Why Didn’t Fender Think of This? | Eastman Fullertone Shootout
Fender should have thought of this but Eastman got there first with the Fullertone SC-52 and DC-62, two sub-€1000 guitars claiming boutique-level build quality.
Sweetwater (US ????????) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zxXAY6
Eastman – https://elkqr.link/eastman-fullertone
With a bolt-on neck joint that feels more like a glued set neck (thank you, Otto D’Ambrosio), roasted woods, ToneRider pickups, and a smell that’s frankly addictive, these Fullertones are aiming to shake up the “budget-but-not” category.
In this review, I put both guitars through their paces, take one apart (yes, really), and find out if the SC-52 or DC-62 is the better buy — or if Eastman have finally made a bolt-on worth drooling over.
Featuring: Eastman Fullertone SC-52, Eastman Fullertone DC-62, Fullertone neck joint, roasted maple neck, ToneRider pickups, best budget guitars 2025, and the kind of brutally honest guitar review you’re probably here for.
???? Which one would you pick? Let me know in the comments.
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00:00 – Eastman Fullertone SC-52 vs DC-62: First Look
00:30 – First Impressions and Play Feel
01:50 – SC-52 Detailed Specs and Features
05:30 – DC-62 Detailed Specs and Features
06:53 – All Pickup settings DIRTY – DC-62
08:38 – All Pickup settings DIRTY – SC-52
09:48 – Fuzz and High-Gain Sound Test
18:50 – Let’s Get Surfy!
26:48 – My Verdict. Which Eastman would I Buy?
DISCLAIMERS
Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase gear through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!
All opinions shared in this video are my own and were not reviewed or influenced by any outside parties.
#TheGuitarGeek #EastmanGuitars #FullertoneSeries #GuitarReview
#Didnt #Fender #Eastman #Fullertone #Shootout
Originally posted by UCI5i6aBbINMIEkYW3b6olHg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26iRJhpjLTo
???? Which one would you pick? Let me know in the comments.
Sweetwater (US ????????) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zxXAY6
Eastman – https://elkqr.link/eastman-fullertone
I recently bought a set of Toneriders 50s Nashville pickups. Incredible upgrade for the money. Would highly recommend them as an upgrade on entry level guitars. Made my tele actually sound like a tele unlike the squire stock pickups.
I'm a huge Eastman fan and own 9 of their electric guitars. When the Fullertone models were introduced, I knew I had to get one. I waited several months to get the SC'52. When it finally arrived, I was majorly disappointed and sent it back. It feels cheap, especially the tuners. The matte finish looks cheap. All the fret ends were sharp. The neck oddly too rounded and not very comfortable. And I don't mind a chunky neck at all, if it's comfortable. The placement of the volume knob seriously interferes with your strumming hand. The positives are the neck joint, and the Tonerider pickups, which sound incredible. Hopefully, they will make some improvements and I might give it another go.
As far as looks go, the "wing" coming out of the headstock, I'd experiment with painting the wing the color of the guitar…it would give some visual coherence with the whole instrument…you know, like they were made specifically for each other, vs looking like someone grabbed the neck from a stack, and bolted it on…haha! It's probably silly to think like that…I played one, but didn't buy it…yet…it still has me intrigued though, because it's not a Strat, it's not a Les Paul, it's not a PRS…even though I think it has sprinkles of all those kinds of guitars, it's not any of them…Brian May guitar comes to mind, but it for sure isn't that guitar either. It's kind of it's own deal…I guess the reason why it really has my interest is because I think it inspires differently than those guitars…you were hesitant in saying "It's a great rhythm guitar…", so that could be taken as "It's not my first choice to pick if I was needing to play lead guitar on it", but I don't think that is what you meant at all. I'd pick the DC as well, but I have never owned a Telecaster…I love Telecasters and Telecaster type guitars…when other people are playing them…and I think it's kind of a fear of mine, and I'm 64 years old…and the fear is that I'm afraid if I got a Tele, I might fall in love with it, haha! Anyway, for sure the DC 62, because of the tonal options it has on board, it has a really good Tremolo, and it has 24 frets…
I saw them yesterday in a guitar shop. They looked pretty cheap to me, like toys.
Oh no! I need both! ????
I like the DC model, reminds me to the Red special. Really like the desert sand color too
Would it be possible to have a tremolo bar on the DC52? Then it would be perfect!
can you tell me??.. What kind of effects do you also have on that guitar…Joe in Michigan
Completely get the smell thing, same here. Tried these recently at Horst Weber's Kufsteiner Musikhaus in Tirol and dig the Tele.
They put really nice pups in their guitars. My buddy purchased a LP Junior style with Lollar pups
As an owner of one of Eastman's high-end Les Paul-style guitars, I can totally attest to their quality. They don't cut corners. I really love the look at sound of these, and if I were in the market for another guitar, would definitely buy one (or both).
SO badly wish they would’ve gone with something closer to a 9” radius but obviously that’s just personal preference. I also understand every one of their guitars has a 12” radius to changing that probably makes things more difficult from a production standpoint
Getting serious GAS for the DC…. looks and sounds different to just about anything else, has a trem, and is sub £1k. I'm saving up for a new guitar, was originally thinking a PJD or Gordon Smith Gatsby, but this is throwing a curveball… Thanks as always for the great review, Andy!
SC sounds more interesting to me, especially with that fuzz????
Looks identical to a PRS trem?
Curved neck pocket and 2 bolts, makes me think of the new strandberg neck joints
Dude, the DCR value only indicates how much of a given wire guage is used in the pickup coils. The inductance is what really matters, as well as the core alloy. The DCR doubles for every 3 higher gauges.
Funny that I thought they sounded a bit softer and more hollow than a Fender, even with the same type of neck, bridge, and pickups, and then you mentioned the roasted-Limba Body. That and the Aluminum pickguard would explain it.
that is one of the nicest non mainstrea 6 inline headstock, and overall it looks good especialy the sh one
Great video Andy. Hmm SC vs DC? Given the limitations of iPhone speakers my ears say SC but my eyes say DC. So, maybe the SC in gold- or both?
The whole point of Leo's design is to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture. A curved neck joint would be counter to that. It's cool for another brand with different priorities, but even if Fender had thought of it, it'd make no sense for them to do it.
i had the dc – ordered it from day one on sweetwater – fast return – worst eastman ive had. I cant recommend them. Action measured 6mm on the 12th fret – nut was cut poorly –
Eastman is a real odd one. A real anomaly. Its almost like the brand people want to dislike but once they play their stuff, see and hear the incredible value – compared to the big boys – the eyebrows raise. I bought a SB59-GD during covid for $1500US and its better than any LP I've ever played in my many years. ALL handmade, lovely wood, flawless finish, GOTOH, SD 59's, NITRO, best hard shell I've ever had. Mein Gott. So good. Bonus is the Goldtop SBs are discontinued so a little rare and mine is LH. I'm pretty chuffed that they don't make these and other models in LH though….
I checked these out at the NAMM show and was impressed. Didn’t get to plug them in but on feel etc they were cool, esp the strat style one. It Was nice to meet you too, albeit briefly
I really liked this guitar – I really liked the price
Great review @TheGuitarGeek I absolutely get your dilemma. I went to Maks Guitars in London (great guitar shop) to try these guitars, intended to get the DC tried both and ended up preferred the SC. Very difficult to choose so I brought the DC a week later, with the SC coming next week. I love the neck, the playability, the weight, the feel, the resonance and the tone. I absolutely agree with your point about quality. I have many Eastmans and these are at those very high levels. The higher end d'ambrosio Eastman guitars were out of my price range so I am so happy these guitars have become available. I cannot put the DC down. The SC arrives next week. Loving these guitars.
Been playing since 83 but I never had a Tele. However, I would like to ask do guitars like the Tele and others with that ashtray bridge setup and you have the strings run through the back instead of through the body does that back wall holding the stops ever deform due to stress? The early Gibson Les Pauls had an issue with the saddle bar deforming due to stress until it was updated in the late 50s. Curious, great video and love the blue one.
Really great sounding guitars
Those pickups might be made by Tonerider's manufacturer, but they are not in Tonerider's catalog (in contrast to when some of their models showed up in Squier Classic Vibe guitars years ago).
what about, now hear me out : THIS but in short scale. the matte black with the maple fret board looks SICK!
Very Very tasty guitars. I'd have the single cut, as I prefer maple fretboards. Really appealing instruments.
Fender full of old farts
I love this models. I was waiting for more test videos
Classy!
Those are next-level impressive, and the color choices are elegant.
They are ugly ‼️ Glad Fender didn't do that, bad enough they did the starcaster❗????????
I would love to see these in a natural finish, black limba can be quite beautiful (and sometimes quite highly figured). (Limba = “Korina”)
What is that golden pedal sitting on top of the two notes load box?
Nice playing lad ????
Nice sounds and playing
Nice video but those just aren’t for me. ????☮️????????????⭐️
Still too pricey for me
If nothing else it speaks well of Tonerider pickups. They make really good pickups at a great price. I hope that doesn't change now that they're in a popular guitar brand. I've been using them for about 6 years on various guitar builds. I don't know anything about the pickups they put in these guitars, but I've bought a lot of their tele, strat, and humbucker pickups and they're great. You don't have to say "for the price", but they are ridiculously inexpensive compared to anything comparable in tone, response, and quality. If you're looking to upgrade a cheap guitar, chibson, etc. they're great for that.