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I played one of these today:

(it belongs to the father of a friend of a friend). Really nice guitar, I hadn’t seen one before but It’s a cool guitar.I think I need a guitar with mini humbuckers...hmmm

The original Messengers were cool, Eastwood fail in a number of areas as usual with their version.

paul_ wrote:The original Messengers were cool, Eastwood fail in a number of areas as usual with their version.

list the numbers

No prob. While most Eastwood copies get partway there, the Messenger has the distinction of having literally none of the classic features of the original Musicraft:

1) no aluminum through-body neck
2) no switchable stereo/mono output circuit
3) wrong pickups

As with their Airlines, I won't say it's a bad guitar... just that it's the wrong one.
It's good to hear they're decent, but lets face it: an $850 chinese knock-off better be.

Love original messengers tho.

I agree with paul, Eastwood seems to only make guitars for people who want a vintage looking guitar without really paying much attention to the details of what made the original guitars what they were. Plus, all the ones that I've played have felt about on par with Squier Affinity series. If I'm paying $850 for a guitar it better feel 8 times better than a squier affinity.

paul_ wrote:No prob. While most Eastwood copies get partway there, the Messenger has the distinction of having literally none of the classic features of the original Musicraft:

1) no aluminum through-body neck
2) no switchable stereo/mono output circuit
3) wrong pickups

As with their Airlines, I won't say it's a bad guitar... just that it's the wrong one.
It's good to hear they're decent, but lets face it: an $850 chinese knock-off better be.

Love original messengers tho.

I didn't know what it was based on, it's a lovely guitar but the price is a bit high

The Eastwood Messengers are pretty good . I disagree about some said about Eastwood . The quality is good . They also make fine players . Are they lacking anywhere ? I don't believe so( except for pickups. But I think most guitars do in their price range). They change some features to make it their own I'd admit . Are they overpriced ? Somewhat . $1100 for a Doral which is a copy ? Or the Joey Leone signature ? Overpriced . But some are good . My Hi Flyer kicks ass . In fact both of them do . I have a Tailstop and the 30 scale bass. Good fit and finish ( exception of some fret work and a set up) and they play well.
But back to the Messenger. Great guitar for the price . But would I own one ? Uncertain.

I don't doubt it played nicely, but it looks pretty fugly to me.

Rox wrote:The Eastwood Messengers are pretty good . I disagree about some said about Eastwood . The quality is good . They also make fine players . Are they lacking anywhere ? I don't believe so( except for pickups. But I think most guitars do in their price range). They change some features to make it their own I'd admit . Are they overpriced ? Somewhat . $1100 for a Doral which is a copy ? Or the Joey Leone signature ? Overpriced . But some are good . My Hi Flyer kicks ass . In fact both of them do . I have a Tailstop and the 30 scale bass. Good fit and finish ( exception of some fret work and a set up) and they play well.
But back to the Messenger. Great guitar for the price . But would I own one ? Uncertain.

All I really meant is that for their price, they aren't worth it. The fact is that all the Eastwoods that I've played in shops, the hi-fier copies, the airline copies, the supro copies, every one of them felt about on par with Squier's lower to mid level series but not as good because they all needed setups and needed their fret ends smoothed down. If I'm spending $400-$900 on a guitar it should feel great right off the wall. Squier's VM and CV series guitars and basses have only made me think that even more. The fact that Eastwood's are priced at about $100 more than the amazing CV series Squiers, and range up to the amazing Classic Player series by Fender, but don't come anywhere near the quality of either of those guitars makes me feel that they are not worth it. They look cool, but they shouldn't need a hardware upgrade or full on setup in that price range.