If you're after a stripped-down rock machine with killer tone, the Eastman SB55DC is tough to beat. Eastman took the classic single P-90 recipe we all know and love, and wrapped it all up in this awesome Olive Drab package. It's simple, lightweight, ridiculously fun to play, and has all the bite, growl, and touch sensitivity you'd expect from a great dog-ear P-90.
The one-piece Okoume body and neck keep the guitar lively and resonant, while the Lollar '50s Spec P-90 delivers everything from warm cleans to snarling overdrive with ease. Add in quality components like CTS pots, a no-load tone control, Sprague Orange Drop capacitor, Faber compensated wraparound bridge, and an ebony fingerboard, and you've got a guitar that feels every bit as good as it sounds.
One thing we do want to point out is Eastman's thin Truetone finish is known to occasionally develop some visual "finish weirdness" during shipping in the hotter months of the year. The affected areas are purely cosmetic—you can't feel them at all—and they have absolutely no impact on the playability, tone, or structural integrity of the guitar. We'd much rather mention it up front than have anyone surprised when they open the case.
If you've been looking for a lightweight, no-nonsense guitar with boutique-level components and a whole lot of personality, this one definitely deserves a look.
Specs
Body: One-Piece Solid Okoume
Finish: Truetone Varnish, Olive Drab
Neck: One-Piece Okoume
Fingerboard: Ebony, 12" Radius
Inlays: Pearl Dots
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Nut: Bone
Pickup: Lollar '50s Spec Dog-Ear P-90
Controls: Volume, Tone (CTS 500K No-Load Tone Pot)
