Hey Patrick. Thanks for the comment. If you are after a very high end contemporary take on a vintage style instrument. Definitely try one of these out. Very impressive.
I recently pulled the trigger on one after thinking about it for a year and haven't been able to put it down. Hard to find anything about this guitar that's not outstanding. I'd recommend one without any reservations at all. Everything he covers in this review is spot on. Overall, it's a bit brighter sounding than a typical LP, but not too much so.
I bought (after buying the SB59V) A Eastman T185mx blonde top work of art, it is a hollow body thin line type guitar, hand carved maple top with hand carved mahogany back and sides, not laminate! A small block under the bridge but no full length body block, nitro gloss finish, SD 59 classics but l believe it's offered with Antiquities as well.. l bought it used for $1500 mint condition on Reverb.. the wood?? It is just stunning.. flame maple top to die for and the mahogany dances in light like no mahogany l have ever seen... A VERY high end instrument that would cost $5-6k if it was born in America.. check one out.. the 184,185 and 186 models are all the same but the 184 is a 14" bout, the 185 is a 15" bout and the 186 is the 335 clone with a 16" bout. I chose the 185 to not give up too much of that tone of the larger 186 but still be a lil more comfortable..l believe l made the right choice..they ARE forever guitars.. THAT good!
You can buy an attachment on Amazon and elsewhere I assume that straightens out the strings after they pass over the nut and before they reach the tuning machines. That might fix some of the tuning issues.
Excellent review - professional and very thorough. Looks great and sounded ace too. Glad you liked the guitar! I love it personally and agree totally with your main points on it
I recently bought a T59/v and I'm gobsmacked. It's amazing in every way. When the reviewer says the SB 59/v sounds airier than his real LP, it might be because this guitar has Lollar Imperials in it and, IIRC, they are modeled after the '59 335 pickup.
I just recently bought a used Eastman T184MX and I must say, it's effing sweet! Eastman just straight up makes sweet guitars. I don't think you'll find a shitty one anywhere as long as it's been properly set up and maintained.
Hey. Thanks for the comment. That’s their in between a 339 and 335 size. It’s pretty original I like that. This is the only one I’ve ever played but I was very impressed. Fantastic guitar.
Hey Andy thanks for the comment. For some reason I think if I was going to get one of these as an alternative to a Les Paul I wouldn’t get this “violin” style finish it’s just so different from a Les Paul. Not lesser. But very different.
That’s really interesting. I love the idea of a Les Paul with p90s. I’ve played 4 different brands of them but always found them to heavy on bottom end. I never really played a really expensive one though. Just the Gibson tribute model kind of thing. I think they work great on juniors and specials just never found an LP with p90s I liked. Does the Eastman one have a lot of bass?
@@TheGuitarEffect I haven’t found it to have overpowering amount of bass .... I do like myself a thick creamy tone and am nearly always playing it on the neck pick-up and rolling the tone and volume controls to suit, I guess it depends on many factors ... I’m not really an aggressive player, but man is it dream to play, get some good jazzy tones too. I love it. It’s sheer quality, I’m in England and bought it from a store in Exeter (South west) called project music, they gave it a set up and I haven’t had to fiddle with it at all. Try one out !
My third SB59 should be delivered tomorrow. I have 5 Gibson LP’s, but 4 of the last 5 guitars I’ve ordered have been Eastmans (also got a new T-484) and one was a new LP Studio (fantastic guitar btw). Gibsons have more mojo, but the Eastmans are so incredibly well made and play better than any guitar I’ve ever tried. In fairness, though, I have not tried a Gibson Custom Shop. All of mine are USA models but still great nonetheless.
Hey thx for the comment. It’s a king time since I reviewed and this played this guitar. The thing that stands out to me in my memory was the finish. How it both looked and felt. But I still have my Orville and I reckon it improves every time I pick it up. I’ve never owned a Gibbo but I’ve played a lot and I have to say I’d always choose my Orville. Never played a second Orville so I don’t know if it’s an exceptional one but it really is. Special guitar.
@@TheGuitarEffectGibsons really are great guitars when you find one that is special. I have ordered some and sent them back. But of the 8 I have, 7 of them are great and 1 is very good, so overall I can’t complain. Gibson gets a lot of hate and I think a lot of it stems more from jealousy than anything else. There’s no denying that labor rates in the USA are higher than in China, so it stands to reason that Eastmans cost a lot less. It doesn’t make a Gibson overpriced necessarily, at least not their lower end models. But while I’m sure there are likely better options out there, Gibsons have a magical vibe about them when you find the right one and I think it’s similar to people who choose to drive an old sports car instead of a brand new one. It’s the history, the heritage, etc.
In all fairness, you are comparing a 59 to a 97? You want it to feel more like a "Les Paul" try a Nitro-cell finished SB... That SB59V is a very special guitar..the varnish finish is like putting on your best, oldest, favorite pair of blue jeans you ever had.. it's unique and no it doesn't feel like a LP... It's simply much better to me. It allows you to move up the neck like butter, the very thin fine finish really makes the extra $$ for the varnish a no- brainer.. it's only another $150-200 over the nitro offering but it takes several hours of intensive labor to apply, this finish being hand done keeps any two from being the exact same.. it is a playing experience that is not really comparable to any other guitar. If Gibson used varnish on a 59 Les Paul it would feel like this...but they didn't and still don't because to shoot nitro or apply varnish is a huge price change in America.. as far as l know there is NO OTHER guitar that's finished with varnish on the market...EVER. So it may look like a LP, and is very similar in tone ( which tone being subjective it may be better or not as good to your ear) it plays incredible and truly maybe more of a vintage P.A.F. tone in these Imperials than anything Gibson offers currently in their 2020 line. No expense was spared making an Eastman..ebony board and THICK headstock overlay with an ebony truss cover, REAL Mother of Pearl not pearloid plastic, every fret was done equally fantastic without the typical 17th or 18th frets on up to 22 being basically skipped. The guitar came set up perfectly out of the box..no adjustment needed to anything but tuning which l can not say for my Gibson SG HPII, 17 LP Standard, 18 Elite Strat, 19 Player strat, a Zelinski LaVoce...all needed adjustment of some type.. this l believe may be the only guitar lve owned that actually was CHOICE out of its AMAZING CASE!
Hey Rachel. Thanks for commenting. I don’t really get the 97 to 59 comment. The Orville is clearly a 59 LP copy and this literally is named 59, so to me they are both modeled after a 59 Les Paul. I’ve never played a 59 LP so I can’t really say either feels or sounds more like a 59 LP. However my Orville sounds, feels and looks more like an old Les Paul to me. I do however point out that this is a stunning instrument throughout the video and I was really impressed with it. The varnish thing is not for me. I prefer a nitro or even a poly finish. I prefer gloss finish necks on fenders for example. But I realize that today that’s not really en vogue at the minute: As I mentioned too I’m not a high end guitar guy, I like guitars that speak to me and make me write songs. While the Eastman is a spectacular piece of craftsmanship and engineering (and yes the case is special!!) my Orville just has way more mojo. But that is ENIRELY subjective.
@@TheGuitarEffect l missed you saying it was a 59.. l did get Orville which l have not ever played but have only heard great things about, your pickups def sound like higher wound more modern tone pickups which l prefer with higher gain settings myself and l really liked your neck pickup for those times much better.. we both know that Japan in the 70s were considered the "Chinese of the time, labeled inferior just because it wasn't born in America but times have changed and being honest many of the Japanese instruments are very sought after because they have tremendous pride and high QC that during those times America was slipping and dropping the ball, many 70s Jap tele's are getting crazy premiums to own that they could not hardly give away then.. l have great respect for your Orville Gibson.. l have been fortunate that the 2 Gibson's l own..a 2017 LP Standard and a 2018 SG HPII are flawless and are both exceptionally beautiful guitars..but l prefer the SB.. as you said "Mojo is subjective" and being l prefer satin finish necks, the Eastman crushes it.. l bought the LP because l have never had one and thought there must be something really special about them. After buying it honestly it did not grow on me as l hoped it would. It's very versatile tone wise but the nitro neck to me is a grabby surface to the point l have considered shooting satin nitro over it. Had l knew about the SB59V when l was buying the LP l would have never bought it, to me the SB has a mojo l can't really put in words, the neck was a bit thicker than l had always played but it really is a fantastic profile that sits almost in the middle. My favorite neck of my guitars is 2018 Elite Strat neck, satin, compound radius, C to D profile..for me it's the easiest to physically play, that being said the SB is simply far more inspiring.. maybe because l don't get that mojo from a new strat, l don't know but the SB is certainly out of 18 guitars my #1 go-to and l wouldn't give it up for any of the others. Have a great day..
I have an Eastman sb59 gold burst. I've had it for 6 months. I don't touch my Gibson's anymore. The Eastman's are so much better. I'm trying to get my hands on a55 sbv to get the Les Paul Junior sound and then I think I'm done buying guitars. Good luck with that right?
Hey Jimmy. Thx for the comment. I really liked this guitar (only had it for a week on loan) But I must say with the Orville I have I just can’t seem to find the need for another Les Paul. A custom with p90s maybe at some point but that’s it. The Orville is my favorite LP I’ve played. I got the current Epiphone LP junior and it’s pretty impressive for the money.
Hey sodacake. Thanks for the comment. To be honest it didn’t stand out to me as a thing. I’m not a big lead player (as I think most people can tell) so I wouldn’t really ever notice a neck joint unless it was a real problem. I’ve not got the guitar anymore so I can’t check it for you.
Hey Stephen. Thanks for the comment. I’m playing through a Koch Studiotone 20 head. Direct to the interface. No Cab. I’ve a video about the amp and a video about the entire recording setup of you want to check them out.
Hey, how are you? Really loving the guitar. I'm also thinking about getting an Eastman, but I have a question about the tuning stability. Because i've had a gibson with similar headstock and had to sell it because it wouldn't stay in tune. Are there any issues with the eastman, since it has got a similar headstock? thanks in advance
Hey mark. Thanks for the comment. So no. Absolutely no tuning stability issues. As I mentioned I borrowed the guitar and so haven’t played it for a while but it has definitely got better tuning stability than my old Orville. I don’t remember having any problems.
My T486 (335 but BETTER!!!) is fantastic in every way...no tuning issues...unlike my Gibson Traditional which has a 'String Butler' and it's still not staying in tune like my Epi or any other guitar in my arsenal. Bidding on an SB59 now on eBay....lefty GoldTop....don't need it....but damn....I want it. My GT Edwards with P90 is nice....but....but.... I need help....
i’ve got a gibson explorer that i’ve had for almost two years but haven’t bonded with, do you think it’s worth it to sell the explorer and get the gloss version of this?
Hi Ivan. I’m always very reluctant to offer up my opinion on whether people should buy or sell guitars. It’s such a personal choice. These are exceptionally well made guitars. They sound look and feel amazing. But I don’t have this one anymore. I borrowed it for the review. Given the choice I would 100% go for my Orville over this. But that’s my personal choice. I’m sure plenty would disagree. I’m not a fan of explorers visually so I e never picked one up to try one and therefor couldn’t offer an opinion on this vs an explorer.
Use the middle position with the neck with volume at 8 with the tone at 7 and the neck at 7 with the tone at 8. It is the sweet sopt of the guitar (SB59V). That leads to more of a les Paul tone. Plus the eastman is 100x better as far as I am concerned. You just have to know how to dial in the tones
Hey Bobby. Thx for the comment. The Eastman wasn’t mine. I only borrowed it for the review. A really wonderful guitar just not for me. I still have my Orville. It’s the only Les Paul I’ve ever really got on with.
This is an SB59/v with the aged varnish finish and Lollar pickups, not the SB59 (note there's no /v) nitro finish with Seymour Duncan 59's. Excellent review, but the title led me to think this was a look at the nitro finished version with the 59's. I recently bought an SB59/v and love it for all the reasons talked about in this great review. It's at least as nice as my Gibson Standard and Traditional.
@@Chessdaddy ah thanks for that. Really appreciate the comment. I like to try and focus on the experience of playing the instrument rather than the specs.
How is the playability in comparison to a les paul. Access to the upper frets. Weight balance? I find myself not so comfy with a les paul. Due to the extended weight.
Hey. It is 10 - 15% lighter than my Les Paul. Upper fret access is similar. Weight balance is absolutely perfect. It plays slightly better than my Les Paul and holds its tuning far better.
Dude If you want to bring it to the true vintage specs and also fix "the issue" with a top loose end when rolling volume you should do a Vintage Wiring (50s Wiring). I've done it on both on my Heritage and Beat up Navigator SA (70-s japan ES335 copy) and I couldn't be more happier.
@@TheGuitarEffect Try it on one guitar at first. And remember to get linear pots for tone AND volumes. Also the lesser is the real pot value(they all different cause of the tolerance) the lesser high end you will get. So the best course of action is to install pot with highest value on a neck pickup and vice versa. Good luck with all your endeavors, I hope you'll like as much as I do.
You have to get an Orville that says Orville by Gibson on the headstock. It’s a better grade. The ones that just say Orville on the headstock are a lesser grade.
Hey Robert. Thanks for the comment. Yeah I’m aware of the fact that Orville by Gibson was the better appointed range of guitars but to be honest I really just make a judgement on a guitar by the way I personally connect with it and my Orville is the nicest Les Paul I’ve ever played. I really don’t need another one. I’ve never actually come across an Orville by Gibson other than online though if I ever saw one I’d definitely try it out.
Eastmans are beautiful guitars for sure. I had a Romeo which was a stunning guitar but l couldn’t bond with it as the neck was well set in the body so when l think I’m playing an Am on the 5th , l was actually set for a Gm. Lollar Imperials are very articulate however are a totally different sound from a Les Paul. There’s no growl but superb clarity.
Well IMHO, this guitar seems a bit controversial. I liked the neck and bridge positions too, but when i heard the price I was shocked- very close to Gibson LP Standard. My opinion might be not objective though. Because I am the victim of the Gibson religion:))
It’s interesting. I’m new to the whole Gibson vibe. I’ve always been more of a fender chap. But I kind of got the bug when I got the Orville LP. I also don’t really consider myself much of a guitar player and am really more of a guitar playing songwriter. I’ve always found Gibson’s to be way overpriced. Mainly I always thought “it’s not gonna make me write better songs so why would I pay so much more than a fender” but a while back i had a guitar custom built and learned a lot more about the process of guitar building and I realized that Gibson’s are actually significantly more complex to make and a I sort of get the “Cadillac” vibe they have now. With that in mind I think the Eastman is every bit as refined and ambitious an instrument (if not more so) as any Gibson I’ve played and thus I think the price is completely justified. But I don’t think it’s as much a Les Paul as a Gibson Les Paul. It’s in the same camp, sure but it’s a different thing.
Couple of things, first, Why does everyone who demos a Lp not play the music synonymous with it. Jimmy! Next, I have a 59 gold top with Seymour 59s. Bloody awesome guitar, as is my 486 But I have a 2nd hand Agile 3000, not sure what pick ups, I know the pots are Gibson, this has a better tone, and plays just as well as my 59! In fact my Agile sounds quite a lot like Koss's, to my poor ears anyway! So, although I love the Eastman, and it does seem to be better suited to God than the Agile, there are excellent Lp alternatives under $1k now. Oh, Koss cost me $400 inc ship. Absolute bargain
Hey Mark thx for the comment. There’s a good bit to digest there but first off I’d say I get that Zeppelin are one of the best bands of all time but they’re not really my thing. I’m more of an alternative kind of guy than a rock guy. 🤷♂️ Secondly I had an Agile les Paul about 10 years ago. A good top with p90s I was obsessed with p90 Les Paul’s at the time and tried a JHS Vintage one, an agile one and the Epiphone one. The Epiphone actually was significantly better than the other two. And the agile was the worst. Though I’m pretty sure they have different tiers of guitars and so based on what you are saying I may try one again. And lastly I totally agree there are many many many great LP style guitars for under €1k. I think a Hagstrom Suede would probably my personal preference they’re amazing guitars.
Waiting for the punchline: what this Eastman costs against a Gib LP. Now I still have to go look it up. If it's not at least $1-2K cheaper than a comparable Gibson then Eastman is aiming at the wrong target. I hear Eastmans are excellent but not inexpensive. There is already a variety of very good LP-type single cuts from name brands ranging from affordable to pricey. I think Eastman's good but why choose one over the other brands in a given price range?
@@TheGuitarEffect I'm not sure now. Ha! Anyway I definitely would consider an Eastman, say, over a Gibson even if I had Gibson money. So the Eastman's price was the punchline and I don't think I heard you say it. Around $1,800? Still a little pricey for me.
Hey Mark. I think they are fairly priced for a handbuilt guitar. While they are intended to be an alternative to a Les Paul, for me they aren’t Les Pauls. That’s why I like the Orville I have. It’s a Les Paul. Like, exactly a Les Paul. That’s not to say the Eastman’s aren’t great in their offense en right as high end hand built guitars. But it’s not a Les Paul. I’ve never been taken by Gibson’s really. I think they are way overpriced.
Hey. Thx for the comment. I guess that’s down to whether you already have a good LP Or for they matter a good strat right? The Eastman is a great guitar. I’m not a Mayer or PRS fan really so I’ve never played a silver sky. Couldn’t really give an opinion on one.
Hey. Thx for the comment. To be honest at this level of guitar I think better is entirely subjective. But a Les Paul sounds more like a Les Paul than this. Definitely
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I’ve become obsessed with the Eastman sb59s and everything I read and watch says they are great. I might have to pull the trigger soon
Hey Patrick. Thanks for the comment. If you are after a very high end contemporary take on a vintage style instrument. Definitely try one of these out. Very impressive.
I feel u bro
I bought one a few months ago and it's my favorite guitar to play! Do it!
I recently pulled the trigger on one after thinking about it for a year and haven't been able to put it down. Hard to find anything about this guitar that's not outstanding. I'd recommend one without any reservations at all. Everything he covers in this review is spot on. Overall, it's a bit brighter sounding than a typical LP, but not too much so.
I recently got an Eastman SB59 (used it's a 2018). I really like it and hope to enjoy it for years to come!
Beautiful guitar. Enjoy.
Subbed!!! Eastman is on my radar and I am waiting patiently.
Thanks for the sub and the comment Doctor! This is a great guitar alright!
Good review. Personally, I finally settled for an Eastman SB57. Sick guitar. I will post videos about it in a few weeks.
Thanks Nik. Yeah it’s an amazing guitar. I’m definitely going to try and check out one of their 335 style guitars.
I bought (after buying the SB59V) A Eastman T185mx blonde top work of art, it is a hollow body thin line type guitar, hand carved maple top with hand carved mahogany back and sides, not laminate! A small block under the bridge but no full length body block, nitro gloss finish, SD 59 classics but l believe it's offered with Antiquities as well.. l bought it used for $1500 mint condition on Reverb.. the wood?? It is just stunning.. flame maple top to die for and the mahogany dances in light like no mahogany l have ever seen... A VERY high end instrument that would cost $5-6k if it was born in America.. check one out.. the 184,185 and 186 models are all the same but the 184 is a 14" bout, the 185 is a 15" bout and the 186 is the 335 clone with a 16" bout. I chose the 185 to not give up too much of that tone of the larger 186 but still be a lil more comfortable..l believe l made the right choice..they ARE forever guitars.. THAT good!
@@rachelkaiser8108 yeah I’m definitely gonna try and play one of the 335 Style instruments. I was very impressed with this.
I like the playing as much as the guitar! Great demo. 🤘
Thanks for that Danny!
You can buy an attachment on Amazon and elsewhere I assume that straightens out the strings after they pass over the nut and before they reach the tuning machines. That might fix some of the tuning issues.
Thanks Mike. I changed the tuners on my Orville LP to Schiller vintage tuners and it has solved the tuning problem.
Excellent review - professional and very thorough. Looks great and sounded ace too. Glad you liked the guitar! I love it personally and agree totally with your main points on it
Thanks for loaning me the guitar mate! It’s a belter!
I recently bought a T59/v and I'm gobsmacked. It's amazing in every way. When the reviewer says the SB 59/v sounds airier than his real LP, it might be because this guitar has Lollar Imperials in it and, IIRC, they are modeled after the '59 335 pickup.
I think a bit part of its sound being different to my LP is the finish. It’s a far thinner finish. But yeah I’d say the pickups play a massive part
Sounds awesome man. Just ordered an SB59V. Can’t wait to play er..
It’s a peach of a guitar alright! Enjoy.
I have one. Amazing guitar. Amazing
I just recently bought a used Eastman T184MX and I must say, it's effing sweet! Eastman just straight up makes sweet guitars. I don't think you'll find a shitty one anywhere as long as it's been properly set up and maintained.
Hey. Thanks for the comment. That’s their in between a 339 and 335 size. It’s pretty original I like that. This is the only one I’ve ever played but I was very impressed. Fantastic guitar.
very nice i want one more then the gibson standard i was going to buy until i researched these guitars now i cant figure out what sb model to get
Hey Andy thanks for the comment. For some reason I think if I was going to get one of these as an alternative to a Les Paul I wouldn’t get this “violin” style finish it’s just so different from a Les Paul. Not lesser. But very different.
Bought an Eastman sb56 ... hands down the best guitar I’ve ever owned .... it plays great, sounds amazing and looks beautiful ...
That’s really interesting. I love the idea of a Les Paul with p90s. I’ve played 4 different brands of them but always found them to heavy on bottom end. I never really played a really expensive one though. Just the Gibson tribute model kind of thing. I think they work great on juniors and specials just never found an LP with p90s I liked. Does the Eastman one have a lot of bass?
@@TheGuitarEffect I haven’t found it to have overpowering amount of bass .... I do like myself a thick creamy tone and am nearly always playing it on the neck pick-up and rolling the tone and volume controls to suit, I guess it depends on many factors ... I’m not really an aggressive player, but man is it dream to play, get some good jazzy tones too. I love it. It’s sheer quality, I’m in England and bought it from a store in Exeter (South west) called project music, they gave it a set up and I haven’t had to fiddle with it at all. Try one out !
I must try and get my hands on one. I’d love to try one out. The guitar I demoed was very good.
@@TheGuitarEffect yeah I want one 😂👍
My third SB59 should be delivered tomorrow. I have 5 Gibson LP’s, but 4 of the last 5 guitars I’ve ordered have been Eastmans (also got a new T-484) and one was a new LP Studio (fantastic guitar btw). Gibsons have more mojo, but the Eastmans are so incredibly well made and play better than any guitar I’ve ever tried. In fairness, though, I have not tried a Gibson Custom Shop. All of mine are USA models but still great nonetheless.
Hey thx for the comment. It’s a king time since I reviewed and this played this guitar. The thing that stands out to me in my memory was the finish. How it both looked and felt. But I still have my Orville and I reckon it improves every time I pick it up. I’ve never owned a Gibbo but I’ve played a lot and I have to say I’d always choose my Orville. Never played a second Orville so I don’t know if it’s an exceptional one but it really is. Special guitar.
@@TheGuitarEffectGibsons really are great guitars when you find one that is special. I have ordered some and sent them back. But of the 8 I have, 7 of them are great and 1 is very good, so overall I can’t complain. Gibson gets a lot of hate and I think a lot of it stems more from jealousy than anything else. There’s no denying that labor rates in the USA are higher than in China, so it stands to reason that Eastmans cost a lot less. It doesn’t make a Gibson overpriced necessarily, at least not their lower end models. But while I’m sure there are likely better options out there, Gibsons have a magical vibe about them when you find the right one and I think it’s similar to people who choose to drive an old sports car instead of a brand new one. It’s the history, the heritage, etc.
In all fairness, you are comparing a 59 to a 97? You want it to feel more like a "Les Paul" try a Nitro-cell finished SB... That SB59V is a very special guitar..the varnish finish is like putting on your best, oldest, favorite pair of blue jeans you ever had.. it's unique and no it doesn't feel like a LP... It's simply much better to me. It allows you to move up the neck like butter, the very thin fine finish really makes the extra $$ for the varnish a no- brainer.. it's only another $150-200 over the nitro offering but it takes several hours of intensive labor to apply, this finish being hand done keeps any two from being the exact same.. it is a playing experience that is not really comparable to any other guitar. If Gibson used varnish on a 59 Les Paul it would feel like this...but they didn't and still don't because to shoot nitro or apply varnish is a huge price change in America.. as far as l know there is NO OTHER guitar that's finished with varnish on the market...EVER. So it may look like a LP, and is very similar in tone ( which tone being subjective it may be better or not as good to your ear) it plays incredible and truly maybe more of a vintage P.A.F. tone in these Imperials than anything Gibson offers currently in their 2020 line. No expense was spared making an Eastman..ebony board and THICK headstock overlay with an ebony truss cover, REAL Mother of Pearl not pearloid plastic, every fret was done equally fantastic without the typical 17th or 18th frets on up to 22 being basically skipped. The guitar came set up perfectly out of the box..no adjustment needed to anything but tuning which l can not say for my Gibson SG HPII, 17 LP Standard, 18 Elite Strat, 19 Player strat, a Zelinski LaVoce...all needed adjustment of some type.. this l believe may be the only guitar lve owned that actually was CHOICE out of its AMAZING CASE!
Hey Rachel. Thanks for commenting. I don’t really get the 97 to 59 comment. The Orville is clearly a 59 LP copy and this literally is named 59, so to me they are both modeled after a 59 Les Paul. I’ve never played a 59 LP so I can’t really say either feels or sounds more like a 59 LP. However my Orville sounds, feels and looks more like an old Les Paul to me.
I do however point out that this is a stunning instrument throughout the video and I was really impressed with it. The varnish thing is not for me. I prefer a nitro or even a poly finish. I prefer gloss finish necks on fenders for example. But I realize that today that’s not really en vogue at the minute:
As I mentioned too I’m not a high end guitar guy, I like guitars that speak to me and make me write songs. While the Eastman is a spectacular piece of craftsmanship and engineering (and yes the case is special!!) my Orville just has way more mojo. But that is ENIRELY subjective.
@@TheGuitarEffect l missed you saying it was a 59.. l did get Orville which l have not ever played but have only heard great things about, your pickups def sound like higher wound more modern tone pickups which l prefer with higher gain settings myself and l really liked your neck pickup for those times much better.. we both know that Japan in the 70s were considered the "Chinese of the time, labeled inferior just because it wasn't born in America but times have changed and being honest many of the Japanese instruments are very sought after because they have tremendous pride and high QC that during those times America was slipping and dropping the ball, many 70s Jap tele's are getting crazy premiums to own that they could not hardly give away then.. l have great respect for your Orville Gibson.. l have been fortunate that the 2 Gibson's l own..a 2017 LP Standard and a 2018 SG HPII are flawless and are both exceptionally beautiful guitars..but l prefer the SB.. as you said "Mojo is subjective" and being l prefer satin finish necks, the Eastman crushes it.. l bought the LP because l have never had one and thought there must be something really special about them. After buying it honestly it did not grow on me as l hoped it would. It's very versatile tone wise but the nitro neck to me is a grabby surface to the point l have considered shooting satin nitro over it. Had l knew about the SB59V when l was buying the LP l would have never bought it, to me the SB has a mojo l can't really put in words, the neck was a bit thicker than l had always played but it really is a fantastic profile that sits almost in the middle. My favorite neck of my guitars is 2018 Elite Strat neck, satin, compound radius, C to D profile..for me it's the easiest to physically play, that being said the SB is simply far more inspiring.. maybe because l don't get that mojo from a new strat, l don't know but the SB is certainly out of 18 guitars my #1 go-to and l wouldn't give it up for any of the others. Have a great day..
Hey Rachel. Yeah I have a 97 Japanese Thinline tele that is the best guitar I own. I love the Japanese stuff. Video coming on that guitar soon.
I have an Eastman sb59 gold burst. I've had it for 6 months. I don't touch my Gibson's anymore. The Eastman's are so much better. I'm trying to get my hands on a55 sbv to get the Les Paul Junior sound and then I think I'm done buying guitars. Good luck with that right?
Hey Jimmy. Thx for the comment. I really liked this guitar (only had it for a week on loan) But I must say with the Orville I have I just can’t seem to find the need for another Les Paul. A custom with p90s maybe at some point but that’s it. The Orville is my favorite LP I’ve played.
I got the current Epiphone LP junior and it’s pretty impressive for the money.
great review. very thorough. how did you find the neck joint for lead playing vs the orville? it looks like a serious chunk of wood there.
Hey sodacake. Thanks for the comment. To be honest it didn’t stand out to me as a thing. I’m not a big lead player (as I think most people can tell) so I wouldn’t really ever notice a neck joint unless it was a real problem. I’ve not got the guitar anymore so I can’t check it for you.
@@TheGuitarEffect no worries, thanks for your response! appreciate it.
Nice review. I have one of these guitars and it's every bit as impressive you describe. What amp are you playing through?
Hey Stephen. Thanks for the comment. I’m playing through a Koch Studiotone 20 head. Direct to the interface. No Cab. I’ve a video about the amp and a video about the entire recording setup of you want to check them out.
Hey, how are you? Really loving the guitar. I'm also thinking about getting an Eastman, but I have a question about the tuning stability. Because i've had a gibson with similar headstock and had to sell it because it wouldn't stay in tune. Are there any issues with the eastman, since it has got a similar headstock? thanks in advance
Hey mark. Thanks for the comment. So no. Absolutely no tuning stability issues. As I mentioned I borrowed the guitar and so haven’t played it for a while but it has definitely got better tuning stability than my old Orville. I don’t remember having any problems.
My T486 (335 but BETTER!!!) is fantastic in every way...no tuning issues...unlike my Gibson Traditional which has a 'String Butler' and it's still not staying in tune like my Epi or any other guitar in my arsenal. Bidding on an SB59 now on eBay....lefty GoldTop....don't need it....but damn....I want it. My GT Edwards with P90 is nice....but....but.... I need help....
i’ve got a gibson explorer that i’ve had for almost two years but haven’t bonded with, do you think it’s worth it to sell the explorer and get the gloss version of this?
Hi Ivan. I’m always very reluctant to offer up my opinion on whether people should buy or sell guitars. It’s such a personal choice. These are exceptionally well made guitars. They sound look and feel amazing. But I don’t have this one anymore. I borrowed it for the review. Given the choice I would 100% go for my Orville over this. But that’s my personal choice. I’m sure plenty would disagree. I’m not a fan of explorers visually so I e never picked one up to try one and therefor couldn’t offer an opinion on this vs an explorer.
Paul Kossoff Tone , amazing sounding guitar .
Thx for the comment. Yep it really is a great guitar!
Use the middle position with the neck with volume at 8 with the tone at 7 and the neck at 7 with the tone at 8. It is the sweet sopt of the guitar (SB59V). That leads to more of a les Paul tone. Plus the eastman is 100x better as far as I am concerned. You just have to know how to dial in the tones
Hey Bobby. Thx for the comment. The Eastman wasn’t mine. I only borrowed it for the review. A really wonderful guitar just not for me. I still have my Orville. It’s the only Les Paul I’ve ever really got on with.
I want one but I need to know If the neck is a slim profile or like a baseball bat?
It’s closer to a 50’s profile baseball bat neck if I remember correctly. But not overly or problematically so
@@TheGuitarEffect oh ok thanks amigo.
This is an SB59/v with the aged varnish finish and Lollar pickups, not the SB59 (note there's no /v) nitro finish with Seymour Duncan 59's. Excellent review, but the title led me to think this was a look at the nitro finished version with the 59's. I recently bought an SB59/v and love it for all the reasons talked about in this great review. It's at least as nice as my Gibson Standard and Traditional.
Hey Kelly. Thanks for your comment. I’ll update the title. Important distinction alright. Fair play.
Very good! Your review was absolutely outstanding. This is exactly what an in-depth review of a guitar should be like. Thanks.
@@Chessdaddy ah thanks for that. Really appreciate the comment. I like to try and focus on the experience of playing the instrument rather than the specs.
How is the playability in comparison to a les paul. Access to the upper frets. Weight balance? I find myself not so comfy with a les paul. Due to the extended weight.
Hey. It is 10 - 15% lighter than my Les Paul. Upper fret access is similar. Weight balance is absolutely perfect. It plays slightly better than my Les Paul and holds its tuning far better.
@@TheGuitarEffect thanks for your reply
Dude If you want to bring it to the true vintage specs and also fix "the issue" with a top loose end when rolling volume you should do a Vintage Wiring (50s Wiring). I've done it on both on my Heritage and Beat up Navigator SA (70-s japan ES335 copy) and I couldn't be more happier.
Hey Stanislav. Thanks for the comment. I’ve heard of 50’s wiring before I’ll check it out for sure.
@@TheGuitarEffect Try it on one guitar at first. And remember to get linear pots for tone AND volumes. Also the lesser is the real pot value(they all different cause of the tolerance) the lesser high end you will get. So the best course of action is to install pot with highest value on a neck pickup and vice versa. Good luck with all your endeavors, I hope you'll like as much as I do.
You have to get an Orville that says Orville by Gibson on the headstock. It’s a better grade. The ones that just say Orville on the headstock are a lesser grade.
Hey Robert. Thanks for the comment. Yeah I’m aware of the fact that Orville by Gibson was the better appointed range of guitars but to be honest I really just make a judgement on a guitar by the way I personally connect with it and my Orville is the nicest Les Paul I’ve ever played. I really don’t need another one. I’ve never actually come across an Orville by Gibson other than online though if I ever saw one I’d definitely try it out.
Eastmans are beautiful guitars for sure. I had a Romeo which was a stunning guitar but l couldn’t bond with it as the neck was well set in the body so when l think I’m playing an Am on the 5th , l was actually set for a Gm. Lollar Imperials are very articulate however are a totally different sound from a Les Paul. There’s no growl but superb clarity.
Well IMHO, this guitar seems a bit controversial. I liked the neck and bridge positions too, but when i heard the price I was shocked- very close to Gibson LP Standard. My opinion might be not objective though. Because I am the victim of the Gibson religion:))
It’s interesting. I’m new to the whole Gibson vibe. I’ve always been more of a fender chap. But I kind of got the bug when I got the Orville LP. I also don’t really consider myself much of a guitar player and am really more of a guitar playing songwriter. I’ve always found Gibson’s to be way overpriced. Mainly I always thought “it’s not gonna make me write better songs so why would I pay so much more than a fender” but a while back i had a guitar custom built and learned a lot more about the process of guitar building and I realized that Gibson’s are actually significantly more complex to make and a I sort of get the “Cadillac” vibe they have now. With that in mind I think the Eastman is every bit as refined and ambitious an instrument (if not more so) as any Gibson I’ve played and thus I think the price is completely justified. But I don’t think it’s as much a Les Paul as a Gibson Les Paul. It’s in the same camp, sure but it’s a different thing.
@@TheGuitarEffect Thank you for a great review, as always!
Couple of things, first, Why does everyone who demos a Lp not play the music synonymous with it. Jimmy! Next, I have a 59 gold top with Seymour 59s. Bloody awesome guitar, as is my 486 But I have a 2nd hand Agile 3000, not sure what pick ups, I know the pots are Gibson, this has a better tone, and plays just as well as my 59! In fact my Agile sounds quite a lot like Koss's, to my poor ears anyway! So, although I love the Eastman, and it does seem to be better suited to God than the Agile, there are excellent Lp alternatives under $1k now. Oh, Koss cost me $400 inc ship. Absolute bargain
Hey Mark thx for the comment. There’s a good bit to digest there but first off I’d say I get that Zeppelin are one of the best bands of all time but they’re not really my thing. I’m more of an alternative kind of guy than a rock guy. 🤷♂️
Secondly I had an Agile les Paul about 10 years ago. A good top with p90s I was obsessed with p90 Les Paul’s at the time and tried a JHS Vintage one, an agile one and the Epiphone one. The Epiphone actually was significantly better than the other two. And the agile was the worst. Though I’m pretty sure they have different tiers of guitars and so based on what you are saying I may try one again.
And lastly I totally agree there are many many many great LP style guitars for under €1k. I think a Hagstrom Suede would probably my personal preference they’re amazing guitars.
Waiting for the punchline: what this Eastman costs against a Gib LP. Now I still have to go look it up. If it's not at least $1-2K cheaper than a comparable Gibson then Eastman is aiming at the wrong target. I hear Eastmans are excellent but not inexpensive. There is already a variety of very good LP-type single cuts from name brands ranging from affordable to pricey. I think Eastman's good but why choose one over the other brands in a given price range?
Hey Mark. Are you saying you are eating from a punchline from me?
@@TheGuitarEffect I'm not sure now. Ha! Anyway I definitely would consider an Eastman, say, over a Gibson even if I had Gibson money. So the Eastman's price was the punchline and I don't think I heard you say it. Around $1,800? Still a little pricey for me.
Hey Mark. I think they are fairly priced for a handbuilt guitar. While they are intended to be an alternative to a Les Paul, for me they aren’t Les Pauls. That’s why I like the Orville I have. It’s a Les Paul. Like, exactly a Les Paul. That’s not to say the Eastman’s aren’t great in their offense en right as high end hand built guitars. But it’s not a Les Paul. I’ve never been taken by Gibson’s really. I think they are way overpriced.
I have an offer to trade my PRS Silver Sky Golden Mesa for an Eastman SB59/V-GB. Decisions, decisions!
Hey. Thx for the comment. I guess that’s down to whether you already have a good LP Or for they matter a good strat right?
The Eastman is a great guitar. I’m not a Mayer or PRS fan really so I’ve never played a silver sky. Couldn’t really give an opinion on one.
I watched a lot of Eastman Les Paul videos and they do not sound as good as a Gibson to my ears
Hey. Thx for the comment. To be honest at this level of guitar I think better is entirely subjective. But a Les Paul sounds more like a Les Paul than this. Definitely
eastman is great guitars but i buy nothig from china
Any particular reason why? Is it the shipping or you don’t trust the quality?
you don't shop at costco?
Dude, you probably typed that on a device full of Chinese electronics