makes a big difference in tone. I had some problems with the original wooden bridge on my ar403 while doing set-up and temporarily swapped it for a tune-o-matic, now I'm on-the-fence about whether going back to the wooden unit. I found it really changed the volume string-to-string (in a good way) and of-course intonation is now solved. Has anyone else changed to a TOM, and if so what are your experiences?

I finally received my T64 from MGS a couple weeks ago and decided to update it with ivory knobs and pup covers.  I've always liked this look on many Collings that I've seen and thought I'd share with you guys.

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Good forum, signing out for a few days - looks like there's something blowing in .....

... better get my umbrella.

I have now owned 5 Eastmans and I still have 4, counting the mando. They are beautifully crafted instruments, but the one consistent weakness, especially among the fancier instruments, is the occasional presence of wobbly purfling, or binding that is not perfectly aligned. There are some (very small) examples of this in my MX, my 805 mando, my OM, and my previous Pisano.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really complaining, I think this is the result of hand work. CNC wouldn’t do it, but then again, most top quality luthiers wouldn’t let it out of the shop, either. They’d redo it until it was perfect. I personally think it’s a very small price to pay for otherwise boutique quality instruments at factory production prices. Anybody else noticed this?

Hi,

My luthier just told me my 2014 E10D (that I just purchased recently) needs a neck reset if I want to make the action any lower without things buzzing..he said the neck prob got put in a few degrees off?????

This is the first time I've experienced this situation, is there any kind of Eastman warranty that would apply to this situation?

Thanks

UPDATE 9/13 @9:11pm eastern time
Pictures attached showing bridge and neck.  Neck pictures do not show dip though.

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My AC420 is mostly used as part of my worship ministry on Sunday mornings at church.  Being a hillbilly of sorts I always insisted on playing through a condenser mic for a "natural" tone.  Playing through a mic is great and I love doing it but there are headaches involved and I decided with this latest Eastman that I'd try something different.  I ordered a Prestige 330 pickup from JJB Electronics.  It's basically the same pickup as the K&k I used a while back in my trusty Seagull "stage guitar".  

The install was dead simple and I can't say enough about how the JJB reproduces my guitar's true acoustic tone.  It seems more feedback resistant than the K&k to boot.  It took some testing to decide on where to place the transducers for a balanced tone but the final result is nothing short of amazing.  My keyboard player didn't even realize the microphone was gone until he spotted the wire running into the end of my guitar.  None of us can hear the slightest change in the acoustic tone.  The biggest change I noticed was that my sound was consistent and clean through the PA and I didn't have the condenser mic picking up background noise and monitor wash.  

Now I'm on the search for the ultimate acoustic pre-amp.  Right now I'm using a Behringer V-tone, which is actually a nice unit despite being a Behringer.  If JJB ever gets their preamp back in stock I might just have to see what's up with them, though.

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Sorry about the eight strings and all, but a new Eastman is a new Eastman. At this point, I can bang out part of Atlantic City (I’ll need to learn more chords to play the bridge), with a fair compliment of dead notes. I know enough mandolin to know it’s very well made, LOUD, and very sensitive to where you pick or strum. The tone changes dramatically as I move my strumming toward the neck. It’s a different instrument up there.

They're both large body guitars with 16" lower bouts.
The AC615 is much larger all around, more volume, can take a heavier hand without creating buzz.
The E10SS/V has that aged sound, just beautiful, small neck, short scale, will buzz if you get on the strings too hard.

Both have a similar sound, just slightly different.

AC615 Engelmann Spruce/Maple
E10SS/V Adirondack/Mahogany

AC615 is the best guitar I've ever owned. (Don't know if every AC615 plays/sounds like mine)
The E10SS/V is like playing a 1940s Gibson without payin' out the Wazoo. I would assume the new E10SS/V's are similar in sound & set up

Would highly recommend either guitar.

This one is a steal at just over $1k at 20% off the $1279 regular price and FREE shipping, AND it's NEW!https://reverb.com/item/1407084-eastman-ar380ce-hb-pisano-signature-archtop

So what instruments do you own/play outside the status quo acoustic / electrics to add color to your music?  (pics are enormously welcome)

I've owned/played reso and bass for years.  Sold my 73' Fender Jazz bass when I went all acoustic 20yrs ago, legendary instrument but way heavy.  Few years ago I picked up a used G&L L2000 Bass for $350, perfect for my needs.  It's strung with RotoSound black nylon strings... think McCartney 'Come Together'.

The other is my Paul Beard 'Gold Tone PBR' red round neck reso, the Beard spun cone is excellent.  The PBR is solid mahog, built in S Korea and put together at Gold Tone hdqrs in Fla (the Eastman of reso guitars imo).  Had a small scratch on it when new, got it for $600.  here tis: