Eastman AR680ce Classic

An Archtop in the "Pisano" Style Inspired by Great Jazz Guitars

With its 16" Archtop format, refined finishes (multi-ply binding, elegant pickguard and hardware), and "Pisano" details (signature inlay at the 12th fret, dedicated tailpiece), the AR680CE Classic positions itself as a guitar designed for players seeking the aesthetics and response of a traditional archtop, while benefiting from immediate amplification via a dedicated neck pickup.

Who Is It For, and In Which Styles?

This guitar is particularly aimed at intermediate to advanced musicians who want an expressive, comfortable archtop ready for the stage. It excels in jazz (chord-melody, swing, bebop), but is also very suitable for blues and clean/mellow styles where a round attack, clear articulation, and ample low end are desired.

Sound Characteristics

The solid spruce top provides clarity, projection, and a dynamic response highly sensitive to right-hand nuances, while the solid mahogany back and sides enhance warmth and the smoothness of the midrange. The 16" Jazz Archtop format promotes broad resonance and airy lows, ideal for rich chords and singing melodic lines.

Plugged in, the guitar relies on a Kent Armstrong Pisano neck pickup with a naturally round and velvety character, perfect for jazz "comping" tones and fluid solos. The 500K potentiometers and 0.022 uF capacitor allow for a progressive tone control range, useful for shifting from a defined clear sound to a darker, jazz club-style color.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To stay close to the original string gauge, a set of electric strings 012-052 (such as D'Addario NYXL 0.012 - 0.052) is a safe choice. For connecting to an amp, prefer a good quality 6.35 mm instrument jack cable. A hard case (Hardshell Case) is included for transport and protection.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	S	Nbrs of frets	20
Category	Hollow body	Body	Mahogany
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Strings	Steel	Electronics	Passive
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Orange
Top	Spruce	Finishing	Glossy
Fingerboard	Ebony	Hardware	Gold

Body style	Jazz Archtop 16"	Fret height on 1st string	0.022" / 0.56 mm
Body dimensions	16" x 2 3/4" / 406 mm x 69.9 mm	Fret height on 12th fret	bass 0.078" / 1.98 mm and treble 0.062" / 1.57 mm
Back and sides	solid mahogany	Hardware color	gold
Binding	top, back, fingerboard, and headstock	Tailpiece	ebony Pisano style with frog inlay
Binding material	5-ply maple, ebony	Bridge	ebony
Pickguard	ebony	String spacing	2 3/32" / 53.18 mm
Finish	glossy finish	Tuners	Gotoh SG360-EN01GG
Neck material	mahogany	Knobs	Pisano signed wooden knobs
Neck profile	traditional C-shape	Neck pickup	Kent Armstrong Pisano
Fingerboard radius	12" / 305 mm	Pickup height	3/32" / 2.38 mm
Scale length	25" / 635 mm	Pickup frame	black plastic
Truss rod	single action	Capacitors	0.022 uF
Nut	bone 1 3/4" / 44.45 mm	Potentiometers	500K Linear Taper
Fretwire	20 Jescar FW47104	Output jack	Switchcraft
Inlays	Pisano signature at 12th fret	Case	Hardshell Case