News on New Eastwoods

[DeadStopCybertron]

Since I'm already in love with the EEB-1, I even found one locally for sale I plan on buying once I have the money for it.
And I've liked the appearance on the Magnum which I found for dirt cheap (unsure if I should get it), I'm just obsessed with these guys.

But, when are they coming out with new pieces?

I read somewhere they were aiming for 3 new models per year and haven't seen anything for this one.
Snooping around the Eastwood site I couldn't find any information that lead me to believe they were working on something.

Most of it came down to specialty models for certain musicians and noticeable musicians that were using their products already.

Do they only give out info at NAMM?
(When & where is that too?)

Sorry, loaded questions I suppose.

[pjmuck]

Shoot Mike Robinson an e-mail and simply ask him what's coming down the pike. Very nice approachable guy. mike@eastwoodguitars.com or michael@myrareguitars.com.

As for the Magnum, it might be a great bass, but some of us are a bit disappointed with the look of it in relation to the actual Ovation Magnum it's modeled after. I fully understand Mike's attempt to deliver an affordable product requires cutting certain aesthetic corners (i.e. no scroll headstock on the EEB-1), but you still kinda wish he got closer with the Magnum. I'm kind of surprised he has no media files up on his site for it yet, which makes me wonder how much longer he'll be offering them or if they're selling. I've also found Eastwood's QC to be hit and miss depending on the source of manufacture. The MIK (Korean) Airline Map bass is an outstanding instrument, and thus is his priciest model as well. Likewise, some of the MIC (China) models I've tried weren't great. I'm not sure what plant he's making the Magnum at, though.

[PunkRockBassist]

i want the high flyer back in a lefty model or some other kind of mosrite ventures styles bass.

[DeadStopCybertron]

Who made the EEB model? Was it a good manufacturing source or am I better off hunting around for another?

I got to play it for a bit in the shop and had to say I was really impressed with the weight and how light it felt in my hands.

Regardless, I thought the Ampeg copies couldn't have the scroll headstock due to copyright infringements.


Also, I forgot to ask, regardless of quality & in terms of how it was constructed, how playable was the reproduced Magnum?

[ezstep]

i want the high flyer back in a lefty model or some other kind of mosrite ventures styles bass.

*shudders*

I had a righty Mosrite Ventures signature bass back in .... 1979? Single pickup. Do. Not. Want.
One sound and one sound only. Muddy, mushy, more of a "thud" than a clear, crisp tone. I tried it with flats, ground-wounds, and rounds, and none gave me the sound I wanted.

Play one before you purchase. Seriously.

[PunkRockBassist]

i want the high flyer back in a lefty model or some other kind of mosrite ventures styles bass.

*shudders*

I had a righty Mosrite Ventures signature bass back in .... 1979? Single pickup. Do. Not. Want.
One sound and one sound only. Muddy, mushy, more of a "thud" than a clear, crisp tone. I tried it with flats, ground-wounds, and rounds, and none gave me the sound I wanted.

Play one before you purchase. Seriously.

really? man i want a mosrite ventures bass so bad was even thinking about getting a righty and flipping it at one point.

[pjmuck]

The build and overall quality level of the Eastwood Hi Flyer was noticeably inferior to their better made Airline (MIK) or even Classic 4 (MIC?) models. Chinese made, and mine even came with one tuner that's completely different than the other 3! (matte finished vs. chrome). There's an inspection sticker on the back of the headstock signed off by some Chinese guy who obviously made one too many trips to the opium den. The neck PUP surround also caved in on mine. I complained to Mike, and he sent me an entirely new PUP and surround. I should have complained about the tuner discrepancy too, but I never did.

I do like the sounds of the bass though. Has a very dark, gritty tone to it, unique to itself. If Eastwood ever offers these again, though, they'll have to bump up the quality level. I think they've since moved their chinese production to a different plant, so there's hope there.

[ezstep]

really? man i want a mosrite ventures bass so bad was even thinking about getting a righty and flipping it at one point.

The link shows a copy of a Univox, which is quite similar to the old Mosrite. But, the Ventures signature model had only a neck pickup - this one has both a neck and a bridge pickup. That would probably give you more clarity right there.