Eastman Guitars T186

This is an all solid maple thinline electric guitar with two humbuckers, two volumes, two tones, and a three way switch. I guess it was made in 2006 or 2007. The lower bout is 16". Actually it has the dimensions of a Gibson 335, but that is where the similarity ends with the 335. The neck is maple, the fingerboard is ebony, the electronics are passive. This one is a blondy. Came with a medium quality hsc. It has a solid maple block under the bridge and small blocks under the pickups. I'm not sure of the weight but it is very light, like an acoustic. It was made in China at Eastman Strings. Now I changed all the hardware with this. The woodwork and craftsmanship on this guitar is nearly flawless, but I wanted it to be all top of the line so it now has a Switchcraft three way and jack, cts 500k pots, bumblebee caps, tone pros bridge and tailpiece, Seymour Duncan alnico II pro humbuckers, Schaller strap locks, and gotoh delta 21:1 locking tuners. The neck feels like a Strat, not too thick or thin. I guess it has a lacquer finish. I believe the scale is 25" and it has 22 frets. I'll rate it as it is now, stock probably 7 or 8. All ratings are as modified. The mods cost me $700. Those bumblebee caps are expensive, but worth it.

Wow. I mean wow. It just has such lovely tone. If you want a strictly jazz sound, use the neck pickup and keep the gain down and it is all sweetness and light. However it doesn't end there. The bridge pickup just growls and barks with lots of real down Duanne Eddy sound. Because of the mostly hollow nature of the guitar there is a little feedback when it is turned up but it doesn't take off on you like a full hollow body. I've played it LOUD through a red knob Twin in a small room and it still didn't get away on me. This is a sweet sounding machine, quite bright as it is all maple. I usually practice with no amp because it really does sound beautiful acoustically and because I'm trying to save my poor blasted to death ears a little. The medium position is just great for rhythm with a little rock and roll edge or just turn up the pre amp gain for that lovely loaded up tube rock sound. I just love the sound of this guitar.

I never pay any attention to factory set ups. I do them my self for myself. I like the bass strings low and the treble a little higher so I can bend a tone or more and not have anything bad happen. Also I have a bunch of Japanese guitars--Epiphone elitist, Orville Les Paul custom, Gretsch White Falcon and those guitars have the best necks on earth bar none. This has a good neck, about as good as my Gibson Les Paul, but not as good as my Japanese guitars. The fit and finish are nearly flawless but not perfect. I'm nitpicking here a little. My Gretsch and Orville I rate at 10 as they are completely flawless.

Hard to say about a nearly new guitar but it does appear to be very well constructed. I just don't have any problems.

I bought this guitar online from ljdr at Ebay. Lou was just fantastic, can't say enough good about him. Helped me in every way and even hunted down all the improvements I wanted and mounted them all for a very reasonable price. I haven't had anything to do with Eastman as the guitar has no issues at all.

No reservations about this guitar. I play it a lot. I have eleven other guitars, mostly Japanese Fenders, Orvilles, Epiphones etc. I have two Canadian made acoustics--a Simon and Patrick, and a L'Arrivee. Started playing at age 40 so now have about 18 years in. I play through my red knobbed Fender The Twin and my Traynor Custom Valve 20. Both are all tube amps (love both of them too, except when I have to lift the Twin). If this were lost or stolen I'd commit murder with no remorse. I really like this guitar. Did I mention that it is absolutely beautiful to look at. Not quite as gorgeous as my White Falcon, but then, what is.