The Eastman Jazz Elite is made exclusively for a shop in the Northeast and currently retails for over $2,500. Description from the retailer is – Eastman Custom Jazz Elite 16 is a 16″ lower bout by 2 1/4″ depth at the rim and features Eastman premium woods, with all maple binding, 905 neck profile, abalone inlays, hand wound Lollar Imperial set humbucking pickup, and most importantly heavy parallel bracing as used in the 60’s by Gibson L5. The fuller 905 profile neck and the heavy parallel top bracing makes a much stiffer top and a more complex Gibson like Jazz tone with the clarity that Eastman archtops are famous.
This guitar was built in 2015 and I had purchased ‘new’ in 2020. I had a Tune-o-Matic bridge professionally installed for improved intonation (original bridge is included). As you can see there is minimal (nothing visible) fret wear although there are some surface scratches in the varnish near the bridge which were difficult to photograph (these unfortunately were present when I originally received the guitar). The thinner body depth makes this guitar comfortable to play and the maple binding against the wine red finish, along with Gotoh ebony and gold tuners as well as gold hardware dresses it up nicely. OHSC and signed build documentation from Eastman.