I have an Eastman T-484 and 3 SB59's, and they are amazing guitars, currently all with their stock Seymour Duncan pickups (Jazz/59 in the T-484 and 59's in the others). I also have Tonerider pickups in quite a few of my other guitars, including the Alnico Classic II's, Alnico Classic IV's, Birminghams, Vintage Plus Tele, and Rebel 90's. I will likely be swapping out pickups in one or two of the SB59's for some Alnico Classic II's or IV's in one and possibly Rebel 90's in another. Not that the Duncans don't sound good, but mainly for a little variety. The Toneriders sound great with coil splits as well. The Rebel 90's sound a little better than the SD Vintage Silencer Phat Cats I have in another guitar, but the SD's are quieter. The Rebels aren't too noisy, though, and they're hum canceling in the middle position. Can't go wrong with Toneriders IMO.
Wow, you must love the sb59s!! I am a big Eastman fan, mainly on the acoustic side, as well as the T486 and now a mandolin. I would like to get the Les Paul style, I like that the mahogany is relatively light. Thanks for your comment.
I love cheap guitars. I’ve always wanted a melody maker, should have gotten the Joan Jett model when it came out at a good price but times being what they were I passed. I would pay 200 for that epi even if it is not a set neck. As you show upgrades can make a huge difference. I highly recommend the Earl Slick SL50 Tele. You’ll love it.
I’m with you. I get 10x the fun buying cheap guitars and setting them up. Re the Melody Maker, Eastman do a double cut like that which looks amazing, but not cheap. I’ll check out the Earl Slick Tele!👍
So is the Junior as good as the Eastman? No it isn’t, but it is also a different beast. I don’t regret buying it for a moment. I am going to see if I can get those higher strings to ring a bit better, but in the meantime that muted, low sustain sound is something to work with, I like the way it sounds 👍
I agree. Apparently they put Tonerider in the Classic Vibe Squiers. I just bought a set of Tonerider Hot Classics Alnico 3 Tele pickups for a super cheap Tele 😍
Got.same.guitar and bought the Wilkinson same bridge as yours but It tilts forward and the strings buzz on the back of the bridge ... How a yours? Any suggest?
I had trouble with that bridge after I started fiddling around with it. I took it to a luthier friend a while back to swap the bridge out and haven’t got it back yet. Now I think of it I guess the guy sold it because the bridge was problematic. The upper strings didn’t ring out properly. Did you fix yours or was is it still a problem?
It turned out the Wilkinson bridge radius was not right. Maybe that’s why the guy sold it to me? I left this guitar with my luthier friend and he has put in a lightweight aluminium wraparound bridge and fixed it up for me. I still have to pick it up.
Lots of good feedback on Harley Bentons. Shane from In the Blues UA-cam has reviewed them. If you know a bit about guitar setups the cheapies are a good bet, I think.
That Junior sounds great - I'm about ready to pull the trigger and buy some Tonerider Rebels for a humbucker Les Paul style guitar.
I just put a pair in a Les Paul copy - they sound great and not too noisy either. I'm sold.
I like the Tonerider pickups a lot. They are a bit unusual being English company with China production. Their scatter wound A2 humbuckers are nice.
Thank you for the insightful insights. Looks like I’ll have to pick up one of these bad boys myself
Highly recommend these beauties, Nezstom847.
Let the hunt for a holy grail for cheap begin!
I have an Eastman T-484 and 3 SB59's, and they are amazing guitars, currently all with their stock Seymour Duncan pickups (Jazz/59 in the T-484 and 59's in the others). I also have Tonerider pickups in quite a few of my other guitars, including the Alnico Classic II's, Alnico Classic IV's, Birminghams, Vintage Plus Tele, and Rebel 90's. I will likely be swapping out pickups in one or two of the SB59's for some Alnico Classic II's or IV's in one and possibly Rebel 90's in another. Not that the Duncans don't sound good, but mainly for a little variety. The Toneriders sound great with coil splits as well. The Rebel 90's sound a little better than the SD Vintage Silencer Phat Cats I have in another guitar, but the SD's are quieter. The Rebels aren't too noisy, though, and they're hum canceling in the middle position. Can't go wrong with Toneriders IMO.
Wow, you must love the sb59s!! I am a big Eastman fan, mainly on the acoustic side, as well as the T486 and now a mandolin. I would like to get the Les Paul style, I like that the mahogany is relatively light. Thanks for your comment.
I love cheap guitars. I’ve always wanted a melody maker, should have gotten the Joan Jett model when it came out at a good price but times being what they were I passed. I would pay 200 for that epi even if it is not a set neck. As you show upgrades can make a huge difference.
I highly recommend the Earl Slick SL50 Tele. You’ll love it.
I’m with you. I get 10x the fun buying cheap guitars and setting them up. Re the Melody Maker, Eastman do a double cut like that which looks amazing, but not cheap. I’ll check out the Earl Slick Tele!👍
So is the Junior as good as the Eastman? No it isn’t, but it is also a different beast. I don’t regret buying it for a moment. I am going to see if I can get those higher strings to ring a bit better, but in the meantime that muted, low sustain sound is something to work with, I like the way it sounds 👍
Tonerider make some super pickups, excellent value for money.
I agree. Apparently they put Tonerider in the Classic Vibe Squiers. I just bought a set of Tonerider Hot Classics Alnico 3 Tele pickups for a super cheap Tele 😍
@@turrafirmaguitarchannelUnlabelled in the early ones, apparently - Tonerider makes great pickups; I’ve just fitted a set of those 👍
la junior siempre es la mejor de todas....
Got.same.guitar and bought the Wilkinson same bridge as yours but It tilts forward and the strings buzz on the back of the bridge ... How a yours? Any suggest?
I had trouble with that bridge after I started fiddling around with it. I took it to a luthier friend a while back to swap the bridge out and haven’t got it back yet. Now I think of it I guess the guy sold it because the bridge was problematic. The upper strings didn’t ring out properly. Did you fix yours or was is it still a problem?
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel mine was.ok but actually replaced With a Wilkinson wraparound With adjustable saddles, a cool improvement for a cheap cost.
Well it’s either the nut, the bridge or the frets.
It turned out the Wilkinson bridge radius was not right. Maybe that’s why the guy sold it to me? I left this guitar with my luthier friend and he has put in a lightweight aluminium wraparound bridge and fixed it up for me. I still have to pick it up.
Price scales for a specific range of products have always been logarythmic.
Indeed, and my ‘expensive’ guitar is still a third the price of a Gibson.
Harley Benton sells a Junior for under $200.
Long live cheap labour. You're next to work for peanuts, if you don't already.
Lots of good feedback on Harley Bentons. Shane from In the Blues UA-cam has reviewed them. If you know a bit about guitar setups the cheapies are a good bet, I think.