Beautiful Goldtop you have there! I'm in love with my Eastmans. My wife bought me a new T486 two years ago in Goldburst with the True Tone finish and a few weeks ago I picked up an early 2018 SB59 in nitro for a little over 1100$ US. Both amazing guitars and together cost less than half of a new custom shop. The neck on the SB59 is just absolutely perfect and the 486 is the only guitar I've ever bought were I didn't have dial in a thing on it (except raise the action a hair). They really leave me wanted for nothing and I've owned a reliced custom shop 59 Paul!!
Ive been trying to buy one for a few weeks now haha, The transition currently happening to the non-aged True Tone ones makes it tricky to find the right one for me, I basically want the identical one to the one I filmed with my T59 a while back.
Its my number one guitar but I agree it's best for specific roles. It nailed that Gilmore tone perfectly if you haven't tried it yet. And in certain cases another guitar does the job better but what it does get right can't be beaten. The transition to smaller necks takes a few minutes after playing it. Spot on review of the guitar though I agree with everything you had to say about it. Ill be top wrapping next string change with some new p90 specific strings to see what that's like. take care
My friend who's super into playing Gilmour stuff played some on this and it did totally nail it, and it's spot on for certain other tones too. If I didn't have my T59v it would easily be my favourite - but hey what's a number 1 guitar anyways haha.
I had noticed the p90s on neck positions were tricky to get right with other pickups, but I thought it was just me. I have heard about lowering the pickup and raising the poles on the neck to get a clearer sound, but haven't tried it yet
Raising the poles on a p90 would make barely any difference due to way P90s are made compared to hum buckers. You need to raise or lower the whole pickup to get any tuning difference. Which depending on the way its mounted, the foam etc is more tricky too lol
Depending on when it was made it may no longer be nitro as they stopped using nitro a few years back. As always the fit, finish and sound of anything Eastman is top notch.
I used to think that, whilst understanding modifying such an iconic shape in any way is incredibly difficult to pull off. But now other then the real deal its up there with my favourite shapes ever.
I thought the same thing. Then I played one in person and I bought two within the year. They play sooo good, especially the SN59 V If you ever get a chance to play one give it a chance
P-90 pickups can be boomy, so I generally lower the bass side considerably in comparison to the treble side, and that balances them well - no need to change the gauges you are comfortable with. Your top wrapping solution seems to have worked for you, and you likely well-know about lowering pickups to reduce output and increase clarity. I tend to prefer my pickups much lower from the strings than the recommended distances, which tend to be about 1/16" - much too close for me. I like to pick over the pickups, and hate my pick hitting them while playing, another reason for lowering them. If you haven't tried it - I know you have Pauli, but if others haven't tried it, try lowering your pickups to 1/8" or more from the strings, and you may be pleasantly surprised as I was...?
Yeh i agree i tend to like mine alot lower too. With abit more time passing now ive found these P90s do need to be higher on the treble side to dial them in that much more - from factory these SB56 are mounted directly to the body with no foam or anything under the pickup to give some sort of adjustments. So i added a tiny bit under the treble side and screwed the bass side as far in as it would go.
Man, great video! I'm just about to pull the trigger on an Eastman but can't decide between the gold top with p90s or the antique varnish with Loller Imperials. I just can't decide! I know they have different sounds... And I play strats and Gibbos. I guess something to keep in mind is neck thickness.
The pickup is hard mounted/screwed directly into the wood. Lowering would mean routing the hole and raising would be foam and for mine….if u raise it up then it will touch the strings..
