I would put more "weight" (pun intended) on the guitar weight than the way the top looks. The lighter the guitar generally the more I like them. (within reason). Find a lighter weight Eastman and you are set. I have two kids so relic'ing is something that's going to happen so I don't pay much attention to little chips and dings. With that said the relic'ing is done tastefully. I see some partscasters that look like someone drug them behind a car or took a belt sander to it. Probably a better analogy for the Eastman relic is an old comfy pair of jeans, or an old broken-in baseball mitt.
I would say varnish >>>>>>> over the shiny nitro. The first thing I do to those shiny necks is sand them down anyway. Varnish is where its at. Second place would be the satin nitro like the gold top.
I would say varnish >>>>>>> over the shiny nitro. The first thing I do to those shiny necks is sand them down anyway. Varnish is where its at. Second place would be the satin nitro like the gold top.
