Ecxellent playing and sound. I have an AR-503 with D'addario 10-48 flatwounds (my hands are a bit arthritic and I cant play the heavier gauges anymore). After seeing your vid I might try the round wounds again. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Wolfgang. Thanks for posting these videos featuring the AR403. You are a fabulous player, and you are getting a fantastic sound from that Eastman guitar. It was after watching your successive videos featuring this guitar, and Rich Severson's videos, that I decided to buy a sunburst AR 403. I don't have your 'chops' but I love playing this guitar. I found that the pick-guard got in my way, so I've removed it, and I'm trying D-Addario 12 - 52 flat wounds (I'm more used to 9 - 42 gauge on my Fender Stat & Tele. I can't afford to put a Gibson PAF in the guitar, so I'll stick with the stock p/u for now. I got a great bargain from Ebay UK, and I'd really recommend this guitar over the Peerless & Epiphone models, especially considering that the Gibson ES 175 is nearly £4000 in the UK!
Thanks Wolfgang for your reply. Based on what you say, a better solution might be the AR503 : according to Eastman it indeed has a carved Spruce top. Yet the very quick unplugged try you made on your 1st video seems to show that the 403 may be a good compromise between an electric and a "would-be acoustic" archtop, at least for quiet and ear-candy practice time. Anyway, if you have time for it and of course are feeling like it, I still would be grateful to hear you and your 403 make some sweet chord melody with no amp. All the best, Gilles
Hello Wolfgang, would you be so kind as to post a little update to the update, this time with with your re-strung ar403, UNPLUGGED ? You did give us a small taste of the acoustic sound in the 1st video, and I would love to hear it with your new strings (both chords and single note lines). I'm indeed considering this guitar, but have no shop here to make a real test, and what I'm looking for is an instrument I can play and practice with, away from an amp but with a full and nice sound. Thanks in advance, hopefully you'll be willing to adress my request with a short (2 or 3 minute long) demo ? Of course, you'd be welcome to make it longer if feeling inspired....
Hi Gilles I can do an update, but I do not recommend the guitars for its acoustic properties. It is a laminated guitar and I like that for playing an amplified archtop, for acoustic playing a solid spruce top is prefered. As far as I know Eastman is doing very well priced archtops with solid tops
Thanks Wolfgang for your reply. Based on what you say, a better solution might be the AR503 : according to Eastman it indeed has a carved Spruce top. Yet the very quick unplugged try you made on your 1st video seems to show that the 403 may be a good compromise between an electric and a "would-be acoustic" archtop, at least for quiet and ear-candy practice time. Anyway, if you have time for it and of course are feeling like it, I still would be grateful to hear you and your 403 make some sweet chord melody with no amp. All the best, Gilles
Considering buying one of these and your videos have been invaluable. Also, your playing makes me smile. Thanks for sharing!
Ecxellent playing and sound. I have an AR-503 with D'addario 10-48 flatwounds (my hands are a bit arthritic and I cant play the heavier gauges anymore). After seeing your vid I might try the round wounds again. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Wolfgang. Thanks for posting these videos featuring the AR403. You are a fabulous player, and you are getting a fantastic sound from that Eastman guitar. It was after watching your successive videos featuring this guitar, and Rich Severson's videos, that I decided to buy a sunburst AR 403. I don't have your 'chops' but I love playing this guitar. I found that the pick-guard got in my way, so I've removed it, and I'm trying D-Addario 12 - 52 flat wounds (I'm more used to 9 - 42 gauge on my Fender Stat & Tele. I can't afford to put a Gibson PAF in the guitar, so I'll stick with the stock p/u for now.
I got a great bargain from Ebay UK, and I'd really recommend this guitar over the Peerless & Epiphone models, especially considering that the Gibson ES 175 is nearly £4000 in the UK!
no need to change the pickup, it is fine. I just love to experiment with my equipment. enjoy
Thanks Wolfgang for your reply.
Based on what you say, a better solution might be the AR503 : according to Eastman it indeed has a carved Spruce top.
Yet the very quick unplugged try you made on your 1st video seems to show that the 403 may be a good compromise between an electric and a "would-be acoustic" archtop, at least for quiet and ear-candy practice time.
Anyway, if you have time for it and of course are feeling like it, I still would be grateful to hear you and your 403 make some sweet chord melody with no amp.
All the best,
Gilles
Hello Wolfgang, would you be so kind as to post a little update to the update, this time with with your re-strung ar403, UNPLUGGED ?
You did give us a small taste of the acoustic sound in the 1st video, and I would love to hear it with your new strings (both chords and single note lines).
I'm indeed considering this guitar, but have no shop here to make a real test, and what I'm looking for is an instrument I can play and practice with, away from an amp but with a full and nice sound.
Thanks in advance, hopefully you'll be willing to adress my request with a short (2 or 3 minute long) demo ? Of course, you'd be welcome to make it longer if feeling inspired....
nice feel! nice playing!
Fantastic!
Hi Gilles
I can do an update, but I do not recommend the guitars for its acoustic properties. It is a laminated guitar and I like that for playing an amplified archtop, for acoustic playing a solid spruce top is prefered. As far as I know Eastman is doing very well priced archtops with solid tops
Thanks Wolfgang for your reply.
Based on what you say, a better solution might be the AR503 : according to Eastman it indeed has a carved Spruce top.
Yet the very quick unplugged try you made on your 1st video seems to show that the 403 may be a good compromise between an electric and a "would-be acoustic" archtop, at least for quiet and ear-candy practice time.
Anyway, if you have time for it and of course are feeling like it, I still would be grateful to hear you and your 403 make some sweet chord melody with no amp.
All the best,
Gilles
Hi Gilles
the video of the acoustic sound from the Eastman is uploaded, check it out
czcams.com/video/BVRNiPc3VmQ/video.html