Eastwood Guitars Sidejack

This is a new, metallic blue model I purchased as a special order from my local Eastwood dealer (Austin, TX). Although it took about three months to obtain, it's proven worth the wait. Has the more recent Jazzmaster/Jaguar-style tremelo and the Mosrite-style headstock.

This is not a Fender. The P-90's are quite dark. They bite like P-90's should though. I chose this guitar, wrongly assuming it would be MORE of a Fender, but even though this is not the case, I am so pleased with its sound. If you crave the perfect middle ground between thick Gibson hollow-body and chiming Fender tones, I cannot imagine a better choice. There are wonderfully noticable yet balanced intervals between the bridge, dual, and neck pick-up settings. The normal single-coil hum is of course present in the first and third settings.

While realizing that this is a crap-shoot with ANY manufacturer, I'll just say this: < $500, and flawlessly set up, out of the box. Easily the equal (at least) of every Gibson and american Fender I've picked up. The finish is perfect. THIS Eastwood, considering the pricepoint, shames most other guitar makers. This is relatively laughable, but my only gripe is that the tremelo arm sqeaks in its socket after a few weeks of constant Kevin Shields impersonating. Easily fixed, however.

Recently aquired. We'll see. It FEELS built like the pyramids.

Have had no need yet....

I've been playing more or less since the age of eight. That's roughly 25 years now. My other guitar is an (awesome) Gibson Tennessean. I've also played a host of other expensive guitars. I'll keep this instrument until my fingers fall off. Kudos Eastwood!

Not sure exactly what year it is... But this is the second Eastwood I've owned, adn I love it. It's not very old... Made in China... It's a sidejack, the ventures-type model. Honey/blonde burst... Tune-o-matic, 2 p-90s, one volume, one tone, one switch... Nice glossy finish... Some of the stain around the bin ding has bled underneaqth the finish, though, but it still looks sweet... Kluson-type tuners...

I use it with my Epiphone Valve jr. and my Peavey Windsor. Love the P-90s. I'm a sucker for them. Had an Eastwood once, sold it, wanted another cuz I love the Mosrite look, but bought a Jay Turser instead, but the pups in the Jay Turser mosrite copy soundexd weak and dead compared to the p-90s in the Eastwood... There is a little single coil hum in the rhythm or lead positions, but nothign you shouldn't expect from a p-90 equipped guitar... Works well for my music, basically rock with a LOT of influences... I love it.

I can't complain about anyhting in the action or fit, but in the finish dept, the black lines alongside the white binding kinda bleed into the rest of the finish...

Don't forsee any issues yet...

Pleasure to talk to the guys at Eastwood. Lvoe their lineup.

I had a sidejack once. Loved it, but ended up selling it, and immediately regretted it. So I bought a Jay Turser jt280 mosrite clone. It looked sharp, and the action was ok, but it wasn't an Eastwood. So I sold that one, and got my newest Eastwood off of ebay. And I love it.

2009 Eastwood Sidejack Deluxe, newly upgraded tremolo, updated headstock, pro roller bridge, 2 P90s, basswood body, 1 tone/1 volume control, made in China. Mine is sunburst.

The upgraded tremolo was a huge selling point for me, didn't like the older Burns trem. She stays in tune like champ and the arm fits snug in the stem, no flopping around.

The stock P90s sound decent, might switch out just b/c I enjoy experimenting with other pups but was pleasantly surprised given the Sidejack's pricepoint. Played through a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue w/Weber Cali speaker, JJ 6L6s.

No apparent flaws, nice paint apps. After raising the action, replacing w/higher gauged strings (11-50), I was able to set the intonation without problems.

The Sidejack Deluxe feels solid, we'll see what happens over the next few months. It's definitely a great bargain and an eye catcher.

Always a joy dealing with Mike Robinson and Peter McCracken, great customer service, continually going the extra mile.

Have been playing for over 20 years, owned a couple Teles w/Bigsby, several Rickenbacker 360s, a Hofner, a Jazzmaster, Epi Casino. I'm a sucker for cool looking vintage guitars. Eastwood delivers at an affordable price.

This is the late '08/'09 model with the Fender style tremolo and "M" headstock. This guitar has, in my opinion, only what a good P90 equipped guitar needs- One tone and one volume switch and a three way toggle. Beautiful paint and binding detail. It was a discounted Demo model, but still came with a chord, mini-amp and a CD.

Sounds amazing. I use a Peavey Valve King and a Dano Nifty Fifty, and the P90's are the ticket. I play early rockabilly/Link Wray type stuff as well as blues, and this guitar is plenty versatile. The bridge pup can quack like a Strat. Cool.

I installed fresh 10s and raised the action slightly from the way it was when I received it. Frets and neck are perfectwith intonation dead on. The only thing I could find wrong was a single missing pickguard screw. No big deal, it was a demo.

It's a very solidly built guitar. Kind of heavy compared to what I'm used to (Strat, old Danos, Kalamazoo KG1) but not bad, like an LP. The hardware looks good, decent quality stuff. I'd imagine from the way it's built that it'll take alot of abuse and hold up fine.

I ordered the guitar on a Tuesday morning over the phone from Mike Robinson. He shipped it out that day UPS 3-Day shipping. It was delivered to me Wednesday at 10:45AM! Yep, the next day. Don't know how they pulled that one off, as the shipping label even said 3-Day and I'm in SC and Eastwood is in Ontario. I'm sure it was some UPS mistake, but it was still cool. Customer service is amazing. Mike, Eastwood's owner, answers the phone, handles the order himself and follows up. Perfect. This is my second Eastwood (the other an H-44 Deluxe) and I'm sure I'll eventually be coming back for more.

I've been playing on and off since my teens (50 now) and I've had lots of guitars. I don't gig, just do some home recording and play with friends. If it were lost or stolen I'd buy another one at full price without a second thought. This is just a very cool guitar that looks as good as it plays. OK, I'm done now.

2007 Metallic Blue Sidejack STD. Basswood body, set maple neck, rosewood fretboard, two p90's, 1 volume, 1 tone, 3-way toggle, tune-o-matic bridge, retro Gibson-ish green plastic tuners, bound body and neck. Pretty bare-bones, but it's meant to be. Nothing wrong with decent basswood, makes a nice, solid, good weighted body. The p90's are a little hard to adjust.

Sound is vintage. The p90's are loud enough, carry through the tonal range nicely, not too twangy or not too hollow. Can be crunchy, heavy (but not metal-heavy), woody, and bright. Makes a great rocker, punk axe, alternative puncher, or a good Tele impersonator. The neck pickup HOWLS. Neck has very good feel, especially for larger hands like mine. Begs to be played hard. Lots of sustain. It's like having that old first guitar worked over by a luthier. Sling it low.

Finish is A+ for a guitar this price. Nearly flawless. Mine has a little notch on one of the frets that will catch the string a bit when bending. Small finish imperfection by the jack plug - minor. Little bit of paint or something on the outside egde of one fret. Beautiful paint, all the way up the back of the neck and headstock, very retro. However, the color was a lot darker than it appeared on-line, which was a little disappointing. Set-up was fine, just needed tweaking to my taste. Good neck. Shipped well, no issues. I don't think the case they sent was quite right, wider than it ought to be which allows the guitar body to slide from side to side, but it will work.

Well see. Seems solid enough. I've had the odd guitar with a bound neck where the binding came loose, hope that doesn't happen.

Mike is a good guy, very customer focused. Not many companies that size have a CEO who will personally answer your e-mails. Who knows how it will be if I even have an issue, but there are plenty of authorized dealers to be found. I don't forsee any issues.

I'm not exactly blown away, but it's a good retro look and plays fairly well, has good action, no buzz even set low, has that retro p90 sound, and is beatifully finished. The fret nick and color were my only suprises. I've got a 1998 American Strat, a 60th anniversary Mexican Tele blackout, an Epiphone 335 Dot in cherry, and have had a number of Les Pauls, Ibanez's, and other Fenders. This one certainly has it's place among them, though I could easily get by without it.

Guitar is one of the best sounding, looking, and playing guitars I have ever played PERIOD. I rock hard, loud, and noisey and this guitar doesent whimp out, even a little bit.

I give it a 8 because the guitar shipped totally not set up at all, not even a little bit. The finish is so hot, greenburst. i could not find a single finish flaw anywhere and the pickups were perfect.

Its built like a tank, The burns trem is very good but i would have prefered the bigsby. The kluson style tuners sont float my boat but i can deal.

they respond, and ship very fast.

Ive been playing for 16 years and I own allot of guitars.

if stolen i woudl certainly replace it.

Body: Bound Solid Basswood
Neck: Bound Maple, SET neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood, Dot Markers
Scale Length: 24 3/4"
Width at Nut: 1 5/8"
Pickups: Two Vintage EW P-90's
Switching: 3-Way
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Bridge: Vintage Style Adjustable Roller Bridge, BURNS Tremolo
Hardware: Gotoh Nickel/Chrome

I like the way this guitar sounds through my 68 super reverb. Does exactly what I bought it for.

It is translucent green with white binding. I love it. I like the neck, feels like my 335.

I have only owned this guitar for a short while but she seems like she will stand up to anything. I replace all strap buttons on my guitars with straplocks.

Have emailed the company a few times and have received a prompt answer every time

I have been playing over forty years and have played just about all of em. This is a very nice guitar for the money and if stolen I would replace it.

Great "Mosrite" vibe! Can also be set for blues or screaming metal and everything in between

Came fully set up. Pickups factory set up, intonation perfect all up and down the fretboard.

Very sold - gig worthy guitar

never needed - new guitar

I have been playing for 45 years. I own numerious high end guitars from major manufacturers. I bought this on a lark - to mess around with - play some of the old 60's garage band stuff from years ago - wasn't expecting the extremely high quality instrument I purchased. This is as good as any of my high end solid bodies at a fraction of the price.

This is a follow-up to my review (John W. 2-28-05)

Same as review. Everything is working perfectly with no complaints. I am desparately trying to wear this thing out! I will perish before it does, place your bets now.

I didn't know I would become accustomed to this flat (12.00"+) fretboard and slightly chunky neck (slightly larger than "standard thin").I have gits from 7.500" radius to 16.000" and still play them and enjoy each one, but this particular set up at the 24.750" scale is perfect for my hand @ 9.500" hand spread (pinky to thumb).

I still dream about a Wizard neck with compound radius and a 24.750" scale. Maybe someday I'll throw some money at it. It would be soooo nice to have the best of both radius worlds! (I'm trying to get Warmoth to make one of these, but they don't make a Wizard at shorter than 25.500"). Maybe Mike Robinson (Eastwood) will make us one??

One extremely nice change for the Sidejack has been loading it with D'Addario Chromes (ECG24). These are High finish ribbon wound that are ground FLAT. They call them jazz light gauge @ .011, .015, .022, .030, .040, .050". These strings sound bright and clean and play so smoothly (NO FRICTION) that it is truly effortless which makes playing easier with obvious technique improvement. They bend very easily considering their gauge and chords blend so well it makes standard ribbon wounds sound terribly bad. Single notes have a quality that is clean with no overtones and they require LESS pressure to note, removing intonation sharping that can occur with light gauge strings.

I put a set of Chromes (ECB82) on my Bronco bass also. Perfect sound! Slap, flap, clean, mellow; it's all in the tone knob and playing technique.

You can get any sound out of this guitar with good amps, etc. It needs no mods or "hot rodding". The pups are clear!

Constructed better than all the things I've played for years. I require extremely low action with no buzz. I have it with this guitar.

I always pay attention to the left or right of torso centering of the guitar's scale. (Too far left of center chest, you have to reach abnormally far with the left arm as a RH player). It occurs on guitar models like the Mosrite and others. Just look at the amount of body real estate to the right of the bridge on some guitars (from playing position) and where the body relief shaping is located).

This guitar does shift the scale to the left 2.000" more than my Fenders and Dano, so it would be a problem EXCEPT that it's a mid-scale length at 24.750". There is some extra reach but it's ok with the shorter scale.

Durable period.

Better than perfect. Just like my wife! (she will read this).

? Made in China
? 22 Frets
? Basswood body, maple neck
? One volume, one tone
? Two passive P-90 Pickups
? Metallic blue sparkle finish
? Mosrite-style "reverse strat" body style
? Burns Bigsby-style trem with tune-o-matic-style roller bridge
? Gotoh vintage-style tuners

The tone of this gutar is the one area of this review where I will give a rave (or anything less than very bad) review. The tone of the bridge P-90 has all the rude, bite and growl that you would want, and the neck pickup is big and clear and three-dimensional-sounding. Pretty amazing stock pickups froma cheap Chinese guitar.

This is where the guitar just fails miserably, though you wouldn't think it upon first inspection. Looking at it from a few feet away the guitar is just GORGEOUS. Lots of nice bonding and the sparkle blue paint is about ten times more vivid then it appears on the website photos. BUT...

? The routing of the inset "elbow pocket" near the top of the body is just totally for-shit: it's all wavey and ripply?not flat at all and a very un-subtle flaw.
? There are un-sanded/un-corrected drips in the clearcoat the side of the neck and a couple of other places. In the right light you can see some runny-ness to the metallic paint coat on the top, too.
? When I first got the guitar there was buzz all over the place and in many places on the neck as you played the neck fretted our compeletely. I had so spend a bunch of money on geting the neck worked on, because not only did the truss rod need adjusting, but there was a big hump in the fretboard around the eighth fret and the frets had to be individually filed down to correct for this. Once I had this done the action was fine.
? The guitar was clearly not intonated properly when I bought it, so I decided to buy an Earvana nut and then set it up myself in this regard. Unfortunately, it was only AFTER I had installed the Earvana nut base that I discovered this axe's BIGGEST FLAW: THE BRIDGE POSTS ARE SET IN A FULL 3/8" TOO FAR FROM THE NECK!!!! THis guitar is SUPPOSED to be 24 & 3/4" scale, but in truth it has TWO scale lengths, neither of which are that. From nut-to-12th fret, the measurement is 12.3125", which doubled would make a 24.625" scale length. From bridge-to-12th fret, the measurement is 12.6875", which doubled would equal a 25.375" scale length! So, basically, the absolute only way to make this thing intonate properly is to knock out the bridge post receptors (VERY hard to do), fill those holes with dowels and epoxy, and redrill new holes 3/8" CLOSER to the neck! What a piece of shit!

Once I get all these issues hammered out it will definitely be a player's axe?it's just a shame I had to go though Hell to get there.

I would guess that I could easily get my money back from this company had I discovered these problems earlier on, but unfortunately i didn't discover the huge problem with the bridge until I had installed the Earvana nut base with epoxy and done some sanding/filing, plus added straplocks with epoxy as well. So, I kind of felt like I had voided the warranty so-to-speak. Also, at this point I had spent $80 getting the neck dealt with (because at that point I thought the bump in the fretboard was its' only playablility flaw) so I was already kind of "committed" to making it work.

Considering how many very well-made Korean (as opposed to Chinese?those guys aren't quite there yet) guitars with similar features you can score for $500 these days, this guitar is really just a waste of time. It's too bad?the Eastwood Guitars "concept" is so cool and it's just a groovy-looking axe with really unique appointments for an import.