SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Part Firebird, part SG and a full partner to Romeo, Juliet is Eastman's first original solidbody design.

- DAVE HUNTER

WITH A NAME like Romeo, it was only appropriate that Eastman's first original guitar design was a head turner. Introduced in 2020, the semihollow model was a milestone for a company that has had its share of noteworthy achievements in its short history. Established by Chinese flutist and Boston University music graduate Quian Ni in 1992, Eastman Guitars has continually defied preconceptions, while it has consistently garnered respect from players. The company forged its reputation with clever, well-made semi-reproductions of classic models. While they weren't straight-out copies, guitars like the SB59, SB55 and T64 clearly echo Gibson's '59 Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Junior and ES-330, respectively. But with Romeo, Eastman began branching into entirely original designs from the imagination of the company's Pomona, California-based master luthier, Otto D'Ambrosio.

Now Romeo and its followup, Romeo LA, are joined by Eastman's first original solidbody design, a partner aptly named Juliet. A collaboration between D'Ambrosio and Eastman's Netherlands-based product development manager, Pepijn 't Hart, Juliet comes in three different appointments, all featuring the same basic design, construction and Romeo-inspired body styling. There's the standard Juliet with humbuckers, and the Juliet P-90, both offered in True tone Gloss finishes. Striding above them is the top-of the-line Juliet/v Bigsby, on the table this issue. The /v in the name stands for antique varnish, the top coat which is applied to this model, and Eastman's most exclusive finishing option. In addition to that upgrade, the guitar includes a slew of high-end, name-maker parts (albeit many of which are included on the other Juliet models), along with a certain air of style and quality that slots it in comfortably with much of the American and European-made "boutique" crowd. All that, and an enticing origin story.