Thoughts on Eastwood instruments?

[Peeved T-40]

I have owned and played numerous Eastwoods (and their sponsored signature brands) in guitars, electric mandos, and basses. Quality, playability, and output all over the map. From one model to the next, you never know quite what you're getting until you get one in your hands. And they tend to make small unannounced hardware changes to them on the fly, like the string retainer noted in a post above.

Many of the reboots, while aesthetically handsome, are a little disappointing sonically due to electronics being mediocre or the array being dumbed down and not matching that of the original version. I have personally never liked most of the bass offerings I've played. Once tried to save money with the Ampeg clone sight-unseen, big mistake, couldn't unload it fast enough. One exception is the Classic IV bass, good alternative to the Gretsch stuff, I had two in white and orange for the retro country act I played in. There's another example of sudden unannounced hardware changes, the bridge configuration must have changed at least three times over the years and you never knew what you would get.

Some of their original stuff is good, because you don't have anything to compare them to. I like the 8-string electric mando they made back in the day, used that to very good effect on many stages.

I also have their Custom Kraft Deluxe sixer in greenburst, a reboot of an old design, and it's okay, probably over-priced, but cool unique looks. With some effort I successfully dialed it in and tightened it up to be marginally stage-worthy. I also have a Jeff Senn Model One in surf green which I got on sale, never would have paid full price for that, again I had to tighten it up considerably to make it (barely) stage-worthy, actually more appropriate for rehearsals now that I think about it.

Bottom line for me is, you're probably paying a high price more for looks than outstanding quality/playability/tone, with some you can straighten them out or mod them to the point you'd want to record or perform with them, and it's a real gamble across all those scores of models and styles what you'll end up with. Too bad it's such a high price to find out.

The Backlund stuff is an example of a real uptick in quality, but they want a pretty penny for those. I had money down for the Backlund 800 special order custom, but it went belly-up before production. Too bad.

View attachment 4173843

Right now my primary interest is in the mandacellelo. It's 4 strings tuned in 5ths so my bass skills will carry over and, at least in concept, it's exactly the kind of thing i've been looking for to step away from the bass a little bit. I'm not super interested in their re-issue stuff aside from the hooky 6.

 

[wmhill]

They have some neat ideas, but the prices seem to be out of wack (to my way of thinking).
I just picked up a used Davidson guitar, and it's loads better than I was expecting. Maybe these
Fall into the same heading.

 

[danster]

Bought a new Classic 4 recently. My first Eastwood, and I like it. Comparable to Epiphone in quality. Good tone, very good playability, and looks great. I found the honeyburst leftover from 2019, I think, but all in all I'd try another.

 

[electracoyote]

Right now my primary interest is in the mandacellelo. It's 4 strings tuned in 5ths so my bass skills will carry over and, at least in concept, it's exactly the kind of thing i've been looking for to step away from the bass a little bit. I'm not super interested in their re-issue stuff aside from the hooky 6.

This is one vendor where I would stop short of an endorsement, it's very hit and miss and subjective.

I was only addressing this part of your OP, for you or anyone else who might benefit from it:

does anyone have any experience with their instruments?

 

[Jaycat]

Right now my primary interest is in the mandacellelo. It's 4 strings tuned in 5ths so my bass skills will carry over . . .

Uh.. I hate to break this to you, but . . .

 

[Shizzean]

I know this is a bass forum and fundamentally, that's where I'm coming from but I'm interested in some of there non bass stuff primarily. The Hooky 6 looks amazing. peter hook is one of my main inspirations. But I'm looking at he mandacello right now and i've been looking for a uke sized bass for travel but they're expansive and it accrued to me that one of their 4 string mandolins with an octave pedal might be a good idea.

Don't know if you've seen RJ Ronquillo's video demo of the Hooky on youtube, but the way he plays it makes me definitely want one.
I just don't know where I'd use it....

 

[Trailertrash74]

I own two and basically I like one and the other one is piece of crap! Some of their styling is really cool but once you get past that, the hardware and electronics are what you would find in $100-$200 instrument. I purchased one new and the other one use so I didn't get burned as bad as I did on the new one. I don't recommend unless you get it really cheap!

 

[Peeved T-40]

Uh.. I hate to break this to you, but . . .

do you always leave comments claiming to have a point but not making it? but what?

 

[electracoyote]

I own two and basically I like one and the other one is piece of crap! Some of their styling is really cool but once you get past that, the hardware and electronics are what you would find in $100-$200 instrument. I purchased one new and the other one use so I didn't get burned as bad as I did on the new one. I don't recommend unless you get it really cheap!
View attachment 4174029

Tell us which one you like and which one is the piece of crap. (FWIW, I hated the Ampeg clone, YMMV).

And please tell us more about that Jetsons bass. This is one where they really simplified the electronics array. On the first limited run, Eastwood did it correctly. Then, before I could get my hands on one, they went to the split P configuration. Now I can't find the earlier version to save my life.

 

[matt-o-]

I bought the warren ellis tenor baritone. As retoure, because otherwise it would be too expensive. I have mixed feelings as well. Generally the instrument is completely fine, fretwork ok. Tuners so lala, ok. The pickups weren't well matched: the blade single coil at the neck was fine, the minihumbucker at the bridge was significant lower in level. Everything with thick poly finish. What I do not like too much is the thick lacquered neck, wood feels nicer to me. Qualitywise I would feel it is in the Squier range.
My brain did not adapt very well to 5th tuning, so I made it an in-between instrument BEAD.
Very helpful was their tuning guide. I bought a bunch of single strings and experimented with different tunings. That was very interesting.
I can imagine the neck being a bit small for the mandocello with 8 strings. With 4 strings it is already tiny (but nice!).
What I did like VERY much, was the expansion of my musical horizon with the instrument. I am really a four-stringer and there is not so much else to choose. This is what I feel very positive about this instrument.

So, I would wait for a discount action and buy the instrument for a reduced price.

I changed the pickup and pickguard and am really happy with my tenor baritone

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

This past October, I purchased an Eastwood Esprit Ultra guitar directly from the company. It was shipped to me in CA from England, arriving in 3 days. The only flaw I found in it was a tiny cosmetic one that no-one else would notice without examining it closely. I had a guitar tech replace the standard Tune-O-Matic bridge with an excellent upgrade replacement manufactured by Babicz/Full Contact Hardware for better tone & sustain, and also had a pair of Malinoski humbucker-sized "gold foil" type pickups installed in place of the original Eastwood HBs. It looks and plays great. (See photo below.) Truly, I'm delighted with it!

My understanding is that they manufacture what they refer to as "tribute" instruments rather than actual reproductions: Not identical, but very close in appearance and aesthetics. They do seek to keep costs down, so no, you won't get exactly the same components, wiring, etc. — but they also try to make some improvements that take advantage of current technology and manufacturing processes, especially if they can eliminate some of the problems or shortcomings of the original instruments.

From the comments posted here by those who have actually owned Eastwood instruments, it does sound like quality may vary by model, or perhaps depending upon when and where each was made. My guitar tech said he found nothing wrong with my Eastwood guitar, and I have been told by two people with a lot of expertise that the quality of Eastwood instruments being manufactured recently is equal to, if not better than, that of a couple of big, well-established brands. I can only speak with authority about my own Eastwood, but based on its looks, feel, and finish, I would certainly not presume that all Eastwood guitars of recent manufacture are "garbage."

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I like my 3, especially my Backlund Rockerbox
View attachment 4173394
The recent made in Korea models are a definite step up from the made in china models

Stop in here
The Official Eastwood Bass Club

@woodyng2 had a Rivolta
He liked it but returned it. He had issues with the neck being too tight for his playing. 32” scale.
@LowEndLobster reviewed the EB-1 and didn’t care for it, however I haven’t had any issues with mine.
All of mine were purchased through crowd funding to get production started rather than later off of the shelf if that makes any difference?

I’ve seen some newer ones that interest me, but since they pretty much stopped offering hardshell cases I won’t be buying anymore.

That is one really cool looking bass. I work with a DooWhop band that something like yours visually should be awesome, as long as I could get a realistic PB sound out of it.

 

[B-Mac]

That is one really cool looking bass. I work with a DooWhop band that something like yours visually should be awesome, as long as I could get a realistic PB sound out of it.

You’ll never get a p bass sound out of a 32” semi-hollow body bass with humbuckers on it.
However, you’ll definitely get a great non boring same old same old ho hum sound out of it. Be bold and don’t fear playing something out of the ordinary realm of the P Bass
Life and bass playing is much too short.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

You’ll never get a p bass sound out of a 32” semi-hollow body bass with humbuckers on it.
However, you’ll definitely get a great non boring same old same old ho hum sound out of it. Be bold and don’t fear playing something out of the ordinary realm of the P Bass

You do realize at my age, as card carrying boomer, that defying convention would result in termination of my membership? LOL!!!

 

[B-Mac]

You do realize at my age, as card carrying boomer, that defying convention would result in termination of my membership? LOL!!!

I’m 60
Step out of Leo’s box

 

[5StringBlues]

They don't make my day.

 

[Jaycat]

do you always leave comments claiming to have a point but not making it? but what?

Your bass is tuned in fourths (I'm assuming) as opposed to the mandocello's being tuned in fifths.

 

[Feral Feline]

Yeah, I was about to say that unless you emulate Red Mitchell, or Joel Quarrington...

Mitchell switched in '66 to fifths.

Canadian Quarrington:
Playing the Bass in Fifths — Joel Quarrington
Tuning in Fifths and the Walking Bass Line — Joel Quarrington

Lotsa players have dabbled in 5ths ... some have committed to it. On electric slab, not sure how many...

TB threads:
The Fifths Tuning Club
The CGDA "Cello" Tuning, Tell Me About It....
Is There A Point To Tuning In Fifths in rock?
Fifths tuning on electric
Anyone try tuning in 5th's, and went back to 4th's?
Incredible DEMO of Bass tuned in 4ths vs Bass tuned in 5ths

 

[bassplace]

I bought the warren ellis tenor baritone. As retoure, because otherwise it would be too expensive. I have mixed feelings as well. Generally the instrument is completely fine, fretwork ok. Tuners so lala, ok. The pickups weren't well matched: the blade single coil at the neck was fine, the minihumbucker at the bridge was significant lower in level. Everything with thick poly finish. What I do not like too much is the thick lacquered neck, wood feels nicer to me. Qualitywise I would feel it is in the Squier range.
My brain did not adapt very well to 5th tuning, so I made it an in-between instrument BEAD.
Very helpful was their tuning guide. I bought a bunch of single strings and experimented with different tunings. That was very interesting.
I can imagine the neck being a bit small for the mandocello with 8 strings. With 4 strings it is already tiny (but nice!).
What I did like VERY much, was the expansion of my musical horizon with the instrument. I am really a four-stringer and there is not so much else to choose. This is what I feel very positive about this instrument.

So, I would wait for a discount action and buy the instrument for a reduced price.

I changed the pickup and pickguard and am really happy with my tenor baritone
View attachment 4174064

I also go one of these last May... really like it and wouldn't give it up. It does have an issue with the electronics which I'm going to take it to a tech for. They crackle like there is static electricity. Eastwood responded quickly when I asked them about that and agreed, definitely take it to a tech to get sorted out and said it was under warranty. I'm happy with the pickups, seemingly mismatched as they are. The 3 combinations offer very different voicing. Fit and finish including fretwork are very good with the exception of the nut. It's not quite as wide as the neck and is a touch short on the left side. Not noticeable unless you feel for it but I'll probably get a new one at some point. Thinking through what other changes I want first.

I also would have preferred a wood neck and not the think laquer. My ideal would be a roasted unfinished one with a 1.5" nut. But I haven't come across anything like this anywhere.

Overall, a bit pricey but very unique and that's how that works. Could have a similar custom guitar made but that would easily be $2k +.

Oh, and I love the 5ths tuning and only 4 strings as a guitar. It is just what I needed as I can't seem to get along with a regular six stringer. I've kept my basses standard tuning and my head hasn't had any trouble going back and forth. I do want a short scale now though.

 

[Trailertrash74]

Tell us which one you like and which one is the piece of crap. (FWIW, I hated the Ampeg clone, YMMV).

And please tell us more about that Jetsons bass. This is one where they really simplified the electronics array. On the first limited run, Eastwood did it correctly. Then, before I could get my hands on one, they went to the split P configuration. Now I can't find the earlier version to save my life.

On my first visit to the Eastwood site I was amazed that they took on custom projects with limited runs and was immediately drawn to the Jetson Jr. So after an extended decision making period (about 5 minutes), I gave them my deposit and waited and watched until they reached the required number of orders so they could start the build. Well, finally that day came and several months later the JJ was delivered to my door. The bass looked great but after plugging it in I knew that it would disappoint me. I own two other short scale basses (Gibson SB300 and Ibanez TMB 30) and this one definitely fell into 3rd place. The pickups are cheap (very weak) as well as the other electronics. I had to shim the neck in order to get the string height set properly. When I inspected to pots, the cavity was full of trash! All in all, very disappointing. Considering my $179.00 Ibanez plays and sounds 5 times better, my $500 Airline JJ investment was a bust. Now, I could sink a few hundred into it and upgrade the electronics and bridge but I rather put that money into another project.

Now as far as the EEB1 (Ampeg clone), I purchased this used ($300 below current retail) and although it has the same low grade electronics, I really like it (it just looks so damn cool) and it's not a bad playing instrument. If I was going to invest any money in upgrades, it would be on this instrument (add a 2nd pickup and new controls & bridge). Well anyway....that's my story and I'm stickin with it!