Gibson Custom Shop vs. Eastman Les Paul | Really A $5,500 Difference?

Today we headed down to Righteous Guitars to meet up with Ben and do an old school shootout between 3 different Les Pauls in 3 different price ranges. How much does the price tag on a guitar really matter?
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[@MajorKaoss]

I bought an Eastman sb59 "Varnish" two years ago for about $1k. It's a work of art. The varnish is a violin finish. I have been playing for over fifty years and own more guitars than I care to admit. It's hands down it's the finest guitar I have ever played. I'm riding into the sunset with it.

[@IAmTheIsland]

That’s a great used prices these days. When they show up they tend to be $1400-1600 and the new price went up as well.

[@robertclinger7351]

I recently purchased an Eastman T486 sunburst. Awesome. Hand made, Seymour Duncans, ebony board, I put vintage Kluson locking tuners on it, nitro finish, beautiful flame top, I love it! One third the price of a figured top 335. Compare this to a Gibson.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Amazing

[@larryh.3173]

LOL. I could've written those exact words myself (down to every detail actually)! In fact, I love my varnished version (with Antiquities) SO much that I soon after went and bought a gorgeous gloss sunburst version with SD '59 Classics. (From '19 NAMM.) So, different pickups, one "aged" guitar and one new looking burst. I'm finished now. Sold my Gibson LP™ cuz I simply never played it anymore. It was really a disappointment after playing the Eastmans. Surprised. All IMO and IME.

[@NealBuer]

I just bought an Eastman T59/v. Love the finish. Now I have to learn how to play it.

[@diatarussoulbane]

Consumers and Makers are equally to blame for this product nonsense we are in. The question is not if that Les Paul sounds good, I'm sure it does and as far as the video goes it sounds good. But returning to the cash-grab well of a 60 year old design with modern manufacturing and sourcing, and charging 7,000 USD for it is a hard pass for me. It cost 300 USD in 1959, equivalent to about 2,500 USD now, and it was a standard release model. To get a similar guitar now you have to pay nearly triple on an exclusive top of the line custom shop model. If you have the money and it makes you happy go for it. I just can't, on principle, especially with so many good rationally priced options around, even made in the USA.

[@Amish_Trivedi]

I also wonder how much difference there between that $2500 Les Paul model and the $7000 model both made by Gibson. Is it $5500 in materials costs? $5500 in additional labor costs for the people that build the $7000 guitar? My guess is probably not.

[@michaeltaylors2456]

Weird feedback loop we are in. The Korean and Indonesian copies slay these overhyped hunks of wood easily for the money

[@SirLeDoux]

@@Amish_Trivedi and considering this isn’t even the very top Gibson you can buy. Price gouging at its worst!

[@MiclainKeith]

@@michaeltaylors2456 I don’t care about gibson even a little, and I gotta say that is totally wrong. I own japanese copies - Burny, Greco, Orville - and the custom shop gibson stuff is definitely on a different level. Is it worth 7000? No. But it’s significantly better than the copies out there. And the high end lawsuit copies that rival custom shops cost about the same at this point anyways.

[@diatarussoulbane]

@@MiclainKeith part of the problem here is that Gibsons price sets the relative price standard for replicas as well. Gibson is certainly not the only company cashing in on nostalgia. But they and Fender are the biggest culprits. For obvious reasons . A Schwarts St Helen's or a quality PrS sc594 will cost from 3k to 4.5k depending on year model and condition. Exceptional quality and then there's the Eastman Sb59-V for around 2k....

[@annarakannan6620]

I will take that Eastman any day of the week. I cannot justify the price of that Les Paul. Rhett- We Missed one very key point here. All Eastman guitars are completely hand carved and hand made. No CNC in their workshop. They all weigh at least 2 pounds less than a Les Paul (Usually under 8 pounds) and the wood is top notch and they come with very good quality hardware.

[@tommichaelson6904]

Agreed. I bought a used Eastman 'Hog/Addy acoustic for $900 and am so happy! I couldn't get rid of my Taylor fast enough! It all worked out well since a friend of mine bought it and really loves it. All guitars eventually find the right hands.

[@BlindTom61]

The have moved to CNC machines in recent years for some operations.

[@chrislaw2957]

Heritage were built on the old Gibson machinery

[@eddyaceti6576]

Their laminate guitars are not hand carved. They'd be made out of pressed paper thin sheets of wood. I tried a thin line & I found the frets to be too big, my fingers were dragging on them. I wonder if this was a bad example.

[@Telopead]

My favorate take on this is "i don't think my skill worth $5500".

[@TonefulPraise]

They should have done an apples to apples comparison and done an antique varnish Eastman

[@rexgorman9561]

I think a blind test would've been cooler here. There's a bit of a reality distortion field in knowing that one is a custom shop.

[@jonbig04]

Agreed, if we’re talking about sound and feel they should be blind tests. The blind tests I’ve seen have yielded some surprising results.

[@desertrooster702]

+1 for the blindfold test.

[@Thezemon]

All less pauls sound the same

[@AJvsEverything]

I did my first listen through without looking at the screen, then went back and noticed the Eastman and Murphy's Lab sounded the best to me...I couldn't see anyone being disappointed with the tone of the Eastman after smoothing out the playability differences between it and the Murphy's Lab...

[@jayclark725]

I'm being hyperbolic here but I agree if you and your audience is always blindfolded while listening. I agree with your logic but the guitars I play I want to be "cool" and sound good. I'm also not a good enough guitar player to make the guitar I play cool, so the guitar itself has to be cool. Even though 7K is WAY more than I would want to spend on a guitar I can see the logic of biting the bullet to get the one I want as opposed to 4 guitars that would be a compromise.

[@arnesl929]

Yep “Rhett plays fancy boy guitars” -jhs

[@RhettShull]

yes...yes I do.

[@arnesl929]

My fanciest guitar is actually an Eastman t186. I like the scale and nut size on those.

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

You beat me to this comment, 😂

[@arnesl929]

@@ScottMcdonaldMusic it had to be done. The jhs takeover was hilarious.

[@alohamark3025]

Rhett is such a masterful guitarist, he can get a good tone out of any guitar, with the right pedal, amp, or signal processor. Because of this, other factors, such as playability and weight matter a lot. The Heritage weighs too much. Who owns an Eastman and can comment on its heft?

[@user-ii5mh9li6l]

Honestly, Heritage guitars have been so consistently good over the years, and Gibsons have been hot and cold.

[@andymccormick7542]

I’ve seen multiple Heritage guitars with QC issues, predominantly the pickup alignment and neck angle. A lot of Heritage’s bridge and tailpiece are way off the deck because the neck angle is so far off

[@danletter9357]

That is for sure. But right now, the Gibson’s are better than they’ve ever been. I’m including the bursts in that statement. Even those new, weren’t as good as what’s out now. Just playing a guitar will smooth it in.

[@JT-gd7he]

A better comparison would have been the Eastman SB59/V. The finish is different, and the pickups are Lollar Imperial low winds. More like the Murphy Lab that you played. And yes, I’m lucky enough to own one.

[@Superstacco]

To me the Heritage sounded airier, more complex and def the best of the three. And dude, along with G&L, Heritage are the real thing and the people holding those legacies. Props to them both.

[@RichVandewhatever]

I also can't help but think that the way a company does business matters.... Heritage all day

[@Mudder1310]

By sound alone I like the Heritage too.

[@aesoundforge]

Yes! My favorite guitars are my G&L ASAT classic an my Heritage 535. Both fantastic guitars. i should say they are fine instruments.

[@cardbored_]

I love heritage but can’t stand the headstock

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

@@cardbored_ same dude, I want to look it over so bad but I can’t

[@donewithmodernlife]

With headphones all three sounded pretty close to the same. I’d go with an Eastman SB59/V even though it wasn’t featured here. More of the broken in feel but still waaay less than $7k.

[@seanc.5310]

The Varnish SB59 plays sooo good. I got the nitro SB59 which is awesome but the varnish neck feels soooo good to play

[@theonlyrobot]

Better pickups too. My ear thinks that if they'd done a 59v, the tone would have been more uncompressed like the Heritage. That's been my experience when I try to justify not buying the V model. The V is noticeably more 3D when it breaks up.

[@larryh.3173]

@@theonlyrobot Indeed. My 'V' also came stock with SD Antiquities. OMG, maybe my new fav pickup. Very 'talkative'. Besides that, I loved the V so much that I soon bought the SB59 (actually from '19 NAMM) loaded with SD '59 Classics. Wow. Soon after, I sold my Les Paul. Not a $7000 model but probably about $3k new (got it used). It just wasn't needed anymore.

[@chrislaw2957]

I go with the one that stays in tune all night and that's my H150. My Kalamazoo built Gibson's need retuning after each song which is just damn annoying when you're trying to have a drink between numbers.

[@MrJohnboy301]

I have an Eastman SB56. It's a Goldtop with Lollar P90's and I absolutely love it. I can't speak about the difference between it and a Custom Shop Gibson, as I've never played one. However I did have a 2012 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro II and the Eastman absolutely blows that guitar out of the water.

[@joshfulmer3689]

I remember the traditionals they're so heavy.

[@felippecezar9117]

Things that REALLY matter when buying guitars: 1. Does it stay in tune? Do the tuning machines have a smooth and steady tension? 2. Does it intonate well? 3. Is the fretboard flat? 4. Do the frets buzz? 5. Does it have some heft to it? 6. Is the hardware of decent quality? 7. Is it comfortable to play? 8. Does it resonate well when unplugged? If the instrument you're buying meets the criteria above, congrats! You don't need a '7-thousand-dollar guitar because it sounds better than a cheaper guitar', because it doesn't. Anything within the US$ 500 / US$ 1200,00 range is going to be decent enough for 99.999999999999% of all musicians.

[@briansturgis2565]

Amen!

[@RaptorV1USA]

often well beyond " Decent" its truly amazing what your $400 - $600 can buy today!!

[@HBSuccess]

Baloney.

[@jasonlarson9886]

Very true, but guitar players are dogmatic and typically far less than educated or skilled enough to know left from right. They spend the $$$ which is fine, but particularly from Gibsons they don’t know whether the quality is good or bad, only what is on the headstock.

[@felippecezar9117]

@@HBSuccess Well, if you hear any difference and have the dough, fine by me. All I'm trying to do is stop people from feeling alienated because they don't have a 7k guitar.

[@jackwhite3304]

Rhett your honestly my favourite KZbinr right now, feels me with joy seeing a new video from you in my notifications. Keep up the good work Rhett and I'm glad to see your well again and back playing.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I have the Eastman SB59 and it is fantastic regardless of the price.

[@fenderfreak215]

Love eastmans. I would argue that their finishes look better than Gibsons as well. But hey that’s just my opinion man

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

The Eastman acoustic and electric lines have been some of the BEST guitars I’ve ever played! Definitely want an SB59 one day.

[@imgonnagetbanned]

My SB59/v is bar none the best double humbucker guitar I have ever owned or played... and I've owned a lot of the high end of things.

[@LucasHaneman]

@@imgonnagetbanned I own three Eastman‘s, and they are all fantastic! I have an OM, One of their mandolins, and a T185mx 335 inspired guitar, and all of them are very special to me. Would love to check out the SB56 someday, as I really enjoyed the SB59 I tried

[@1davejsutdave1]

@@imgonnagetbanned I have one and like my comment up there I A/Bed it with a GCS and it was as good if not better. the hand rubbed finish and Lollar imperials make it sound way different than the standards.

[@newyeareves]

Love Eastman guitars. Love my acoustic by them. I've always been really impressed by them and I've had a 59 with a vintage finish on my wishlist for awhile now. Thanks for the shootout!

[@277southtombob]

The Heritage sounded great to me. It was clearer and more defined. The off the production line Heritage guitars I’ve played have been about equal to a custom shop Gibson and their custom line is like a real 50’s Gibson

[@thrumyeyesphoto]

I've been super impressed with my Eastman '56 Goldtop. For the money it's pretty hard to go wrong!

[@thomasnettleton289]

I have an Eastman SB59...for me, it has the low end and the output, plus the tone. I love it.

[@konnektlive]

Wow... did not expect that at all! That Eastman sounds ffkin phenomenal man. I mean if I wanna be honest as a working session player who owns couple of high-end CS LPs, I really dig the sound of that Eastman. To my ears it sounds crisp, articulate, meaty and very Les Pauly indeed. And at times in the video it even sounded better than both Gibson and Heritage! I'm truly impressed wow... Cheers!

[@davidpepper442]

I would take 1 "lifer" guitar over 6 mediocre guitars any day. Any great guitar comes down to the way it feels. You can always change pickups. Cool video Rhett!

[@cpamiseso]

Indeed, I gone through this and that, and ended up with 1 PRS Core, and that was it.

[@fender7695]

Very True Tone and feel are 50 and 50. equally important all things considered. It’s so hard to portray that through videos but they did a good job explaining it in the video

[@chrislaw2957]

I would take a guitar that stays in tune all night as it's just damn embarrassing when the drummer counts you in and you're not ready as you're still tuning your guitar.

[@1thess523]

I agree, my son and I bought a late 80's Greco SG Standard and now my Korean Epiphone Les Paul Standard which feels really good and sounds pretty good with either the Duncan 59' or the Dimarzio Super Distortion I have. After getting that Greco I don't need a Gibson nor do I desire to buy any mediocre guitars anymore 🤣.

[@LonnyEagletonMusic]

That “Since I’ve Been Loving You” bit was beautiful 👌🏻🎸

[@Dwyane3MVP]

If you like that worn-in feel to your LP, try the Eastman SB59v. It's nicely aged (using violin lacquer), and has better pick-ups (lollars i think). They will set you back a few hundred extra compared to the regular SB59. The neck shape will always be a little different from Gibson though. But they sound so much better than any regular new LP standard I have played these last 20 years.

[@bloodgt3]

That Gibson finish is beautiful. My grandpa gave me his Gibson acoustic that he bought new in 61, and the way that finish has aged over time just can't be replicated. But the finish on that Gibson was damn close.

[@mrwizardalien]

I just bought a Heritage and I may not have owned as many Les Pauls in my life but it's really holding up to everything I've played, it's really good quality

[@reverb508]

Heritage makes great guitars!

[@schmoemi3386]

I love my Heritage, too!

[@Bordeaux0929]

@@schmoemi3386 Same here...Heritage H150 Artisan Aged Dirty Lemon. Its a great guitar.

[@ilikebacon860]

Sweet, had mine about 20 years, sounds amazing just heavy af

[@kalkidasofficial]

Congratulations! 👏👏👏

[@joeysong2560]

I feel like it really doesn't matter after a certain price point with electric guitars. Just polish the frets and do a set up.

[@xF1revolution]

The higher end LPS tend to be a pound + lighter, which really makes a difference. I know Gibson and Heritage Plek everything, so the fretboard is probably the same regardless.

[@bigfatengineer]

Indeed, as Rhett said, there's a point of diminishing returns. Sure, you get improvements, but actual "value" of the improvements is nearly negligible or strictly cosmetic. For $1600-1700, you get the Eastman, get the fret/fingerboard rounded out a bit. Get the back of the neck "relic'ed" for that worn in feel.

[@theonlyrobot]

A surprising amount of the input costs in higher end guitars is going into the fretboard. Having done a few full fret jobs, I can see why. There's a lot of work that you just can't automate away.

[@mruncletheredge]

i totally agree.... most of the "feel" is just a well set up neck and properly crowned and polished frets.... and , of course, whatever your neck profile of choice is....

[@maekong2010]

Yep, Joey. I don't care what you play, or how well you set it up, until you polish the frets, you've no idea what you're sleeping with. I came to this realization, relatively recently, and it shames me to say it.

[@jimmydoger1583]

I've had and Eastman sb59 with the varnish finish for about a month now. I have three other Les Paul's all great guitars. That being said the Eastman is better than any of them. If I could only have one of those guitars the Eastman is a no-brainer. The lollar Imperial pickups are fantastic and the fretwork is ridiculously good the guitar plays itself.

[@tonyinhbolero4815]

I got 2 Eastman they’re the Beast

[@timfarney4770]

I bought the Eastman a few years ago, when they first came out. I’m working on that lightly aged, broken in feel. I don’t think it’s worth $7k yet, but it’s close. 😎

[@JimmyRadloff]

Eastman makes killer guitars....and that's all their guitars, not just the SB59. Even their acoustics are stellar 👌

[@markdennis6464]

Eastman - great little secret ;0)

[@thomaspetro7081]

An Eastman SB59/V, which has an aged finish, better pickups and retails around $2000 would have been a better shootout choice, but still a worthy exercise. Nice work!

[@richfiryn]

That was my thought too, and i was actually hoping that would be represented in this video.

[@deanogeorgeproject]

100 % correct

[@jips123]

I agree. i have the V and I love it. Feels old, what I Like.

[@arnolddealiii4259]

Probably had to deal with what ever was in the shop. I think for that matter the new Standard Les Paul from the Original collection would have fit in well here too. Some of the best Gibson USA’s they have put out in decades!

[@richfiryn]

@@arnolddealiii4259 currently playing my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s in Dark Cherry Burst I scored from Wildwood last year and it is absolutely perfect. A killer guitar.

[@seanblack6545]

Great shootout guys, love the way you did it!

[@thiagobrito3379]

Man it's great to see you well and playing guitar Nice video by the way

[@RC32Smiths01]

I always thought the quality of a guitar, copy or not, is simply up to individual, but I am always looking forward to another shootout!

[@ryansnydercg]

For sure!! Always the Humbucker single cut not necessarily whether it’s a Gibson or not

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@ryansnydercg ahh gotcha man!

[@michaelvanbuskirk8845]

What about the Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard at about $800?

[@kravitz1999]

Amen!

[@victorancelmo2549]

Dude this should have definetely been a pick because Ive heard this guitar and it sounds so good

[@bks252]

I have that guitar and I’m blown away every time I play it. Got rid of my Gibson.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

I have never played an Epiphone that I would want to own. To each is own.

[@Worlds_Worst_Guitarist]

@@Joe-mz6dc than you have not played a 59 Outfit.

[@albertorobinson7611]

I glad to see you back on track dude, cheers

[@albertorobinson7611]

I wonder how looks a driftwood version of the murphy labs

[@chrislaw2957]

My 2006 Heritage H150 is the only guitar that stays in tune on my pub/club gigs. I tune it once and it pretty much stays in tune all night long and that is a MASSIVE thing if you're out there playing live.

[@bflo5210]

I have the Eastman sb59/v... it's aged and is finished with a thin layer of violin lacquer...also it comes with custom lollar pickups it's definitely a great playing & sounding guitar

[@davidburke2132]

The Gibson’s finish is called “factory burst” by the way. “Tomato soup” is a burst finish they only do on the 1960 Standard at the moment (with the V3 neck in 2020… the thinnest of the neck profiles). Factory burst is typically a bit darker red round the outsides… it’s meant to replicate how a original ‘59 would have looked coming out of the factory without any fading.

[@DDWyss]

Yup, factory burst. I think it's my favorite of all the Gibson bursts.

[@davidburke2132]

@@DDWyss yep… my favourite too. I have one of the 60th Anniversary 1959 Standards in that finish and it’s gorgeous.

[@StarQueenEstrella]

They all sounded fantastic but my personal favorite was the Heritage H-150. Plus it had a killer “tiger-stripe” finish, which is an added bonus.

[@cromBumny]

No one does figured tops as well as Heritage

[@scundoalex]

Agreed. That Heritage looked and sounded fantastic.

[@gregcsefko]

Played an Eastman LP not too long ago. By far the best LP I’ve ever played. Especially for the price. Hangs right in there with any Studio, Traditional or Standard LP.

[@gregcsefko]

BTW, thanks for raising the price of the “No Name” brand LPs that we’re still saving to get😉

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

They all sound killer and almost identical. I slightly prefer the heritage but there’s no way I could tell the difference without the side by side comparison. That being said, that Murphy lab looks just my size, a perfect fit. 🤘🏻

[@flashashler8370]

I have an SB59 burst and love it, but if I would of had a few extra bucks, I think the SB59V hand varnished model sounds so much better with the Lollar pickups. I wish you would of had that model in the comparison and I think you would of been even more impressed. Great Video though!

[@zakkwyldesdmf13]

For a listener, they sound (almost) the same, at least "when the band kicks in". But - if a guitar reacts better for you as a player or inspires you you play or write better, that's the main point. As for myself, I bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard when I turned 18, swapped the PUs a couple of times until settling for a DiMarzio PAF Pro (neck) and Bill Lawrence L500XL (bridge) and played the hell out of it. Whenever I hand that guitar to someone to try it for a few minutes the reaction from experienced Les Paul players is always the same. They are VERY surprised regarding the quality and transparency of the sound. My assumption is that it aged so well because it was played so much. So a "standard" guitar turned into something really special by just playing it.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

The edited playing of the three guitars knocked it out of the field for me. Thank you.

[@patricksommer3971]

"There's never been a better time to be a guitar player" -Rhett Shull in every video Repetition legitimizes

[@misterknightowlandco]

He’s right… if we ignore the fact the general public couldn’t careless about guitar music anymore lol

[@kellyjackson7889]

Music is Win

[@simon_patterson]

Truth is worth repeating

[@bakters]

@@simon_patterson A lie is worth repeating even more, then. Repeat it enough times, and it becomes the truth, which is worth repeating, which is worth repeating, which is worth repeating...

[@simon_patterson]

@@bakters that's what the OP was implying. I was providing the alternate viewpoint, which in this case I agree with.

[@elbacttocs]

Interesting what you said about the "new" feel on the Eastman, Rhett. If you have the opportunity, try their varnish finish guitars. I have an SB59/V-AMB and the finish on that is probably a lot closer to what I understood you were saying the Murphy Lab LP was like. I've also had it on very good authority from someone who has a very famous '59, that ... "it's a keeper".

[@goswo]

You are sooo spot on when you say “the way it make me feel when I play it”. Do you feel inspired, vibrant, alive, creative etc… Thats it! People always write about price, sound and what else you could buy to that price, but no one knows what it activates in you, and thats whats make it worth it. The feel :-)

[@steves12strings]

I just went to the Righteous Guitars store for the first time this week. The young man, Daniel, was there to show me around. He knew his stuff. A real gear nerd that's hard to find in stores these days. Incredibly impressed with the place.

[@bbmade]

Oh I bet Gibson will LOVE hearing “Eastman Les Paul” 🤣

[@anthonyc1883]

Mark Agnesi's "Authentic-o-Meter" will be hitting rock bottom.

[@GertrudeGrindhorn]

And to add to my rant, ha ha...I could hand any of my well looked after and well set up $500 guitars to Joe Satriani, John Mayer, Eric Clapton..and they might say...'Mmm, not my usual guitar, but I could get used to this', (perhaps??). There are so many great guitars around now, it's kind of hard to find a dud...I'd love to see you hand a 'cheap', but well set up guitar to some famous guy, and see what he says about it...There...a whole new series of YT videos... :)

[@ScutMonkey]

They would be polite, say "it's fine," and then go back to their preferred instrument because it's got "magic" that other instruments don't have. I mean, there's concert footage of John Mayer playing a random Jackson 80s hair metal guitar just because he could. And he's back to his several thousand dollar PRS made exactly to his specifications.

[@michaelvarney.]

Tomo already shows how good cheap guitars play and feel.

[@kingcormack8004]

The Eastman line is excellent. Their LPJr is incredible.

[@northsongs]

Yep. I've found myself with 4 of them now. 2 acoustics and two LPs - an SB59 that I would happily put up against my old Gibson LP Custom, and a SB56 with P90s, both of which are amazing guitars!

[@steveo44]

The 335 style thinline eastman are killer

[@kingcormack8004]

@@steveo44 Agreed. Incredible value esp the 386.

[@kingcormack8004]

@@northsongs That SB56 has got my eye.

[@northsongs]

@@kingcormack8004 That SB56 is something you gotta play!

[@AidyJames]

Having recently bought my "holy grail" dream guitar (a Manson MA-2 Evo with a bunch of custom specs and additions), I felt it when Ben said that you spend so much money on the guitars that you buy when you're making compromises to approximate what you're looking for, only to spend a lot less than that total on the guitar you wanted the whole time. It's absolutely worth holding out and saving for "the one" - provided that you know what "the one" is. There's no feeling like having your "lifer", knowing that there are no upgrades from here.

[@corvidcapers]

I thought I was losing my mind seeing this notification yesterday and then video was gone when I clicked on it 😂

[@briancash6035]

I would love to see you do a comparison between the Eastman and a regular usa Gibson 50s standard

[@mcclain63]

Hey Rhett, Good to see you up and running again,It's all subjective from the beginning of a Les Paul style built guitar. I have played and owned aprrox a dozen or so Custom Gibson Les Pauls through my 40 years as a professional touring and recording artist and made a ton of money on resale. I moved on to building my own custom guitars at a fraction of the price that perfectly fits my need for playability & sound. The quality control on guitar building today is unbelievable good compared to 40 years ago. Very simple way of looking at it. If you can afford a $3-7 grand guitar and it makes you happy, That's all that counts. To those that can't afford high end brand name guitars be thankful for those companies out there that offer great playing and sounding guitars for a affordable price with the option to customize your own PUPS,Tuners nut ,bridge ECT. Final note,Yes there is a $5,500 difference to some. If it plays & sounds good and makes you happy.That is all that matters.There are so many great players with great tones, That is the secret to a happy successful music journey. I hope you find happiness with whatever guitar you decide on.

[@quinnswenson2477]

Great comparison man! I had never heard of heritage before, that thing is sick!

[@bcm1621]

After watching this my question is. How does the Gibson Les Paul Standard figure in this equation. Is the Eastman a better option, or maybe the heritage.

[@jeffgerndt2813]

Every guitar seems to have its own personality. Your advice is solid, get the one that feels right, that seems to express YOU.

[@brushstroke3733]

Love the honesty of the salesman! So nice to hear him say he doesn't know about something rather than trying to BS you!

[@mattwilliams3104]

I was able to play a few heritage LPs and they were so impressive. Easily the most beautiful tops I’ve ever seen

[@MrBluesilverred]

Thanks Rhett, that was great. Definitely subjective to each person’s budget. The “affordable” guitar market quality gets better all the time…..

[@linoleum1979]

Would have loved to see this as a blind testing!

[@geoffreycarter3981]

I'd be interested to hear what you think of the Varnish finish on the Eastmans. The slightly too "new" feel seemed to be your only critique of the Eastman.

[@kevinmusso2397]

This is a really valuable video. Accessing guitars can be confusing. These guy’s comments are super smart.

[@garygratzer9670]

You should have used the Eastman Varnish series. So much better “played in feel”.

[@sb6232]

You need to try out one of the Antique Varnish Eastman SB's...

[@549of1k]

I agree....I have an Eastman T-58V (not a Les Paul) and it is seriously one of the best guitars I've ever played. The Eastman company has a heritage of handcrafting violins for a long time and have a pretty good idea of how to make a quality instrument

[@djt6546]

Eastmans varnish finish is a uniquely good joy to have in your hands. The necks on my SB59v is fantastic. I also have a light age ML59 which is awesome and the same low weight (7lb 15oz) as my Eastman. Both great in their own way, which the huge difference in price tag does not reflect by any means.

[@seanc.5310]

@@549of1k I only discovered Eastman last year and I'm still shocked by how well made and flawless they are. I have an LP Standard also but the Eastman SB59 I bought blows it away. Wish I got the varnish version with lollar pup's tho

[@BigIronTexas]

that's what I'm talking about. those things look fantastic.

[@kennywally]

Rhett, thx for this review. I bought an Eastman SB59 and I'm SO happy with it. I feel like it's every bit as good as a Gibson Les Paul. I'd even put it up against a custom shop Gibson Les Paul for sure.

[@RowdyGrunt]

I love this so much! And love it more because Righteous Guitars is my home shop too! Surprisingly, I have one of each of these too! My first Les Paul is my Heritage 150 in Butterscotch, then a LP Std in cherry burst, and last but most definitely not least, I have the Eastman in its vintaged finish. And wouldn't ya know it, my "go to" is the Eastman. it's the one that feels and plays the most rock-n-roll.

[@migueljoao3719]

You shoud tried the SB59-V from Eastman... antique aged varnish (the closest to real 50's nitro you can get these days) and Lollar Imperial Pafs...is a game changer!

[@rossbrown3656]

Purely based on sound, it’s the heritage for me. Sounds like a Les Paul, but with a little more top end clarity and not as “woofy” as some Les Paul’s can get. They all sound great though and I’d happily play all of them

[@chrislaw2957]

I have a 69 LP custom BB with PAF's and a Heritage H150 with 59 Duncan's. The Heritage stays in tune all night so that's the guitar I use on gigs. They're both great guitars BUT tuning a guitar after every number becomes a little tedious.

[@Kuztomshop]

I stopped by Righteous on my last visit to Alpharetta (from Ohio) and it is an awesome shop. the wall of PRSs is jaw dropping. they had a custom shop Gibson Firebird in black with white binding - I'd never seen one of those. Incredible. Can't wait to stop by again the next time I'm in town.

[@Sftd1973]

I'm a Les Paul guy for sure.... BUT, I love that new Eastman Juliet that Henry James plays with Robert Jon and the Wreck..... They make some great quality instruments.

[@14djfunk]

My wallet can't afford this channel... all I hear is that I have justified options at many price points!

[@Ollonskog]

Would have liked to see an FGN LS30 in this mix too. FGN rocks.

[@jamesmarchetti3286]

Great review guys. Thank you! By the way this was my 4th or 5th review of the Eastman I have seen and heard! I have become a really big fan of their Tone!

[@jamesmarchetti3286]

I also subscribe to your channel! Thanks again for the reviews.

[@jamesmarchetti3286]

As my playing gets better in the future I really look forward to eventually getting the Eastman.

[@jeremysamuelson9059]

Great video! Honestly, I have three Gibson Les Pauls (all at different trim levels) and I love them all! But, gun to my head... my favorite one is actually the lowest trim level. It's a 2011 Les Paul Traditional Pro (I believe the retail price was $1,999.). Every time I pick it up, it just feels right and it sounds great. Any time I've had a friend or a guitar tech play it, they always say, "Man, this thing sounds killer" when they give it back. The vintage sunburst finish also gives it a great look. The Les Paul is just such a great guitar. Everyone should have at least one.

[@mattchurchill]

The Heritage sounded the best to me. I'm guessing that extra clarity probably came from the uncovered pickups. Great vid👍

[@rodanone4895]

I love my heritage guitars. i think the thing that gets overlooked is that no one compares the standard h150 to a USA LP... always custom shop at 2x or more. Chapman did the worst because you cannot compare a SD59 or worse a Schaller to a Gibson Custombucker....

[@martinpaddle]

whatever difference you hear in a video like this is probably due to the pickups, all other features that might influence the sound are too similar in these guitars. I guess the main difference to them is in how these guitars feel when playing them, and possibly also the quality.

[@rodanone4895]

@@martinpaddle i can tell you, if you get to play one of the heritage custom core artisan aged or bespoke custom models, they can hang with the Murphy's... it was ex Murphy apprentices that went to the Heritage as I understand it.

[@eplecor]

I closed my eyes during the shootout, opening them when I heard what I thought was the best, and preferred the sound of the Heritage each time. It sounded more open and articulate to me. I’m a 335 player so maybe that has something to do with my preference?

[@WM-sz5mn]

Agreed. The Murphy sounded muddy to me.

[@theonlyrobot]

Eastman makes a really good 335 with hand rubbed varnish and Lollars for about $1700 street.

[@leonarddaneman810]

Both the Eastman and Heritage had a 'chime' that the Gibson didn't quite get . . . but, a matter of taste. I avoid Chinese products as they are an insidious power (insert conspiracy theories here) and as we are 20% of their rapacious economy, we can fight back by not giving them our support.

[@theonlyrobot]

@@leonarddaneman810 I'm surprised it's that small, actually. Their economy is really doing poorly of late. They're bleeding off manufacturing to the South Pacific and India, due to increased labor costs, and they've got a real estate crisis going on right now. The joys of having a middle class, that don't go away when you drape a red flag over them. We don't hear that, because for some reason I can't figure out, our media doesn't seem to cover bad news from China that much. I'm sure it's just an oversight.

[@leonarddaneman810]

@@theonlyrobot Yes. A robust Middle Class is essential, and China is ignoring that in favor of raping globally through the CCP. Another good observation is the animated GDP of nations from the 1600's to present day. It is an eye-opener.

[@BlackCatBonz]

Nice playing Rhett... nailed the Jimmy.

[@stevepowell8231]

Rhett - Really enjoyed the shootout! Ben at Righteous is super nice guy and very honest. I can afford pretty much anything under $5,000, I've bought 2 Eastman's because of quality for the $$. My #1 is an SB55/V (varnish finish). It looks much like a Gibson junior, however build and sound wise it blows the Gibson away. It has one Lollar P90 and plays like butter. I just bought a mint SB56 Goltop that's almost as good. Be glad to bring them to your studio or Righteous to try. Would love to play your Novo, definitely something special going there. Keep up the great video work! Hope you get some gigs soon.

[@chrisegonsearlemusic]

I played a Murphy Lab this week and it absolutely blew my mind. I had to reassess my idea of quality. I've played nothing like it.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Yeah for me the ML is the only way to go since i want a 1958-59 clone that is as close to a original in looks and play ability as possible and is going to maintain value. As great as the Eastman and Heritage may be there are visual things about them i cannot get past that really bother me. since these things would always bother me mentally i would never be 100% happy. so the lower price is not worth it to me.

[@chrisegonsearlemusic]

@@These_go_to_eleven_1959 my thoughts exactly

[@princephilip-v5t]

Agreed. I have a 65 ES and it’s awesome. But I’m thinking of getting an Eastman as well for everyday playing.

[@chrisegonsearlemusic]

@@princephilip-v5t I was looking at Sire Larry Carlton actually.

[@davemassie3726]

Eastman! $ left over buys a killer tube amp & a few righteous pedals.

[@DDWyss]

That's what I would do if I was smarter and less of a sucker than I am. Oh well, I gotta be me!

[@steveo44]

Yeah a nice vox ac30 amp and another 500 on some sweet pedals. A wedge in the back pocket and a smile on the face

[@msspi764]

I've not played any of these, so this is for what its worth. I have played other Eastmans, Heritages, and Gibsons. All three were great, I think Eastman has been killing it in their price range for a while. But I really liked the Heritage I played (a 335 clone), and if this one is the same level of product I think that would be my pick. I just don't have $7k waiting around to throw at the Gibson, no matter how great it is. The $4K range is probably the PRS 594.

[@onehotrocker99]

I'm leaning towards the Heritage, mainly because of the price and beautiful flame top and finish. But would change out the pick ups to Gibson 490R and 498T for higher output and more modern tone.

[@rodriguezelfeliz4623]

Can you hear it? Yes. Can you feel the difference? Even more. Does it justify the price difference? That's a BIG no for me

[@NikoFrederiko.]

Save for the real thing huh?

[@NikoFrederiko.]

I agree.

[@sonorational6521]

Most of the price difference is not in the sound.

[@mickeyparker]

Beautiful tones from all of the three. 😍

[@NasserSharaf]

Heritage for me. I preferred the tone on that one the most. Obviously playing it will be the final determination with regards to feel but I loved its sound and it hits a reasonable sweet spot for me on price as well.

[@simon_patterson]

Reading the comments, you should really have included every single LP equivalent in this comparison. How dare you fail to make a never ending video! 😁

[@nellayema2455]

I love that Heritage was started by a group of former Gibson employees, but to say that the Heritage guitars are made by the same people who built the original Les Pauls is a fallacy. 1959 was 61 years ago--those people aren't still working. Heritage was founded in 1985. That was 36 years ago, so even most, if not all have retired, and those that aren't are probably not working in production. That said, Heritage guitars are excellent instruments. Fun fact: The new Harmony guitars are made in the Heritage factory in Kalamazoo.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Well explained, thanks for that. I couldn't quite get my head around what Rhett was saying. I was thinking to myself that these would have to be very very old people making these guitars, like 90-year olds.

[@SteelStringThing]

@@NewFalconerRecords honestly this is all such a silly waste of time...people learn how to make your sound on what you own...we are lost in searching for what we don't have...what we don't have is our own sound and style...Gibsons and fenders are easily the most overated guitars in the world right now...and when you get to custom shop etc...that's just bs. better to buy a used suhr or PRS or Gibson, a great tube amp and a great mic/stand, and preamp /interface and mac laptop and logic than 7 on a Murphy guitar

[@SteelStringThing]

when most people hear a great song, they don't go...what are they playing...we don't write music or play for musicians...or impress musicians with our axe...we play to touch peoples lives...they don't give two hoots of an owl what we play to make them happy...and honestly, how many people have 7 to spend on a guitar after this economic devastation. If you do...consider helping out the less fortunate...it will actually probably make you a better player

[@goswo]

Yes the old Masterbuilders are way gone. I have had really good older Heritage guitars. Some years ago they were “invested in” by an investment comp. And they seem to have gone through the usual process. I dont look for them anymore. But very much like how they started out in the 80’ies :-)

[@keithowens2554]

Congrats on the new house and new studio

[@dubldeez5784]

I have all of these guitars including 3 Murphy Lab LP’s. Two Heritage customs and 2 east mans, one with the Varnish. Not only do I reach for the Eastman more than the other guitars but every artist that I have in the studio enjoys the Eastman more than the Gibsons. (Including a $75k one I have.). It’s possible that I have a very unique Eastman in the fact that they are all different as they are handmade. I am a Gibson collector and have about 25 of them but when it comes to playing the Eastman is spectacular!

[@georgesarris5556]

The hetatige sounded so good and I couldn't get myself to spend 7K when I can have an incredible guitar for $2800 (or a LP standard). Wouldn't feel anything missing in my life if all I could afford was the Eastan either

[@spudwashington3880]

The Heritage to me is the one that stood out sound wise . Maybe you thought it sounded bad . I thought it was great cause it set its sound apart from the other two . But to me if you play 10 of the same guitar diffrent ones consecutively . You will know , each one is diffrent . So brand are not as important. It’s about playing a quantity of the same type of instrument you want . Untill you find the true gem.

[@lewsheen7514]

LOVED the nod to "Since I've Been..." One of my FAVORITE AWESOME Les Paul Tone Eargasm tunes EVER!!!!! WELL done shootout, Rhett - THANKS! Grateful you both shared your impressions of the FEEL of playing these guitars, the ONLY info we listeners can get from the vid is TONE. Of course, playability is JUST as important. I've got a '95 Les Paul Standard w/a wine red finish, and it's a RIGHTEOUS sounding and playing LP - think I'll go give it a thrash! 'C'mon Everybody' by Humble Pie, anyone?

[@DDWyss]

Thanks for making the exact video I wanted to watch, Rhett! I'm seriously considering getting a Murphy Lab Les Paul. Part of me is trying to talk myself into getting something less expensive, but part of me wants to go ahead and spend the $7k. This guitar shootout is exactly what I needed to see! I agree with you 100% about spending the money on what you really want instead of settling for something really great but not quite "it". Awesome video as always. Thanks again!

[@standingbadger]

Spend that 7k. You will not feel happy until you do and it’s completely pointless having a 2 or 3k version of your dream, a 3-4k saving in your checking account, and that constant niggling that you should have gone for THE dream guitar. Hopefully you can get hold of it to try-before-you-buy before pulling the trigger.

[@DDWyss]

@@standingbadger I ended up buying that Murph Lab Les Paul and I'm so glad I did! I absolutely love it! AND...I actually bought it before the whole "supply chain" price increase, so now in addition to loving the guitar more and more all the time, I feel great about having gotten it while the getting was better than it is now. I didn't get to play before buying it either. All the local places, as well as a lot of the major dealers across the country were out of stock, so I just ordered straight from Gibson. I figured if I didn't like it I could send it back, and since it's a Gibson Custom Shop guitar, I can always get good money for it if I ever decide to sell it later. But it's a "life" guitar and I won't be selling it!

[@michaelthompson9070]

@@DDWyss Congratulations on your new guitar! I recently bought a 58 reissue and it's so much better than every other Les Paul I've owned (currently have 3 including another custom shop LP). Definitely not cheap but guitars are relatively cheap compared to other instruments (violins & other symphony instruments). I lost so much money buying/selling guitars that weren't quite what I wanted rather than just biting the bullet!

[@TwelveSticks]

Not surprised the Eastman stood up. I have an Eastman T486 and the build quality is unreal - way better than any Gibson I've owned.

[@tommanseau6277]

And from what I’m hearing, I’d choose the Herritage guitar all day long, hands down.

[@elevenAD]

i agree, it blew me away! the Eastman was just good to my ears, nothing special ..

[@kirtb9784]

I’m saying I heard the same ... I get I wasn’t playing the guitar in the room but I’m surprised Rhett didn’t just go crazy on the Heritage.

[@VictorNickel]

I was wondering whether I was crazy because it sounds way less muddy than the other two yet they dismiss it Which makes this video a masterpiece in marketing manipulation, and succeeding at satisfying three advertisers at once

[@tommanseau6277]

@@VictorNickel Honestly I was not there. I was careful to stipulate from what I heard. What hey heard in the room at the time and the way the guitar made them feel, the Gibson might really have been the best guitar in the room. But I also will stipulate that all too often we hear with our eyes, not our ears.

[@jessd1952]

Awesome. Love this kind of content.

[@jeremydahm2124]

Dang. The bridge pup on the Murph, and the neck on the Eastwood. The Eastwood sounded so good regardless of price. Gotta think that's the ultimate LP for gigging bars. Cool vid Rhett!

[@RobGross12]

Eastman, not Eastwood.

[@danmorrison8746]

I'm all about that Heritage. What a beauty. $6,500 for that Les Paul from Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab finish is obviously a stratospheric price, but I had prepped myself for a $10k price tag with every top end appointment aside from overly ornate inlays on it. I'm not going to call it a bargain but that price doesn't seem criminal.

[@bigstick5278]

I own two 90's left handed Heritage guitars. H-150 burst and H-157 Custom. Never part with them.

[@rjlong89]

Im diggin the top on the heritage. Its like slashs real afd. And the gibson is killllllR