Eastman AR 910CE

BradleyS · #1 02-23-2017, 02:01 PM

I am very much interested in hearing from forum members who own, have owned, or have played the Eastman AR 910. Basically anyone having any interaction the the 910. I am primarily interested in the acoustic properties of the guitar without amplification. Your insight would be appreciated.

bayoubengal · #2 02-23-2017, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradleyS

I am very much interested in hearing from forum members who own, have owned, or have played the Eastman AC 910. Basically anyone having any interaction the the 910. I am primarily interested in the acoustic properties of the guitar without amplification. Your insight would be appreciated.

I'm guessing you mean the AR910CE?
https://www.eastmanguitars.com/archtops-ar910ce

BradleyS · #3 02-23-2017, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayoubengal

I'm guessing you mean the AR910CE?
https://www.eastmanguitars.com/archtops-ar910ce

Oops, typo. Yes I mean the AR910.

bayoubengal · #4 02-23-2017, 10:51 PM

No problem. I recommend you edit the heading of your post. You have to "Go Advanced" when you edit it to do that. You'll probably get more responses.

BradleyS · #5 02-24-2017, 01:23 AM

Done, thank you.

Silly Moustache · #6 02-24-2017, 03:45 AM

I owned an AR805e.

Ar910 ? top of the range, 17" hand carved acoustic archtop?

Frankly if it was nearby I'd rip your arm off to get it.

Superbly built instruments. Great modern tone.

Glennwillow · #7 02-24-2017, 09:13 AM

Hi Brad,

I own an Eastman AR910CE. I have had it a couple of years, but I have not done as much with it as I would have liked. I bought it to get a really good electric jazz sound and the guitar does that beautifully. I had a Guild jazz guitar before, which I sold. It never provided me the sound I wanted, but the Eastman AR910CE does.

I have played this guitar acoustically a time or two, without amplification, and for me, it's not very impressive. Then again, I have never liked the unamplified sound of an archtop. So I am probably a pretty poor judge of the Eastman's acoustic tone.

- Glenn

mr. beaumont · #8 02-24-2017, 09:16 AM

I find Eastmans of this style to have a thin, somewhat nasal sound unplugged (and with the floating pickup, plugged in too--"stringy" I'd describe it as). It's not a fault, persay, it's the aesthetic they're going after, the modern "Benedetto" sound. Just not my bag.

They are very high quality instruments though, very well built, great playing.

JGinNJ · #9 02-24-2017, 10:59 AM

I tried an older one, from 2006, that a local store had. It's condition was a little ratty, action set too low so it wouldn't play above the 12th fret, lighter gauge strings. So while I thought it sounded thin, too, it wasn't a fair test. Plugged in, it was very resonant, which also meant feedback prone.

I know the carved top ones go for a lot new, but I thought the $1600 they were asking, used, was kind of high, but I'm biased against paying a lot for Chinese-made guitars (because they don't hold their value).

mr. beaumont · #10 02-24-2017, 11:09 AM

Something to consider, if you're seriously looking for a solid wood archtop in this price range, is to join over at jazzguitar.be and have the folks in the know put you in touch with Lora from Yunzhi or "Mr. Wu".

They're custom builders in China, former Eastman employees, but they're willing to take some chances if you give clear instructions. A friend of mine is expecting delivery soon of an 18"(!) oval hole archtop, should sound HUGE.

Bluemonk · #11 02-24-2017, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I find Eastmans of this style to have a thin, somewhat nasal sound unplugged (and with the floating pickup, plugged in too--"stringy" I'd describe it as). It's not a fault, persay, it's the aesthetic they're going after, the modern "Benedetto" sound. Just not my bag.

I wouldn't say that is universally true of the "Benedetto" sound. I have a double CD of Bucky and John Pizzarelli where the playing, as one would expect from these two, is brilliant but the sound of their Benedettos with floaters is, yes, kinda thin and stringy. Jimmy Bruno, on the other hand, always sounds plummy to me on his Benedetto with floater.

BradleyS · #12 02-24-2017, 04:52 PM

I can't play jazz, but I am enthralled by the sounds of an amplified archtop when listening to Joe Pass,Wes Montgomery and others, and thoroughly enjoy the sounds produced by "Ranger Doug" (Riders In The Sky) playing his archtop acoustically, . Perhaps I am seeking the sound that only a high end archtop beyond my means can produce acoustically. Does that make sense?

bjewell · #13 02-28-2017, 04:36 PM

My 2006 arrived yesterday. I have wanted one since I played one in Tokyo in 2005. I'm more than happy with the tone both acoustically and plugged in. I am by no means a jazz player but I did want a big archtop and I think the guitar is great.

bayoubengal · #14 02-28-2017, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjewell

My 2006 arrived yesterday. I have wanted one since I played one in Tokyo in 2005. I'm more than happy with the tone both acoustically and plugged in. I am by no means a jazz player but I did want a big archtop and I think the guitar is great.

Great! Congratulations!

BradleyS · #15 02-28-2017, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjewell

My 2006 arrived yesterday. I have wanted one since I played one in Tokyo in 2005. I'm more than happy with the tone both acoustically and plugged in. I am by no means a jazz player but I did want a big archtop and I think the guitar is great.

Now that is a beautiful guitar and the fact that it's an archtop gives me goose bumps.