Eastman AR403CED (Price inc. Custom Pro Setup Package)

You never disappoint. Thanks to Jon, Jake and Chris for the advise, bespoke setup and supply of my newest arrival, the Cort M600TBB. It might be cheap, but the quality and playability is great. It punches way above its weight and the free set up to my exact specification makes it feel like an old friend, equal to my 2004 PRS. I love it.

Fantastic service! Extremely happy with product.
Will definitely be returning.Was able to pick up Guitar withina week!

Excellent purchase experience. The instrument arrived well packed and played well straight out of the box, which underpins the value of the workshop setup with this purchase. This is the third guitar I have purchased from Richard’s and highly recommend their staff and service.

For a great buying experience and first class advice Id highly recommend going to these guys. I wasn't really sure what to go for but after trying out a shortlisted selection I purchased a beautiful Furch Blue GC Spruce/Walnut which sounds even better than it looks and the guitar was fully set up so there's really no excuse for not learning and playing with thanks

I suffer from Parkinson's disease and needed a guitar I could play that could fit my needs.
Thanks to these guys and many emails and sorting the right instrument, I picked up my new guitar.
And as promised it is awesome with the built-in effects and fits my needs perfectly.
So thank you guys for the time and patience in helping me I really appreciate that..
Adrian

Most guitar reviews float in a vacuum, as if an instrument exists independently of the player or the job it’s meant to do. This one doesn’t. I bought the Guild Jumbo Junior Reserve Maple for a very specific purpose, and the only fair way to judge it is against that purpose.

The Job
I needed a compact, short scale acoustic with a clear, articulate voice for trad rhythm: fast attack, crisp ornaments, tidy bass, good tension, and long session comfort. A small guitar with a clean, quick, musical voice — not a warm strummer or a “sounds big for its size” novelty.

Why Not the Taylor GS Mini?
Great guitar, wrong voice.
• Low end too full and bloomy
• Warm mids that blur fast passages
• Built for comfort and warmth, not clarity
I needed a bright, disciplined, responsive instrument.

Why Not My Furch Pioneer CM a?
My Furch (24.2", cedar/khaya) is my main casual travel guitar — warm, rich, resonant, and expressive. But resonance wasn’t what I needed.

Resonance vs Reflection
The Furch blooms and fills space. Cedar and Khaya radiate warmth and depth. Beautiful, but not the crisp, cutting attack required for trad rhythm. The Guild is the opposite: a reflective design. The arched maple back bounces sound forward. Maple’s natural reflectivity gives immediacy, clarity, and a tight low end. Two short scale guitars, two different tonal philosophies.

The Voice I Wanted
• Bright trebles without harshness
• Fast attack
• Controlled bass
• Clean mids
• Good tension on a short scale
This is the voice Éala (her code name) needed to have.

The Setup
Richard set it up for clarity and tension, avoiding the slinky feel some short scale guitars suffer from.

0.54 Sixth String
We upgraded the low E to a 0.54. On a short scale this makes a huge difference: more authority, better definition, no boom.

Nickel Bronze Strings
Nickel Bronze suit the Guild perfectly.
• PB adds warmth and shimmer — not what I needed
• NB emphasise clarity and the fundamental
• They keep the low end tight and ornaments crisp
They reinforce the Guild’s strengths instead of masking them.

Amplified Use
A guitar chosen for a job also has to behave when amplified.

Pickup
The onboard pickup is honest and clean. It doesn’t impose character; it simply passes on the guitar’s natural clarity. Because the body is reflective rather than resonant, the amplified signal stays tight and avoids the low mid woofiness cedar guitars can produce.

Signal Chain
Guild pickup → AFX Compressor → Palmer Pocket Acoustic (more AFX in FX loop) →PA. This chain suits the Guild extremely well.
AFX Compressor (before the Palmer):
• Evens the attack
• Keeps ornaments tidy
• Prevents spikiness under a hard pick.

Palmer Pocket Acoustic:
• Transparent, no artificial warmth
• Preserves NB clarity
• Handles the heavier 6th string cleanly
The result is an articulate, balanced, mix ready signal. Many small guitars fall apart when amplified; this one doesn’t. It partners with the rig instead of fighting it.

How It Meets the Spec
• Clean, immediate attack
• Bright but musical trebles
• Disciplined bass
• Sweet, clear mids
For trad rhythm, it’s ideal. Notes stay separate, ornaments speak cleanly, and it never tries to sound bigger than it is.

Feel & Ergonomics
Despite being slightly shorter than the Furch (23.75"), it holds tension beautifully. No rubbery feel. Light, compact, and comfortable for long sessions.

Where It’s Not the Right Tool
• Not the warm, blooming cedar voice of the Furch
• Not the fuller low end of the GS Mini
• Not a singer songwriter guitar
• Not a main recording instrument
It’s a specialist — and that’s the point.

Conclusion
I didn’t buy the Guild because it was small or convenient. I bought it because I needed a compact guitar with a clear, articulate, responsive voice for trad rhythm. Éala does that job beautifully. Richard’s setup sealed it, and the guitar fits the brief exactly. It’s not a GS Mini, and it’s not a Furch — and that’s precisely why it earns its place.

Great service from ordering, to update, to receiving a wonderfully packaged and perfectly set up instrument.

I recently took my son's Furch back to Richards Guitars, for its complimentary 12 month check & reset. It was worth the trip from Cardiff for the chance to try out some more of their wonderful guitars. I found this Artist Rosewood Series Emily Rose to have a surprisingly deep and composed voice for its small size, probably due to its body being a little bit deeper than the average parlour style guitar. As an older beginner I have been learning on an OM with a 43mm nut but was delighted to find how comfortable this Auden's 45mm nut felt even in my small hands. Thinking also that its 12th fret shorter neck and scale length will be kinder to my aging fingers I decided that I had to have this perfect couch guitar!
Thanks once again to Jon & Chris for their excellent service and advice. Another memorable visit to Stratford!

I purchased my Mandolin at first because of the great price. Best choice I ever made as the customer service is second to none, friendly and knowledgable. Nothing is too much trouble and they reply very promptly, even if oit of hours! If you are going t buy a guitar, you will not find a better place to buy it from!

From my initial email enquiry to receiving and playing my Furch Yellow Gc CR I’ve had a brilliant experience.
This is my first new guitar for twenty years and I was a little unsure what to expect, but I was well advised by Jake and Jon prior to visiting the shop, and had a great experience playing the selection available when I visited.
It was great to be asked how I wanted the guitar set up, and the communication from Richards Guitars was first rate.
The build quality of this Performance model is first rate, and the sound and playability are absolutely great.

Fantastic guitar and great customer service

Extremely happy with both the quality of the instrument and service I received. If you are apprehensive about buying a guitar on-line like I was...... don't be, these guys are superb. A very happy customer. Thank you.

Just lovely to deal with. Bought a relatively inexpensive guitar from them but they genuinely seemed care and get the the set up spot on..

After talking through what I was looking for with Jake I arrived at the store to find a number of guitars set out for me and had as much time as I wanted to try them out. There was no pressure at all and after a couple of hours I decided on the Eastman. After being set up exactly as I asked for it plays like a dream.
Can’t recommend Richard Guitars highly enough.

Fabulous looking guitar: perfectly set up and plays like a dream. Very very pleased. Thanks guys

Disappointed, much prefer my Taylor GS mini for bass response and overall richness. Build quality good but somehow feel of neck cheap. Maybe, with time will grow on me……. you asked, that is my honest opinion.

Great guitar and great service!

Loving the guitar and the communication whilst it was being processed was great.

Well worth the small wait.

Thanks
Stephen

Great value, lightweight, but holds the guitar very securely.

Great guitar, setup perfectly 👌🏼

Excellent customer service and was packaged very well. Thank you

I had my guitar serviced with there guys. Spoke to several people throughout. Process was really smooth, everyone was really friendly and knowledgeable. Really helped with any questions I had! Top work

Great guitar and service from Richard Guitars

Lovely guitar at an absolute bargain price, feels like I stole it. Perfectly set up and plays beautifully as expected from Richard and team. Loving it.

Wonderful guitar for the price. Purchased for playing in the house but exceeded my expectations. Well set up and great service.

wonderful guitar. the sound is incredible.