Eastwood Messenger

Eastwood has really brought back history by reproducing the Music Craft Messenger guitar brought to some fame by guitarist Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad. This is not an exact duplicate ie different hardware, absence of aluminum neck, no built in fuzz, HB pickups and a different neck contour, but is is darn close for those wanting to get the Messenger feel. This guitar was made in 2008 in Korea for Eastwood Guitars. It has a hollow body with a solid centerpiece and a spruce top. It has a comfortable 25.5 scale neck. Bady and neck and f-holes are fully bound. It has no feedback problems like the original Messenger. This is the first Eastwood guitar I have owned and the first Korean built guitar I have dared to purchase. It also comes with a custom case and is available in green or red finish(Farner had the green). I shed a tear when I opened the case for the first time. I recalled 30 year ago memories as a young teen seeing Mark Farner's guitar and not knowing what it was(no internet back then baby!). Here I had now in my possession a guitar look alike that has been out of production for over 40 years. I have searched high and low for an original to no avail and now finally someone resurrected the Messenger. Thank you Eastwood. I rate it a nine here because no one gets a ten, and the fuzz tone was not reproduced. I guess the owner had spoken to Mark Farner about making a custom MF model, but MF showed no current interest in the project!

This guitar is well built. Neck joint is solid and extends into the body for strength(remember the old Gibson Sgs?). Full HB sound, no feedback, sweet intonations from the hollow body. I run it with a Carr 6V or Tone King Meteor II. No strat or full Gibson LP sounds here, but something original. Yes I believe it sounds like a Messenger. Hard to describe slightly mid-ranged hollow full tone. Listen to Closer to Home albub GFR. I really have no complaints, except I wish it were an exact duplicate like a Greco. I do understand Eastwood's desire to keep cost down however and use standard hardware etc as well as manufacture it abroad and also to keep with its production desires to give the consumer similar but not exact guitar copies.

The factory setup was perfect. I made only slight adjustments. This guitar has the lowest action I have ever had with only a slight buzz at the highest low E sting frets(maybe one or two). I adjusted that easily. Pickup height was perfect. My guitar had no flaws whatsoever except for a slight binding joint abutment on one of the f-holes that could have been attended to better. Not really visible was this though and I am just a type A. You do get a ten here!

I have had the guitar only a short period, but I play every weekend and then some. I will be putting it through the ringer soon and may come back with further comments as the environment tortures it regarding its resilience and dependability. Finish is beautiful and the neck is smooth. My sweaty hands do not seem to bind up on the laquered finish on the neck. Did they do something different here? I never use a new guitar without a backup and that is no different here. To solve this I bought a second Messenger to back up the first because I love it so much.

I have had no trouble with the instrument as of yet so I cannot comment on customer service. I can say however that before purchasing, while purchasing and after purchasing, I spoke with Michael amany times. He answers his own phone! He is kind, informative and answered all of my questions very professionally. He seemed to really care about the product. I must assume therefore that the customer service should be handled the same.

I have played for over 40 years. I have owned so many different guitars and amps. I bought this guitar both for its nostalgic meaning to me and because I wanted an unusual instrument to play out with. So many of the guitar playing audience that comes to see me are stumped! If this guitar(s) were ever lost or stolen, I would immediately open my cell phone and by another! What I olve most about the guitar is that is has a unique look and sound. It is not a sould copier! It standa alone. The only thing that would have stopped or reversed this purchase(maybe) is if I could have found an original. Perhaps though that is really not true because this guitar has none of the bad characteristics of the original. I could not handle feedback for instance. You gotta try one of these. And oh by the way Mr. Mark Farner, I still hope you choose to have a MF model built. Please reconsider and call Michael about manufacturing this model. I want one!!