Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open - 126

GEAR

MOJO WORKIN'

a three-way toggle, master
Tone control, and a Volume
knob for each pickup. The
neck knob's location on the
lower cutaway may seem like
an oddity, but if you're creating staccato volume on/off
effects or smooth swells,
it's actually pretty handy.
Cranked up, the Classic AC
exhibits its rockin' heritage at any
volume. Given Mr. Young's reputation as one of the greatest rhythm
guitarists, you might think this axe
is primarily a rhythm machine. No
question, power chords sound huge,
clean, and noise-free, but the AC is
also a fine lead instrument, particularly when using the neck pickup for
fat creamy leads, à la Clapton and
Santana.
Overall, the Classic AC is a solid
piece of workmanship and a fine
value. If you just wanna rock, this
feisty Eastwood plank will serve you
ably. - Pete Prown

Eastwood's SD-40 Hound
Dog and Classic AC

ubjective as it is, the term "mojo" usually refers to gear
that's been played-in over the years. Eastwood tries to
counter that perception with their cool reissues, two recent
examples being the SD-40 Hound Dog and the Classic AC.

The former is Eastwood's take on the Kawais/Teiscos/Kingstons
of the 1960s, those infamous Japanese imports with their numerous pickup configurations. Eastwood has culled some of the best
features of those guitars in creating the four-pickup Hound Dog,
a tribute to the guitar played by the late rowdy blues ace Hound
Dog Taylor.
The SD-40's specs include a basswood body with tortoiseshell
pickguard and four single-coil pickups, each with an on/off
switch (mounted on a chrome plate) and Volume knob, as well
as a master Tone control. The bolt-on maple neck features 20
frets and a rosewood fingerboard decorated with Tylenol-shaped
inlays, all in a 25.5" scale. The neck is more deeply C-shaped than
most Eastwoods, but comfortable. The Hound Dog's standalone
bridge and spring-action roller tremolo are of clear Jaguar/
Jazzmaster ancestry.
Plugged in, the SD-40 is a blast as you combine the pickups
in any sequence. Given that these are four single-coils, expect
some 60-cycle hum depending on the pickup
combination. However, this is the normal
tradeoff for genuine vintage tone and, honestly, the combination of the first (bridge)
and third pickups was twang heaven. Using
a Vox-style amp and overdrive pedal, the
SD-40 produced about as good a roots/
blues/country tone as you'll hear - deeply fat,
woody, and resonant, with the perfect amount
of bolt-on clank.
Granted, the SD-40 Hound Dog plays like a
typical mid-price solidbody and its intonation
requires tweaking. But compared to the original,
it's a far superior animal. Killer vintage tone like
this doesn't come along every day - the SD-40 has
mojo up the wazoo.
In contrast to the button-crazy Hound Dog,
Eastwood's Classic AC is a basic rock-and-roll
machine, based on the 1963 Gretsch Jet Fire-

Prices: $699 (SD-40); $549
(Classic AC)
Info: www.eastwoodguitars.com

bird of AC/DC's cofounder and ex-rhythm
ace Malcolm Young. Like Young's sandeddown axe (the original finish was red), the
Classic AC has a natural, figured maple top
on a chambered mahogany body. It sports a
24.75"-scale mahogany set neck with 22 frets on
a rosewood board. And check out those shark'stooth inlays. Electronics include two humbuckers,

VINTAGE GUITAR

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September 2017

Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open

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