Tone Shootout with Three Different Eastman SB 59's

Rich Dixon trying out 3 Eastman SB 59's at Boothe Bros Music in Provo, UT.
1- SB59 V Antique varnish with Lollar Imperial aged humbuckers.
2- SB59 LTD black laquer with open coil Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates.
3- SB59 Gold Burst laquer with Seymour Duncan Classic 59's.

[@larryh.3173]

I used to own a really nice Gibson. One day, I bought an antique varnished Eastman (loaded with SD Antiquities). Loved that so much that I bought a gloss-finished SB59 (loaded with Duncan ‘59s). Quite different sounding from the varnish model, still can’t decide which I like better… but who needs to decide, right? Both are superb in every regard. Bottom line: I sold that Gibson. “Surplus to requirements” as it’s sometime phrased. Haven’t missed it at all.

[@79lpcustom]

I LOVE the tones here! really picks up on how great this little amp and those guitars sound!

[@SamHooperGroup]

I like 2 and then 3 the best. That amp with them sounds killer!! I didn’t know it could get such beautiful clean and Med gain tones. Soulful playing too! Thanks for posting.

[@katharinecreswell4866]

I just recently received an sb59 and it immediately became my favorite guitar. Its so easy to bond with these

[@jjnewbold]

I think 2 was my favorite, followed by 3. Impressive!

[@hippie-io7225]

I like guitar the sound of guitar No 1 and No3. The middle one was still very good. Nice video angle on Rich's fret board. Great person to watch play!

[@swimgc]

I will take 3 . Love the thick tone of the SD59s.

[@t-radray7231]

I have two and they're both amazing. If you find a 59 grab it!

[@PlottingTheDownfall]

Love my Eastman SB59 Goldburst

[@Boothemusic]

We love a good Eastman! 🤘

[@Zacharydderrick]

Thanks for the comparison!

[@J_C838]

Great tones! Rich is such a phenomenal guitar player, and an even better person! I couldn’t help but notice how nice that neck pickup cleaned up on that last guitar cleaned up. Overall nice dynamics and tones from all three of those guitars. Great video!

[@JamieGlaserpage]

Love this and Rich is playing his ass off

[@marioa5388]

Awesome guitars.. better quality then gibson

[@Boothemusic]

Hot take!!

[@rorychilds4139]

I'll take all 3. They all send great. My favorite might be the Gold Burst with the classic 59's. I'll have to pull out the headphones to really listen or come to the store. But, then I'll be tempted to buy one.

[@Nikoo033]

Could also try sb57. They sound awesome too. Thanks for the demo.

[@tommyandcyndi]

Good call - the 57 ltd is the best LP style I've every played/owned after 40 yrs of searching.

[@Nikoo033]

@@tommyandcyndi I love mine. 🥰

[@Macmax7077]

Eastman guitars sound and feel so good! A new classic I would say!

[@lazvt8469]

love my T486....may just win a used lefty GoldTop SB59 off eBay in a day or two.... Eastman's rock....really rock.

[@lazvt8469]

@Anthony Marks me too....it was the same guitar! LOL. what did you pay if I may ask? I really thought I'd win it. I hate you. I ordered a new one off Jerry's Lefty this afternoon to soothe my bitter defeat. I hope we both enjoy our new toys.

[@lazvt8469]

@Anthony Marks I may be a bit more seasoned in terms of horse trading (but still intermediate and pushing 60)....my son's a player for sure. I got a used Edwards LP GoldTop off Reverb with p90's last month...paid $825 (new between $1300-1500), thinking I'd never afford a Gibson GT and not wanting to pay $1500 for an Eastman. BTW: Got my SB59 GT from Lefty for $1475 shipped (includes ship/tax). I've had a handful of Gibsons and Heritage, but my T486 is the best of 'em, hands down.

[@lazvt8469]

@Anthony Marks I was trying to up my bid a bit last minute when totally and unexpectedly, my computer froze in the last couple of minutes. You may have had a higher threshold as I was really topped out at $1136 or so.... Told my daughter God didn't want me to have the guitar. LOL. I'll get you next time! 😉

[@lazvt8469]

@Anthony Marks I'm a basement dweller too... Wish there's a way to keep in touch in case you or I have a lefty we care to buy/sell in the future since we share tastes...

[@wolvesandguitars]

B Bender Fingers not fair

[@sgguitarzz]

I like 1 and 2 the best. The second had more bite and the 1st more midrange. The 3rd sounded bland to me. Great player.

[@kingcormack8004]

I want to try the SB56 with soapbars.

[@darinluscher478]

I managed to become the owner of one a couple days ago! I previously owned an SB59, and I agree, the SB56 sounds better to my ears! I don’t dislike humbuckers, my other guitar is a T59V, but in the Eastman SB, there’s something about those Lollar P90s!

[@gourabshow3993]

Helloo Sir 👲💖

[@kiekiek]

Are there any quality difference sound wise between the varnish and the regular SB59's, besides the pickups. Is the varnish more resonant or somehow better quality, or is it mainly visual?

[@LucaGaetanoAlboreto]

They are exactly the same in terms of material and craftsmanship. The varnish requires a different process but compared to the nitro gloss finish it's a matter of taste/look. The real difference in terms of price is made by lollar pickups, but i can tell that even with SD the guitar sounds stellar.

[@JohannesLabusch]

I'm too shallow to listen for differences, for me it's all about looks. So it's the Gretsch orange one for me.

[@Boothemusic]

Love that color!

[@Edward1312]

Problem for me with Eastman guitars are threefold IMHO they are firstly compromised Gibson's in that they obviously copy classic Gibson shapes (but dont look as good because they can't look exactly the same to avoid Gibson lawsuits) and they are also at the wrong price point as they compete with the Gibson secondhand market and finally Eastman resale value tanks. They need to be cheaper but the same quality if they want to expand but that may not be their intention as there marketing model maybe to stay boutique.

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

Looks are subjective but fair point. In terms of cost, I don’t agree on your other points. You’d be hard pushed finding one of these second hand, and if you do they won’t be at a tanked value. I also don’t get your point about the Gibson second hand market. Other than the name on the headstock I can’t see any reason why anyone would take a second hand Standard over a brand new, essentially custom shop Eastman guitar.

[@largecoke4087]

The guitars are meh. The Amp is producing some good magic.

[@davidross5630]

guessing you never actually played one?