Thank you for the extensice review! I have a 486B and recognise the tuning problems. I have switched out the tuners with Klusons and that improved things but the G and the B string still won't stay in tune for one song. You mentioned the nut and that might hold the solution. I was also thinking about replacing the pick ups but then realised that by then (also taking the new tuners and nut into account) the Eastman would have become almost just as expensive as a Gibson ES-335. So I am selling it and will save up for the real thing.
I am enamored with mine. It’s such a dynamic instrument. I have two other electrics I really enjoy but when I go to pick up my T486 there’s just something about it. It took me a little bit to get my pickups where I wanted in terms of height and pole pieces but it’s super balanced and crazy articulate. I can play contemporary jazz, modern jazz fusion, alt rock, grunge, blues, and even heavy rock. I also have an Eastman slope shoulder in the varnish finish that I equally adore. Just wonderfully made inspiring instruments. My T486 sounds especially good through early Marshall amps like a JTM45
Love my T486. The minuses are the tuners in my opinion. Plays nicely and the overall quality is excellent. I tried both this and a couple of ES335’s and plumped for the Eastman on QC and feel. I personally love the SD pick ups and wouldn’t swap them out...but that’s a subjective comment because I guess others would want to change them.
I was looking at purchasing this guitar my opinions after watching your video is that upgrading the tuners pick ups and possibly the bridge would be a great idea. In a sense you could put good quality tea type pick ups in here that would give you a jazzy or Sound, which I know for you isn’t much, but I’m looking in the comments I haven’t physically held the guitar, but I truly have to think Goto Has the answer for the bridge and the tuners as I use them even on my last calls I always take off the Gibson gear and load it up with the Goto. It seems to repair every guitar. The only real issue here on cost versus usability is those differences in quality, the 335 or 339 is this is probably closer in a way is truly not made specifically for jazz because it is not as large a body but either way a lot of people have opinions I think this can be used just fine again I would love for you to come back and do another demo after you do your own upgrades which I suspect you will be doing to try to fix the problems. Look forward to another addition of this 9:27 and I will update you once I get mine and make all the upgrades myself, however it doesn’t make it I didn’t expensive guitar anymore or mid priced when you have to replace all the hardware and put a set of high-grade pick ups in it however, if it works out to be what you wanted, sometimes it’s better to go that route and truly the laminate is a more stable wood it’s just not as consistent that you’re always going to get what you’re looking for in grain but it’s certainly consistent as far as standing up to weather transatlantic travel. truly it’s stable in that aspect. Thanks again they also make great mandolins.
I did add a gotoh bridge. I The stock pickups are fine, but I may go Lollar one of these days, but it's a great guitar, does everything well, no tuning issues. And I'm not in a rush to change out those pickups.
Good to hear, I’m about to buy a cherry red one….can’t wait…my uncle has a few and every time I’m over there I can’t put his guitars down…awesome for hard rock too
Picked up a new red T386 a few weeks ago. Really love playing it. The tone knobs, for once, are very useful. I will be replacing the tuners with the Grover locking versions. They look exactly the same and apparently fit straight in. These guitars are actually made by hand. Hope you’re still enjoying the Eastman! MusicMan make some of the finest guitars in the world.
The problem with the input nut spinning off is this...swap the inside input nut with the outside of the input nut, works with epiphones, 😂 someone in the factory gets them backwards i bet it works for your Eastman as well 🤘
It's a shame you're breaking strings (2 years ago, but still), which is caused by the saddles not being cut properly. Tunamatic bridge saddles need to be filed with the same nut files used to cut the nut, and is as important. I decided on the T59, which costs a few hundred more, but has a varnish finish I like, and Antiquity II unpotted pickups which I also like, but that is a beauty too, and the pickups might be better if you play loudly, since they are potted (Jazz and Seth Lover).
I bought this guitar new on-line a few months ago, and found it completely useless for jazz. I sold it after having it for a month. I could not get a good clean jazz tone out of the neck pickup. I have owned many semi-hollows that sound much better for jazz than this guitar , costing a fraction of the price. These include Gretsch G2622, Michael Kelly Vibe, Epiphone 335 pro, Daisy Rock Retro, Samick RL3, Hamer Echotone. It certainly sounds good for rock and blues, but IMO not jazz.
Thank you for the extensice review! I have a 486B and recognise the tuning problems. I have switched out the tuners with Klusons and that improved things but the G and the B string still won't stay in tune for one song. You mentioned the nut and that might hold the solution. I was also thinking about replacing the pick ups but then realised that by then (also taking the new tuners and nut into account) the Eastman would have become almost just as expensive as a Gibson ES-335. So I am selling it and will save up for the real thing.
I am enamored with mine. It’s such a dynamic instrument. I have two other electrics I really enjoy but when I go to pick up my T486 there’s just something about it. It took me a little bit to get my pickups where I wanted in terms of height and pole pieces but it’s super balanced and crazy articulate. I can play contemporary jazz, modern jazz fusion, alt rock, grunge, blues, and even heavy rock. I also have an Eastman slope shoulder in the varnish finish that I equally adore. Just wonderfully made inspiring instruments. My T486 sounds especially good through early Marshall amps like a JTM45
Nice video Chuck. I'm a guitar player/lover also plus I'm a Mott also but I live in arizona.
Love my T486. The minuses are the tuners in my opinion. Plays nicely and the overall quality is excellent. I tried both this and a couple of ES335’s and plumped for the Eastman on QC and feel. I personally love the SD pick ups and wouldn’t swap them out...but that’s a subjective comment because I guess others would want to change them.
I was looking at purchasing this guitar my opinions after watching your video is that upgrading the tuners pick ups and possibly the bridge would be a great idea. In a sense you could put good quality tea type pick ups in here that would give you a jazzy or Sound, which I know for you isn’t much, but I’m looking in the comments I haven’t physically held the guitar, but I truly have to think Goto Has the answer for the bridge and the tuners as I use them even on my last calls I always take off the Gibson gear and load it up with the Goto. It seems to repair every guitar. The only real issue here on cost versus usability is those differences in quality, the 335 or 339 is this is probably closer in a way is truly not made specifically for jazz because it is not as large a body but either way a lot of people have opinions I think this can be used just fine again I would love for you to come back and do another demo after you do your own upgrades which I suspect you will be doing to try to fix the problems. Look forward to another addition of this 9:27 and I will update you once I get mine and make all the upgrades myself, however it doesn’t make it I didn’t expensive guitar anymore or mid priced when you have to replace all the hardware and put a set of high-grade pick ups in it however, if it works out to be what you wanted, sometimes it’s better to go that route and truly the laminate is a more stable wood it’s just not as consistent that you’re always going to get what you’re looking for in grain but it’s certainly consistent as far as standing up to weather transatlantic travel. truly it’s stable in that aspect. Thanks again they also make great mandolins.
I did add a gotoh bridge. I The stock pickups are fine, but I may go Lollar one of these days, but it's a great guitar, does everything well, no tuning issues. And I'm not in a rush to change out those pickups.
The step up is the all solid wood model. Love my T486!!
Good to hear, I’m about to buy a cherry red one….can’t wait…my uncle has a few and every time I’m over there I can’t put his guitars down…awesome for hard rock too
Picked up a new red T386 a few weeks ago. Really love playing it. The tone knobs, for once, are very useful. I will be replacing the tuners with the Grover locking versions. They look exactly the same and apparently fit straight in. These guitars are actually made by hand. Hope you’re still enjoying the Eastman! MusicMan make some of the finest guitars in the world.
Ive the 484
No tuning issues ( I also have a stability tuning technique), and never broke a string
T486 here, same, no tuning issues about the same as my SG
T484B here, tuning is a nightmare. I took the Bigsby off and changed the tuners but to no avail. Have to start working on the nut.
The problem with the input nut spinning off is this...swap the inside input nut with the outside of the input nut, works with epiphones, 😂 someone in the factory gets them backwards i bet it works for your Eastman as well 🤘
It's a shame you're breaking strings (2 years ago, but still), which is caused by the saddles not being cut properly. Tunamatic bridge saddles need to be filed with the same nut files used to cut the nut, and is as important. I decided on the T59, which costs a few hundred more, but has a varnish finish I like, and Antiquity II unpotted pickups which I also like, but that is a beauty too, and the pickups might be better if you play loudly, since they are potted (Jazz and Seth Lover).
I want to hear your views on the 486 but the audio is low. TURN IT UP,
please.
I bought this guitar new on-line a few months ago, and found it completely useless for jazz. I sold it after having it for a month. I could not get a good clean jazz tone out of the neck pickup. I have owned many semi-hollows that sound much better for jazz than this guitar , costing a fraction of the price. These include Gretsch G2622, Michael Kelly Vibe, Epiphone 335 pro, Daisy Rock Retro, Samick RL3, Hamer Echotone. It certainly sounds good for rock and blues, but IMO not jazz.
Get your hands on a Rev Star , awesome guitars
I prefer regular Grovers over locking tuners, I maybe have to tune my guitars once every 2 weeks with Grovers, they rule