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2006 Eastman AR-805CE

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Serial#: 000588-520(2)

Body size at lower bout: 116"" Body Depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut: 1 3/4"

Finish: Natural blonde finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; handcarved AAA tiger flame handcarved maple back and sides with Venetian cutaway; 3 piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; ebony truss rod cover; 7-ply body binding; 5-ply neck and peghead binding; triple bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Solid ebony tailpiece and finger rest; gold Imperial style 16X1 tuners; compensated adjustable ebony bridge; Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup with thumbwheel volume control under finger rest.

Notes: All solid. All carved. Hand built, one at a time, with remarkable high-figure tonewoods. Eastman archtop guitars are individually crafted by violin-trained luthiers, without shortcuts, the old-fashioned way. And they share the appointments of the costliest high-end guitars. Solid ebony finger rest, tailpiece and fingerboard like a Benedetto. An X-braced top and 1 3/4" nut, like a Johnny Smith. Even triple bound f-holes, like the Super 400. All at a price point previously dominated by factory plywood boxes.

This guitar is constructed of exceptionally intense tiger flame maple, which is bookmatched in a dramatic chevron pattern along the centerseam. With its comfy 16" body, the guitar is lightweight and resonant, with a finely carved soundboard of solid bookmatched quartersawn spruce. The pickup floats cleanly off the body and the Kent Armstrong floating humbuckiong pickup is quiet and accurate. And the neck profile is comfortably tailored to the palm: not too skinny, not too big. This stunning blonde guitar is a rare example of the 805 model in natural finish, which is now available only in the premium priced 900 series Eastmans.

Carefully maintained, the instrument is without pick, buckle, thumb or fretwear, and has 100% original finish and hardware. Apart from a few wisps of lacquer checking on the neck, the guitar appears virtually unplayed. Finally, the Eastman contour molded plush lined fiberglass case is highly impact resistant, yet little heavier that many gig bags.making for an easy load-in to and from the gig.

Rarely seen on the used market, and for a good reason: owners are keepers. With a combination of workmanship, materials and design unheard of in its price range, Eastman has raised the bar for quality, performance and value in a true handmade jazz guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original black contour-molded fiberglass hardshell case.