NGD Eastman SB55

[NickD]

I followed my new amp day with a new guitar day.

I’ve always liked Juniors and Specials, and I’ve been through a few but never found the right one. I wanted something light, one piece body and a pretty chunky neck and didn’t want to spend Gibson Custom Shop amounts to get it.

I’ve been looking at the Eastman options after them being pointed out on a recent thread, and there is a guitar shop in Derby that stocks them, so we went to have a look yesterday. They had one in stock, it played well, but had a couple of marks from being in the shop for a little while (although it’s pretty difficult to tell what is deliberate from the factory - it has a light ageing to it - not as far as a relic, but more than VOS). They agreed to knock a fairly substantial amount off and I came home with it.

Lollar pick-up, Faber hardware and an Okoume mahogany body (from Africa according to Paul’s Googling last night) the figuring is a little less obvious in most light, but when the light is right on the body it looks pretty interesting.

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[sunshiner]

Dude

[NickD]

Dude

I’m not sure whether that emoji means it’s good or bad

[sunshiner]

It's the best Junior I've seen in a while. I've been reading about Eastwoods ever since Thomas bought his semi hollow and they seem to be the best value for money. Gibson Custom Shop specs for the money that the bottom line/midrange Gibsons cost. Congrats, it's a looker!

[NickD]

It's the best Junior I've seen in a while. I've been reading about Eastwoods ever since Thomas bought his semi hollow and they seem to be the best value for money. Gibson Custom Shop specs for the money that the bottom line/midrange Gibsons cost. Congrats, it's a looker!

That’s pretty much my thoughts on it, the initial setup is better than Gibson CS too, and the general feel is similar too.

[Nick]

I love the wood on it, that is a beauty!

What's going on with the pickguard near the neck joint? Looks like it overhangs a bit and the upper horn screw hole looks a little off...is that how it is from factory?

[NickD]

I love the wood on it, that is a beauty!

What's going on with the pickguard near the neck joint? Looks like it overhangs a bit and the upper horn screw hole looks a little off...is that how it is from factory?

Yes, that’s how it’s meant to be. They are trying to not get sued by Gibson I think - you can see from the pics below (top Gibson, bottom another Eastman) it doesn’t follow the lower horn either, and is slightly different in a couple of other areas. Their single cut LP type guitars have a slightly different body shape for similar reasons. I get the feeling Gibson don’t care too much about cheaper guitars, but for stuff that competes directly with their USA made guitars they can get a bit litigious - like they did with PRS.

The pick guard is made from Bakelite too, which is unusual.

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[sunshiner]

There was a period when they put gigantic pickguard on the early double cut Juniors which looked a bit like that too

[Thomas]

Oooft that’s a beauty!!!!! Eastman are unbeatable, especially at the price point. They are currently my favourite guitar brand by a significant margin. I’d like to add a solid body to my collection at some point.

I’m glad it met your expectations. I think they should be far more popular than they are.

[NickD]

There was a period when they put gigantic pickguard on the early double cut Juniors which looked a bit like that too

You’re right, quite a few look the same.

It’s funny, I’ve seen hundreds of pics of DC juniors and never noticed it.

[Bacchus]

Gorgeous!

[NickD]

Just out of curiosity I weighed it - 6.06lbs. That seems pretty light to me.

[Thomas]

It’s not surprising as they actually select the timber they use. That’s a perfect weight for the size of the guitar. It’s great that when you buy it everything on it is upgraded out of the box.

How do you find the neck width? They’re a touch wider than usual down at the nut, but I find it very comfy

Maybe Gibson were onto something in 2015 by going with a wider neck. Tho they shout themselves in the foot by not adjusting the string spacing at the nut.

[NickD]

It’s not surprising as they actually select the timber they use. That’s a perfect weight for the size of the guitar. It’s great that when you buy it everything on it is upgraded out of the box.

How do you find the neck width? They’re a touch wider than usual down at the nut, but I find it very comfy

Maybe Gibson were onto something in 2015 by going with a wider neck. Tho they shout themselves in the foot by not adjusting the string spacing at the nut.

It shows that a great guitar, with a single piece of well chosen wood can be built relatively cost effectively. Gibson seem to only select good pieces of wood when you get to CS levels, otherwise they just drill holes in it to get the weight down. I know it likely doesn't matter to the sound, but the corner cutting bugs me. And even though I almost exclusively play sitting down, I don't enjoy playing a heavy guitar.

The neck is only a tiny bit wider than my R9, and a tiny bit slimmer at the nut (although still pretty chunky) so I'm finding it very comfortable.

[rahbro]

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STAND IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU AREEEEEEEE

[NickD]

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STAND IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU AREEEEEEEE

Some of those Teenage Fanclub albums you were talking about below that too.

[plopswagon]

And the REM album with teh kurtz.

[sunshiner]

Today I went to a store which has a hairdresser's in it. The lady hairdresser who usually listen's to super cheesy Russian pop songs from the previous decades was blasting Nirvana today and it was probably the first time in my life that I really liked the classic Kurdtz tunes. Kurt yelling out of the dingy hairdressers was super spiritual/inspiring. And that lady listening to it all of a sudden was fun

[mickie08]

Well, most people know I am an Eastman guy. I have a direct contact with them and get artist pricing. Amazing guitars. I played the prototype for this guitar at NAMM right before covid. They are amazing. I will buy one someday but havent pushed it as I know they are backordered. I do have one of their cabaret acoustics and one of their cedar top acoustic on the way.

Great score.

[NickD]

Thanks. A couple of weeks into ownership I'd say it punches way above it's weight. It's getting a lot of play at the moment. It's also acoustically quite loud if, like me most of your playing is unplugged with an electric.