Just checked out some Eastmans

[Bob Borzelleri]

So the birthday is around the corner and my wife has hinted at me maybe needing a new mando so I 've been looking around at what's currently out there.

My search brought me to Eastman's and off I went to a sorta nearby shop where they had 2 615s, a 515 and a 504.

The fellow pointed me to the 515 and said he thought it sounded as good, if not better than either of the 615s. ÿAfter playing them all, I didn't agree.

Both 615s sounded more clear than the 515. Individual strings stood out more. ÿThey have a bit more presence or umph that the 515, too. ÿOne of the 615s seemed to have a bit more "clunk, but it could have easily been the age of the strings or setup. ÿOn balance, I think I would go for the 615, despite that fact that the 515 sound very nice.

Not too sure about consistency of features. ÿI was under the impression that the 2006 models had radiused fretboards. ÿOne of the 615s was a 2006 and both the 515 and the 504 were carring a 2006 sticker inside. ÿThe other 615 was a 2005. ÿIf any of them had radiused fingerboards, I couldn't discern it either by sight or feel. ÿThe 2005 615 had a scooped fingerboard and the 2006 515 and 615 had the shorted fretboard. ÿI don't recall what the 504 had.

The 504 was really interesting. ÿIt had a full mid range and was very mellow sounding. ÿI guess another option would be to add a few $$$ to the equation and get both a 504 and a 515 model.

On the other hand, I think that birthday gift recipients are a lot like beggars; they should not be choosey.

[cooper4205]

i really enjoy my 504, to bad the wife is making me sell it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[sah]

Why not look at some good used mandos from small builders, or Gibsons(used), Breedlove, Mid-Mis.(not for bluegrass ofcourse). there are a million brands that will get better with time.

[DryBones]

If I had to decide which to sell between my 604 and the 505 I would have to get rid of the 505. I love that oval hole sound, what can I say? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Cooper, there are some things in life more important than the $400-500 you will get for that 504, like the happiness it brings you. (wise words I recently heard from a fellow Cafe member)

[Stephen Perry]

You probably saw the long 12" radius boards. Not quite flat.

People can't seem to agree on which particular mandolins sound good. I always recommend getting one the player likes!

[Bob Borzelleri]

Why not look at some good used mandos from small builders, or Gibsons(used), Breedlove, Mid-Mis.(not for bluegrass ofcourse). there are a million brands that will get better with time.
I'm not sure if you are suggesting that the Eastmans are not on a par with the offerings from smaller builders or that buying an off shore instrument is less desirable than buying one made in the states.

If it's the former, I have played a few Breedloves and they didn't leave me with the feeeling that I wanted to take one home. ÿI can say the same for at least a few used Gibsons. ÿNever had an interest in a Mid-Mo; not sure I've ever beeen the same room with one. ÿI did buy a Tacoma M3, and while I like to play it and will probably never sell it, its sound range is limited (not poor quality, just not the tone that I am looking for in a bluegrass mandolin).

If you are suggesting that I should consider my choice with respect to where the instrument is made, I guess I gave up trying to factor global economics into decisions regarding items that I want to perform at a level that gives me the most bang for my $$. ÿI didn't buy the Tacoma because it was made in the US, I bought it because I liked how it felt and played in my hands.

Now that I am looking for a more traditional sounding mandolin, the Eastman looks and sounds very good and the price is right.

...Bob

[Bob Borzelleri]

You probably saw the long 12" radius boards. ÿNot quite flat. ÿ

People can't seem to agree on which particular mandolins sound good. ÿI always recommend getting one the player likes!
It might well have been that they had 12" boards. That's kinda like trying to see the curvature of the earth from Central Park.

[Stephen Perry]

Not really. The curve is quite distinct, the top of the bridge is arched as well. The feel seems rather different from the clunk of a flat board.

The curve of the earth is quite apparent out my back door incidently. On a nice clear winter day I notice that I can't see the water line north and south along the lake. Binoculars make this very evident. The lake surface is nicely radiused. Have to be close to the water to notice!

On the fingerboards, look from the side and the curve becomes clear. I've seen this amount type of radius on other mandolins, too, so apparently it isn't an unprecedented thing.

[Greenmando]

OK Steve, where did the link disappear to?

Eastman Mandolins and Stephen Perry (http://www.giannaviolins.com/esmando/home.html)

[Stephen Perry]

I don't understand. I clicked your link to our eastman mando page and it went through just fine.

[fiddlingdan]

I just got one of the 615's I don't think you can go wrong with the mandolin. It sounds great out of the box and I am told it will sound better as time goes on. Easy to play, seems like it has a good bark to it.
Dan http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[otterly2k]

I guess another option would be to add a few $$$ to the equation and get both a 504 and a 515 model.

If this is truly an option, I'd think the combined $ would be better spent upgrading. Not to knock Eastman... lots of people are clearly happy with them. (Personally, I like Breedlove better, but you've tried 'em and you don't... ). But one of the main appeals of Eastman is the quality at that price point...and at a higher price point, you have another set of options worth considering...

[DryBones]

or you could save a few bucks and go with a 504 and a 505 instead of the 515, who needs a scroll anyway? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
but I agree with you Karen, it's a dilemma I am facing now that I have 3 mandos. Should I sell 2-3 of them and upgrade to 1 nicer mandolin? Sometimes MAS is the weirdest thing. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[otterly2k]

There's no "right" answer, Jason...
If you play all 3 you have, and enjoy them... there's no rush to upgrade/downsize. If you have that itchy feeling that what you have just isn't quite right, then I'm afraid you're in trouble...
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[DryBones]

Karen,
It's more of a always having to decide which one I want to play. Sometimes I think just 1 would be nice so I could skip that decision process every day.

[jim_n_virginia]

Why not look at some good used mandos from small builders, or Gibsons(used), Breedlove, Mid-Mis.(not for bluegrass ofcourse). there are a million brands that will get better with time.

I'm not sure if you are suggesting that the Eastmans are not on a par with the offerings from smaller builders or that buying an off shore instrument is less desirable than buying one made in the states.
Bob I think what he is saying is for the money you can get a used small builder mando that is hand made or a used Gibson, Flatiron or no frills Collins which has the bluegrass sound over a Tacoma or Breedlove. Even a Gibson F-9 or A-9 is not that much more than some of those higher end Eastmans. They will not lose their value and sound better as they open up. How much is an imported mando going to be worth in 5 years when you want to sell it and trade up?

Now I am not putting down Eastman because my good friend has one and I have been seeing a few pop up at some of the local bluegrass jams and while they look pretty good and you get a lotta bang for the buck but I have to call it the way I hear it and every one I ever heard sounded a little thin and tinny compared to even a lower model Flatiron A style Performer Series.

You were listening to those Eastmans comparing them to other Eastmans. Of course they are all going to sound good and you are going to pick the one that sounds the best to your ears. If you took that Eastman to a bluegrass jam with other mandolins it would be a whole different ballgame.

In any case befor I start sounding like a mando snob or a rabid buy American zealot I will have to say that the MOST important thing is that whatever you choose YOU like it and are happy with whatever mandolin you pick.

Good Luck!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif