Reverend Pete Anderson Eastsider E

Simple Ain't Easy

Wildwoodians, the Pete Anderson Eastsider E is proof that simple ain't easy! If you read our site regularly, you know that I (Trevor, Wildwood's resident wordsmith) am an avid bridge pickup enthusiast, and that I feel neck pickups don't need to exist (I'm wrong and I know it, but that's how I feel). Naturally, my eyes lit up when I saw that we got a one-pickup version of Pete Anderson's signature Eastsider. Pete is one of those "if you know, you know" guitars players, a guitarist's guitarist whose impeccable taste and tremendous chops shaped the sound modern country music during his years as Dwight Yoakam's music director and his subsequent session and solo work. The same taste that made him a world-beating producer has also helped shape his signature Reverends into exquisite instruments, and the Eastsider E is another home run!

Like most Reverends, it has a korina body, which is very cool in the context of an E-style guitar. Korina sounds very similar to mahogany, but with more harmonic liveliness and a sparklier top-end. It also has a roasted maple neck, which acts like a giant wooden tuning fork, imparting a little bit of vintage flavor and creating what I call the "wooden church bell effect," which means big, open, woody, chime even when played acoustically.

The electronics build on the foundation laid by the woods beautifully. Though it looks simple, the single Telbucker can be run in three modes. One is a classic T-style sound that will compel everyone in earshot to Twang Chung tonight, one is a snarling devil of a hot humbucker sound, and finally a smooth, warm voice. So, even though it has one pickup, it covers all the bases! I could easily see myself playing an Eastsider E for an entire gig without switching guitars. Basically, it's like you have three one-pickup guitars in one guitar!

Built to Be Played

Before starting Reverend Guitars, Joe Naylor (the brains behind Reverend designs) worked as a guitar repairman. Over the years, he kept a mental checklist of all the most common guitar ailments and afflictions. Once he started building, he sought to improve his designs to head these issues off at the pass with thoughtful designs meant to improve durability, stability, and playability. For instance, input jacks always go squirrelly, so each Reverend has a four-bolt jack plate instead of a two-bolt, because more bolts means it's less likely to move.

The same principle applies to many aspects of this guitar's design. It has a six-bolt neck plate instead of the usual four, so the neck is much less likely to move. It's also at a slight angle, which makes it easier to access the upper frets. Speaking of which, the neck is made of roasted maple, which has a lower moisture content, so it's less likely to move with humidity (and it acts as a wooden tuning fork of sorts, boosting the guitar's sustain and resonance a little bit). Speaking of stability, the Boneite nut and pin-lock tuners make tuning (and staying in tune) a breeze. To top it off, it has boutique-quality pots and caps, which ensure each guitar has reliable, consistent electronic components. Basically, all of that makes each Reverend supremely reliable, capable of withstanding abuse night in and night out.

Reverend's playability matches the sky-high standards it sets in durability and stability. Their necks are a marvel: an uber-comfy medium oval C with a 10"-14" compound radius and 0.110" wide x 0.050" high frets create a comfortable home for just about any play-style. The flat radius allows for a lower setup and lets chord easily down load and shred up high. The larger frets also reduce left-hand exertion and make it easier to play precisely, and the overall profile sits squarely in the Goldilocks Zone: not too thick and not too thin. It's a configuration that works well for just about any play style, and it is universally beloved by the Wildwood staff.

That's all a long-winded way of saying that this Reverend will be a dependable and helpful companion throughout all your fretboard adventures, making it easier for you to express yourself creatively at every turn.

Eastside of the Street

Wildwoodians, we're proud to present the Reverend Pete Anderson Eastsider E, a testament to the beauty of simplicity. It may not be easy to make a simple guitar, but this one makes unlocking your creativity as easy as Sunday morning. I have no doubt it will make you question the validity of neck pickups, too!

DISCLAIMER From the Reverend Team: Satin clear coats and nickel hardware as seen on the Pete Anderson signature guitars have certain physical characteristics that predispose them to aging and looking like a vintage instrument more rapidly than other finishes. As with all Reverend signature models, the choices to use these materials were made by the artist and are included on these guitars to better fit their vision of an ideal instrument.