I recently tried a SB59v and loved it and kept thinking about it. Today i tried a T59v and was completely blown away. Now i'm thinking about selling my maybach lester and get one of the T59s. Was never into Semi Hollows but man, this thing really got me.

Excellent video mate!, this is a great honest and up to date assessment and opinion from someone who buys and sells these things. You told me a year ago that I should check out Eastman and lo and behold I now have 3! 😁👌Quick question.... as you know I just got an SB59v which has a lovely round C neck, but I also tried the Nitro which had a quite different but fabulous V shape neck... are they (nitros) all like that?

Thanks for this! I still have my 1968 LP Custom Ebony so the 'still need a Gibson' thing not an issue 😃 I haven't been able to get my hands on an Eastman yet (HK stockist only carries acoustics and Covid has prevented travel up till now) but from the many reviews (esp. our Colin!) my wishlist is SB59v (or SB59 nitro also ok) and a Juliet (or two). Being able to get 3 Eastmans for the price of 1 Gibson Custom Shop is sort of a no-brainer, n'est-ce pas? 2 months later - PS May 7th. Finally got to play an SB59/v over in Shenzen yesterday! Loved it. It immediately reminded me of a Murphy Lab LP I played here in HK a coupla months ago - neck, action, 'vibe'. The Eastman is HKD 16K / USD 2K & the Gibson HKD 54K / USD 6.7K. Go figure? Aiming to grab the Eastman asap!

I am wondering about the Eastman AR371 (archtop, "jazz") for my alt-country/rock band. The only info and reviews I can find though talk about it as a jazz guitar. Is it silly to expect it to work outside that genre? What am I missing? Or do I just need to save more money for a Gretsch?

I now have an Eastman t484 and it is a fine guitar, as good as or better than manyGibson I’ve had including a 335, 339, LP junior special plus, Jr., etc. I’ve had a couple of Eastman archtops and an Eastman mando and they were fine quality as well.

Have the SB59v and it is a joy, only thing i changed was to go to locking tuners you recommended. In almost every aspect, this beats a certain company hands down, lollar pick ups, gotoh and switchcraft hardware and an EBONY fingerboard is amazing value. My only gripe is 43mm width at the nut, it is noticeably wider in the hand than a les paul, but i will settle for that cos otherwise it is vastly superior.

Totally agree. The Eastmans that I own are way beyond core Gibson standard... in fact the two that I have I wouldn't consider swapping for a Custom-Shop model.

Totally completely agree.

Nice, and some great playing there. Not the same thing but I own an Eastman OM acoustic and got it for £1600, it's fantastic. That company make very good guitars though as you say now the company is making so many more guitars it is a point to watch if the quality remains the same. cheers

Agree, eastmans are hand-built with the best components used. Basically a gibson custom shop quality for a quarter of the price. Their acoustics are amazing too.

Eastman also have/had a custom option which is finished in US. I don't see it on their website right now but have looked at it a few times in the past

The stock tuners on these ARE Gotohs, the same ones as the SB57 you looked at, the SD90

The goldtop p90 hands down, that one looks way more premium. You should borrow one and review it.

Nice intro 🙂

Great video bro! Is the finish nitro or poly? Eastman wedsite just say gloss finish.

I have an sb59 V and a Romeo la. They are far and away my favorite guitars. I still like my Gibson's but the Eastman's are better. Still waiting on an sb55 that I ordered a while back. Can't wait to get it they've been out of stock for a while finally they have started to trickle in. I ordered mine from the local music store over a year ago. I think these early ones are going to be collectors items within a few years they're really that good.

If they are making more I wish they would make more lefties. I've had loads of Gibsons but I've just got the one LP Classic which I had to upgrade the pickups to Thornbuckers to make me want to keep it. I traded 4 guitars (including a LP tribute) plus a bit of cash for the last Eastman SB59L anywhere.

I lost my interest in Gibson after a side by side with a prs 594. That said, I always wanted a Martin OM, until I played an Eastman OM-torrified spruce top - next to a Martin. I happily bought the Eastman. My ear and my wallet haven’t looked back

Agree. The stock Ping machine pegs are awful. Also, on my t59-v the tone switch is cut too close to the volume knob. Other than that, a brilliant guitar.

On my Eastman T486, I swapped out the tuners to Kluson Revolution locking tuners in 20 minutes approx. You don't need to change the bushings. 19 to 1 ratio, sweet.

It's funny how the Eastman T386 is cheaper than a Joe Bonamassa Epiphone. One thing that's a bit weird to me is that the SB59 model is more expensive than the semi hollow models. Thought semi hollow was harder and more time consuming to make.

I'm not certain I agree they are making considerably more guitars that you'd need to worry about quality control. I get the point and I do see more stores with Eastman, but notice how many they carry or if they are in stock and I don't think they are manufacturing a great deal more. However, I could be wrong. 🤔 Well, I did want an Eastman sb59v well before your video a year back, it just never happened. Fast forward to today and I have a 1978 Greco LP custom and 1980 Yamaha Studio Lord (sl700s). I reckon Eastman have increased their prices way more than other brands and I feel that's due to the Gibson price comparison whereby they are still reasonable. Yet, if we consider Gibson too expensive for what you get, I think Eastman now falls into that category & that's a shame. Back to my purchases I'm super happy. The one thing I'll say is that the Yammy is a damn beast, it's so heavy, so don't think you'd be using it to gig for the night, but playing at home sitting down I just love it. Mine are still stock, other than a new tailpiece on the Greco. Now do I still want a Gibson? Maybe... But not nearly as much as I would have buying an Eastman. That's because these guitars are somewhat unique & I feel great taking either one from the rack and I don't even think "if only I had"... Cheers Pauly for your updated and honest thoughts here Btw... Are you gonna convince Steve that Eastman is the way to go moving forward. 😂

I think Eastmans are better than standard usa Gibsons. Played 5 Gibson Les Paul standards in a small guitar store in Bern (Swiss) and the one Eastman SB59 they had beside them one the wall was more resonant, better weight and looked better. I personally own a Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab Les Paul Ultra Light Aged 59’ Cherry Burst and I still think this guitar is a keeper with only 3,66 Kilos but I bought an Eastman DC55/v and I’m blown away how good it feels… So yes, I’d agree with you, the Gibson Custom Shop guitars may still have that 1% you won’t find that easy but the Eastmans are almost as good…

How did it turn out with your concerns? Did the Eastman quality drop now that they are making more guitars?

Very good and informative video as always and nice playing. I very much enjoy these types of videos, when you share your longer term experience. I have the exact same guitar, same colour, nitro, goldburst, mine is 3.8 kg. In my opinion there is something special about the eastman guitars, maybe due to knowing they are handmade and the premium components used. And the subtle changes to the les paul - headstock, rounder lower horn, deeper carve of the maple top etc. - work very well, usually others fall short in some parts. I very much liked the varnish version also, but the nitro is so classy that I went with it, and also cheaper. The quality is so good, that its hard to beleive actually that they are all handmade :). Have you had experience with maybach lester maybe or heritage h150? What are they like, I have not had the chance to try those out yet. Take care!

Awesome Manufacturer

Killer playing man I was an excellent demo 2:29 2:40

I have the Eastman Romeo SC, it is awesome, that said, so is my Gibson Hummingbird and USA Epiphone Frontier.

Great honest opinion

That guitar has trutone which is why it's wearing so well. It's a nice finish.

All the fine scratches on my guitar happened because I need to keep my fingernails short and filed smooth.

Having bought an Eastman SB59-v in antique goldburst about a month ago, I will be selling my Gibson Les Paul Classic once I find time to post it on Reverb, and I will never look back. But my 8.2 lb Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s with P90s is my "lifer guitar." That one's not going anywhere. Nor is my Eastman, so resell value is irrelevant to me. What a FANTASTIC guitar the SB59-v is! Plays like a dream and sustains for days.

I can tell you of three other shops/online sales that have numerous Eastmans, all in the 'London' reach.

I have a variety of Gibson Les Pauls and I want an Eastman. So, for Christmas I have just bought myself an Eastman 59 GBv (antique varnish) Coda Music have 2 59 Red bursts.

Bought both my Eastman's in last 2 years.....T486 bought for $1100....see them on sale new for $1400. SB59GT for $1475...seen them as high as $1700 new. They've appreciated so used market should also be favorable. I'm a lefty so that may matter...

Good honest video, I watched all of it with interest. That gold one you showed us on your computer looked the biz! Whilst I’m a die hard Gibson guy, I do admit that much of my attraction to Gibson is psychological - and wanting to hold something that my heroes played. Aren’t we humans a funny bunch! But if I was able to be more objective then I guess I might love an Eastman. Maybe when I grow up a little I’ll see things differently 🤣. Great vid 👍

#102nd comment, less my criticism (edited out), good work and agree that "pride" is real. Just also, pride can be foolish!

I think they are good guitars but I think their list price is a bit high. Still as you say they are selling so people like them. I might go and give one a try

I have a 1990 Greco eg59-100 and just ordered an Eastman sb59. I really have no desire for a Gibson. I’ve played a ton of them and they’re just not great. I agree it would take a high end Gibson to match my Greco and hopefully the Eastman as well

I suppose, outside of the playability aspect, Gibson is..and will remain in the near future, the most likely guitar to retain or even increase its re-sale value here, Europe and Japan. I recently almost bought a T486 Eastman in flawless condition advertised in our local Craigslist….and the fellow was hung with it for at least a month…dropping the price well bellow 50% of what he bought it for. All this, as Gibsons…specially the hollow bodies came and went within a week in most cases…at prices that were not far off what they were bought for..specially if 10 years or older. So, it may, in the end, be more expensive to own an Eastman than a Gibson. Hey, they are great and I have a stunning acoustic, 10E..something…(00 size)…myself..and love it. With that, I know that if that was the same size Martin, I would get much of my money back…but not with my Eastman I’m afraid.

Excusé mais les guitares Godin sont exceptionnelles.

So did the tuners not do the job? or did you change them cuz you wanted to do so? I have never heard anybody else before talk about how they are not good enough. Also it is just better to watch the used market and find a desperate person that will sell too cheap. I have done that for decades for all of my music gear. I have been going at it now for 20+ years on the same $1000 I spent a long time ago. It works of you work it.

The Eastmans have gone up in price in the EU. Quality instruments though.

I can't say ive had much of an interest in buying a Gibson in over a decade, and since I bought my SB59v a couple of years ago, any remaining interest in the Gibson brand has disappeared. You're paying for the brand on the headstock and not much else. The top end SB59 is the same price as a LP Studio here and is Custom Shop level quality. The guy who sold me my Eastman used to be a Gibson rep and he owns a 59v himself. If you want the Gibson badge, go buy it, but if you want a great guitar for less money, Eastman is the way to go.

I've always wanted a Gibson, the price is just isn't worth the name for me. So many just as good or better guitars for a 1/4 the price.

If its a good guitar ,Why would you sell it?

Eastman compares more with a Collings in terms of precision and build. You can’t compare it with a Gibson. A Gibson is much less of an instrument.

The thing I don’t like about Eastman is that they are pushing up and pushing up their prices… They now cost about the same as a Gibson USA. Having cheap labour in China, they must be making more and more money on these. They are nice guitars, but way overpriced in my opinion.

Dollar for dollar regarding build quality, components, feel, weight, and sound the Eastmans win. Someone still wanting a Gibson is purely a brand thing and shouldn’t be framed as a negative towards Eastman. The fact you say only a Gibson custom shop stands up to it proves that point. I bet 98% of us are watching this video on a phone or computer made in china so I don’t get that argument

You change your strings every 3-4 weeks? How do you live like that? Good grief man.