airline map bass – MyRareGuitars.com

New Eastwood & Airline Electric Bass Models – Moving Upscale

Mike Robinson — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:00:23 +0000

I started Eastwood Guitars over 10 years ago. Since then we have created dozens of guitar and bass models, focusing primarily on the 50’s and 60’s replica variety. As a guitar player, when called upon to play bass, I’ve always been more comfortable with the short 30″ scale as opposed to the traditional 34″ scale. They just feel right to me, and as most of the designs we tend to replicate from that era, they too were of the short scale variety. Consequently, most of the bass models we have introduced through the Eastwood and Airline brands have been short scale.

New 34" Scale Electric Bass Models from Eastwood Guitars & Airline Guitars

What is the downside to the short scale bass?

Shorter strings have less tension, and therefore the tone tends to sounds tubbier or even muddy, and with far less sustain. Not a bad thing for many 60’s style applications, but does not give you a huge, booming tone.
Longer scale basses have more overtones, clarity and punch.
30-inch scale feels noticeably short or awkward to a P-bass player and may be tough to make the adjustment.

Although I still feel every bass players needs a short scale bass in their arsenal, I too feel that Eastwood should have more 34″ scale options for our customers. In fact, we have had many customers over the years asking us to reach out to the 34″ crowd. So that time has come and we are now introducing 3 new Bass models this summer:

The Hurricane ($429)
The Stormbird ($469)
The 34″ Airline Map ($879)

Enjoy!

Order before June 30th and we will throw in a $99 hardshell case for FREE.

New Eastwood & Airline Electric Bass Models – Moving Upscale from MyRareGuitars.com

Airline Introduces New 34″ Scale MAP Bass

Mike Robinson — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:46:51 +0000

Eastwood’s Top Selling Bass gets BIGGER!

The NEW 34″ scale Airline Map Bass in Seafoam Green!

For a few years now customers have been asking us for a “Bass Players” version of the popular Airline MAP Bass. Well, that day has come. We only have 12 of these new models in stock, so if you are ready to rumble, hit the BUY NOW button right away as they are shipping now and won’t last long. Special Price only $879

SPECIFICATIONS
Body: Tone Chambered Mahogany
Neck: Bound Maple, Bolt-on
Fingerboard: Rosewood, Block Markers
Scale Length: 34″
Width at Nut: 1 5/8″
Pickups: Two Alnico Hot-10 Humbuckers
Switching: 3-Way
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Bridge: Tune-o-matic bridge, trapeze tail
Hardware: Grover Style Nickel/Chrome
Strings: D’Addario #45-#100
Case: extra
Unique Features: NATIONAL Style Striped Pickguard
Suggested Retail: $1099.00 US

I’m not sure who this fella is, but he has some nice things to say about Eastwood and Airline models:

Stephan Wickham: Eastwood Guitars basses and guitars are real sleepers for most people. It will surprise many that they have large acceptance with musicians in alternative genres such as West Coast Punk, grunge and modern alternative rock. Eastwoods are popular with some top players like John Fogerty, Mick Karn and groups like Foo Fighters. People expect the build quality of original Danelectro (e.g. particleboard bodies) and Valco / National guitars / basses and are surprised to see Eastwood Guitar reproductions that there are improvements, such as the body tonewood. While the Airline MAP bass carries Airline name it is actually based on Valco 1962 Val-Pro 85 bass. It produces a killer low rider tone and works best with a medium-to- fast player. In addition to punk, grunge it fits well with 60s rock, Grateful-Dead tone, reggae, modern country & blues. The body is chambered mahogany, rather than acrylic resin / fibreglass of original Val-Pro 85. I would swap out the bridge, nut and knobs to better quality components and it would be good to go. For people that don’t like the Sea-Foam Green, it also is available in White or Black. In Black it comes with black & white pick guard with white binding on body, which gives it a bit of art-deco Duesenberg design flavour. The addition of a 34″ scale to the Eastwood Airline MAP bass product line offers an excellent tone alternative to original 30″ short-scale model and more familiar length for most bassists.

More Pictures of the new 34-inch scale Airline Map Bass:

The NEW 34″ scale Airline Map Bass in Seafoam Green!

Airline Introduces New 34″ Scale MAP Bass from MyRareGuitars.com

From the Mailbag (August 2011)

Mike Robinson — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:00:05 +0000

“Man, that Airline Bighorn goes with fuzz like chocolate and peanut butter! I need one to go with my vintage T&C!” — MFR

“I’ve been playing the 3 humbucker Leone Limited Edition live continuosly and man, what a guitar! If you remember, I bought two of the humbucker model and one P-90 model. My favourite is the humbucker model and it has turned out to be an exceptional axe. Everywhere I play musicians freak out with the looks, the feel (this neck is beautiful!) and the sound of this guitar. This Eastwood with a Fender amp is an unbeatable combination. Thanks, Mike! I hope Eastwood’s star continues to rise, for it deserves it. Keep up the excellent work! Saludos from the Caribbean,” — Rafi Alvarez

“Just wanted you to know that I got the electric tenor! WOW!!!! What a fine instrument!!!! Exceeds my expectations!!!!!! Great sound and great finish!!! thank you!!!” — Geoff

“I just received my Cherry Warren Ellis Tenor. Thanks so much. It is awesome!” — Jack Reilly

“Love it Love it Love it! Thanks so much for this Airline Map Bass. It is exactly as I imagined. I’m going to put some flats on it and settle in with it for a couple of weeks before I do a review.” — Paul Reich

“Just a note of appreciation to say my green Sidejack landed safe and 6 days ahead of schedule..plays, sounds and looks FANTASTIC, what VALUE!…couldn’t be happier with this instrument and Eastwood’s (and yourself) service and followup…sounds punk as (in the best possible way!)through my Fender twin Reverb 185…Happy Daze!! …thanks again mate.” — Paul Hine

“Just received the mandola. it was WELL WORTH the wait. From the age of 11 I have played the viola, and I’ve been waiting 25 yrs for an electric mandola to hit the market. Many thanks!!! I’ll be sure to post on mando-cafe and others as I give it a workout at gigs/etc. Have a great day!” — Patrick Daly

“I received the mandola yesterday with the case and delay pedal. Thank you so much! I am truly happy with the instrument. It sounds great, and the pedal is perfect. I will certainly spread the word about the your service as well as the quality of product. I will be returning soon, I think to get the tenor guitar instead of the mandocaster. Again, thank you kindly, it will receive lots of use, love, and exposure.” — Drew Hays

“Got the instrument today. Wow. It’s everything i hoped it would be! Nice action, very playable, less finger pileup than a mandolin and sounds utterly sweet through an amp. Thanks to you and your company for making it.” — Simon

“It’s John Crown here … I just wanted to write to say how much I enjoy the Eastwood Classic 6 I bought from you a year and a half ago. I’m currently working on a TV project that requires vintage Liverpool type sounds from the 60’s and this guitar is the perfect fit. The mini humbuckers are so clear and detailed and balanced with just the right amount of compression. The guitar plays as easily as when I first got it, nice low action without buzzing. Anyway, that’s all … it’s just a great great guitar” — John in Peterborough.

“Just to let you know. I bought an Eastwood Hy Flyer bass guitar, and I LOVE IT. It is the best sounding bass I have ever played. I was playing Fender Mustang, Reissue, in 2000, I thought it couldn’t get any better. BUT, it did with the HY FLYER.. The only thing I did was put on a set of Fender nylon tape wound strings, which I do to all bass guitars I own. I have let other people play it and they fell in love to. It has an incredible bass sound. I play through a Gen Betz Shuttle amp. Did I say I love it. I DO.” — Walt

“Hey Mike thanks for the Classic 12 Fireburst guitar – I’m using in the book! It blows away a Rick! Great job!” — Brian Tarquin, BHP Music, Ltd. [http://bohemianproductions.net/]

Brian Tarquin (BHP Music) with his Eastwood Classic 12 Fireburst 12-string

From the Mailbag (August 2011) from MyRareGuitars.com

From The Mailbag: Tim Sarter & His Airline Map Bass

Mike Robinson — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:15:27 +0000

Hello Mike,

Tim Sarter from California here. We spoke a couple of years ago. I used to have one of the two or three map basses Metropolitan made – long scale, weighing a million pounds, etc. Been wanting one of yours for years. Finally got one a couple of months ago. Writing to tell you how much I love it. Compared to my old Metro it is so comfy to play. I may have my tech do a custom wind on the pickups for me to get a little more clarity and bite out of them, but after completing a run of the stage play Always Patsy with it I may not need to.

Tim Sarter with his surf green Airline Map Bass

I have it strung with La Bella flats right now. On some of the tunes I used the bridge pickup with a pick to get an outrageously cool tic-tac Bass tone. Used both pickups fingerstyle for most of the show, but switched to the neck pickup for the segments of the play that were underscored. Beautiful.

Considering trying some Thomastik Jazz Rounds on it like I have on my old Guild M-85, but for now I could not be happier with what I’m hearing out of it. Also used it with a county/rock and roll band Sunday. It was loved by all who heard it there as well. For your viewing pleasure here’s a few shots from that gig.

Anyway, thank you for your efforts in producing this bass. I have a lot of different basses that I use regularly, and yours is going to be getting heavy rotation from now on.

Cheers,

Tim

From The Mailbag: Tim Sarter & His Airline Map Bass from MyRareGuitars.com