Eastman Jazz Elite 16-6 Archtop Jazz Guitar #L2100408 w case

“Beautiful Love” performed by Robert DiNardo on a Jazz Elite through a Fender Super Champ.

“Here’s that rainy day” performed by Robert DiNardo on a Jazz Elite through a Fender Super Champ.

Product Description

Eastman Custom Jazz Elite 16 was designed by Guitars ‘n Jazz owner, Lou Del Rosso and made by Eastman Guitars exclusively for Guitars’ n Jazz. It is “gig ready” out of the box. The Jazz Elite 16 is a 16″ lower bout by 2 1/4″ depth at the rim and features Eastman best premium woods, 905 neck profile, abalone inlays, hand wound Lollar Imperial set humbucking pickup, and most importantly heavy parallel bracing used in the 60’s by Gibson in it’s famous L5 models which are extremely expensive today. The fuller 905 profile neck and the heavy parallel top bracing makes a much stiffer top and a more complex Gibson like Jazz tone with the clarity that Eastman archtops are famous. This comfortable 16″ archtop has lots of punch with feedback resistance. This Jazz Elite 16 comes in a Nitro Classic finish with all maple binding. Choice of ebony bridge or Tunomatic with nylon saddles the replicates the mojo and tone of the 1950’s jazz guitars. LISTEN TO THE SOUND CLIPS BELOW! clarity, warmth and great tone! “Hi Lou, just wanted to say and let you know the “Jazz Elite” Still sounds great.  One of the finest guitars I’ve owned over the years.  I’ve owned an L5, Guild 500, Gibson175, and a few others over the years.  I’m 81yrs. old!  I still love to play and even take a gig now and then.  I always get questions about the Eastman!, Rob Dinardo, staff guitarist on the Mike Douglas show for 25 years”

About Eastman

In 1992, Qian Ni, who had come to the United States from China to study music, founded Eastman Strings. In the beginning, he and his two musician colleagues bought instruments from Western-trained violin makers from their home town in China, but before long, they saw that a different approach was needed.

VIOLINS

Mr. Ni hired a group of established master violinmakers, and with their help, he established a large master violin workshop devoted to the handcrafting of instruments—one of the first the world had known since the first half of the 20th century. In the short time since this workshop was founded, the reputation of Eastman Strings’ instruments for tonal quality and craftsmanship excellence has become a worldwide standard.

After establishing the instrument making workshop, Qian Ni went on to found a bow making workshop based on the same principals. In both workshops, master makers train and oversee talented woodworkers to create some of the world’s finest student, step-up, and professional instruments and bows.

Today, the instrument and bow making workshops of Eastman Strings operate in precisely the same manner as late 19th century European workshops. They have virtually no power tools aside from the band saws used to cut out the necks and the outlines of the tops and backs of instruments. Chisels, knives, gouges, and scrapers, in the hands of outstandingly gifted craftspeople, are the primary tools used to create these modern instruments and bows, using methods centuries old. Thanks to Eastman Strings, string players today have advantages unknown to earlier generations: quality instruments, bows, and cases available world-wide at affordable prices.

GUITARS

Eastman Strings had been accepted as high quality handcrafted instruments, so Mr. Ni identified the need for hand crafted arch top guitars at an affordable price. Following the same good practices established by the violin shop, a studied approach was applied to the arch top guitar. Numerous vintage models were studied and the first guitars were built by the most gifted staff of the shop.

The results exceeded expectations and became an immediate hit among players of all levels. Rapidly Eastman was established as an extremely high quality- high value, affordable arch top guitar manufacturer. It was only logical that Eastman continued to branch out into the mandolin family of instruments, various electric guitars and flat top acoustic guitars. All products have been highly regarded by players and used everywhere from homes to major concert stages internationally.

BAND INSTRUMENTS

The story of Eastman does not stop with stringed instruments. In addition to fine violins, stringed instruments, guitars and mandolins, Eastman has become a major name in the band instrument business. Eastman builds woodwind and brass instruments and has continued the tradition of high quality at a low cost.

Most recently, Eastman became the owner of Haynes flutes, one of the most regarded brands ever and continues to operate that company in the tradition of Haynes. In the future you can be sure that Eastman will continue its fine tradition of craftsmanship and exceptional value in every Eastman instrument produced.

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