Eastwood Guitars Stormbird

(Originally written by Mischka/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
China

21 frets, two P90 pickups.

Fixed bridge.

Two volume and two tone controls, toggle switch.

No idea... Perhaps a slim taper?

UTILIZATION

Pleasant and quite round but too thick neck. It's a set neck, which is quite rare in this price range.

Easy access to the upper frets.

The guitar has exactly the same problem as the real Firebird with non-reversed headstock: it tips forward, but a few days will be enough for you to get used to it. The guitar is a bit heavier than a standard Telecaster.

Excellent sound and good manufacturing quality. The pickups sound good and are quite faithful to the original P90. The main disadvantage of the P90 is the noise, which depends on the room size and the distance to the amp. No feedback problems even at high output levels.

SOUNDS

I play in a punk rock band and this guitar perfectly matches my needs.

I play a VOX AC30 with a wah-wah pedal, a TS7 for rhythm parts and riffs, and a SD2 for solos.

I only use the bridge pickup. The sound is dry and sharp but not too dirty (just as I like it). Very good sustain due to the set neck...

I can almost get the Les Paul Junior sound I need for my band with this guitar. The Stormbird is not so wild as a Les Paul Junior, a bit bulkier but it's alright. The toggle switch is not a problem... If it were the case I would fix it with adhesive tape!!



OVERALL OPINION

I've owned it for two months and I think I will keep it. It will be an excellent second guitar when I have a better instrument (LP Junior, Rickenbacker 620, etc.).

I like very much the neck, the pickups and the retro and original look. The machine heads are the main con. I've already tighten them several times but I will have to replace them soon.

Yes, I tested lots of other guitars but no Eastwood. After buying it, a friend of mine bought a Hummingbird (Mosrite/Univox replica) and he's very satisfied with it!

I think this guitar offers one of the best value for money right now... especially considering the price of a real Gibson.

The only question is: how will it sound in 10 or 15 years??

Update after several years: I won't ever know how this Eastwood will sound in the future because I sold it to go back to my roots: bass guitar... Nowadays, I think the best value for money is a Custom '77!

See other post for caratristiques.

UTILIZATION

The handle is impeccable, fast and comfortable. The guitar is great in your hands, may be just a little heavier at the handle (requires form).
The bridge is perfect for the palm mute. The slecteur, who seems extremely robust, is relatively well placed.
The P90 2 are mounted on rubber mounts that do little high but rglage home everything is OK.
The bridge is like a good LP and allows rglage intonation / pitch. In this regard, commme cell seems to be the case with any Eastwood, rglage the factory is perfect.
I put only 7 because of mcaniques that are a little weak and needed strengthening. With something a little more solid, the guitar without hsiter MRIT October 1. Despite the holding cell of agreement is more than satisfactory (a is in a good set of well-filled one hour).

SOUNDS

I play on JMP1 GX700 + 8008 + marshall + 2x1912, Marshall 30th anniversary combo and JCM900 1960 +, with an occasional delay or pedals of a chorus.
I use almost as acute microwave and all that goes to punk rock is perfect bite, a good output level, only the sustain seems to me a fair bit round despite al.
The micro serious, either in clean or saturated seems a little too dark my taste. The position intermdiaire .... sounds like a position intermdiaire, namely soft but not deaf (well I understand).
As for clean sounds, hard to judge with Marshall that is not made for a, but the ds has a little crunch is perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

In my rereading, I realize that the only default (as picky) is that the mcaniques parraissent a little fragile and all fawns, holding agreement is good.
The report price is unbeatable quality and devastating look, sound perfect ... but good.