Eastman Guitars AR810-7

You all know the features; see other reviews. Floating pickup, carved top.The guitar is awsome. My only complaints are the tuners are cheap and the case is a joke. I bought a real case right away. The one that came with it isn't made for the 7 string model.I haven't bought new tuners yet but I will. Over all it has all the features you want from a great arch top, just expect to replace the tuners and get a real case. It doesn't have a strap button at the neck.

I played a 810 6 string at the store; it sounded fair but not great. It didn't have even sound through all the strings(5th and 6th strings were a little dead). I also played a pisano 880ce, that sounded great. I asked the manager of the store if he would hook me up on a 7 string model. He ordered one in for me at a great price; I guess having a relationship with a music store manager for 20 years does pay off when you need a favor. I told him that I was reluctant to buy a accoustic guitar without playing it first. He assured me tha it would meet my expectations and if not he would put it on the shelf and sell it. When I played it I was surprised at how great it sounded. It sounded better than I thought it would. Accousticly it was loud and clean. great warm tones. I have a Koa accoustic that has increadable tone and I never use it any more. This guitar is "the cats meow". It sounds like what you would expect from a carved archtop. Pluged in it sounds just as great. I had a Fender Twin that I played it through; Sounded great. I bought a Henrikson 12" combo and it sounds even better(cleaner and warmer). I waited about 9 month befor wrighting this review and my guitar is warming up even more. I knew thiat it would. This sounds great for any price range but for the money I can't see how anyone can be disappointed. I sold my Gibson ES175 shortly after purchacing my Eastman. I didn't need it any more

Out of the factory the intonation was great. The action was ok. A little high for me. The finish is as everyone else said, it looks beautiful but very fragile. You drop it it will probibly break. A lot different than my Gibson. It does have some minor flaws in the finish. I don't care, It's hand made and there are sighns that a human worked on it big deal. They are nothing that effect the sound or the looks. they are small blems in the finish. The only complaint is I wen't to put some 13s on it and the 7th string an .081 didn't fit. I had to drill the hole for it a little bigger. I put a scratch in the finish from trying to get the string to fit. I wasn't happy.
The wood is beautiful. Bookmatch is great;well done

The guitar is great. Like I said, I sold my gibson. I trust this guitar. I don't need a backup. As mentioned before I need new tuners. Just plan on buying them. It doesn't have a neck strap button which I will need to get also. I sit on a stool when I play so it hasn't been a priority as it should be.

I never needed it. I know that they have a forum that people from the company will answer questions.

I've been playing for over 25 years. This is my first 7 string.I play mainly chord melody and this guitat is perfect. don't expect to play rock with this.If money wasn't an issue I wouldn't buy a more expensive guitar. There is no reason to. It sounds to pure to try try to improve on. I just straight up love this guitar. It is beautiful and sounds just as good as it looks. I would replace it if it were stolen. I would not order one though. I think I got luckey in that. I have played a lot of nice expensive arch tops and this one is as good or better than any that I've played. So I needed to get a case, tuners and a stap button, big deal. I got a guitar that is worth more than twice the retail cost of one, I won't complain and shame on any one who does.It is the an increadable value.

This is just a follow up on my previous review. This paticular guitar has become my absolute favorite! I still don't miss the tone knob. The guitar is holding up and opening up very nicely!

I've found my sound! I still have the Fender Jazzking...but its in a corner collecting dust. I didn't purchase the Henriksen amp. But I did get a Fishman Loudbox Performer.The sound and response is unbelieveable.I'm very satisfied. The sound I have reminds me Of Bucky Pizzarelli.. just a tad bit warmer!All this talk about it makes me wanna go and play it right now!

When I first received it I had to adjust the action(lower) a couple of time. Not that the action was bad, the guitar was still adjusting.It pretty much settled now

I'm still adjusting to the carved body thing. I put a couple of dings on it, but it still looks great! I had a chance to play it a lot(working in the sound board as much as possible). Still no noise from the volume control or any of the wiring! Great for the studio!!

Over all rating 10. There's no way I'm parting with this axe! If Your looking for 7 string check one of these out...seriously. It even cheaper then the Laminate archtops I looked into: The pizzarelli model by Moll, The Dale Unger...dream...7

I have a 2005 model.I bought it a few months ago.It was kept in excellent condition(I'm the 1st owner)! Its the violin finish, jinho tuners,one volume knob,ebony fretboard,bridge and tailpiece.Has Eastmans pick up.Size of neck 2 1/16. Solid spruce-solid maple,and 3 piece maple neck. X-brace! 3 inches deep, 17 inches wide.

For a long time, I played nothing but laminates(didnt have 2 baby them),also I'm a humbucker fan! BUT...I've been eye n' these Eastman archtops for a while. Acoustic sound is wonderful..these things get really loud! Electric sound...simply the acoustic sound amplified...that's it!With that being said,play as many as u can because some r mellow and some r very bright sounding(I've played a few). I am pleased with the sound, and won't be changing the stock pick up.Never thought I'd B say n' this,but I don't even Miss the TONE knob!! The guitar itself sounds very good, very clean resonant sound/mellow. At 1st it was a spec brighter then I like. After a while(playing),it has started warming up(acoustic).It's what helps mine cut thru the Band. I play thru a jazzking Fender amp...Not my ideal amp(size/weight),BUT that 15 inch speaker pulls this 7 string wagon real nice!

My bridge was FLUSH with the top. BUT there were some miner flaws- few brown specs n the binding(one the side rim).On the neck - few ridges near the frets near the 1st string(not visible or detectable while playing...Those r my only querks about it, everything else is really nice!

I'm not a solid carved kinda guy,but this Eastman is warming up 2 me! Have 2 b carful with it..It also has a thin finish.I don't carry a back up,don't think I ever have!The hardware is decent also.No scratchy/noisy volume pot.No buzzing!

Bought it from Chuck Levins, Great Folks!!!!!!!Eastman is also pretty decent They actually listen to AND make changes according to customer feedback.

I've been blessed to have played for over 10 years I'm 28 now! I also play Bass guitar.I have had many amps,and enough guitars to know what I need to get the job done.I think laminates are great(for various reasons), but for true acoustic and great wood sound...can't beat a carved top!This guitar lets all my notes ring thru(chords and single notes) and Its decently priced! I do agree w/ another review about the case.The Head stock/tuners always bang against the case when putting away/vis versa! No room for anything else but the guitar and some picks.Lol Eastman is really making some nice things.I waited awhile til the Hipe about their guitars cooled down before looking and purchasing one. I don't regret buying it! I was considering a Foster 7 string B'cause He makes 2 inch deep routed Humbucker archtops. I had started to get the itch(buying a bunch of guitars).Now I'm down to 2(thinbody laminate w/ 57 classic n the neck,and full body 7string,carved)Both r fully hollow..That's it for me! I'm going 2 get a Henriksen amp 2 replace the Hippo sized amp I have now.Lol

Sunburst - beautiful finish, multi-ply white binding on body, f-holes, neck, pickguard & headstock. Truly a gorgeous finish.
Archtop, f-holes, 7-string, floating Armstrong-design pickup, ebony guard & tailpiece, ebony bridge w/brass height-adjust wheels, gold-finish Grover-copy tuners, made in China. Neck width 2 1/16, volume knob on underside of guard. Very well done 17 inch acoustic archtop w/floating p/up, all solid woods w/carved top. All the features it's supposed to have.

I've had this guitar for a year and waited to write this review. When new it had very good acoustic sound, but a little bright for my taste. After a few months of playing it warmed up considerably. Now has a smooth and silky acoustic sound, quite loud. The trebles are nice and fat. Nit-picks: Acoustically, the 6th & 7th strings are not as loud as I'd like, and should have more bite. One or two notes (A, Bb, B on 6th string)sustain less than the others, not really "dead", just less sustain, but this is barely noticeable acoustically, becomes more apparent plugged in. Electric sound: a little too dry for me at first, especially w/the stock p/up. I replaced it w/a USA-made Armstrong w/adjustable poles - improved, fatter & warmer electric sound. Played through Fender Super re-issue, probably not the best jazz amp, but it's what I have. Looking forward to trying it w/either a new Jazzkat or Henriksen amp. Some feedback, but standard for archtops. I'm being very critical here, the sound completely blows away any similarly priced archtop I have played, including D'Angelicos, Guilds, Gibsons, Ibanez, Heritage, Epiphone Elite. I even played a Buscarino which I felt did not sound as rich acoustically. In short, w/price as no consideration, acoustic sound 7, electric sound 6. No laminated top guitar I've ever heard can touch it acoustically. Considering price: overall sound 8.

No detectable flaws in construction, beautiful, well-matched woods w/nice flame on the back/sides, close straight grain top. Well-done bindings, bridge fit is good, I see no gap. Intonation good. Finish, as I said earlier, is beautiful. Problem: Nut slots were not cut deeply enough so the guitar was hard to play at the first couple of frets. I find this problem with many guitars, nothing unusual. I have sent it out for a professional setup. I have only average-size hands so the combination of the 7-string neck width and the too high action at the nut made it difficult for me. I trust the setup will correct this.

Very well built, expect no durability problem. Holds tuning well, solidly made.

Haven't needed repair. Eastman is responsive to customer needs, sent a new pickguard when I replaced the stock p/up. No problem.

Playing 35 years, all kinds of guitars, Martins, Guilds, Larrivee,Velazquez and Ruck classicals, Teles, Strats, Takamine, Yamaha, etc. I would replace it if stolen. I got it as my experimental entry into the 7-string solo jazz realm. I love it, and now I don't think I'll go back to 6-string. In looking for a better archtop 7, I'm now going to the top archtop luthiers, I'll have to pay approx. 4 times the price of this Eastman for the "perfect" one. Again, my rating of 8 is judging the guitar as if price were no object. I agree w/others who say that the Eastman is approx. 90% of a $10,000 plus, luthier-built archtop, for about 25% of the cost. Even though I'm now going to order just such an instrument, I plan to keep the Eastman. Overall it's an amazing value.

2006 model, 17" hand carved archtop in the Benedetto style. Made in China, floating pickup, etc...same features as the 810CE but this is the 7-string version. It has a 2-1/16" neck width at the nut, a different headstock, and an additional string and tuner(duh). fibreglass case.
i didn't get a strap button with mine which bugs me, because i only play with a strap, sitting or standing.

i kid you not, this is the loudest acoustic guitar i have ever played - it blows away any flat top i have ever tried. mine is brand new and it still sounds a little new, but in time i know it will open up nicely. pretty decent freq response(acoustically), not great, but it holds its own for sure.
I am not crazy about the sound of the pickup. i will try different strings and see if my opinion changes.

This one came from Lou at Guitars n' Jazz and it was ready to play out of the box. Not sure if Lou got it that way from the factory or if he set it up. Nevertheless, i needed to make no adjustments at all. relatively flawless, though upon really close inspection i'd say the bridge saddle was not neatly radiused. some sloppy carving and file work there, but i corrected that with a sanding block. also, if i really look close at the lacquer where it covers the body binding, the lacquer has shrunk a little into the binding layers and made a few intermittent grooves. again - i really have to look for this. besides that, the woodwork is excellent. This is my second Eastman and my first('04) had a couple of sloppy things but overall, this is far better work than a current production Heritage or Gibson or D'Angelico copy, Hofner, etc...
bracing is sound and internals look to be in order.

i bought this to use at a gig where i may not want to bring one of my expensive custom guitars. C'mon, we all play gigs like those. truthfully, after i heard the big acoustic sound of this guitar, i immediately strung it with bronze(80/20) strings and am using it as my acoustic guitar(replacing my flattop which i quickly sold). i will eventually use it for the original purpose, but it is fun to play as an obligate acoustic.
I have never warmed up to the fibreglass cases. they exude cheapness and are not very safe for the instruments. The 7-string headstock is longer than on the 6-strings, and it is quite impossible to put the guitar into and out of the case without banging a tuner or the headstock against the shell of the case. Also, the case i got is not arched on top, it is flat - what's up with that? i will not bring the guitar to any gig in this case - going to buy a better case soon.

never dealt with the company other than Gordon in the past with my '04 Eastman. He was a gentleman, if not a little scattered due to all the tailpiece requests and such in the '04 history of Eastman.

i own several high end luthier guitars and this one is my "slummer". i gotta say, although the tone is not quite the caliber of my other guitars, these instruments represent a true value among archtops. There is nothing on the market presently that can compete with this $2K guitar, even at twice the price. I knew what i was getting when i bought this second one and i am pleased to own it.