OffsetGuitars.com

MrFingers wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 23, 2021 12:00 am

MKR wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 22, 2021 12:04 pm

yesterday i snapped up a used Epiphjone '61 SG reissue (with maestro vibrola trem).

The only downside with those is the really obvious veneer on the top and backside, which really makes the contours/carve overpronounced.

Well my stint with the SG didn't last very long. I got it second hand from Long Mcquade (big canadian corporate store), but the vibrola trem was giving me fits. constant creaking and the worst of it was the arm would keep coming loose and flopping. I returned it yesterday and picked up the white crestwood instead. All i can say about that guitar is wow. probably my favorite solid body guitar which isn't a fender.

Doesn't need to be an Epiphone to suffer from those flaws, my '68 SG had the exact same issues (the creaking was even audible through the amp via the microphonic bridge pickup).

How did I miss this post, that royal tan Riviera looks gorgeous and 43 mm nut, that's great news!

I had an Epi Casino 1961 50th Anniversary for several years. An *excellent* guitar and huge value imo.

Epiphone are upping their game under new ownership, but I still prefer Eastman over Epiphone. I have an Eastman T386 (€950 w/hard case) and a did a comparison to a Epiphone B.B. King Lucille (€965, gig bag) and the Eastman blew it away. Both Chinese semi-hollow body guitars but in every measurable way the Eastman was better.

The Eastman has Gotoh hardware, real bone nut, Kent Armstrong AlNiCo pickups and nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

The Epiphone... did not.

The Eastman played and sounded just like a real Gibson 335.

The Epiphone... did not.

So, I like the direction Epiphone is going in, but they got a long way to go IMHO.

cincinnatiharry wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 9:13 am

Epiphone are upping their game under new ownership, but I still prefer Eastman over Epiphone. I have an Eastman T386 (€950 w/hard case) and a did a comparison to a Epiphone B.B. King Lucille (€965, gig bag) and the Eastman blew it away. Both Chinese semi-hollow body guitars but in every measurable way the Eastman was better.

The Eastman has Gotoh hardware, real bone nut, Kent Armstrong AlNiCo pickups and nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

The Epiphone... did not.

The Eastman played and sounded just like a real Gibson 335.

The Epiphone... did not.

So, I like the direction Epiphone is going in, but they got a long way to go IMHO.

Seconded. My T64v is an amazing guitar.


Eastman T64/v, July 12, 2019 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

fendertweed wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:23 am

I had an Epi Casino 1961 50th Anniversary for several years. An *excellent* guitar and huge value imo.

Used to have a MIK Casino but sold it. Didn't like the neck ( too narrow ) and pick ups were meh. What I liked was the fact it was very responsive to dynamics in playing and very light.

Maggieo wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:24 pm

Eastman T64/v, July 12, 2019 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

That's a stunning guitar.

Though, to be fair to Epiphone, one of those costs about four Epiphone Casinos (at least in Europe).

It's about 2.5 here. Mine was less, as it's used (barely).

Maggieo wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:35 am

It's about 2.5 here. Mine was less, as it's used (barely).

Great score that.

I live in Ireland. I bought my Eastman T386 new for €950 with shipping and hard case on Reverb.com. Seller was a proper retail store in the Netherlands.

Like I wrote above, the Epiphone Lucille I compared it to cost €15 MORE and only came with a gig bag.

Sure, you can get a new Casino for €500 to €700 but, for me the extra money spent on the Eastman is a way better deal.

Speaking of Epiphone… I bought one of these to refinish and upgrade ala a Satellite Coronet.






My Eastman T386



If you’re interested in a used Eastman, a friend of mine got a used T386 for €700 on Reverb

Sauerkraut wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 2:10 am

Maggieo wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:24 pm

Eastman T64/v, July 12, 2019 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

That's a stunning guitar.

Though, to be fair to Epiphone, one of those costs about four Epiphone Casinos (at least in Europe).

cincinnatiharry wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:14 pm

I live in Ireland. I bought my Eastman T386 new for €950 with shipping and hard case on Reverb.com. Seller was a proper retail store in the Netherlands.

Like I wrote above, the Epiphone Lucille I compared it to cost €15 MORE and only came with a gig bag.

I have no doubt the T386 is great value for money, but it's the Eastman equivalent of the ES-335, not the Casino. If I wanted an ES-335, that Eastman would be on top of my list of guitars to check out. However, their Casino equivalent is the T64, and it costs about €2000 (in Europe). I'm not questioning the quality, but simply pointing out that for someone looking to get a Casino, the price being four times as high is obviously something to take into consideration/means it's out of reach for some folks.

Eastman T64
Epiphone Casino

Yeah, I get your point. I guess to me the hollow body ES-330 versus the semi-hollow body wasn’t a distinction I ever cared about as I can’t hear a difference between them (except the the ES-330 style hollow body guitars feedback a lot more )

FWIW, Eastman always charge more for their “varnished” hand applied shellac(?) lacquer finished guitars (the “v” in T64v stands for varnished) I do recall them making a regular nitrocellulose lacquer finished T64 in the past but I can’t find one now so probably my imagination.

Personally, I’d take an Eastman T386 semi-hollow body over an Epiphone Casino hollow body any day, but that is just personal preference.