Paul S Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 I was pointed in the direction of an Eastwood Surfcaster bass by one of 'my' guitards. [url="http://eastwoodguitars.co.uk/surfcaster-bass-seafoam-green/"]http://eastwoodguitars.co.uk/surfcaster-bass-seafoam-green/[/url] Then, having a noodle around the website, this Airline Map bass caught my attention. [url="http://eastwoodguitars.co.uk/airline-map-bass-seafoam/"]http://eastwoodguitars.co.uk/airline-map-bass-seafoam/[/url] Both delightfully retro in styling. Has anyone owned/played either and have any observations? Ed Friedland seemed to approve of the Map in a review. [url="https://youtu.be/0OPkbv0mzJ0"]https://youtu.be/0OPkbv0mzJ0[/url] Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 IIRC Basschatter LowEndBee's former band, The Jetsonics, bagged an endorsement deal with Eastwood and were furnished* with some lovely instruments from the company. *no idea whether they were free/loaned/bought at discount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Eastwood are far-East-made recreations of old budget brands, so you get the cool looks with (presumably) modern build quality and playability. Having said that, I don't think I have ever played one (guitar or bass), but that would be the first thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Wow, never seen that Surfcaster before! Very nice indeed! I love the Mosrite lookalike as well, and for once the Youtube demos make them sound really good! I would love one but they are priced just a bit the wrong side of affordable for me at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Looks like a Charvel copy. Nice though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1460381045' post='3025163'] Looks like a Charvel copy. [/quote] It is a "reissue" of the Charvel, hopefully properly licensed & everything. Oddly, I spotted this myself a couple of days ago, and, having a bit of long-term Surfcaster GAS, was quite excited until I saw the £700 price tag. I expect an original MIJ Charvel would probably be a bit less, if one came up. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floFC Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 I believe that Wunjo stocks some Eastwood basses, maybe worth giving them a call see if you can try one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Bassists in a band we've gigged with a few times has an Airline Map Bass. Looks good, but has the a really low output compared with my basses, so I always have to turn the gain right up if he's using my rig. The Eastwood instruments can appear to be very cool, but when you look closely about the only thing that they have in common with the original instruments that they are supposed to be copying is the approximate body shape. All the electrics and hardware is straight out of the generic Korean and Chinese guitars parts bins. In some ways this is a good thing since many of these parts are a definite improvement on those fitted to the original models. However it also means that a lot of the guitars don't have the full quirky character, and some are missing what I would consider to be essential features that were present on the instruments that they are trying to copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 I am hoping they reissue the Rocket Bass soon. They were cool. Still on my hit list from 15 about years ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 My immediate thought was to wonder what they bring to the party that a Danelectro doesn't. But I am still curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [quote name='basshead56' timestamp='1460583982' post='3027134'] I am hoping they reissue the Rocket Bass soon. They were cool. Still on my hit list from 15 about years ago! [/quote] [url=http://www.ekoguitars.it/en/hp/Ekoguitars-Acoustic-Classic-Electric-and-Bass-Guitars]Eko[/url] did a reissue of the Rocket Guitar recently, but it's been discontinued so it probably wasn't very popular. Therefore don't expect a Rocket Bass any time soon and certainly not from Eastwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1460619668' post='3027232'] My immediate thought was to wonder what they bring to the party that a Danelectro doesn't. But I am still curious [/quote] IMO the danelectro instruments are much more accurate when it comes to recapturing that vintage vibe. The other guitar manufacturer worth looking at from that PoV are [url=http://www.hallmarkguitars.com]Hallmark[/url]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1460619668' post='3027232'] My immediate thought was to wonder what they bring to the party that a Danelectro doesn't. But I am still curious [/quote] What's the connection between Danelectro and Eastwood? Very different instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1460637735' post='3027467'] What's the connection between Danelectro and Eastwood? Very different instruments. [/quote] I think it's that both make vintage styled instruments that take advantage of modern manufacturing techniques. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 (edited) ^This, plus the Surfcaster has lipstick style pups like the Dano. Having just typed this makes me think - are 'lipstick style pups' a particular type or is it just any old single coil with a curvy metal cover instead of a rectangular plastic one? I have a Dano Longhorn and had a 59DC, both with lipstick pups, both sound alike, neither sounded much like a Jazz, which would be my main point of reference for single coils pups. Edited to make more sense. Edited April 14, 2016 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1460644142' post='3027538'] Having just typed this makes me think - are 'lipstick style pups' a particular type or is it just any old single coil with a curvy metal cover instead of a rectangular plastic one? I have a Dano Longhorn and had a 59DC, both with lipstick pups, both sound alike, neither sounded much like a Jazz, which would be my main point of reference for single coils pups. [/quote] IME lipstick tube pickups are only similar if they are on instruments from the same manufacturer. My Gus guitar and basses have lipstick tube pickups which are very high output. I also used to own a Hohner 12 string guitar with them and that had probably the lowest output of any guitar I've ever owned. All of them sound great and completely suit the instruments they are fitted to put they have nothing in common except the style of the casing. A bit like P90 guitar pickups in that it's all about the style and the basic design only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 Thanks for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 [url="http://www.wdmusic.com/JBLR_1.html"]Kent Armstrong Jazz Lippy[/url] Would appear to be a standard J unit stuck inside a shiny metal choob. No idea what the ones on the Surfcaster are but doubtless they're bog-standard single coils of some sort. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 The price of the Eastwood hardly makes it a "cheap" copy of an old budget line. You could probably find a second hand Charvel Surfcaster for that money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 15, 2016 Author Share Posted April 15, 2016 Thanks all. I must say these are getting less appealing by the minute! At the moment my Dano Longhorn fills any space in my life for 'quirky/retro' requirements - I'll stick with that. Well, until something else comes along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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