A '59 Like No Other! - No, it's NOT a Gibson! 

Yes, I think this is actually the best way to respond to the recent PR rant about “play authentic”.

I'm glad people are finally starting to talk about Eastman! They are such quality instruments that almost no one really considers or has heard of them. Definitely deserve more love

Play Authentic? Nah, Play an Eastman :D Specs and initial thoughts - 2:17 Overall Construction - 5:39 Tones - 8:15 Final Thoughts - 14:48 Enjoy!

Look for Gibson's new video series: "Lawsuit of the Day-Hosted by Mark Agnesi."

I don’t need another guitar-BUT I NEED THIS ONE!!!

Thank you for making a video about this guitar. I feel like Eastman deserves way more attention. And the SB Series is just awesome for that price point.

Anything guitar from the 50s, especially one that sounds like that, has my attention and interest indeed! Awesome review man!

I LOVE watching you!! You are my inspiration for guitar!! I just started guitar like 4 months ago! Keep up the GREAT work!!

Darrell, your reviews should be the boilerplate for all gear reviews on RU-vid. They are always interesting, informative, sharp, professional, personable and listening to you doesn't hurt the ears. What Rick Beato is to song analysis you are to gear. Nicely done.

The clarity when the gain is rolled back is ridiculous! Those pickups sound great. And of course the guitar looks amazing. I'm not sure if a V-shaped neck (soft or otherwise) is for me, but dang, that guitar checks a lot of boxes.

Well, this might just be the most beautiful finish I've ever seen. Yours looks somehow even better than the pictures on their website.

Amazing. Maybe I can own a 59 Burst after all.

Your solos are stunning. I could listen to them for hours. Beautiful guitar, if miles outside my price-range.

Thank you for not showcasing a Gibson. And I’ll have to say Eastman really has their act together, making some great guitars. Beautiful playing, as usual.

Hi Darrell - I have owned several Eastman guitars. I just got an AC422CE acoustic. The quality and craftsmanship are not precise they are perfect. It sounds amazing and is a work of art to look at. Simple things like the binding on my 422 where you can feel no gap. Would not want any other acoustic at any price.

Eastman makes amazing instruments. When i first heard of them i was like...theres no way i can justify the price for a chinese guitar. But i was shocked when i actually got to play one. If inwas an LP guy, this is what id be gunning for.

The solo smacked me in the ass and I liked it. Smooth touch Darrell

The neck profile is listed as a "Traditional Even C", which is essentially, they have replied to me as a comfortable oval profile that suits most playing styles

About 50 years ago I played in a cover band, but had to give up playing the guitar to study science. My scientific career is now over and I thought it would be nice to get back to playing the guitar. For two years now I've been trying to find the right guitar for me, but you with your sympathetic manner, introduce me to a new one every day. I am totally confused. In any case, I find your presentations very helpful and pleasant and maybe I'll still be able to find the right guitar after all.

I have the T59V it’s absolutely incredible.

I told an Eastman dealer in Pensacola, FL how great their mandolins are (I have two!) and he replied their guitars are what really sell!

Having owned 2 of the Eastman guitars, both of the 335 type i can without question say that their instruments are made of the finest craftsmanship and materials available. The word "perfect" you used is absolutely correct. I am currently saving for the model in this video. I already know it will be a stupendous guitar. And their acoustic guitars and mando's ? OMG !!!

These guitars seem to retail for $1500-ish. Totally makes sense, but the quality should not be a surprise at that price point.

Hey Darrell, their other instruments are indeed "like this." I have the pleasure of owning and playing an Eastman 505 mandolin. Like the SB59, there is virtually nothing less than perfect on this instrument from assembly, to finish to tuners to playability to tone. My order is in for an SB59, due to be delivered around May. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands around that thing, especially having first hand experience with Eastman's quality standards. Your review does not surprise me at all. I am quite sure my SB59 is going to be a treasure.

X! Not "Pearloid" of Gibsons choice, its MOTHER OF PEARL... real deal! Bought this guitar. It has made a case queen out of my Standard! Liked it so much l bought the Eastman T185 MX BD... Simply a work of ART! Tones are beautiful, the T185mx is hand carved maple top, hand carved mahogany back.. it is similar to the RS335 without the laminate woods, it also does not have plastic binding..its FLAME MAPLE binding! Its AMAZING!

This is the best sounding guitar I have ever heard on your channel.

Quality over Age, Gibson please understand that.

Priced quite fairly yet still over my pay grade. If I had the resources for that price range I would definitely go with that guitar. Best finish on any retail guitar. Thank you for the review .a

Love the tone and sweet licks you played !!!

One of the most beautiful finishes I have ever seen on a guitar

I just purchased ny 3rd Eastman, the SB59. I did not get the vintage finish I purchased the honey burst. All 3 are incredible instruments. I also have a AR403 CE which is a Hollow body jazz box and a T185MX which is also a hollow thin body double cutaway. I tried numerous other guitars including the “big guys” and do own several of them. They pale in comparison. I’ve been a big fan of Eastman guitars for the past 6 years as their quality workmanship and affordable price make them a classic in the making. I enjoy your reviews and your musicianship. I play through a Roland Jazz Chorus 40 and a Boss Katana 50. Carl T, Albuquerque NM

Wow!!! When you played that it really sounded authentic. Very authentic playing. Played so authentically. I'm not sure I've ever seen or heard a guitar of that particular shape ever play any more authentically than that, in fact. Actually, maybe Slash's guitars were pretty close to being that authentic. Wait what's that? You say they were custom one-off handmade guitars and just happened to have that same authentic shape and tone too?! It's almost like the authenticity of that particular shape and sound comes from a variety of places, weird.

These guitars are making the rounds on everyone’s channels at the moment. They really are terrific guitars and worth every penny! 🔥🔥🔥 If your having a hard time finding a friend, relative, etc. to give the guitar too, after the demo, I’ll take it from you and even give you some $$$ for it, as I need another Les Paul “style” guitar!!! Thanks Darrell, for all your videos, demos, help and hard work! Best always! ✌🏼

I find it mind boggling that the “Les Paul” body style is the most used shape in guitars besides the strat style. There are endless shapes to pull off and that’s the design that gets used and looks so damn good. I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone else

Wow that thing looks just like a Dean guitar lol

This sounds almost as good as I remember my 72 Paul sound. I only owned it for 4 years. Wish I had it now.

I have watched this video 4 times now. The more I watch it, the more I want one of these guitars!

What a beautiful Guitar!!! No one sells them in New Zealand 😢. Talk about love at first sight lol. Cheers Darrell! You really Rock!!!

I think the ebony fingerboard makes the sound of this guitar brighter

Please don't stop doing what you doing in the exact way you are doing it... Thank you for not being just another guitar youtuber. Your channel is an anxiety reliever

Question: If some company started manufacturing guitars with easy-to-break headstocks, could Gibson sue them?

So interesting you mention this Darrell, I was just looking at Canadian alternatives to Les Pauls, and I came across Prestige guitars's LP, the Heritage. It's super affordable, and made in Canada, from Canadian wood (it is CNCd in Korea). There's a really good video by someone from Thomann in case you want to check em out in action. I called them the other day and they're so cool on the phone. Do you think you'd like to review one of their guitars? I'd really like to hear your take on them :)

A month of play before reviewing is super. Love that you really know the guitar.

Hand-made indeed! I have an Eastman E10d dreadnought. Plays and sounds better than my friends martin d28 and without exaggeration. Even he felt bad after he spent so much on that thing. I bought mine back when it was 1000. Now i believe it's 1400. Still worth it. I sold my takamine springsteen model because it was garbage compared to it. Unbelievable craftsmanship! amazing guitars and greart video and sound man!

I learning english language from you vdo

As an owner of an Eastman, glad to know im a phony and not authentic... OH... WAIT...!! I play Eastman, therefore, i am AUTHENTIC...!!! holding an Eastman Solid Body or Semi or Hollow is like holding a piece of History... Gibson has a long way to go to up their game to this level! Proud owner of an Eastman hollow electric here!! Wish we could all post pics of our Eastmans here :-)

I wish it had a high gloss finish, but that might be too much excitement for me at my age. Plus the wife isn't going to be happy when a 3rd guitar arrives.

A lot of really positive reviews on Eastman Guitars out there. The uninformed are put off when they find out about the Chinese build. However, these are very high quality hand built instruments that easily match the very highest quality of custom shop USA built guitars. A relative bargain.

I'm not an expert.... but there's an expression my grandfather and my father and a lot of other people have used and I swear by it... Paint & Chrome.. don't get you home... look at Stevie Ray Vaughan's Strat... I'm just trying to make a point it's one out of tens of thousands of examples.... that said in the 80s I bought an Electra in Missouri...for $125.oo it had a 5 way toggle switch 2 dual humbuckers.. the machineheads were awesome ... on the bottom it had 4 control knobs.. under which were two switches... in the back of the guitar it came with a place to put effects units.. the guitar held two at a time.. I got 10 effects cartridges with the guitar... they were powered by a 9 volt battery....are you familuar. With. It. Please..do.a vidio!!!

That chunky cutaway horn looks like it belongs on an ES-335, and these guitars, like most budget friendly guitars made in the far east that claim to be made of "Mahogany" are actually made from NATO wood (often called Philippine Mahogany or Eastern Mahogany), not a bad wood necessarily... but certainly not Honduran Mahogany by any stretch.

my Electa LP Classic was made in China about 25 years ago...and it's perfect

Does not matter if is carved by hand or CNC!

Hi Darrell, I've had this same exact guitar for two months now and love it. Just wondering since you made this video how you still feel about this guitar in comparison to your top 5 guitar video?

Eastman has a long and very interesting history. Their instruments are known for being very comparable to high end US models. Great instruments that get overlooked because of their origin, and for that reason dont hold value well and can be found used at great prices. This LP model looks real good, I can appreciate the hand craftsmanship as flawless is hard to accomplish by hand and still be affordable. Good video 👍

You should check out Dillion (USA versions) LP and PRS copies.

Can’t wait to get mine!

Will you do a review of all your guitars?

I picked one up, these feel incredible. Worth checking out!

I just wrote a note about my experiences with one of Eastman's dealers in Central New Jersey. * Store is only open for three days a week. * You cannot go without an appointment. *Before you can handle a guitar you have to be "interviewed" by them. Thank God that I also found out before all this rigmarole that this dealer doe not stock the nasty solid guitars, presumably hoping to keep the streets of New Jersey clear of those nasty Rock and Rollers. Should they now realize that the Sun does indeed shine out of my butt - Too late, mate. Best, Pete.

What could i say???!!! As a fan of LP : beaaaaaauuuuuuttttiiiifulllll guitar and tones👏👏👏👏👏😃. Congrats Mr. Braun!!! Cheers from Viamao City - RS Estate - Brazil

great price and just gorgeous. Rock on!!!

sounds gorgeous

Awesome video, Darrell. Been following you for a good while now. It was a nice surprise to see you covering an Eastman. Within the last year, I bought an Eastman AC422CE - an acoustic grand concert cutaway with solid rosewood, Sitka spruce top, ebony fingerboard and Fishman Matrix. I bought it to compare to a made in Mexico CF Martin guitar. Both retailed for $999 at the time (prices seem to be climbing a bit though with their reputation). I loved the Martin (sapelle) but the difference in wood quality was astounding. It had a much clearer articulation, projected more, had better sustain and more overtones. The rosewood and nitro finish are gorgeous. Let me know if you’d like to review it. Keep up the great work.

How is the neck angle? Flatter than Gibson's? Sorry, If I missed that point. I'm very amazed the sound and the price of it. It looks also perfect.

Regarding strap locks, easily fixable: dimarzio cliplocks, mine have been stable for 20 years. Nothing can beat this.

A Gibson guitar style guitar that's better than a Gibson

They didn't put all of those killer appointments on a guitar that isn't built great! Gibson needs to get their act together cause you just embarrassed em'

Hey Darrell, Great looking and sounding guitar, similarly great review! About that finish quirk you mentioned where Gibson scrape off the nitro from the binding resulting in that step. I kinda like seeing that on Gibson’s and other nitro guitars, the skill to do it is a very subtle ‘hand of the craftsman’ that you can see and feel. I like that kind of thing and interesting to hear it as something ppl don’t like :) I do wonder if Eastman’s nitro finished guitars have the step on the finish too? Perhaps cause it’s their vintage varnish which I’d guess may be French polish or similar which doesn’t need the scraping. PS disclaimer 1: I sold my Les Paul for a Tele, but it was a Tribute without binding... disclaimer 2: I relic my guitars and take unnecessary delight in little things like scraping binding. D

Daryl, thank you for bringing this incredible instrument to our attention! I never would have known of it otherwise. A few comments: First your playing is exquisite, tasteful, melodic, and it inspires me to try to reach the next level of playing. Second, I think that for substantially less than the retail price of a Gibson LP Standard, this guitar is all that the Gibson LP should be and more. Nothing in the way of attention to detail, in every area (except maybe the strap lock) was overlooked by Eastman - I don't care if it was made on Mars. Now, I have to have one of these (regardless of the financial sacrifice it will entail) and I know my LP Studio will be relegated to a backup and will spend most of its time in the case going forward. Third, it appears that, although the G and D strings still have that same flawed design of a 45 degree angle from nut to tuner, Eastman has more than compensated with the high quality perfectly engineered nut and Gotoh tuners. Finally, may I ask what pedal if any you are using (if any - i know you're going through a Boogie) for that smooth, creamy, singing overdriven sound on the solo?

So wait, how do we know it is truly solid body through and through? I've never heard of this brand before

It looks like a solid guitar. I don’t know if they’re playing authentic though. Gibson should have said, “Play authentically”, but that’s a grammatical point.

I wish my les paul would sound this good plugged in my focusrite solo ._.

Speaking of Eastman, Darrell, since you've done orangewood acoustics, why not review an Eastman acoustic? I own one and, once again, they are fantastic for the price.

They have one at a music store near me. Around $1800. Made in China.

Yikes ... $2300 for a guitar made in China? Watching this vid led me to watch vids on the Eastman factory, and the Gibson factory. One of the things that stood out was employee safety. Eastman workers had no eye protection, hearing protection, and some were working with wearing sandals. Gibson has way more restrictions than china the factories do, like employee safety, vacation, healthcare and retirement. That is one of the reasons why Eastman can afford to use the best woods, electronics and hardware. Silly comparison.

Careful,...Agnesi will get you.

That’s one bad Canadian! Nice guitar, awesome and informative vid. Thanks for doin what ya do D

Eastman is no joke. Their shop is top notch and has been for awhile. It doesn't matter is located in China.

I was interested until he said made in China. I'm not going to pay over two grand for a Chinese guitar. Just watch that baby depreciate the minute you've purchased it. The trouble with a Chinese guitar, is that example might be great, but the one you buy could be crap, so you couldn't risk ordering it on the internet.

Great stuff as always Darrell. Any chance you could review the thin-line equivalent - the T59/v? Your reviews are the most trustworthy and objective on the internet.

Looks like a nice guitar, but I like the real thing. I doubt that Mahogany is pure Mahogany probably a hybrid becuz of the weight

Been drooling over their website for a long time. If only I didn't like the original Cutaway and headstock shapes so much! Might be worth mentioning that they're very competitively priced. Not cheap, but a reasonable price. (Hope they're making enough to hire competent lawyers soon ... )

Great review. absolutely beautiful tone and playing.👍

Hey Darrel, nice video. Do you have any about that schecter ts/h on the wall?

Hi Darrell, just great love your videos there really informative, I loved the schecter solo 2, really great sounding guitar now I want one as I've watched a lot of your videos and so far the schecter seems to be the best overall sounding guitar and your a really good guitar player thanks I'm a drummer and conga player so this is cool, big fan !!!

Companies that rest on their laurels should watch out in this modern age of high quality craftsmanship and budget wonderment!

You did not mention a thing about the neck and the fretboard work. Now are those?

Saw the bridge and stop-tail and thought, "That's definitely Gotoh hardware... has to be..." I was dead right! Hahaha! It's a shame the tuners aren't from their magnum series though...

Ok, let's check to make sure there's no lawsuits. Gibson has made a '59 so the name has to change. Gibson has used CTS pots, have to change that. Gibson has made a reddish colored guitar, change color. Gibson has a 3 way pickup selector, change. Gibson made a block of wood w/ pickups and strings that makes noise, change to silent guitar. Boy, Eastman will have to start over!!

Did you say it arrived set up well? Darrell curious, have you played a 59 or other year near 59 LP? I have not had a chance to play one of the 59’s, if so did you like it? I have played several vintage guitars but not the famous one.

Great vidéo Darell. I have an acoustic Eastman Excellent too !

Holy craps, an LP style guitar that weighs under 8lbs? 😳 Can we have these in Singapore?

Stunning guitar!

Have you played a Maybach Lester Cherry Lane? I'd be interested what the differences are in tone and playability.

Idc what anyone says, these are far better than any Gibson you can buy today for twice the money.

If you turn out the lights, look in a mirror and say "Mark Agnesi" three times he appears and sues you for trademark infringement.

Watch it! Gibson might go after you for just holding it.

If anyone, Gibson should sue themselves for making poor copies of great classic guitars.

Wait a second...is this a subtle jab at Gibson??? If so, I love it.

Play Authentic? I rather play what’s better 🙂