As a major retailer and guitar builder over the last 15 years I have been privileged to work with some of the worlds best guitar companies.  

The Tacoma V series was designed in conjunction by Julian Henslee of Tacoma & myself.  I worked with Heritage to co-design 7 different models, I worked with Ibanez on the Joe Satriani project and the American made tension free models introduced back in the early 90's, I am responsible for the original designs of the McNaught Guitars (Centurion) I am not going to go into all the different guitars I have designed and or co-designed because it would take too long.

Recently I have been working extensively with Eastman Guitars to help develop the new Slimline All Solid Top, Back & Sides double cutaway model that we are calling the Blues Deluxe. We also offer more than 50 custom options that are not available on any regular Eastman standard models.

Seeing as how I designed & owned the original rights to the now defunct Original Blues Deluxe for Heritage back in 1997,  it was only fitting that we call this guitar by the same name.

The new Eastman Blues Deluxe is available in 4 different models and 5 colors on the first run.  These guitars have been designed to approximate the  look of the traditional 50's & 60's double cutaway slimline that resembles the BB King, Alvin Lee, Eric Clapton style.

These guitars have been designed to sell in the same price range but that's where the similarities end.

99 percent of all the slimline guitars manufactured today by Heritage, Gibson, Washburn, are made out of plywood. That's right you read it right, PLYWOOD.  In case you don't know what plywood is I will explain for the uninformed.

Plywood is made from lots of thin pieces of wood that are all glued together with grains facing in different directions for added strength.   The main problem with plywood is that it does not sound like real wood. In fact the glue between the layers or plys gobbles up all the sweet resonant overtones.

The Blues Deluxe is available with a hand carved maple top or a hand carved Spruce Top. The necks & bodies for these guitars will be made in Eastman's Custom Shop. The guitar will be completely assembled and set up in Ed Roman's custom shop in beautiful downtown Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

Not only will this be the only Eastman guitar manufactured in the USA but this model will be the only model that comes with a real Bigsby Tremolo or a Tone Pros bridge. These guitars will be available with Mahogany back & Sides and/Flame maple back & sides.  We offer over 5 different custom tailpieces including the classic finger tailpiece, Custom ebony tailpiece. You can even get a D'Angelico stair-step art deco tailpiece.

There will be no proprietary HRW or 410 pickups, The Eastman Roman will come stock with premium top end Seymour Duncan pickups. Ebony Fretboards, Multiple binding all around, even the F holes.   As far as Ed Roman is concerned the Heritage HRW pickups are the same $12.00 pickups that Heritage uses in all their guitars. They may have one or two windings difference but the fact that Heritage is charging far in excess of $150.00 per pickup  Buyer Beware Big Time.

Please contact Ed Roman Guitars for complete information regarding this guitar.

Tone To The Bone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eastman Roman Blues Deluxe All Solid Wood
 Featuring Tom Holmes Pickups & Finger Tailpiece
Assembled Entirely In The USA

It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This !!!

Legendary hand wound, hand made, Tom Holmes gold plated pickups joined with the solid carved front & back make for a sound that is unsurpassed by any guitar in the entire world.  The quality of the tonewood is second to none.

Built For Mike Clifford Las Vegas

Kerry Livgren's Eastman Roman Model

Eastman/Roman Blues Deluxe
Prices Starting at $2,495.00

As a major retailer and guitar builder over the last 15 years I have been privileged to work with some of the worlds best guitar companies.

ALL SOLID WOOD

Recently I have been working extensively with Eastman Guitars to help develop the new solid wood, slim-line solid top, solid back & sides double cutaway model that will be known as the "Blues Deluxe."

Before this guitar, there were no Slimline Double cutaway models available, from any major manufacturer at any price that are also hand carved and made from100% solid wood.

Not only will this be the only Eastman guitar officially assembled in the USA but this model will be the only model complete with multiple choices of Finger Tailpiece, Ebony Tailpiece, Bigsby Tremolo or a Tone Pros bridge.

These guitars will be available with a choice of Mahogany Back & Sides or Flame Maple Back & Sides. By mid 2007 I intend to have a Solid Korina one available.  Delivery will be a problem since Eastman is such a small company who hand carves the entire guitar.   

There will be no off brand proprietary HRX or 410 pickups like Gibson or Heritage, The Blues Deluxe will come stock with the top of the line Seymour Duncan 59' pickups.

Ebony Fretboards & Multiple binding all around, even the binding on the F holes will be standard faire

The Inlay will be real MOP or Abalone

I have personally played both of the prototypes and I am very confident that this guitar will be the finest guitar of it's type in the world and have no competition for some years to come.

At first it probably won't be available at too many Eastman dealers because selling this guitar requires that the dealer have a full shop with a real Honest to God Luthier on hand. A guitar tech or repairman will not be the accepted criteria. Coupled with the short supply I don't expect to see these guitars available in more than 6 places in the USA by mid 2007.
 

Ed Roman 
 

Heritage

Gibson

Eastman

Pressed Maple Plywood Top

Pressed Maple Plywood Top

Hand Carved Solid Spruce or Maple Top

Pressed & Steamed Plywood back & sides

Pressed & Steamed Plywood back & sides

Hand Carved Solid Mahogany or Maple Back & Sides

Tun-o-matic Bridge

Tun-o-matic Bridge

TONE/PROS Tun-o-matic Bridge

Mop Dot Inlays

Mop Dot Inlays

Mop Large Block Inlays

Schaller Made Inexpensive Pickups

Gibson Proprietary Pickups

Seymour Duncan Pickups stock

 Available With Some Options

NO Options Available

Available with Countless Options

Available In Double Cut Only

Available In Double Cut Only

Available In Double Cut Or Single Cut

Custom Knob Placement Free Custom Wiring Free