We try a trendy but inexpensive prolonged vary guitar from the model behind the “pawnshop” revival.

There’s not a ton of guitars that move the “workplace” take a look at for me. This take a look at, which consists of me judging how a lot I wish to choose up a guitar once I see it hanging on the rack within the my workplace, has been a trusted measuring stick for me in recent times. As my expertise with critiques and new manufacturers has grown, so too has my pessimism about new gear releases.

This yr nevertheless, I took a bit extra of a nuanced method, working with manufacturers I trusted and reviewing guitars that genuinely me from afar. Not simply no matter was latest, or no matter was straightforward to get my arms on. I circled again and collaborated with some manufacturers that I’ve watched from afar for years (Jet Guitars and EART), but in addition invested a while within the manufacturers which have traditionally made me comfortable (like Fender and PRS).

Eastwood Guitars is one other a kind of manufacturers. A few of my earliest critiques and articles have been all targeted on the return of the “pawnshop” guitar loopy within the late 2010s. I like these previous, quirky guitars that sound nice with loud fuzzes and loud amps, including depth to skinny and wiry pickups (and people slender frets). Eastwood although has at all times made fashionable, snug recreations of these nice guitars, and this Sidejack isn’t any totally different with it’s nod to Mosrite.

It’s A Celebration

The guitar in query is Eastwood’s Sidejack Baritone, a restricted version model that celebrates 20 years of the Sidejack guitar’s existence. Costing $749 USD, this pretty priced guitar really is sort of spectacular by way of the texture and sound. The spec sheet could not leap out at you (Basswood physique, C-shaped Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard, twin P90s), however this guitar has acquired the products. It’s a kind of “higher than the sum of its elements” form of guitars. Not that the elements are dangerous by any means, however I feel this guitar is much more spectacular when you’re taking part in it than it might seem.

The quirky offset does characteristic a stunning German carve, and the gold end is admittedly fairly as properly. Eastwood’s Sidejack Baritone is a simplified beast although, with a lot of low finish growl, some stunning chime, and only a typically nice taking part in expertise.

Thus, it has spent the final a number of weeks nailing the “workplace” take a look at. Principally anytime I’ve strolled of their to work, it’s gotten a number of strums or melodies plucked.

The Demo

I plugged this Eastwood magnificence into my pedalboard and performed it by a mixture of delays, fuzzes, distortions, and modulations. Particularly, you’ll hear the EHX Reminiscence Man Deluxe Nano, Shotmaker Devices Heroine Deluxe, Heather Brown Spirit In The Sky, and Boss CE-2w with the Sidejack Baritone. All of that was operating into my Common Audio stereo setup, which contains a Ruby and Dream amp/cab sim on both aspect, operating into the Volt276 and my laptop computer.

There’s a lot pure growl, the low finish virtually supplies a reverb-like impact when strumming this Sidejack Baritone. It clearly comes alive whenever you layer on fuzz and drives to blast your ear drums, however I used to be actually happy with the nice and cozy cleans and arpeggiated sounds from this guitar.

It brings an entire new really feel and timbre to acquainted chord shapes and patterns. Truthfully, it might be a lazy approach to simply boost your taking part in. But it surely works! There’s been no scarcity of enjoyable, and that’s at all times register a guitar overview.

The Sidejack Baritone is certainly not one thing that I otherwise you “want”. However it’s enjoyable, and in case you can afford it, or end up in want of a decrease vary guitar, that is one I can extremely suggest!