Eastman T386RD Electric Hollowbody

The Eastman T386RD Electric Hollowbody is a popular semi-hollow electric guitar that pays homage to classic thinline designs, particularly those from the late 1950s. It's highly regarded for its exceptional build quality, resonant tone, and excellent value, often compared favorably to more expensive American-made counterparts. The "RD" in the model name typically refers to its Red (often a transparent cherry or classic red) finish.

Key Features:

• Semi-Hollow Body Construction:
  • Body Style: 16" Thinline with a double-cutaway design, offering comfortable access to higher frets.
  • Body Top, Back, and Sides: Laminated Maple, which contributes to a bright, articulate, and resonant tone. The laminate construction also helps to reduce feedback, making it more suitable for louder stage volumes than a fully hollow body.
  • Body Dimensions: 16" x 1 3/4" (depth).
  • Internal Construction: Features a center block, similar to classic ES-335 style guitars, which enhances sustain and feedback resistance while retaining the airiness of a semi-hollow.
• Neck & Fingerboard:
  • Neck Material: Maple.
  • Neck Profile: Comfortable "Traditional Even C" profile, well-regarded for its playability.
  • Fingerboard: Ebony, a dense and smooth wood that provides a fast playing surface and clear note definition. (Note: Some earlier models might have had Rosewood, but Ebony is standard for current production).
  • Fingerboard Radius: 12", a versatile radius for both chord work and lead playing.
  • Frets: 22 Jescar FW47104 medium-jumbo frets, known for their durability and smooth feel.
  • Nut: Bone nut, typically 1 3/4" (1.72") wide, contributing to enhanced tone and tuning stability.
  • Scale Length: 24.75", a classic short scale length that offers a comfortable feel and warm tone.
• Pickups:
  • Equipped with Kent Armstrong HPAN-1 Humbuckers (HPAN-1N in the neck, HPAN-1B in the bridge). These are well-regarded for their warm, clear, and versatile vintage-voiced PAF-style tones, suitable for jazz, blues, rock, and more.
• Hardware:
  • Bridge: Tune-o-matic style bridge (often Gotoh).
  • Tailpiece: Stop tailpiece (often Gotoh).
  • Tuners: Reliable Pingwell RM1239-NV tuners (or similar Gotoh tuners) ensure tuning stability.
  • Hardware Color: Nickel.
• Electronics:
  • Controls: Standard 2 Volume, 2 Tone (one set for each pickup).
  • Switch: 3-way toggle pickup selector switch.
  • High-Quality Components: Utilizes quality potentiometers (500K Audio Taper) and capacitors (e.g., 0.047F).
• Aesthetics:
  • Finish: "Truetone Gloss" Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish in Red. This transparent finish beautifully highlights the maple grain.
  • Binding: Ivoroid binding on the body and neck, adding a touch of classic elegance.
  • Inlays: Pearl Dot inlays on the ebony fingerboard.
  • Pickguard: Black plastic pickguard with ivoroid binding.
• Included Accessory: Comes with a Hardshell Case for excellent protection and transport.

The Eastman T386RD is praised for its comfortable playability, resonant semi-hollow tone that offers both warmth and clarity, and its ability to cover a wide range of musical styles. It's considered a fantastic option for players seeking a high-quality, "335-style" guitar without the premium price tag of some other brands.