Product: Eastwood Guitars Airline 59 custom 2P
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
10/07/2009
at
12:33pm
by
Will
Features
:
5
Made in Korea... (you can buy American/Canadian/European made instruments at this price) with a WOOD body. For the price, this so called "reissue" SHOULD have a fiber-glass body like the originals.
The Airline '59 custom is built with a chambered mahogany body, maple neck, single coil pickups in the guise of humbuckers like the original (which is rare and cool), and has a striped pickguard with a rubber bound body.
My main beef with this guitar is that this is not an affordable guitar, so obviously, it should offer dead-on features, especially if the Eastwood guitar company wants to brand this thing as being an authentic reissue. (It is not!)
The departures from the original consist of the wooden body, the wrong shape of fingerboard inlays (original inlays were rectangular) the black as opposed to white control knobs, the large Gibson-style pickup rings, and the smaller-than-original pickguard. (The original pickguard extended further in between the pickups.)
I hope that Eastwood guitars offers a more authentic looking "reissue" in the future; although the Airline '59 Custom looks closer to the original than the Airline DLX model, at this price it simply isn't close enough.
Sound
:
8
The sounds are unique and pleasant; think of slightly hot-rodded P-90 pickup tones and you'll have a good idea of where this guitar's sounds are coming from.
Like the original Airline guitar, the '59 Custom's "Vintage Voiced Single Coil" (aka VVSC) pickups have the characteristic 60-cycle hum of single coil pickups, and the bridge pickup's tones get close to Jack White's tone, which is a good thing in my book - its a great combination of chimey-ness and heaviness.
In contrast, the neck pickup sounds mellow, with a touch of grit. It is useful for 60's style clean rock guitar tones. Very nice indeed.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
The guitar was set-up well and the parts seem to be solid. The finish is good too. One of the pots is intermittently noisy however, which makes me suspect that these are Korean electronics. Again, I expect better at this price point, Eastwood!
Reliability/Durability
:
6
The pickups and hardware will probably last, they seem solid enough. The same can't be said for the volume and tone pots however...
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Don't know about Eastwood customer support... I bought this guitar new online from a store.
Overall Rating
:
6
I've been playing for 22 years, and own a Fender Strat, an Epi Les Paul Custom, and a few "vintage" guitars - an Eko Lancer, a Kay Thin Twin and a Gretsch Tennessean. I'm a big fan of old electric guitars, so I bought this guitar online after hearing about the new VVSC pickups. However, I must say that I am disappointed that it doesn't look or closer to the real deal. The guitar is passable, but I do not feel I really got my money's worth with this so-called "reissue".
Surely, Eastwood guitars can make a more authentic-looking reissue at the same price; If they ever do, I'll sell my current '59 and buy the truer looking reissue in a flash.
Product: Eastwood Guitars Airline 59 custom 2P
Price Paid: USD 948
Submitted
01/19/2009
at
10:52am
by
jamie
Features
:
9
2008, Made in Korea - Custom additions in Canada (I think). Came in great Airline tolex case, with leather 'white stipes' strap, cable etc.
Mine arrived with NOS valco knobs on too! thanks Mike at Eastwood!
Body: Tone Chambered Mahogany
Neck: Bound Maple, Bolt-on
Fingerboard: Rosewood, Block Markers
Scale Length: 25 1/2" (648mm)
Width at Nut: 1 11/16"
Pickups: Two AIRLINE Vintage Voiced Single Coil
Switching: 3-Way, Vintage Switchplate
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 1 Master Volume
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic, Custom Chrome Tail
Hardware: Vintage Kluson Style Nickel/Chrome
Case: Deluxe AIRLINE Case INCLUDED
Unique Features: Rubber Body Binding, Striped Pickguard
Sound
:
10
I play most things from Alt rock to Beatles and this guitar really hits the spot for me. The VVSC pickups can go from real muddy at the neck to sparkling bite at the bridge. Also amazing sustain - even without being plugged in!
I'm playing through a Marshall JTM30 valve combo and various FX - including EHX muff, clone, stone, memory man. Boss DS2, CS3 and a Dr Scientist tremolessence.
Pups quiet.
Nice weight and neck quick and radius not too fat.
Nothing to hate at all!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Guitar arrived in good shape and I haven't had to adjust it at all.
Very impressed by that.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Very well built and feels like it'l last years.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Great communication with Mike at Eastwood, answered all my questions without any fuss. Posted to the UK very quickly.
Waranty 3 year limited
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing for 20 years and have had a lot of different guitars from Gibson,Fender, Rics etc. I really wanted something different instead of the same old brands and shapes so I plugged for Eastwood... I must admit i was a little unsure what i was getting myself into, but it turned out to be a great move, this guitar is a keeper. Along with my Jazzmaster it aint going nowhere!
It really makes me want to play all day long. I'd buy another one no question.
