Adrian Belew fronted prog-legends King Crimson for many years

Adrian Belew’s Spectrum 5

Adrian Belew and his Parker Fly

The Fractal Audio Axe-FX

David Bowie with Adrian Belew

Find Out More:

Adrian Belew on Facebook

Celebrating David Bowie concerts

Adrian Belew Interview: Lessons in Hard-Working from MyRareGuitars.com

What is a tenor guitar? A brief introduction…

A tenor guitar is a 4-string guitar, generally with a suitably narrower neck than the usual acoustic or electric guitars we’re all used to, which have 6-strings of course.

Even though tenors have been around since the 1920’s, they’ve been pretty much a niche instrument limited mostly to jazz as an alternative to the traditional 4-string banjo, and only relatively recently have they started being used by a new wave of folk musicians, such as Seth Lakeman.

Seth Lakeman and his tenor guitar. He recently also started to use a Warren Ellis Tenor 2P.

But in the last few years, it’s true to say that tenor guitars have been enjoying a revival, and thanks to a wider range of musicians from different styles playing the instrument, such as Warren Ellis from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and now even indie rockers are discovering the joys of the tenor guitars – in no small amount thanks to the Eastwood Warren Ellis range of electric tenor guitars.

However, besides being until recently not that widely available, there’s still a sense that most guitarists simply  don’t know what tenor guitars are for – so why bother playing one! Well, if you were wondering if you should get a tenor guitar, then read on! And if buying one never crossed your mind before, then you definitely need to read this!

1) Tenor guitar vs. Ukulele?

Hey, we don’t want to diss the ukes! Ukes are great fun to play – but because they are almost toy-like, their use can be very limited. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – on the contrary, people love ukuleles because they sound and look the way they do, after all!

But even though they are very different instruments, there are similarities, too, and it’s no wonder many uke players also end up turning to tenor guitars when they fancy… something else.

Both have 4-strings, and you can play a tenor guitar using a standard ukulele tuning, too! So if you want to make the transition from ukulele to something that can sound bigger and which can more easily fit into a plugged-in band context, but without having to learn new chords, then a tenor guitar is the perfect instrument.

Tenor guitars, however, are much more versatile, and can be tuned in many different ways and still sound good. Also, if you choose an electric tenor guitar you can totally rock out through amps and effects in a band, just like a normal guitar… you can do a lot more with it, basically.

2) Tenor guitars are great for beginners

Like the ukelele, tenor guitars can be suitable for those learning to play a stringed instrument, because they can be easier to play than a 6-string acoustic! After all, like the humble ukulele, tenors also only have 4 strings, as we’ve just mentioned!

Whether you’re not comfortable with the close proximity of the six string son a regular guitar, or simply can’t come to grips with the more complex chord shapes of a 6-string guitar, the tenor might prove to be just what you need. We’ve heard of many people who simply couldn’t get around playing guitar well enough, and who are now happy tenor guitar players.

You know the old cliché that some people choose to play bass because they only have 4 strings and therefore are easier to learn? Well… with a tenor you CAN do the same, and rock out on an actual guitar that just happens to have less strings than usual.

Which leads us to…

3) Sometimes you really don’t need 6 strings…

Warren Ellis Signature tenor…only 4-strings, but sometimes that’s all you need!

As any Keith Richards fan will know, you don’t always need 6 strings… and, in fact, you may not even need 5! With the Warren Ellis Tenor guitars, for instance, you can easily consider them like a simpler electric guitar, which just happens to have 4 strings! That’s right – you can, for instance, tune a tenor guitar to EADG, the standard 6-string tuning minus the top two strings, or DGBE like standard guitar tuning minus the bottom 2 strings.

Which means – playing a tenor guitar doesn’t really require learning new chords… unless you want to!

4) Tenor guitars can inspire experienced 6-string players, too!

One of the great things about tenor guitars is that when you start playing one, and start experimenting with different tunings than you’d normally use on your standard guitar, it really feels special – like a whole new world opening in front of you, easily.

That may sound a bit too dramatic, but it’s true – whatever style you play, you may feel inspired by the different sounds you’ll get from the alternate tunings you use on a tenor guitar. Even though the tenor guitar was introduced in the 1920’s as a jazz instrument, it doesn’t mean it’s limited to this – especially when it comes to electric tenor guitars.

Anyone playing indie, psych or even metal, will find that the tenor guitar can be very inspiring – and make you play things you wouldn’t come up with on a standard 6-string guitar – because of the different tunings, and even because of the limitations imposed by less strings. Sometimes, less is indeed more…

5) Warren Ellis shows tenors can rock!

And if you needed any more convincing, look no further than Warren Ellis himself! The multi-talented artist who collaborated with Nick Cave in various musical projects (The Bad Seeds, Grinderman, various soundtracks) is without a doubt one of the main reasons a whole new kind of tenor players is emerging – thanks to the Eastwood Warren Ellis signature range.

Music is above all about being creative. It’s no coincidence such a versatile and productive musician such as Warren Ellis plays so many different instruments – but it’s not even about how well you play it. Grab something new, experiment and create your own sound and style. You can do it with a cheap kazoo, or with an expensive synth… but if you’re a guitarist, there’s no doubt that a tenor guitar is a pretty good start!

Tenor Guitar: Top 5 Reasons Why Every Guitarist Needs One from MyRareGuitars.com

The new footage shows the band – then called Ted Ed Fred – miming to a backing track, with Dale Crover playing drums live. This is a real piece of rock’n’roll story – filmed the day after the soon-to-be-renamed Nirvana recorded their first proper demo, with Jack Endino (‘Bleach’ producer).

Note that back then, Kurt Cobain was playing a Univox Hi-Flier guitar – the model which inspired the Custom Shop Eastwood Univox Hi-Flyer.

Early live footage of Nirvana found from MyRareGuitars.com

Before we start a fight, let’s be clear: we LOVE Mosrite here at My Rare Guitars, as Mike himself made clear in previous blogs. They sound amazing, look beautiful, and are some of the most iconic and unique guitars ever made. From a collector’s point of view, it’s a no-brainer: if you can find and afford an original, vintage Mosrite, you should just go for it!

But we all live in the real world, and from a musician point of view, things get a little bit more complicated… and vintage may not be convenient, nor necessarily mean better.

Over the years, there’s been many variations of the Mosrite models: from the Univox guitars in the 70’s, to 80’s and 90’s replicas branded Mosrite, besides other brands making their own versions of the classic design, to varying degrees of success (Hallmark guitars, Danelectro and others).

The thirst for Mosrite guitars has been there for many years – not just because of the Ventures surf-music connection, but also due to it’s connection to seminal rock bands such as The Stooges (Dave Alexander played a Mosrite bass), MC5 (Fred “Sonic” Smith) and, especially, the Ramones (Mosrite was *the* Johnny Ramone guitar).

Fred “Sonic” Smith and his Mosrite

The first problem regarding Mosrite is precisely that – most musicians inspired by those artists, who want to actually rock out onstage, wouldn’t (shouldn’t?) really choose a vintage Mosrite to play. After all, Mosrites are too rare, too expensive for actual rock gigs, now! So no wonder so many copies have proliferated.

And then, there’s the other, more pressing question: were the original Mosrites actually that good?

Some well-known Mosrite issues

Vintage Mosrite guitar

While there’s no question about the build quality of the original Mosrite guitars, and even less doubts about their amazing sound, there WERE some issues which have bothered many players over the years.

Basically, the Mosrite neck were quite idiosyncratic and a big barrier for many, many players who’d otherwise love the guitar: tiny frets, and very thin necks very narrow at the nut – which quite a few players could enjoy but not all – especially if playing lead.

The frets, though, were definitely a big issue. We’ve heard of people who bought original Mosrites and decided to actually re-fret them! Just imagine – you buy a rare, expensive vintage guitar, and feel the urge to actually change its specs – and, by making it not all-original anymore, devaluating the guitar. 

Yep, that’s how bad some people didn’t like those frets.

It’s important to note this because, lo and behold, not even The Ventures were too keen on them! Despite their association with Mosrite (after all, mk I model was called “The Ventures”) they actually preferred to use Fender guitars in the studio, and used Mosrites live just because of their contracts.

The Ventures… and their Fenders!

According to an old blog post we found:

“…remember, it was the Ventures that really started using stringbending….and try to bend a string on an orignal model…there is no fret to use…It’s all but filed off… They had specifically asked that the Mosrite necks have the same frets and feel as their favorite Jazzmaster, Stratocaster and PBass.”

Another interesting thing about Mosrites: they didn’t have a nut!

Mosrite headstock

Instead, Mosrite guitars have a  zero fret that acts as a nut, and behind it, they feature a metallic string slide device to keep the strings in place. Looks weird but, apparently, is a very clever design that helps with the intonation.

Vintage 1964 Mosrite bridge

Another interesting detail is that Mosrites used a roller bridge, not too dissimilar to a tune-o-matic, but the saddles were actually little wheels that would allow for smooth tuning and smooth tremolo action. However, some players say that  that some of them had issues where the bottom of the saddle didn’t conform to the bridge plate, and would cause buzzing – some players would then put a small and thin piece of felt under the saddle!

All told – everything does seem to show that, for such an expensive piece of rock history, the Mosrites (or some of them) did have playability issues most people shelling out thousands of bucks, today, would rather avoid…

Are Eastwood Sidejacks Better Than Mosrite?

Eastwood Sidejack DLX

Now… here’s the million dollar question: are the new Eastwood Sidejack guitars actually better than the legendary Mosrite guitars? As the recent Re-Inventing The Past: From Mosrite to Sidejack blog says, there’s little doubt that the Sidejacks are, today, more popular than the original Mosrites ever were.

Over the past few years, other brands have also jumped on the Mosrite bandwagon,such as Hallmark and Danelectro, who also makes popular Mosrite-style guitars – the Danelectro 64 and Danelectro 66 models, which also look great, though yet again featuring their own take on the famous Mosrite look.

For instance, both the Danelectro 64 and Danelectro 66 feature lipstick-style bridge humbuckers, which can put some players off, as it deviates quite a bit from the original Mosrite look (though it could, of course, appeal to other players who want that kind of tone). They have a less Mosrite-ish headstock, but, on the other hand, have zero fret and Mosrite trem, which some hardcore Mosrite fans might appreciate. 

Mosrite, Danelectro or Eastwood Sidejack?

It’s the same old story – to each their own. Even though Mosrites are legendary, and sound great, not everyone will actually enjoy playing one. Meanwhile, some players will prefer the Mosrite features of the Danos, while others will prefer the different Mosrite features of the Sidejacks, especially of the new Sidejack Pro DLX.

Eastwood Sidejack Pro DLX… find out more

Right now, there’s no question that the Eastwood Sidejacks are the leading models keeping the Mosrite flame alive: they’re not “reissues” or replicas of the Mosrite, but modern, updated tributes to the original.

They definitely feel more playable, and feature a more familar jazzmaster-style tremolo,  besides adjustable bridge. So, while not 100% like an original Mosrite, the Sidejacks are the true heirs, keeping the Mosrite cult alive – and doing it the RIGHT way: by being used by lots of bands who really love to rock out!

While not quite as well-known as the Jazzmaster (yet?), the Sidejack is equally suitable for surf music, punk or indie rock. For fans of the P-90 sound, simply an amazing choice.

Now… better than a Mosrite? Only YOU can tell, really, if you ever have the chance to compare both. Everyone will have their own opinions… but I know which one I’d rather take to my next gig!

Mosrite vs. Sidejack: Which One Is Better? from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Flying BV bass in black or natural

Flying V guitars have always been very niche, and not a huge amount of famous players have favoured them over the years, when compared to other, more usual models – for this reason, perhaps, there’s still an air of novelty when anyone is faced with a “V-shaped” guitar. And if the list of players who’ve used “V” guitars isn’t massive, it’s certainly impressive: Jimi Hendrix, Dave Davies (The Kinks), Albert Lee, Lennie Kravitz, Lonnie Mack, Michael Schenker, Noel Gallagher and John Entwistle included.

Some (most?) players won’t own or wish to own a V-guitar. It’s often seen as a bit “too much”. But… and this is a big “but”, those who do like a Flying-V shaped guitar don’t just “like” it, they really love it! Maybe this explains the recent success of the latest Eastwood Custom Shop projects, the Flying TV Tenor guitar, and the Flying BV bass. The former reached it’s 100% target in under a week and is on the way of at least doubling it, whereas the latter is on its way to repeat that same level of success.

Eastwood Custom Flying TV tenor guitar

Maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised: after all, a Flying-V bass or a Flying-V tenor guitar are not something you see everyday! Both projects are still crowdfunding at the time of writing, so if you want to guarantee yours, make sure to leave a deposit soon: crowdfunding ends May 11 for the Flying TV, and June 1 for the Flying BV.

Flying High: New Eastwood “Flying V” Bass & Tenor Guitar! from MyRareGuitars.com

On a recent interview on the Eastwood website, Jeff Senn Explained the inspiration behind his new design, which also has a certain hint of the legendary Supro Ozark to it.

“When I was building the original Continental for myself it was built with a vintage Supro pickup in the bridge position and a vintage Guyatone pickup in the neck position. When we decided to make The Continental available as a production instrument I chose pickups that evoked a similar tonality but were easily accessible. 

“It’s a very versatile combination as the guitar can twang, growl, sparkle and cover many genres of music from Punk to Western Swing, Blues and Jazz. I’m personally drawn to guitars that I can take on almost any gig without worrying if they will fit the style of music. Versatility is a good thing and this is what I had in mind for The Continental. Another aspect of the pickup choices is that they are easily replaceable with a plethora of choices should the player want a different sound or output. By mounting the mini-humbucker in a P-90 rout the mini can be traded out easily for a P-90 should the owner wish to, which would be another great version of the instrument.”

Read the full Jeff Senn interview here.

More about the Continental by Jeff Senn

The Continental by Jeff Senn

It’s worth mentioning that The Continental is NOT in production just yet (March 31 as we write this) because this is a new crowdfunding project by the Eastwood Custom Shop. Even though the guitar was designed by Jeff Senn, this model won’t be manufactured or sold by Jeff Senn Guitars, Senn’s own brand.

Those interested can simply pay a deposit ($200 for hardtail version, $250 for Bigsby version) via the Eastwood Continental Page, to guarantee theirs – if Eastwood reach their target! If they don’t reach at least 100% of their goal, the guitar won’t be made and those who left a deposit will be refunded.

Crowdfunding ends on April 27, 2017.

But, oh boy… it’s such a beautiful guitar, that we can only hope she’ll get made! It would be a shame otherwise, wouldn’t it?

New Jeff Senn & Eastwood Custom Shop Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

EASTWOOD Delta 6

SPECIFICATIONS:

Here are the photos:

Christmas Special: DELTA 6 in Seafoam Green, Mandola in Metallic Blue from MyRareGuitars.com

Before we start, I’d like to mention one thing: The pickguard that is on the guitar now started out as a test mule. I was going to use it and the four switches to test out different wiring schemes, and then swap it back to the original, using one simple rotary switch in place of the original pickup selector switch. When it comes to changes, wiring & rewiring, it’s easier for me to work with 4 separate switches than one rotary.

Once I put the pickguard on the guitar however, I really liked it! In fact, I decided right then and there that it would become part of the guitars future. Yes, In the end I could have accomplish the same task using a single rotary switch or by adding a couple of Push/Pull pots, but I really like the look of the (4) switches, laid out in a slight pattern curve that flows with the lines of the body, and the existing curve of the tone controls. Yes, I actually did that on purpose… LOL!

Anyway – let’s get to it!

The pickup selection here is quite simple, if not common, but still offers a good deal of tone variations. All of the switches are DPDTCO – On-Off-On, mini switches with short throw handles to help avoid inadvertent operation during play.

Starting at the forward switch:

1) Neck Pickup, Forward Coil Tap, On/Off, In or Out of Phase.
2) Neck Pickup, Full Humbucker, On/Off, In or Out of Phase.
3) Bridge Pickup, Forward Coil Tap, On/Off, In or Out of Phase.
4) Bridge Pickup, Full Humbucker, On/Off, In or Out of Phase.

Coil Taps can be wired a couple of different ways of course. I personally prefer to separate them from the adjacent coil 100%, but in this case I chose to use traditional wiring methods.

Eastwood Guitar Custom Mods – Hummingbird

The additional tone circuit was an afterthought that came into play later during trials. It was one of those, “let’s try it and see what happens” moments. I was a little apprehensive at first because the pickups in use here are not true PAF’s. They are a bit of a blend that falls somewhere between a PAF and a Filtertron, so they have a bit of an edge on them already. I didn’t have a lot of confidence here, so for testing, I temporarily mounted the additional tone controller where the output jack was, and left the jack hanging out there in the breeze. This way if I didn’t like it, no harm-no foul, just put it back. My reservations concerning the additional tone circuit were soon laid to rest however. I found it to be a useful tool, so I relocated the input jack.

The new tone pot is an active, expander style unit, engaged or disengaged using a push/pull pot, that is only active when engaged. For the most part, it acts like the Bright Switch that you might find on certain amplifiers. It can also be used in reverse to darken the tone as well however. It comes in quite handy really.

To complete the look, I changed the knobs out to the old style Silver Top Bells as well.

Eastwood Guitar Custom Mods – Hummingbird

Eastwood Guitar Custom Mods – Hummingbird

Eastwood Guitar Custom Mods – Hummingbird

Eastwood Guitar Custom Mods – Hummingbird

Post written by: Mike Egan

Eastwood Custom Guitar Mods: The Hummingbird from MyRareGuitars.com

The Happy Guitarist

We ship a lot of guitars every month, all over the world. Rarely if ever do we get to meet our customers face to face, but fortunately, some take the time to write. It makes everyone’s day when those letters/emails come back to Eastwood HQ. Here are a few from the past couple of months.

Eastwood Sidejack Baritone Guitar (Black Finish, Left-Handed)

“My leftie baritone Eastwood arrived today! It is gorgeous and the sound right out of the case is astonishing. I’ve been dreaming about this for quite awhile and all my expectations and more were delivered! You deliver dreams. Thank you so much. Keep us lefties in mind. Rarely anyone does these days and your consideration deserves a secret handshake!” – James Spina

Eastwood Classic 12-String Guitar (Walnut Finish)

“LOVE this guitar! It’s an extremely versatile 12 string, ranging from a total acoustic sound to the 60’s Beatle/Byrds/Tom Petty sound. I use a Janglebox effects box with it and it chimes! Also, the action’s great on it. It’s easy to barre chords, and do fast runs that are more difficult with other 12 strings. This guitar makes me sound like a better player than I really am! I own a Danelectro 12 string, but the Classic 12 has a much fuller sound being it’s a hollow body. I’m very happy!” – William Evans

“Guitar looks beautiful and plays like a dream. Excellent craftsmanship and bang for the buck. A great instrument!” – Robert Porembski

Eastwood Stormbird Bass Guitar (Metallic Blue Finish)

“What a very impressive example of this old gibson bass guitar design. This is my first experience with eastwood guitar. I am very happy with this bass and I am looking forward to owning it for years to come. Thank You very much for creating this trully killer bass guitar.” – Jon David Lippens

Eastwood EEB-1 Bass Guitar (Black Finish)

“The bass is fantastic and belies it price, excellent setup really helped show the bass in it’s best light. I just wanted to tell you how pleased I am with the bass and the whole experience. Much of my purchasing is completed on line (I live out of town by a beach) and so it is always a little worrying spending money with people I don’t know, but you made it easy and have really delivered with your product and its price.” – Paul West

Airline ’59 Custom 3P Guitar (G Love Signature Model)

“Thanks for the speedy delivery of my new Airline ’59 custom 3p G Love Signature. Wow what a cool guitar! The neck is perfect, very well intonation and low action. Really easy to play.” – Martin Hammare (Sweden)

Airline Tuxedo Guitar (Black Finish)

“I know I sound like a broken record but just wanted to say Tuxedo is beautiful and kicks you know what sound wise. Just spent the afternoon going from sweet clean sounding country blues to chest thumping boogie on overdriven sound. Construction is flawless. I salute your quality control which is sadly lacking in some of the top US made guitars.” – Michael Cefola.

Eastwood Mandocaster (Sunburst Finish, Left-Handed)

“Just wanted to let you know that I received the Mandocaster just now and am having a hard time getting back to work.I don’t want to stop playing it. Whoever does the setup on these instruments deserves a raise.Very low action,no buzz,intonation is spot on.Very nice quality instrument. It was just what I was looking for and I love the case it came in.Thanks for helping out us leftys.I will spread the word.” – Chris Thomas

Eastwood Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar (Vintage Cream Finish)

“Just received my new W.E. Tenor and am compelled to write.When I was a kid I wanted to play the tenor banjo, ya know, Eddy Peabody, Dixeyland and all that stuff so my mom got me a little wonder tenor banjo, lessons and the rest is unfortunate history until this week. When I got into my late teens and early 20s and playin with other guys, Oh how I wished I had asked to play the 6 string guitar. Now having 3 sons, 2 of which are musicians, there are many trips to the music store. Ah yes, literally hundreds of guitars hanging on the walls and nothing for me. NOTHING! Until now. This jewel from it’s wider neck to the length of the scale is the nearest thing to tenor guitar perfection that I have held in my 61 years. And yes, I chose the vintage cream. Just beautiful. Not even my Martin 018-Ts really play in tune all that well. It seemed like all the other electric tenor attempts were really converted 6 string formats. Guild, Gibson, Harmony, etc. Not anymore. You guys have nailed this and I love it. Not only is it beautiful, but it feels great, plays in tune and finally a real electric guitar for ME! Will definitely be sharing with my other Goofball tenor playing friends. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Sincerely,” – Stephen De

Airline ’59 Custom 3P Guitar (White Finish)

“I just unwrapped the ’59 Airline 3p last week. It’s like love with a new woman. I was knocked out by the comfort and playability. The design is not just radical. It’s real. In forty years I’ve never played an axe that has it all. Sound, versatility, smooth action, and best of all — It’s a total knockout! I have 5 guitars. No junk. I own a Guild Nightbird; a ’64 Telecaster; a Danelectro Baritone, and a classic Gibson Les Paul Double Cutaway. In the ’60’s I got a Gretsch Country Gentleman w/Bigsby. The Airline does everything I was doing by changing out gear onstage. The unlimited sound settings of separate tone/volume knobs for each of the three pickups makes the sonics unmatched. I thought the Vintage voice single coil pickups might be limiting, but they create a foundation of graphics that unwraps into a full array of effects. I’ve heard a nasty lipturned overdrive snarl, a smooth womanly warmth, and a fully honed razor edge knife cut lead. This guitar whips the air unleashing slashes of sound when needed, or fills the background completely by expansive rhythm tones. The Bigsby gives the freedom of surf sounds, or bluesy bends with a wrist flick. Maybe it exists, but in forty years of professional playing, I’ve never seen a more powerful, responsive, eye-grabbing instrument. I can’t thank you enough. This will be my last guitar.” – Greyson Dyne

Happy Customers Check in with Eastwood HQ from MyRareGuitars.com

Burger’s Guitars (St. Cloud, MN)

Anyhow, I sent him the Breadwinner and told him I wanted a totally mind blowing design and to keep these 3 things in mind:

• Lava lamps
• Acid trips
• Beatles psychedelic

BUT to maintain the Eastwood badges on the headstock. When he got my guitar he was blown away with the design and playability. He wants one! ;o) Hope he pulls the trigger. I have officially nicknamed it “Hurdy Gurdy”. (Donovan). Band I play with does 60s thru 90s and I am the 60s psychedelic guru of the unit.

Custom Painted Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar

Custom Painted Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar

Custom Painted Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar

Custom Painted Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar

Wanted to share it with you. I hope you don’t hate me for doing this, but I wanted to make it “mine”. Man .. does it turn heads and get the comments …. Naturally I tell them it’s an Eastwood first and foremost! Gotta love it!

Wow, now there are at least 3 decorated Eastwood Breadwinners guitars out there. Here are the other two courtesy of Bill Nelson:

Bill Nelson’s Custom Painted Eastwood Breadwinner Guitars

by Rich Bittner

Customer Customizes Eastwood Breadwinner! from MyRareGuitars.com

Slow Static's Matt Plummer with his Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar at Dallas Cowboys Stadium

Michael,

I just wanted to email Eastwood and say that buying an Eastwood Breadwinner was the best decision I have ever made. I have muscular dystrophy and am unable to stand or walk. I use an electric wheelchair for mobility and have been playing guitar for 8 years. One year ago, give or take, I came across the Breadwinner and thought to myself that it would be a perfect guitar for me because of the body style. Having to sit down and play made most guitars uncomfortable for me. I had the toughest time finding something that had that perfect fit. When I finally gave in and bought the guitar my mind was blown at how easily I was able to play it while sitting.

It opened up so many new things for me musically and physically. I now play quite often in a band of my own, Slow Static. This guitar, its shape, and lightness made playing guitar easier for me which, in turn, allowed me to expand my own musical ability. I play a style instrumental, cinematic, ambient music with my band. We have had the opportunity to play with many national acts such as Jeff the Brotherhood, Touche’ Amore, and many others. Also, we had the opportunity to play a show at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium this past spring which was an amazing experience for me. So if it hadn’t happened already Eastwood officially had someone play one of their guitars in that huge stadium! Haha.

Slow Static's Matt Plummer with his Eastwood Breadwinner Guitar at Dallas Cowboys Stadium

I just wanted to let you know that this guitar has opened up so much for me personally. We are recording our first album and I’m excited for what the future holds. Rest assured that I will always be playing music on my breadwinner. I don’t think any other guitar would do. I’m definitely saving up for another Breadwinner in the near future! Thank you and to the rest of the company. It might sound a little cheesy but that guitar has officially changed my life.

Thanks!

Matt Plummer

The Ridiculously Comfortable Eastwood Breadwinner from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI Guitar (Vintage Cream)

All orders in the month of August will receive a free Green Room gigbag (value $29).

Three things make the Bass VI better than anything else on the market,

1. The tremolo makes for a much more versatile instrument
2. The P-90 pickups allow for a much brighter tone, most competitors use humbuckers and have a muddy tone
3. The price. This is a solid gig-worthy workhorse of an instrument at an unbeatable price.

Here are a couple of demos showing the versatility of the Bass VI:

New Sidejack Bass VI from Eastwood Guitars! from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Classic 12 Guitar in White Finish with Gold Hardware (12-String Guitar)

BUY NOW before April 15th, $499:

The Classic 12 is also available in Walnut and Fireburst. Our good friend Wendell Ferguson takes the the Classic 12 for a test drive, take a look at this video:

Eastwood Classic 12 Guitar Now Available in White Finish With Gold Hardware from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

This model features a set maple neck with a flamed maple top, finished in a stunning Greenburst color and gold hardware. All DLX models come with the Bigsby B-70 tremolo. Each of the first 20 guitars in this limited edition run will include the deluxe 5-latch archtop hardshell Eastwood logo case.

Our Price: $799. FREE Shipping in North America. $129 Elsewhere.

More pictures of the Eastwood Classic 6 LTD in Greenburst finish:

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Eastwood Classic 6 LTD Electric Guitar (Greenburst)

Pre-Order your Eastwood Limited Edition Classic 6 DLX from MyRareGuitars.com

Airline '59 2P Electric Guitar (LEFT-HAND) from Eastwood Guitars

The ’59 2P upgrades include: dual VVSC pickups, striped pickgaurd, chrome tone switchplate, rubber body binding and includes the DLX Airline hardshell case. Retail price $1299.

Our Price: $999.00 US

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The Airline Folkstar is a tone cahmbered mahogany body with a resonator cone adn piezo pickup. It also has a mini humbucker on the neck poistion and a blend knob to blend between the two pickups.

Airline Folkstar Resophonic Guitar (Red, Left-Handed)

Airline Folkstar Resophonic Guitar (Black, Left-Handed)

Shipping is $49 North America, $149 to Europe.

Two New Left-Hand Models: Folkstar and ’59 2P (February 2012) from MyRareGuitars.com

Check out this new demo from our friend Mason Stoops. Mason does some great research and shares some interesting historical info about the origins of the Coronado model. Great job!

The Airline ’59 Coronado is our tribute to the Supro Coronado model used by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The originals were made of Res-O-Glas, but we have upgraded the design to tone-chambered mahogany bodies. Upgrades to the standard Coronnado model on this ’59 include rubber body binding, zero fret, Tone Pros bridge and Deluxe Airline hardshell case.

The ’59 Coronado include the DLX Airline hardshell case. Only $1079.

SPECIAL OFFER: We will also include a white Airline leather strap ($45) and a white Airline Curly Cord ($39) and FREE SHIPPING for all orders until Dec 15 ONLY. ($99 shipping outside North America)

New Airline Coronado ’59 Demo by Mason Stoops from MyRareGuitars.com

Each order includes your choice of a FREE Valco effects pedal ($69+ Value)

Eastwood Classic 6 Guitar

Only $479

FREE SHIPPING, FREE VALCO EFFECTS PEDAL

(VAT and shipping extra outside North America)

FREE Pedal Options:

Under Pressure – Compressor

Vaughnabe – Vintage Overdrive

The Stooge – Classic Super Fuzz

Come Again? – Delay

Black Hole – Vintage Phase

Good Vibrations – Classic Tremolo

Eastwood Classic 6 BUNDLE – FREE Valco Pedal – FREE Shipping from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Mandocaster Electric Mandolin (Antique Sunburst)

BACKGROUND:
Traditionally, the mandolin is described as a short-neck lute with eight strings, named after the Italian ‘mandolina.’ It has the same fretboard and tuning as a violin, and originated in its current form around the 16th Century and likely developed to fill out the scale of the lute family. The instrument became popular in North America into the 18th Century and particularly in parlors where simple instruments were used to entertain. Into the 19th Century mandolin ensembles toured the Vaudeville circuit and the mini-lute soon captivated the average person as a viable instrument of choice to play at home and with friends (its small size was great for travel); this occurred well before the popularity of the steel-stringed guitar as thousands of mandolins were sold through Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs.

Lyon & Healy were one of the larger mandolin manufacturers in the early stages, but Gibson soon took up the challenge to become the primary manufacturer. And it was in 1905 that the Gibson A-4 was developed, breaking all mandolin traditions as the design moved from the typical bowl-back shape to mimicking violin construction with a carved top and back. This helped to set the stage for a preferred mandolin shape in American folk and popular music. Today the mandolin may be best accepted or connected to folk and country bluegrass music, but it also has been used in rock music of various genres, including works of Led Zeppelin, Tea Party, Alan Parson Project, The Byrds, Hall and Oats, REM, Jethro Tull, Yes, and many others.

The flat-back style of mandolin took a unique turn in 1956 when Fender developed a 4-string electric version, with a body shaped similar to a Stratocaster – and its name to become the Mandocaster. Highly collectable, mostly because of its unique shape, the Mandocaster was limited in usability due to the four strings and a less robust sound of typical mandolins. Nonetheless, it did find an audience due to its appearance and electric capabilities before being discontinued in 1976.

As with other rare and vintage instruments, Eastwood Guitars swooped into production to create its own unique version of the Mandocaster, which construction and appearance rivals the old Fender issues. Available in a high-quality finish of antique sunburst or black (I ordered an antique sunburst model since it so reminded me of a vintage instrument), the Eastwood Mandocaster boasts a solid alder body with a maple bolt-on neck and rosewood fingerboard. In fact, when describing this instrument it can be described accurately as a solid-body guitar, as though a James Bond villain miniaturized a Telecaster and gave it 8-strings. Surprisingly heavy in feel, you can tell you have something in your hands that will last for years without breakage or environmental damage. It is built to stand up to regular use.

Eastwood Mandocaster Electric Mandolin (Black)

HARDWARE:
The bridge is a fully adjustable Tele-Style bride, which means a fully intonatable saddle just like its big brother. The bridge plate is cast and plated, and each set of strings has its own saddle with height adjustment screws. When first received, my Mandocaster had some buzzing on the third string, but with the included hex key (Allen wrench) included, it took seconds to fine-tune. The machine head hardware is quality Gotoh nickel and chrome, and the keys feel exceptionally smooth and solid in use.

NECK:
The maple neck with truss rod is very solid and bolts onto the body with four contact points. The neck is more of a U shape rather than a C shape, which may be a concern for a full-sized guitar, but I did not find it cumbersome or ‘thick’ in the least. Rather, having a rounder or chunkier neck for its size is a requirement since the neck of a mandolin is so narrow and small to begin with and you need enough bulk to make it strong and lasting. As well, with a solid-body Tele there certainly needs to be some harmony in the design and I could not imagine a thinner neck; even a person with small hands should not be hindered by the neck’s shape and I put myself in that category.

The frets are smooth on all edges and they may seem rather small if you’re use to today’s jumbo fret electric guitars. But I do not think one would want them any larger – the fret spacings are small, as they are with any mandolin, and a chief complaint of people with large fingers is the difficulty playing a mandolin effectively. Larger frets would reduce fret space and make the task of playing more challenging and particularly in the upper register. Moreover, the action is low and playing is smooth, and so the neck and fret size certainly do work together.

ELECTRONICS:
The vintage Fender Mandocasters were limited by a single pickup, whereas the Eastwood model has two single-coil pickups, together with a 3-way switch and a tone control (the switch and tone pots are smooth, solid and have little play), thus offering far more possibilities in the eventual sound. The pickups do not offer a lot of output, but they are super quiet even when you turn your amp up to high levels. And if desired, because they are standard-sized pickups, you can replace them with a different type. Nonetheless, the tone of a mandolin seems to cut through just about any mix and having extremely loud/sensitive pickup capability is not as much an issue as some would think. After all, it is unlikely a mandolin will be paired up with Death Metal music, and just about any other genre that incorporates a mandolin tends to be more subdued, even within certain rock genres. Consequently, I see these pickups as being sufficient for the job. As well, with such passive pickups, the true tone of this instrument shines through, whereas going a different route (with something more ‘active’) may reduce the mandolin sound one is trying to achieve.

TONE:
I own a quality pumpkin-back mandolin, and what can be said about these acoustic counterparts is that there is a certain resonating and vibrating quality that cannot be achieved with a solid body electric. Well, certainly, and that should be obvious, as obvious as being able to achieve sounds with a solid-body electric that cannot be achieved with an acoustic model (with or without a pickup). These are different animals and one would not compare an electric solid-body violin with a regular violin either.

Having said that, the Mandocaster has a definite mandolin tone which a person may or may not like, depending how much of a die-hard ‘acoustic’ mandolin player you may be. I’m a guitarist and like using a mandolin the odd time for enjoyment purposes or to include a mandolin within my compositions, but I’m certainly not a mandolin connoisseur. Yet I would state that the Mandocaster is the genuine article and produces its own array of unique tones that are unmistakably ‘mandolin.’ And those unique tones are the result of the body construction and the pickups.

The neck pickup is my favourite and has the most organic timbre the two. The bridge pickup offers a thinner sound, as is the case with any electric guitar, but it does cut through the mix better. Thus, for more robust music accompaniment, the bridge may be best, whereas the neck selection would be superior for unaccompanied or less voluminous music. And then you have the middle selector position, which has a slightly out of phase characteristic that definitely offers a mix of both worlds. A piezo pickup may be an interesting modification and this may result in even a better or authentic ‘acoustic’ sound, but the neck position does provide a full-bodied richness that has me returning to it repeatedly.

DIVERSIBILITY:
As important as the qualities of each pickup and the sounds that you can achieve, the Eastwood Mandocaster reacts like a regular guitar, in that it has good response with effects pedals. High levels of drive and distortion may not be apropos, but certainly a little edge/distortion with flange, tremolo, chorus or other ingredients bring out unique colors that makes people think twice about the mandolin and how well it can fit into modern music. And although too much drive or distortion may make the tone a bit abrasive, easing off on the volume knob cleans things up nicely.

Finally, I encourage readers to check out a video demonstrating the Eastwood Mandocaster, featuring Wendell Ferguson, an award-winning Canadian guitarist on YouTube:

PLUSES:
With two pickups, a three-way switch and a tone knob, there are many sound possibilities, besides any effect (tremolo, chorus, flange, etc.) you care to throw at it in order to produce your own unique mando tone. The weight and quality of construction is very good and you feel like you’re playing an electric guitar. Since the Mandocaster has standard sized pickups, you can replace them with any other single-coil model if desired. And… it comes in a lefty version.

MINUSES:
The Mandocaster may not sound as organic as a typical acoustic mandolin, but then again – this was not meant to replicate an acoustic model – it is what it is. The three-way switch may get in the way of some larger hands and particularly players with long and aggressive picking/strumming strokes.

Review by Brian D. Johnston

Eastwood Mandocaster Review from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood P-90 Special Guitar (TV Yellow)

Only $399. Order one this month, FREE SHIPPING to anywhere in North America, $75 to Europe.

New Video Demos From Texas from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Guitars and Joey Leone wanted to improve the already sucessful Joey Leone Model, they wanted it to be more responsive and resonant. We decided to think outside the (usual guitar) box and use Alder wood as the centerblock instead of rock maple. This lightened the guitar and made the resonance of the strings more consistant throughout the guitar. We also used a two piece pancake laminate process to make the alder centerblock as stable as maple but with half the weight. We even used paduka wood for the tailpiece insert to add a bit of weight (ballast) to the trapeze tailpiece. This combined with the already popular longer scale length (25 1/2″) adds a livelieness to the scale behind the bridge. All Leone models have the 2mm additional wideness of the neck which allows your fingers to stretch out a bit and not be cramped together, aiding in finger fatigue and ease of fretting. All you need to do is play this guitar acoustically to actually feel the difference. We made the SuperFast with two (coil tapped) pickups instead of three to also lighten the guitar and make the top more responsive. But the best part, in an effort to get this guitar in your hands faster, Eastwood has lowered the price on the Joey Leone SuperFast, because we believe that our customers will, see, hear, and feel the difference.

Eastwood Joey Leone Superfast Electric Guitar (Black)

“It’s super light, super responsive, super versatile, super affordable, and its SuperFast.”

Includes hardshell case.

Trapeze Tail
PAYPAL $999

BiGSBY Tail
PAYPAL $1249

Check out this jam with Joey featuring Rick Redington on a Mandocaster:

Joey Leone Superfast:

Eastwood Joey Leone Superfast Electric Guitar (Black)

Joey Leone Superfast Guitar from Eastwood Guitars from MyRareGuitars.com

First Look: Eastwood Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar with Cherry Finish

First Look: Eastwood Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar with Cherry Finish

Model	Buy Now!
Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar (Cherry) It is only available in a limited run of 24 pieces this production, more coming in September. If you want one NOW order here only $499 (first come first served)

Notes:

1. If you want a hardshell case, send us an email after you complete your order and we can bill you for the case when we are ready to ship.
2. If you already have a Vintage Cream one on order and would like to switch to Cherry, email question@myrareguitars.com

Warren Ellis with his signature Eastwood Tenor Guitar (Cherry Finish)

Warren Ellis with his signature Eastwood Tenor Guitar (Cherry Finish)

Even Warren's Dad thinks it's cool!!!

Limited Edition Warren Ellis Signature Tenor – CHERRY from MyRareGuitars.com

Yes, I admit, I am a fan of Heart – and have many high school memories of their songs, including their mega-hit, ‘Barracuda’. But I never expected to see the opening riff cranked out by Heart frontman Craig Bartock on an Airline ’59 Custom Town & Country guitar:

But very cool. Indeed.

Airline '59 Custom Town & Country Electric Guitar

Airline Sighting On Dancing With The Stars? from MyRareGuitars.com

1) Vince Lee playing the FOLKSTAR unplugged to you can get an idea of the natural tone. Nice!

2) Vince Lee fingerpicking on the AIRLINE FOLKSTAR part #1

3) Vince Lee fingerpicking on the AIRLINE FOLKSTAR part #2

Thanks Vince!

Check out Vince Lee here: http://www.myspace.com/vinceleemusic

Vince Lee Test Drives the New Airline Folkstar Resonator from MyRareGuitars.com

Last year Eastwood Guitars got together with Warren Ellis of Grinderman to design a new custom TENOR electric guitar which starts shipping next month. The Warren Ellis Signature Tenor is on sale now and selling fast so get your order in soon, only $499!

Eastwood Warren Ellis Signature Electric Tenor Guitar

Model	Buy Now!
Eastwood: Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar

Be sure to check the Grinderman tour schedule as many dates have already SOLD OUT and for those Nick Cave fans, some classic lyrics are in store, such as “My baby calls me the Loch Ness Monster. Two great big humps and then I’m gone”.

Warren Ellis Signature Tenor Guitar from Eastwood Guitars from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Sidejack DLX Electric Guitar (Sunburst, Left-Handed)

BUY NOW:  $449

Left-Handed Eastwood Sidejack DLX Back in Stock!!! from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Doral Electric Jazz Guitar

The Eastwood Doral is a full size archtop guitar, featuring a laminated spruce top with curly maple sides and back as well as a three piece rock maple neck. Where the Doral separates itself from other archtops is the versatility of the coil tapped humbucking pickups that afford you the opportunity to switch between vintage voiced humbuckers and P90 voiced singled coil pickups. Joey Leone, Doral design team leader said, “As a professional player I’ve always dreamed of having two L5’s, the mid sixties humbucking model Wes Montgomery played, and the 50’s era L5 CES Scotty Moore played with Elvis. This guitar delivers both sounds.”

Eastwood Doral Electric Jazz Guitar

One other feature of the Eastwood Doral electric jazz guitar is the pickup spacing, the neck pickup is spaced slightly away from the neck an idea that was used on several Gibson one pickup models in the 50’s and 60’s, and on the sleeper of a guitar, the Ibanez Joe Pass Model from the 70’s. This gives the front pickup a bit more of a low mid voicing, a real plus on a spruce topped guitar which can be a bit muddy and have trouble cutting through a larger ensemble. The Doral replicates the natural acoustic sound of the guitar more accurately. The bridge pickup is moved slightly away from the bridge as well, this gives you a more useable sound as opposed to the “treble pickup” with no treble sound found on L5’s. Lastly, this gives you a slightly different sound when both pickups are employed, very similar to the sound many players love on the short scale Byrdland.

“Since the overwhelming success of the Joey Leone Signature models last year, we have been looking for other ways to introduce high-end models at mid-range prices,” said Mike Robinson, President and founder of Eastwood Guitars, “Many guitarists are accustomed to paying $3,000+ for a “quality” high-end guitar. We’ve found a way to deliver that guitar, at half the price and twice the features.”

For a great review of the Doral, check out Guitar International.

The New Eastwood Doral Electric Jazz Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

Product: Eastwood Guitars Sidejack
Price Paid: $479
Submitted 04/28/2006 at 02:26pm by John W.

Features : 10
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.

Sound : 10
You can get any sound out of this guitar with good amps, etc. It needs no mods or “hot rodding”. The pups are clear!

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
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.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Durable period.

Customer Support : 10
Better than perfect. Just like my wife! (she will read this).

Overall Rating : 10

Guitar Review: Eastwood Sidejack DLX Guitar

Bonus clip: The Baseball Project on the David Letterman show (June 19, 2008, Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck and Linda Pitmon):

Guitar Review: Eastwood Sidejack DLX Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

Product: Eastwood Guitars Classic 6
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 04/05/2008 at 05:38am by grum

Features : 9
Eastwood Classic-6 double cut-away (similar to gretsch country classic style).

• Walnut finish. maple body & neck.
• Chinese made two filtertron style humbucker pickups.
• 3-way toggle switch, 2x volume 1x tone knob. tune-o-matic bridge.
• case, cable & tools included.
• finish on the guitar is great, really deep strong lacquer & nice binding.
• Had one of these before that i modified with new bridge & bigsby but was stolen on me (filching gits!) that had a lovely abilone motif in the headstock that wasn’t present on my new one. but the bridge on this one is far superior to the old free-floating bridge so i can’t really complain!

Sound : 10
Beautiful range of tones available on this guitar, bridge pick up very bright & with the hollow body perfect for that gretschy twang. neck pick up lovely & warm round tone. great for jazzy/ country warmth. this guitar is great for my style, i play with various artists going from bluesy/gospel to country, rockabilly, rock n roll, and quirky rebo-esque stuff. its very playable & versatile. I use a fender twin amp and the valves really help getting tones to ring pure. for the price i can’t fault it.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Guitar was set up really well, it’s shipped with .10 gauge strings which i replaced with my usual heavier gauge. minimal adjustment needed to raise action slightly to accomodate heavier gauge, absolutely no problems with intonation & pick up distances.
binding & finish very good quality, lovely grain in the top & back body.
1 volume knob was slightly loose but allen key was supplied so easily remedied.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Played my last one live & in studio constantly. very strong construction and never had a problem, even travelling by air with temperature changes from being in aeroplane holds & ham-fisted baggage handlers! so i’m not expecting any trouble with this one.
again for the price i can’t fault this guitar.

Customer Support : 10
played another eastwood guitar in a studio and was impressed with the quality so I emailed eastwood directly and asked Mike loads of questions. he was, and still is very helpful and i never have to wait too long for replys and assistance from him. Guitar is warrantied under usual conditions. company support is great, got loads of stickers & a dvd with this guitar too.

Overall Rating : 10
been playing about 16 years, used to use a 62 kay & various other old things which were lovely but very unreliable on the road. the eastwood classic 6 is a great replacement. I’ve had one stolen from me & I had no hesitation in ordering another one. It looks cool as **** & sounds great, whats to fault?!, nuthin! again, for this price you can’t go wrong. ——

NOTE: (Jan 2008) All Classic models now ship with an upgraded FIXED tun-o-matic bridge.

Guitar Review: Eastwood Classic 6 Guitar

Bonus clip: Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys and his Classic 12:

Guitar Review: Eastwood Classic 6 Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

The Eastwood Messenger Guitar

The original Messenger guitar was developed 40 years ago in California by a small company named Musicraft and is now best known as the guitar of choice by Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) in the early 1970’s.

The new EASTWOOD model captures the seductive look of the original but simplifies the design with a Set Maple Neck mounted to a hollow body with Maple center block, Mahogany back, sides and a spruce top. The guitar features the distinctive cat’s eye f-holes giving it an unmistakable look.

The original Messenger guitars are now selling on the Vintage market in the $5-$10,000 range. The new EASTWOOD model starts at only $849. Limited Edition production run will be available in Greenburst or Cherry only, they start shipping in early April 2008.

Introducing the Eastwood Messenger Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

Headstock: Joey Leone RBC Guitar from Eastwood Guitars

Eastwood CEO Mike Robinson and I have been working together for years – improvements on existing designs, new ideas and alike. Mike has always encouraged me to think outside the box, and in turn I have given him many ideas and concepts, some discussed and put aside, but this Signature Moded was a concept we both loved. This guitar was to be a players guitar – one that offered an opportunity for guitar players to have a wide palette of sounds to draw from – yet did not look like a crowded subway car.

OK Joey, “what does this guitar do that is so special?” Here’s where the fun begins…. First I thought about some of my favorite guitar players and the guitars they played. I tend to think of guitars and players in groups, organized by styles and tones. Hmmm? Matt Guitar Murphy played an ES 345, T-Bone Walker played an ES-5 Switchmaster, Mark Knopfler a Strat, Roy Buchanan a Tele, double hmmm? Pickups?A triple hmmmm?

Pickups: Joey Leone RBC Guitar from Eastwood Guitars

I knew I wanted my first design to be a versatile guitar that would be a clean, and clear voiced guitar that could be played at a low volume and still be strong sounding, but also one that would sing and sustain at higher volumes. I wanted the guitar to cut through with a high mid voice that would be there even when mixed at lower volumes. Here’s how I did it!

First I decided to go with a semi-hollow archtop design like a 335, but use P90 pickups. I knew that there were very few if any semi-hollows with P90 pickups. Next I wanted to have the scale length be longer then the standard Gibson, so I created a Fender scale (25 ½ inch) on a Gibson style frame. This would afford the player the opportunity to use heavier gauge strings without the hand fatigue that we incessant pickers tend to experience. Also this would make bending strings more pleasurable.

Flamed Finish: Joey Leone RBC Guitar from Eastwood Guitars

I also asked the builders to make the neck a bit wider (2 mm’s) so the strings would not feel crowded. This is the feel you get when you play an L5 or any high end archtop, again wanting to give the player a really fine guitar for his or her money. I also asked them to make me a one piece mahogany neck; this design in my opinion gives the guitar a more consistent transfer of vibrations throughout the guitar. I have always felt that multi-laminated maple necks were strong and stiff to a fault as the glue joints make the neck dead. I also never liked the idea of guitar builders gluing together piece of wood that did not have consistent grain and or density. Yes, more expensive, but Mike said, “Let’s design the guitar FIRST, and worry about cost SECOND.”

I insisted that this guitar have a book matched flamed maple top and back of similar grain and density for the same reasons mentioned above. I also added flamed maple sides as well for aesthetics mostly. And speaking of aesthetics I also wanted real mother of pearl instead of “pearloid” or some other faux material. Tell me that never drove you crazy, over $3,000 for a guitar and when you friends say, “is that real mother of pearl?” you have to say… ahhh.. kinda…..no!!!

Switches: Joey Leone RBC Guitar from Eastwood Guitars

Now onto the electronics, an aspect of which I am most proud. I went to pickup visionary Kent Armstrong (son of Dan) and told him I wanted P90 pickups that would also be able to get a Strat sound as well as the standard P90 voicing. Through many, many hours of work in Kent’s workshop we came up with a hot P90 pickup with a coil tap that would yield the signature Strat sound. This is not one of those stacked humbuckers that I have always thought to be okay at best, but not having a single coil sound at all. These pickups sound great and they are potted with wax to avoid almost all microphonics. Then, three pickups like T-Bone’s ES-5 with the middle pickup reverse wound to get the humbucking sound when combined with any of the other pickups, this we did – but again through many hours of skull sessions – we made the middle pickup not only a coil tapped single coil but used AlNiCO 5 magnets like on the old 55 Les Paul Custom – but really closer to the McCarty Pickups found on the old L7 “pickups in the pickguard” design. These can be adjusted by simply pushing the pole piece up through the bottom of the pickup with a small screwdriver. This pickup when coil tapped sounds very similar to a Jazzmaster pickup but with a bit more balls. All these custom creations add expense? You bet it does, but when you play this guitar and start to explore the tonal palette, it will blow you away….

What we end up with is a guitar with 27 useable sounds – no throw away “excuse” sounds – with 9 humbucking combinations. All of this is easily accomplished by using the three full size toggles located between the master volume and master tome pots.

You will see some pictures here is this article of the first two prototypes. Production models will be available in April 2007. I’ve asked Mike to do two colors – Natural (pictured here to the left) and an Antique Sunburst (the Cherryburst will not be in production until later next year).

Natural Finish: Joey Leone RBC Guitar from Eastwood Guitars

Now onto some of the other design ideas that went into the RBC model. Medium jumbo frets on a slightly curved fretboard, this will make this guitar an axe blues players as well as shred guys who are used to flat fingerboards feel at home. Add some Grover Imperial Tuners, a tunematic bridge, and trapeze tailpiece to the design of the Joey Leone Signature RBC Model, and you have a guitar designed by a player for players. No B.S.

One more thing my friends, my buddy Mike Robinson at Eastwood Guitars has been behind this guitar from the beginning and will deliver this guitar to you with his usual rock hard, unsurpassed customer service that has helped make Eastwood the up and coming guitar company out there today. This guitar will be of the highest quality and be affordable. No B.S. there either!

Joey Leone Signature RBC Eastwood Guitar (Rock, Blues & Country) from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Johnny Ramone Hi-Flyer Guitar

The Eastwood Hi-Flyer Johnny Ramone version is a beautiful reproduction of the Univox Hi-Flyer from the early 1970’s, but with a stop tail. The carved Basswood body is mounted to a set maple neck for an incredibly solid design that can take as much abuse as you can throw at it. Two powerful P90 pickups kick out an incredible bite for the buck. Available in Black, White and White left-hand.

Eastwood Hi-Flyer Johnny Ramone Guitar from MyRareGuitars.com

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Eastwood Ultra GP Electric Guitar

Ovation Ultra GP Tribute Guitar Is Here! from MyRareGuitars.com