Eastwood Gibson RD Replica?

[AltGrendel]

Every Eastwood guitar or bass I have picked up looked and played like it should be priced $300 cheaper.

I hope Gibson gives them a good smack down for this stunt.

Well that's a shame to learn. I was thinking about getting one of their USA Map basses. Not now.

 

[Baird6869]

Is Eastwood perhaps owned by Gibson, or are there no trademarks/ copyrights on the RD shape?

Nope.

Canadian private company that builds in Korea and China. Nothing to do with Gibson.

I think they make the cases in Canada and nothing else.

 

[Eilif]

Everyone is in a bunch over this but didn't bother to look around. View the other "Project" guitars/basses on the site. Most are flat out using pictures of other companies' instruments, and saying they would like to make their own version. For example the Saturn IV project says this and yes, it's a picture with a Vox headstock: "Here is the rare Vox Saturn IV Bass from 1968, the only year of production. I've been trying to find a vintage one at a reasonable price, but no such luck, so let's make our own!" Don't get too wrapped up in the fact they didn't say "here is the Gibson version", pretty sure the intent is all the same.

I saw that one.
Though the Vox name is still very copyrighted, there's a difference between posting a random picture of a vintage bass that is long OOP and blatantly taking a picture of an in-production instrument right off the company's website.

Though I'm not always overly impressed with the production results, I'm very much in favor of the idea of bringing crazy vintage pieces back into production, I just think there is right way to do it and a wrong way. This is the wrong way.

 

[GreatScott91]

I saw that one.
Though the Vox name is still very copyrighted, there's a difference between posting a random picture of a vintage bass that is long OOP and blatantly taking a picture of an in-production instrument right off the company's website.

Though I'm not always overly impressed with the production results, I'm very much in favor of the idea of bringing crazy vintage pieces back into production, I just think there is right way to do it and a wrong way. This is the wrong way.

This is true, however I'm thoroughly wondering if they flat out used the wrong picture. They mention bringing the 'old' version back, so kind of wondering if they meant to use an old pic, but grabbed the brand new one instead?? Hard to say.

 

[wideload]

Reminds me of a VW with a Rolls Royce grill...

 

[Eilif]

Well that's a shame to learn. I was thinking about getting one of their USA Map basses. Not now.

Not to say there's anything particularly wrong with the map bass, (though none of their new airlines are made of res-o-lite). Just ask yourself how much the "look" is worth to you. $900 can buy you an awful lot of bass this days. The map looks darn cool, but I can't see anything about it that would make it a better choice than many other instruments at the same price point.
You can see a fairly glowing video review of it here with lots of sound examples:
Eastwood Airline Map Bass Review | TalkBass.com
Print review with more detail here
Review: Eastwood Airline Map Bass
Sounds pretty good, but I think you're paying a pretty hefty premium mostly for the cosmetics.

 

[hdracer]

Well that's a shame to learn. I was thinking about getting one of their USA Map basses. Not now.

I am looking to find one used at a good price. It would be worth sinking some time and TLC into one. They are cool, just not their asking price cool.

 

[electracoyote]

Just ask yourself how much the "look" is worth to you. $900 can buy you an awful lot of bass this days...I think you're paying a pretty hefty premium mostly for the cosmetics.

Yep. Guilty as charged. I own several Eastwood guitars and basses, and the aesthetics and vintage vibe, the ability to be unique on stage, is a strong selling point. About half of my Eastwoods sounded great and went straight to the stage right out of the box; the other half could use a good shot in the arm. It's all Asian-made generic electronics, so you just have to pick your poison and priorities, and maybe have a bit of a modder's mentality sometimes.

 

[Eilif]

Yep. Guilty as charged. I own several Eastwood guitars and basses, and the aesthetics and vintage vibe, the ability to be unique on stage, is a strong selling point. About half of my Eastwoods sounded great and went straight to the stage right out of the box; the other half could use a good shot in the arm. It's all Asian-made generic electronics, so you just have to pick your poison and priorities, and maybe have a bit of a modder's mentality sometimes.

I'd be really interested to hear your impressions of the various Eastwood Basses and Guitars (is that allowed...) and how you modded them.

I also have a penchant for unique looking instruments, but between my T series Peavey's, Ibanez Artcore and vintage scroll Violabass I've pretty well scratched my wierdness itch. The only Eastwood I've played recently was one of the univox style basses. It sounded ok and seemed to be built solidly, though I might have considered new pups. IIRC it was about half the price of the Map bass

 

[scourgeofgod]

This is true, however I'm thoroughly wondering if they flat out used the wrong picture. They mention bringing the 'old' version back, so kind of wondering if they meant to use an old pic, but grabbed the brand new one instead?? Hard to say.

I think this may very well be the case, they don't go into specifics as to what type of pickups will actually be used, they may not even be certain themselves at this point.

 

[electracoyote]

I'd be really interested to hear your impressions of the various Eastwood Basses and Guitars (is that allowed...) and how you modded them.

I also have a penchant for unique looking instruments, but between my T series Peavey's, Ibanez Artcore and vintage scroll Violabass I've pretty well scratched my wierdness itch. The only Eastwood I've played recently was one of the univox style basses. It sounded ok and seemed to be built solidly, though I might have considered new pups. IIRC it was about half the price of the Map bass

I either own or have owned the following Eastwood guitars and basses (please check the Eastwood site for details Eastwood Guitars: Vintage Electric Guitars & Airline Guitars

Delta 6
Custom Kraft
Classic 4
EEB-1
Mandocaster
MAP Bass
Wandre

I still own five of those, two got sold. I haven't done any mods on my Eastwoods, it's not my thing, but the two I sold would have been improved greatly with mods. I don't want to put any preconceptions in anyone's head. These guitars are all great in their own way and all deserve a shot. Suffice it to say, I'm sold on the brand, as you can see in my signature below. Still looking for a gently used Airline '59 Jetsons bass in white, which was discontinued and is now rare.

 

[blue4]

Well that's a shame to learn. I was thinking about getting one of their USA Map basses. Not now.

Keep thinking about it. I've played three or four and while they are definitely charging every dime they can they are cool basses that play, sound, and look great.

 

[ThaCoast]

If i were eastwood, i wouldn't try to replicate the Novoselic sig, it's been done. Use your own pickup design, your own bridge, tweak it so you don't have a potential lawsuit further down. Probably make it a bolt on just to keep costs down if they actually want to make it a more affordable rd bass.

Also, i dont think there's much demand for an RD bass unless it was to actually reproduce the vintage deal.

 

[GretschWretch]

I don't mind some of Eastwood's basses; I remember trying a Club Bass, Airline Map Bass, and their Ampeg scroll bass knock-off and I thought they were alright, but this is just not right. Reminds me of their "Magnum" bass they had earlier.

I wish Eastwood had kept in their line their version of the Magnatone Hurricane. I do see they have a version of the old Custom Kraft Bone-Buzzer guitar; maybe they will introduce the bass model.

 

[electracoyote]

I do see they have a version of the old Custom Kraft Bone-Buzzer guitar; maybe they will introduce the bass model.

A definite keeper, they flat nailed it. Bone stock, quick set up and nut slot touch up, ready to roll. Every Eastwood I've touched has been well-made and a great player. Only occasionally the electronics are a bit underwhelming.



The Hurricane can still be had; who knows for how long.

Eastwood Guitars Hurricane Bass Sunburst Brand New Auth DLR Free SHIP | eBay

 

[iamthebassman]

I have my 5th Eastwood bass on order, the Saturn IV, and have had no problems at all with mine. Mike is very easy to deal with.
I have no interest in an RD personally, I already have 4 Gibson basses.
On a different, slightly more "upscale" bass forum, they pointed out the use of Jazz pickups on the new "RD" means there's room to route out for different pickups.

 

[nerkoids]

I have my 5th Eastwood bass on order, the Saturn IV, and have had no problems at all with mine. Mike is very easy to deal with.
I have no interest in an RD personally, I already have 4 Gibson basses.
On a different, slightly more "upscale" bass forum, they pointed out the use of Jazz pickups on the new "RD" means there's room to route out for different pickups.

I'd put their P-90 Hi-Flyer pups in this thing.

 

[BTL]

I think what Eastwood's custom shop does is pretty cool, actually.

They find an interesting, weird piece, throw a photo up on the page, then see if there is interest.

If the project starts to move, the do a CAD drawing and start narrowing specs, choosing colors, etc.

One the project is "fully funded" they launch production.

You can see that not all projects go into production, and the ones that do are Eastwood branded.

For fans of quirky stuff and custom creations, it's a great way to get something unique at a "mass market" price.

Link Removed

 

[andysleigh]

Hillarious. Gibson introduces the "not-at-all-an-RD" Novoselic bass (jazz bass pickups, really?)
krist had an rd standard which he put jazz pickups in in the 90's.
as well as having the artist

 

[Eilif]

krist had an rd standard which he put jazz pickups in in the 90's.
as well as having the artist

I'm aware of that. My point is that a bass with passive Jazz pickups is not really an "RD Artist" as Eastwood is calling it.