I have decided to treat myself to a new guitar to add to my collection, since I am a professional musician and also have a studio where I like to keep guitars/instruments around for others to record with and try, if they feel so inclined--and often they do!

This will be only my second hollow body purchase, which is why I wanted some feedback--my first hollow body was an old cheap Gibson that I bought just to play around with, since I didn't ever use hollows live or ever really. That said, I am playing in more of a rockabilly band now, so I need to find a great hollow body with a wicked trem setup that I can play along with my other two primary live guitars.

I obviously love the Gretsch guitars, and love the White Falcon Gretsch, but the new ones are made in Japan I recently found out, and are essentially just reissues. However, they are very nice reissues--very well made, but still a somewhat reasonable price for a new one. A vintage Falcon could easily cost in the 10's of thousands in good shape! So, that's not really an option that I care to explore right now! LOL. I have no objection to a new Gretsch, and I really liked how the new one played, but can I hear from anybody that knows more about these new Gretsch reissue guitars??!! In particular, the Falcon...

I am also looking at a smaller company called Eastman Strings, who makes gorgeous, entirely handmade hollows. You can easily find some of them online by searching--they are a boutique type brand, but a newer brand, I believe. I have heard that there newest line of hollows are simply amazing--and unbelievably enough, they are a tiny bit cheaper than the Gretsch Falcon reissues, which aren't even handmade here in the USA anymore like the Eastmans are. I certainly know though that the Gretsch Falcon is so iconic that they can ask whatever price they want for one and a lot of people will gladly pay it...even though they are foreign made reissues. I have a couple of vintage Japanese Fenders, like the Mustang and Jaguar, as well as a new 65 Reissue Mustang, and they are all amazing, so I know from vast experience that the Japanese make very fine Fender instruments. In fact, the Japanese line of Fenders have recently become more expensive, or as expensive, as the USA models! This used to be the complete opposite, as the US models were considered more "high end." However, the new Japanese Fenders are honestly crafted much better than the new USA models. So, this brings me back to the reissue Gretsch Falcon--are the new Japanese Gretsch guitars as well made as some of the other Japanese made guitars?? Also, does anybody own or know anything of importance about the Eastman guitars??

Thank you, everybody, for your input!!! I am open to any brand of hollow body guitar pretty much, as long as it feels right and sounds perfect! Please feel free to make any and all suggestions! I am out playing tons of guitars in order to feel them out entirely on my own, but some advice from anybody who is into hollow body guitars would be awesome and really help point me in the right direction! I greatly appreciate it, Friends!