I have several Eastwoods in my collection everyone of them is beautifully crafted. High quality. Just amazing instruments. If I have questions the guys at Eastwood are right on it. Personal service.
I had an Eastwood Classic 12 string for a long time and it was a great guitar. Very well built, sounded great and even stayed in tune! It came with an Eastwood case that was very good quality. They build some wild guitars too! Thanks Phillip!
You would be surprised at the different "sea foam greens" that are on color charts. Check with a paint company. I have worked with colors. Clients ask for a color and then flip out when I break out the 100 variations of that color.
True, either “that pedal show” or the Anderson’s channel had said something about that out a few months ago. It’s all about the year that it comes out. The 50’s style fenders and it’s more muted in color and the newer ones are more green than blue. And then back in the 90’s or early 00’s PRS made a special guitar for Relient K in seafoam and it was the perfect color.
The picture online matched the tele seafoam green (kind of a blue tinge to it). I wonder if they sent the wrong finish to Phil? Definitely Fender's seafoam green has varied over the years though.
Last month I bought an Eastwood Airline Coronado for $150. Buy of the decade I know. It has now become one of my favorite guitars. I prefer it over my Gibson Les Paul. Eastwood is doing some great things and is exactly what the guitar market needs to spice things up and add variety in rather mundane field. Very cool guitars that sound awesome.
I owned a Gretsch Astro Jet back in the 60's -- Fast forward a few decades and I just happened to see Eastwood selling their version of the Astro Jet .... The original plan was to get it and replace their pick ups with some TV Jones Supertrons - but after playing it .............. The Gretsch style pick ups work just fine and I get the kind of sound I remember when I was playing it through my Vox Berkeley II ................... Build quality is great. Not going to let this one go. Looked at a few more Eastwoods in Nashville and they all seemed to be quality builds
Love this brand! I have 4 Eastwood/Airline guitars currently (Baritone, 12-string and 2 6-strings, and have preorders in for 2 more). Great build quality, great selection and great price! Plus their customer service is killer.
OMG I love this channel so much! There's always multiple levels of knowledge to glean from every video. Today I learned the "djangly" warmth of a surfcaster actually provides a well articulated attack for hard rock and metal tones, didn't see that one coming, but I love it!
Hi Phillip. Another Az guy here.I've several Eastwoods. Wonderful, active company. Robinson is trustworthy. They sell tons of guitars worldwide. Dissatisfied customers are rare. Prices have gone past my window however. Still worth the money by any standard. Hard to imagine there is any enthusiast that doesn't know there history and "My Rare Guitars" site". Glad you found him.
I’m amazed that you have never had an experience with Eastwood guitars before! They’re not exactly a new brand :) Every single one that I’ve come across has been phenomenal. The earliest ones I remember were there airline and mosrite style guitars. Never found a bad one.
The three Eastwood guitars I've bought over the past couple of years have been Korean made and excellent. I'm a Mosrite fan, from the time The Ventures were involved with that brand and the Eastwood Sidejack DLX PRO is a good substitute. I have the Spectrum 5 DLX PRO too; it's a Teisco Del Rey guitar copy. All of them play nicely, look good, and satisfy my need for gear. Thanks for your video, Phil.
Thank you for doing this Phil! I've been following Eastwood for a while, since they make nearly everything left-handed, but I've been skittish on joining one of their group-buys because I couldn't really find enough information on their quality to make me feel safe ordering.
Fellow lefty here and I have been asking myself the same questions. I'm glad Phil had positive things to say about the one they sent him. I may just have to try out one of their lefty models here soon, maybe one of their short-scale basses.
@ 10:44 This Is my favorite KYG shirt picture ever! She's just like me, yesterday I had my guitar maintenance setup (that I assembled based on Phil's advise) on my dining room table with my strat, thinking its time for a fret polish. Its really cool to see someone on the same path taking similar steps!
Andrew DiMartino Thanks! That's me in the pic doing my first ever fret polish the other week. I'm taking baby steps to "know my gear" better. 😁 Phil's videos are the best!
Melissa B That's so awesome! Since guitar playing is such a personal thing, I think its really cool when someone wants to make it even more personal by learning how their gear works and how to work on it themselves so they can make it the best it can be. I hope your fret polish went well, keep up the good work!
Habs247 That's because it is a copy of a mid 90's USA Charvel Surfcaster, then owned by Jackson. later models in the early 2000's were made in Japan, branded Jackson. 👍
@Ash You are totally wrong . The original 90's Charvel Surfcaster 6 & 12 string models were USA made. You either weren't around then or you're ignorant. I don't care either way.
I have eight Eastwood guitars and I love every one of them! Great company with great customer service. The company has been around for around 20 years and they keep getting better at it.
I've had 3 Eastwoods, and liked 'em all. Two had mini-humbuckers, one had single coils, all sounded great. I don't know how "authentic" they are to the period(s) they represent, but, sort of like Danelectro, they don't look like every other guitar. The bodies often have unusual shapes or quirks, as do the colors. They provide exceptional customer service, as well. One of the Eastwoods I bought had an out-of-alignment neck. I took it to a dealer to ship back to Eastwood for repair, and they sent me a new guitar. I was impressed. Price points go from pretty inexpensive to not-so-much, but, as Phil said, they're unique, and except for the neck problem already mentioned has had no quality-related issues.
Just found your channel a few days ago enjoying everything on it. Great work. I recently bought the 12 string version of this guitar in the flamed cherryburst and love it. I can finally play barre chords comfortably on a 12 string. Couldn't drop the $3000 on a Rickenbacker but at less than half the price its a great guitar. Try one.
Love what Eastwood is doing! My current guitar lust is for the Bill Nelson Astroluxe Cadet, but the Surfcaster is super cool. The sharkfin inlays couldn't look more appropriate, especially with the cat's eye cutaway, in my humble opinion. Tired of dots on the fretboard. I'm also sick of Fenders and Gibsons, so the unique, wacky, imaginative selection to be found at Eastwood are so much fun!
I have a real gem from Eastwood called "The Cosey." It looks like a mandolin! Re-issue of one of those "O My God" 60's guitars, done damn well, and all at an absolutely absurd price. It has two "staples" single coils, very similar to the PRS "type D" in my Vela. Superb, actually, I was really pleasantly surprised. Just watch the KILLER demo by RJ Ronquillo with this guitar; Cross-Eyed Mary goodness!! Hell yes I would buy Eastwood again. Great guitar, near-flawless build AND decent/awesome electronics and hardware. Should also mention it came set up perfectly, and plays like a dream right out of the awesome gig-bag it came with (included, no charge, maybe it's different for different models, but this was a sale, demo model). What it is, how it plays and looks, premium bag included? I FLAT-OUT STOLE THIS THANG!! :)
I'm getting a "Morris-The Cosey" or a 'Breadwinner' (which I've liked since I was 10, in 1970) next....I've bought 7 of their guitars already, only sold one.
Glad to see that you have been introduced to Eastwood guitars and hope that you will keep track of and review their model premieres. They seem to release "updated" versions of classic rare guitars with modern modifications to be more stable and user friendly for today's player. I have a Classic AC, an Astro Jet and an RS-II. The AC is a very popular current model which is a spin on Malcolm Young's Gretsch. The Astro Jet is a re-vamp of a rare 60s Gretsch. The RS-II is an update of a rare Montgomery Ward Roy Smeck model circa 1960. I find in general that they are very well made on the outside and set up on delivery and very affordable for their quality. They seem to save money on hardware and electronics such as input jacks, switches and pots which are easily upgradable. All that I did with my Astro Jet was file the edge of the nut and the tunematic-style bridge low-E saddle because they felt uncomfortably pointy. On the RS-II I had a tech put a bend in the trapeze tail piece because the low E kept popping out. So far on the Classic AC I have installed Grovers because I found the stock tuners to be too stiff but have plans to upgrade and rewire the electronics to be more like a Gretsch with 4 knobs and a Gretsch switch and TV Jones pickups. With Eastwood if you snooze you lose because if they come out with a model you want and wait too long they are sold out and that's it. I wanted their version of a Harmony Jupiter with the blender knob but now they are sold out. If you are lucky they will do a reissue run.
Most guitarists have known Mike Robinson of Eastwood for a long time now. Every guitar is set up before shipping. I have several and all are terrific. Even "b" stocks will only have the most minor, hard to find cosmetic flaw. Robinson has a real passion for retro guitars. Check into the evolution he has made from offering vintage guitars to designing and direct sales and more recently designing from requests/funding through purchase.
i think the coolest guitar they have on eastwood is without a doubt the Rivolta combinata! please do a review on that guitar Phil. Love your vids, as always.
I first encountered Eastwood when Bloomingdale's in NYC used a couple of dozen of them in a display window. I called the store and asked if they'd be selling them when the window changed and I was told the guitars were on loan from the distributor and I could call them. I looked them up on line and was amazed to see all these old 60s guitars, some classic, some (really) cheesy with modern features to make them actually playable. Quite a few models are based on Harmony, Silvertone, Airline, National, and other imports, some-low-end. I missed a Les Paul Special copy on the day of a big online blowout. Since then, the price point has risen and they've added more varieties of the Mosrite copies. My perception is that the quality is higher now. They look like fun guitars.
I've had mine 2 years now and it is a really nice playing and sounding guitar.It came with a hardshell case. I read an interview of Vince Gill and he played one at NAMM and it blew him away, and bought one. said it was his main studio rythmn guitar.
I have an Airline D2P. It is awesome. I bought it dirt cheap (relatively) on a bit of a whim. The guy selling it had bought it for his girlfriend, she gave up on it pretty quickly so it sat under the stairs. When I bought it it had no strings which was a bit suspicious, but once I strung it up I realised why she had given up on it. Basically it had arrived with almost no set up whatsoever, so a bit of trussrod and pickup height adjustment it was perfect. The strings were actually touching the pickup covers, which was just crazy. Anyway he thought he was selling me a dud, so it was cheap, but I made it into what it was meant to be. A rock machine, and I love it to bits. I don't know for sure that it came out of the box that way but I would expect any guitar to require some setup adjustment fresh out of the box, doesn't matter who manufactured it.
I saw the eastwood stand on the Musikmesse a few years ago. I liked the quality. You can get what is either hard to find in decent quality or what isn't produced with the specs you want. So why not if you want that one guitar from your childhood but new in your favourite colour. If you ever wanted a Baritone Guitar...try some like the Eastwood Sidejack Baritone.
Can’t wait to get an Eastwood guitar. They seem like a really enthusiastic & genuinely good company. Their Harmony hollowbody copies that are part of the Airline brand are gorgeous.
My Airline/Harmony H79 was heavier than a LP Custom, due to its huge center-block, but I loved the 'argyle' pickups so much that I bought a pair for another guitar....had to sell the H79, though.
I've been looking at this companies guitars for awhile. They have lots of cool designs. Numerous models that I'd love to buy. My problem is that I really have too many guitars and need to sell off some first.
Charvel should have never stopped making these. One of the very few original designs from the 90s when everyone was into grunge and vintage guitars. Jackson later made this with humbuckers but really ruined it.
I have an Eastwood Tuxedo, metallic red, and I like it a lot. Has a bit of a banjo sound to it. The pickups on it were not in line with each other, one of the posts on the p90 pickup is just barely under the string it's offset so much. But, it sounds great so I didn't mind too much. Liking that one, I ordered a more expensive Australian Wedgtail remake. Loved the look, but when I got it I noticed the bigsby was crooked and the strings on the headstock actually rested on the wood of the headstock. I sent that one back and lost money on the transaction. If considering one I would definitely try a showroom that carries them to inspect build.
I have 3 Eastwood electric tenors - all bought second-hand - a Warren Ellis Signature, an Astrojet Standard & Classic 4. I'm happy with them all - the only issue I have is with the Classic - intonation leaves a lot to be desired due to a wooden, movable bridge. Unfortunately Eastwood tend to be costly ( and relatively hard to find) in Australia.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of removable bridges. I've always wanted a violin shaped bass guitar but all the ones I find have those damn removable bridges. Ironically, Eastwood now sells a reproduction of the classic EB-1 violin bass that is a solid body with a set bridge. That might be my next guitar purchase.
I just bought a double neck Surfcaster and hadn’t heard of Eastwood before now. Compared to other brands I feel like it was a good deal and seems to have higher quality parts like a Wilkinson tremelo on the 6 string side. Also came with a hard case where Italia doesn’t.
I had a couple classic 4 basses from Eastwood (Semi Hollow). Each one I got were different in some way. All of the ones I had were white with gold hardware, but one one it had a black headstock. One had different inlays than the other. I got one with divers in the finish on the neck (painted neck). They sounded good, but what I am getting at is Eastwood isn't really consistent.
Looked on their website, they appear have had a lot of lefties requesting stuff over the last year or two. They've lots! At least a dozen in my sort of budget.
After Eastwood intro'd a repro of the Acoustic Black Widow guitar several years ago, asked if they'd reproduce the Black Widow bass...and they did. I'm sure it wasn't just me, but they definitely consider your requests.
Great video Phil. Eastwood make some excellent Yamaha reproductions too. Guitars that Yamaha should still be making but for one reason or another decided not to and instead plod the same path as everyone else and make good quality, value for money but ultimately pretty uninspiring guitars. Eastwood have filled the void. Great quality matched with great looks and great prices. I'd say that's a pretty good combo :)
My Eastwood sidejack bass vi is the best instrument I've ever played, the neck feels amazing to the point where it feels like the guitar chose me rather than the other way around. It sounds amazing the neck pu being really plummy and the bridge having an awesome bight to it. I also out down a deposit on the Senn by Eastwood model t, an offset Tele that should be here in November and I can't wait for it!
Thanks a lot for the Review, Mate. I absolutely love the Mustangish Shape especially with the chambered Body and it also Sounds great, although I'd prefer it with Humbuckers or a more softer sounding Singlecoil in the Neck . Definitely noted the Brand.
Thanks for this great informative video! I saw one advertised on my local craigslist and was curious as to what the heck this even was. The price on the one I saw certainly looks great! Combined with your video, I think I’ll try it.
I wonder if they didn't do the neck joint route that the original Charvel had because of strength concerns. Looking at Charvel surfcaster pictures, it looks like whats left of the body block at that joint is thin, but it would be nice for playablility. It may be that a slab joint there is better. Either way, very nice guitar.
This reminds me of my Japanese Jackson dominion. I think it would be great for sharpen your axe because I'm not sure what more could be done. I would love to see though! Totally interested!
Reminds me of a Godin I used for some studio work I did a decade ago. It was made of plywood and had 'surf' pickups. It sounded about the same as the Eastwood in this Vid. I gave it to the singer/songwriter of the album because he seemed very comfortable with the strummy yet clear sound. I'm going to tell him about this model. I'm sure he needs a more stable ax to use live as he is very hard on gear. I'm sure the guitar I gave him is in poor or smashed condition now.
Nice Vid Phill! I’ve been to Eastwood’s Site many times looking at Lefty versions of their guitars. I guess my problem is Price! Why should I pay $1200 for a guitar made in China and then extra for a case? Guess I just can’t justify that in my mind. The make a Lefty Surfcaster in Cheeryburst only which looks cool, again though $1200. Great job, Keep up the Good Work!!
