The Eastman Traditional
Series is inspired by the great flattops of the Golden Era. While, according to the manufacturer, modern offshore production sometimes can be seen (using an old style telescope) drifting
further from the discipline that created this legacy, Eastman embraces it. The
result is a brilliant tribute to the iconic guitars of the 30’s and 40’s.
The thing that sets this
apart from any other Chinese-made economy priced instrument is that it is made
with care and precision and sports a genuine Adirondack spruce top, solid mahoganous
back and sides, vintage-inspired structure, appointments and hardware, while
the bindings, heel cap and end graft are all glossy black plastic.
Unlike a prewar guitar this has a compensated bridge
saddle but like a prewar it has black bridge pins. The fret width, like a ’30s instrument, has a
1 ¾” nut width. Unlike a ‘30s it has a 2
1/4” bridge string spacing. The top displays
wooden purfling in what appears to be ebony and spruce, the heel cap and thin
backstripe are black. Tuners are unsigned
open-gears with butterbean button nickel-plated buttons. The headstock is more-or-less squarish; a
diamond dart is carved behind the nut (which is not something you typically
find on a mahogany back and sides guitar); the back of the neck and headstock
are glossy finish and the rosewood headplate bears the gold, underlined “Eastman”
logo in decal. The top, being Adirondack, has the distinctive light brown vertical, wide-grained,
parallel striping, and the sound of the instrument is simply scrumptious.
The Eastman List Price is $1195