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2018 Eastman El Rey ER-4
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Serial#: 1370
Body size at lower bout: 16" Body Depth: 2 1/8" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4" Neck depth: .88/.89, 1st/10th fret
Materials: Solid hand graduated spruce soundboard top; solid ribbon mahogany back, sides, and neck; solid ebony fingerboard; Macassar ebony headplate; 5-ply top purfling; solid curly maple body binding; solid bone nut.
Hardware: All gold hardware includes Kent Armstrong PAF pickup; Gotoh 18:1 tuners, solid ebony tailpiece and compensated adjustable bridge; gold bell volume and tone controls.
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, like solid hand graduated select spruce soundboards, ribbon mahogany bodies, curly maple binding and true nitro lacquer finishes. All at a price point previously dominated by plywood boxes.
Master luthier Otto D'Ambrosio began his career at age 13, helping out in the Mandolin Brothers repair shop. Later working with John Monteleone and Guild Guitars Westerly Plant, D'Ambrosio is now Chief Engineer at the Eastman Guitar Company, while still maintaining his own workshop for custom orders. The striking design for the El Rey combines influences from throughout his 30+ year career, and has resulted in an instrument both aesthetically distinctive, and exceptionally playable.
Constructed of extravagant ribbon figured mahogany, the El Rey ER4 is topped with a solid hand graduated spruce soundboard, with oval soundboles in the style of the renowned D'Aquisto Solo. At barely 5lb 8oz even, the guitar is happily lightweight, and balances nimbly on the lap or the strap, with a lively acoustic voice as well.
This handsome example is the premium version of the model, and has been maintained in immaculate condition, with all original true lacquer violin style finish without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The gentle C neck profile is comfortably tailored to the palm, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup over fine polished Jescar fretwork. With its famed Kent Armstrong PAF pickup, the guitar is equally at home with blues, bop, or Broadway standards: a uniquely versatile player for a wide range of styles and grooves.
With a combination of workmanship, materials and design unheard of in its price range, Eastman has raised the bar for quality, performance and value: a solid best buy in an innovative thinline classic for the 21st century. One only: call now.
Case: Original black Eastman arched 5-ply traditional style plush lined hardshell case.
Setup: This instrument is strung with light gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
