Airline Mercury

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THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE. You can get more info here: https://eastwoodguitars.com/collections/guitars/products/airline-mercury-dlx

Here is a new Airline model we are developing. We are 90% of the way there, we just need you help with two things: 1) color 2) fret markers. Please add your comments to this listing. Thanks to Chris Ferebee for sharing these images, here is a link to his website: chrisferebeedesign.com

Watch: Mike Robinson talks about the new Airline Mercury

This design is based loosely on some early 1960's Harmony models. As you can see in the photographs of the prototype we've made, it is slightly larger than a Les Paul with a tone chambered mahogany body, dual P-90 pickups and a slightly thinner body depth that a Gibson 335 style guitar. Here are the details:

Body: Chambered Mahogany with maple top, 40mm depth

Colours: Let's Vote!

Pickups: Two Custom Hi-Output P-90's

Switching: 3-Way

Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone

Bridge: Stop Tail, Tune-O-Matic Bridge, Optional Bigsby

Neck: Set Neck, Bound Maple

Scale Length: 24 3/4"

Width at the Nut: 1 5/8"

Strings: D'Addario #10

Case: Gigbag included

Unique Features: AIRLINE logo on Pickguard

Secure yours today with a $150 deposit. We will make one color (voted on by those who put in a deposit), 2 colors if we reach 200%, 3 colors over 350%. If your color is not selected, we will refund your deposit. Final price will be $649 and will include a custom gigbag. Optional Bigsby will be $125 extra.

Comments (78)

Ronn Ives
January 16, 2017 Reply

I am not a musician, but know many musicians, and will tell them about this great looking guitar. Personally, I like the lime green version best. Kudos to your company for this addition!
Ian Shaw
January 16, 2017 Reply

The one that JUMPS out at me us the black with white pickup covers and the red pickguard. Yowza. I also prefer the block fret board markers to the inverted ones
An Old Guy
January 16, 2017 Reply

Like a lot of Eastwood projects, it looks great in the Facebook video. I don’t get too excited about fret markers, but of the choices in the images on the Eastwood site, I’d rather see unobtrusive dots. Personally, I like “shark’s teeth” better than the bars shown in some of the images, but that’s just me. As for colors, I vote for black, and I love the “mother-of-plastic” pickguard and headstock, which ought to look really cool with just about any body color except white (Please, not white!). My second choice for color would be a bright metalflake red, which I think would go nicely (be campy enough) to go with the fake mother-of-pearl pickguard and headstock. The little cutout in the corner of the headstock is a nice touch. If the body is black, I’d want black covers on the P-90s, simply because I prefer that black-on-black look. I might jump on this one, as soon as the tax refund gets here…
Andy
January 16, 2017 Reply

I like the red or black. Brown looks pretty good too, with a Bigsby. I’m a lefty though so that probably excludes me unless you decide to make it in a lefty later, right?

Michael Robinson
January 18, 2017 Reply

we are making lefties.

John
January 16, 2017 Reply

Black and whit with dot inlays. Name it DejaVu
Steve
January 17, 2017 Reply

Hi, in the digital fotos the guitar really looks awesome, but in my opinion the very fat pickup frame as shown in the real fotos of the guitar mess the whole design and style of the guitar! can’t you do it with smaller frames as shown in the digital fotos!?

J Berk
January 18, 2017 Reply

I agree

Steve
January 18, 2017

let’s hope that Eastwood will fix this

Michael Robinson
January 18, 2017 Reply

yes, we are looking for the dog-ear style P-90’s. close to the digital images.

Steve
January 19, 2017

you’re the best!!! 🙂

J Berk
January 17, 2017 Reply

I absolutely love the more purple-ish burst with the cream pickup covers and the bigsby, however, I think that it is almost a little too purple looking and should be a little bit more brown.
J B
January 18, 2017 Reply

The closer you can get this to Dan Auerbach’s of the Black Keys Harmony Stratotone H47, the better in my opinion.

Michael Robinson
January 18, 2017 Reply

agreed!

Leon
January 20, 2017 Reply

Honeyburst will look awesome combined with cream pickguard and covers, however i agree that the pickup frames must be resized. As for fret markers, i’d stick with those in the 1st pic or to clay dots.
MTM
January 20, 2017 Reply

I love the full block and top fret markers, kind of combining the rivolta and starlette. Anything that is a little different is always good on my end. White knobs, white pickups, mother of pearl pickguard are all great. I think the pickguard should say ‘Mercury’ since the Airline logo is already on the headstock, though.

The renderings of the darker blue, dark green and the brown in the featured shot on top are all great. Actually, I have never seen a yellow, purple or true orange from you guys, not that I am requesting those for this, just an observation.

I think the bigsby looks bulky on this though. Is it going to be a bigsby or les trem?

Also, any chance or thought to possibly having the back, sides and neck a different color like the bill nelson astroluxe cadet or starlette, white perhaps?
Chris Ferebee
January 20, 2017 Reply

Note on colors:

It sounds like the colors might be reading a little off. Depending on the screen/device the images are being viewed on, they may show up a little different from what’s intended. Not sure if this helps, but:

The ‘red/purple-ish’ ones should be seen as a wine or burgundy-burst, with a very dark deeply saturated burgundy smoothly fading to a standard burgundy color in the center. Midnight Wineburst?

The green is a dark olive green with a subtle burst fading to a standard olive green.

The yellow-y one is supposed to be a muted golden yellow with the burst of the same color but pushed almost black.

Same with the orange – should be a muted burnt orange with a near-black light fade.

//
my vote’s on the orangebust or the wineburst with cream p90s, bigsby and block inlays.
Ju Miron
January 20, 2017 Reply

The red one with the bigsby looks awesome! and the one with little bars not the big one for the frets!
Jon
January 22, 2017 Reply

Tobacco or Firemist Sunburst would be mucho cool.

Fretboard: dot inlays or rank ribbons. (I don’t like big block inlays on any guitar.)
Jon
January 23, 2017 Reply

re: ‘ Firemist Sunburst ‘

I meant ‘Fireburst’ (a la Gibson).

: )
IPLAYLOUD
January 23, 2017 Reply

I’m a Bigsby guy, so the version with the B70 and black covers hits me. This guitar is too special for just dots, The hash markers are OK…but think of the horizontal lines you have under the E string with a vertical line uncer the GBE. Reverse it at the 12th fret, with the horizonal under the high E and the vertical under the EAD.

Of you are designing an oversized Dogear cover, make one that fits a Lipstick pickup and put it at the neck.. A mini HB would work nicely, too.
Louis
January 23, 2017 Reply

Both the green and greeney burst. Black pickups and block inlays would look stunning.
Dog ear Covered mini humbs would help set it apart from the other models already in the airline line up also as with the p90’s and black finish would be too similar to the tuxedo already available
Al
January 24, 2017 Reply

Looks good, but I think the control knobs could be spaced apart a little better. And please use 4 not 3.
JC
January 24, 2017 Reply

What is the fretboard radius?

Michael Robinson
January 26, 2017 Reply

12″ radius

JC
January 27, 2017

I have a lot of guitars with a 12″ radius neck, but being a more rhythmic/lead player I want to go back to something in the 9″ range. Do you make anything with a more radiused neck?

Will Sapp
January 27, 2017 Reply

I also agree to go the Dan Auerbach route for styling purposes. Black or sunburst with white/cream pickup covers and a black pick guard.
mb
February 2, 2017 Reply

The top center model in the photo line up is pure 6 string sex!
Looks a lot like a Gretsch Penguin.
‘Mercury’ is a way better name.

-Dark tobacco (almost black) finish,
-matching dark bound headstock with logo,
-small rectangular fret board markers,
-3 vintage knobs (ill deal with the common tone),
-pearly airline pickguard,
-black dogearred P90s,
-Bigsby.

Thats worthy of a hard fitted case!

Build that and take my money!
If I don’t like what you end up with I can be refunded??
Jay
February 2, 2017 Reply

The black with Tort pickgaurd is mighty fine, although it needs black or chrome p90s rather than the cream ones.

Also not too fussed by the dot inlays nor the large block inlays, the middle ground of the smaller thumbnails seem far more attractive to my eye.
mb
February 2, 2017 Reply

The headstock looks cheap done with pickguard material.

On the actual pickguard, engrave something like the head of the Mercury Dime.
Dion
February 2, 2017 Reply

Gorgeous guitar. Take my money already! My choice:
* Purple burst
* Bigsby
* black plastics
* tort guard
* block inlays
* 4 knobs
Alex
February 2, 2017 Reply

Hi Mike, any issue getting a bigsby on a lefty?

Michael Robinson
February 3, 2017 Reply

yes, we can add the Bigsby LH B-7, $179

Big D
February 4, 2017 Reply

I like the honeyburst with cream pick-ups. I’d suggest dot inlays on the neck.
Steven DeRoma
February 4, 2017 Reply

Burgundy- burst with matching headstock, cream pickup covers, cream pickguard, cream binding, fret-markers at the edge (like pic #2). I also agree that the pickup covers in the photographed version are way too bulky looking. Make them like a standard (vintage) Gibson P-90 cover.
sam gabriel
February 5, 2017 Reply

Airline Mercury ……. Wine Red, matching head stock, gold hardware, Bigsby tailpiece, dot inlays, black “Dog Ear” pickups, black pearloid pick guard, black control knobs, 2V 2 T , standard 3 way switch.
MG
February 6, 2017 Reply

The sunburst brown with white pickup covers and perloid pickguard…WOOOOHAAAA!

You needs another black guitar?

MG
February 6, 2017 Reply

The sunburst brown with white pickup covers and perloid pickguard…WOOOOHAAAA!

You needs another black guitar?

White…cream pickup covers is more like it…

Scott Fox
February 23, 2017 Reply

Which Bigsby will you be using?
Lindsey Rowe
February 28, 2017 Reply

I just put a deposit down. I’m voting for:
Burgundy burst with matching headstock
Small block inlays
Dog ear p90s (cream or black)
4 control knobs
Off white pearloid pickguard
B5 Bigsby
Daniele
February 28, 2017 Reply

I’m interested! Now,what colour/fretboard wins?
James Donnelly
February 28, 2017 Reply

Where are these manufactured?
Allen Lam
March 3, 2017 Reply

Black, with white dog ears (woof!), red tortoiseshell pickguard, and dots. Totally.
Sam
March 3, 2017 Reply

Hey Mike, this might be a dumb question, but any chance these guitars can be fitted with a zero fret? I love what they do to a guitar’s intonation.

Have the colors and fret markers been chosen yet?
Dave
March 3, 2017 Reply

I need a new P90 guitar – would really like to see the the size comparison between the Tuxedo and the Mercury. Could you guys post a pic w them side-by-side?

Preferences:
Yes to the Burgundy/Wineburst w. matching headstock!
Dog ear p90s in black please.
The small block inlays look great!
4 knobs is better.
Cream/off-white pearloid pickguard.
I’ll take mine w. Bigsby please.

Dave
March 16, 2017 Reply

Alright I’m in. TAKE MY MONEY!
How does one vote (officially) on colors, etc? Excited! Can’t wait!

Graeme Wilson
March 3, 2017 Reply

I like the Black body and headstock, tort pickguard, with Bigsby as in the image second row middle Dog eared P 90,s white or silver.. dot inlays.. silver metal headstock logo.. 4 control knobs as per picture
Maxwell
March 3, 2017 Reply

The most sexy set up would be green with a bigsby and matching headstock, gold hardware, and those wide block inlays. I’m here for any finish, though. I think between all the inlay choices, I’d pick the blocks as much first choice, the smaller inlays (finger nail? I don’t know what you’d call them), and then the dot inlays. Can’t wait to see the finished product!

Maxwell
March 4, 2017 Reply

After further contemplation, this thing would also look great if it had a gold top finish. That’s where I’d put my vote if gold top was an option

Maxwell
March 3, 2017 Reply

Question: I saw on instagram that pre-funding was being held open for a few extra weeks. Since I placed my deposit today, March 3rd, will I still be eligible for the custom gig bag since pre-funding was originally scheduled to end March 2nd? I may have misunderstood the announcement on instagram, but I’d still like to double check to be sure.

Ivan
March 7, 2017 Reply

Yes you’ll get the gigbag

Kurt Zeidler
March 6, 2017 Reply

Definitely like the one in the photos with the dot neck and white mother of toilet seat pickguard and headstock. Will that configuration be available?
Allan Sizemore
March 6, 2017 Reply

What kind of nut will this have? Tusq? Any chance of a trapeze instead of a stop tailpiece? I like the black/creme/tort look and I love the top/bottom fret markers like my favorite Teisco EP11t!
Paul
March 7, 2017 Reply

I love the green-bursts, though the gray burst looks fantastic too. I know the traditional H47 has the white pick guard, but I do love the look of that tortoiseshell guard on any of these guitars, especially with black or gray. Glad you are going for the dog-eared P-90s.
Gerald Collatz
March 9, 2017 Reply

Since I really like the Airline Tuxedo look, I prefer Black body, white pick guard and pickup covers and the narrow line fret markers. Love the idea with the shorter scale and smaller size. Would love to hear someone play it.
Ed Seagraves
March 10, 2017 Reply

Color: I like anything “burst”. Even the olive green ‘burst looks cool
Headstock: Love the mother-of-pearl and arrows
Fret markers: I vote for bars
Pickguard: looks great with the Airline logo

I’ve pledged $150 for a lefty and, if the project goes through, I’d like the Bigsby (altho’ I’m not sure how that has to be requested).
Thanks, Mike. Thanks for thinking of us lefties.
P
March 11, 2017 Reply

Is the body chambered or hollow? (On Facebook it says fully hollow, but here it says chambred)

Michael Robinson
March 11, 2017 Reply

it is tone chambered.

Mark
March 15, 2017 Reply

1) I love that blue in the lower left. If I liked how the demos sound, I think I’d finally pull the trigger on buying an Eastwood guitar if you made these in that color! That is a beautiful and fresh look.
2) I like the abbreviated thumbnail fret markers. Those work really nicely with the binding. Definitely don’t like the big block markers.
Not a fan of the logo on the pickguard, or of the big pickup covers.
Daver
March 15, 2017 Reply

I like the blue or the wine red bursts, cream pickup covers, and the small rectangle inlays. I like it with a Bigsby too, but it looks like that’s an option, so either way on that I guess. I do like the MOP headstock on the prototype too.
Colton Conway
March 15, 2017 Reply

I’d like to see the cadillac/pea green one with dots and cream pickup covers. The dark grain filler ones are pretty slick too!
Miguel Lopo
March 15, 2017 Reply

Best option:

Black with tortoise shell scratch plate
Bigsby
4 knobs
Block inlays + thumbnail
Graeme Wilson
March 20, 2017 Reply

Hi Mike

Good to see this model is going ahead , just one question i want the bigsby tailpiece on mine regardless of the final colour RH i take it you will notify us at a later date as to how to add that request, also i agree with the previous comment that this would look good in the Dan Auerbach sunburst stratotone H47 colour

Cheers

Graeme
Ronn Ives
March 21, 2017 Reply

Of the final choices, I choose the black guitar with the red pick guard, with fret markers shown as is.
Paul Hogue
March 21, 2017 Reply

Gray burst, tortoise shell, block inlays.
Graeme
March 22, 2017 Reply

OK last comment … i just checked out the chrisferebee site and looked at the main pic, being the black one with tortoise shell pickguard and the P90 shaped metal goldfoil pickups , this with a bigsby B7 would be the absolute pick in my opinion.. i am guessing that the pickups are just a design but i like them so much

Since i can,t find the color selection part of the process i am guessing that the other two , Blue and brown may be what has been selected , plus it has the B5 bigsby which is not as cool looking as the B7

Any chance of a clarification, i could be completely wrong in all those assumtions

Cheers

Graeme
Dave
April 7, 2017 Reply

Hey Mike! Two questions:

1) What’s the plan for the pitch angle of the headstock? Old Gibson style (17 degrees), Gretsch style (15 degrees), Epiphone/new Gibson (14 degrees), or other? Not a huge concern to me either way, but ~might~ impact my desire to include the Bigsby.*

2) I notice that the base of the neck in Chris’ designs show a sort of dove-tail at the end where it meets the body. Is artistic license or something you guys plan to do. Again: makes no difference to me, just curious.

Thanks!

Dave

PS: (… OK probably not, but I’m curious)
Ed Seagraves
April 24, 2017 Reply

Has the minimum pledge been achieved, and can we assume this model will indeed be produced?

Michael Robinson
April 28, 2017 Reply

yes

Jeffrey Wilde
May 22, 2017 Reply

Would love it in an orange like the Tuxedo. Also hope the pearloid head stock will be part of the final model.
Paul Hogue
May 24, 2017 Reply

We still on track for June delivery? Getting excited!
Ed Seagraves
May 27, 2017 Reply

I’ve pledged and expect to take delivery whenever. Just wanted to know….I’m a lefy, but I play strung righty. Would it be possible to have my lefty guitar strung righty at your facilities?

Michael Robinson
May 27, 2017 Reply

yes, we can restring it for you, just add a note with your final order.

Ed Seagraves
May 27, 2017 Reply

I understand that their are two finish options, Burgundy Burst and Black (hope this is true also for the lefty model). Any decision made yet on fret markers?

Michael Robinson
May 27, 2017 Reply

lefty is only in Burgundy burst, fret markers are as shown

mike
July 20, 2017

Forget all the idiots that complain about black lefty colorways. This thing looks sexy as hell with the black/tortoise combo. But I’ll never buy the lefty model in sh*t brown. Group voting could somehow manage to screw up a wet dream.

Mark
June 15, 2017 Reply

I can go this way or that on the visuals, but the 1 5/8″ nut is just too narrow. I know it’s common, but I still think it’s silly. I think you need at least 1 11/16″ to get use-able string spacing, at least for my “manly” 🙂 fingers.

ptb
August 17, 2017 Reply

+1 on the 1 11/16″! I find the 1 5/8″ also too narrow and would love to see this with the wider nut spacing.

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Watch: Mike Robinson talks about the new Airline Mercury