Eastman 815

[Sonomabob]

I just played an Eastman 815 at 5th String in Berkeley.
It played pretty well. And looked well made.

I am looking to upgrade from a Mikael Kelly and wanted to go to a US made version.
Does anyone have thoughts on comparing the Eastman at about $1,500 with a used, luthier made mando for around the same money?

[Douglas McMullin]

Are you really married to an F? If not I would have a hard look at many of the new and used A’s that fall into the price range. It has been said a thousand times, but you will get twice the mandolin for the money if you lose the scroll. There a few near mint Collings MT’s on the market for that price. You could also get a Gibson A9 along with having options from a number of excellent smaller builders.

EDIT: Not a hack on Eastman or the 815, but $1500 puts you in with some stiff competition. I would certainly play a bunch more than just the one instrument, and go for the one that sings to you.

[Five]

Very pleased with my 815.

[Greenmando]

Well, the Eastman is still a pac-rim. But I think the Eastman's are better made and sound better than a MK. I am very pleased with my 804. I think you can get a better price, check with Steve Perry here in the cafe. I bought my 804 with the full Voodoo treament for $1200.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/ferretkona/Mandolins/804d2.jpghttp://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/ferretkona/Mandolins/804d4.jpg

If you are patient you can pick up a used Gibson A9 for less than $1000 or even a Gibson F9 for about $1600 here in the classifieds.

[Sonomabob]

Thanks guys. That sounds like some good advise.

[f5loar]

I got 3 815 models and they all are great mandolins and a wide step above any MK I've played. Sure you might find some nice A models in that price range but where you gonna hang that strap? They ain't got no big scroll to put that strap around!

[bjewell]

Don't quite get the "Pac-Rim" thing. #All mandolins are made by human hands, although some are attached to bigger tools.

I like my humble 515, hated the defective 915 I lost some serious bucks on and am disgusted with Eastmans's attitude towards customer relations -- but I am saving that for its own thread.

I'd make sure it was an '06 model, as they are a lot better than previous offerings, and play it first. #Make sure the tailpiece is on right.

Tom Quinn
Tokyo

[Greenmando]

I only meant to point out that the Eastman is not made in the US. Sonomabob stated he "looking to upgrade from a Mikael Kelly and wanted to go to a US made version"

Out of many mandolins made in Korea the Eastmans stand out ahead.

I remember your problem with the tailpiece and the store you bought it from. I thought you liked the 915 and wanted the tailpiece fixed.

[jim_n_virginia]

just my .02 get a Flatiron A or save a little more and get the F

stick with Performer or Festival Series and stay away from the Artist Series unless you want to pay more for the bling.

Reason... American made and you will not lose the resale value when you are ready to upgrade ... and you WILL upgrade one day. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[cooper4205]

there's a nice looking '95 flatty A5 in the classifieds for a little over $1600

[Stephen Perry]

Out of many mandolins made in Korea the Eastmans stand out ahead.
China. Beijing.

Thanks for the kind words above. Nice mandolins.

[Mattg]

Why the 815 when the 615 is probably the best value in the Eastman F. I really don't think the 815s I've played sound or play any better and the 615 looks nicer than the 515. The 515 lacks binding on the peghead and that makes the peghead scroll less strong. It also lacks binding on the back so there is no protection of the back seam against dings.

[hanknc]

For $1500 you'll be able to pick and choose Eastmans. You'll end up with a nice instrument.

Big up to Eastman.

Yo.

[Michael H Geimer]

Re: Eastmans at The 5th String.

I live in nearby, so I've played their selection of Eastmans several times over. I've consistently felt the lower end Eastmans sound better to me than their high-end one's.

Nice shop, but I always end up next door down at Marmot!

[mythicfish]

I think that $1500 spent on an Eastman would be a noble contribution to the local, small-business economy.

Curt

[pickinNgrinnin]

A used Weber, Flatiron or a Collings MT would be a good choice. Hard to go wrong with any of these. They will hold their resale value. Lots of very nice A styles in this price range. You also might be able to find a used Gibson F9 in this range. I would not hesitate buying used. Most folks seem to take pretty good care of their Mandolins. I've not had the need for any warranty repair on used one's I've owned.

[Michael H Geimer]

Since we're talking 5th string ...

Last time I was in there I played a hand-made mandolin built by their in-house luthier. It was very rough in the fit-n-finish area, but sure sounded great! Not so easy on the eyes, but beautiful to the ears.

[Greenmando]

Out of many mandolins made in Korea the Eastmans stand out ahead.
China. #Beijing. #

Thanks for the kind words above. #Nice mandolins.
That's what I get for posting at 2 in the morning.

[bjewell]

I took the 915 back. Bought the 515 from a friend at his small Bluegrass shop here in Tokyo. Sounds much better than the 915 did.

They have the worst customer relations in the music industry...

[sean808080]

i love my eastman...it's a 615 and it curls my toes every time i pick it up. if you like it snatch it up!

[JEStanek]

I love my Eastman 814. The best advise I've seen posted is to is to set a budget and buy the best mandolin you can afford. If the one you like the best is out of the budget save longer or buy the best sounding playing (looking if important to you) one you can afford and forget headstocks and body shapes.

Jamie

[Douglas McMullin]

If the one you like the best is out of the budget save longer or buy the best sounding playing (looking if important to you) one you can afford and forget headstocks and body shapes.

I agree that is darn good advice.

[FredB]

I have one of the better Michael Kelly's. And I have had setup professionally. I flat out love it.

But I played an Eastman 815 at a local store and it was absolutely beter sounding and easier playing than my MK. I am a bit of a an MK fan. But if I had the $$$ ....
Fred

[Stephen Perry]

I'd still get a nice used benchmade A at that price point. Some are very very nice indeed. Although a number of very pretty duds pass through here. I probably see duds more often than most - people in love with their mandolins are less likely to send them off! In F mandolins, I can't recall seeing a good used buy at $1500 locally. Maybe they're out there, but not often.

[Five]

Steve,
Are the Eastmans not considered pretty much bench made?
Just wondering.

[sonicmacben]

I absolutly love my 515. I looked at and played 515's, 615's, and 815's, and in my opinion, the 515 gave the best bang for the buck. It's not as flashy (I personally don't really care for inlay), but plays and sounds better than mandolins worth much more. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[The Mandolin Store]

Have you see the new Breedlove FF? # I was extremely impressed with this piece. #We've only had the one come thru but at $1499 it's the best buy out there in a mandolin under $2k............hard to believe it's made in the USA with the price. # We have more coming but I think it's going to take production a while to catch up with demand. #You can check out pics of it on our site and see if you like it. #While its not 100% traditonal, it's certainly closer than anything Breedlove has offered in the past.
Thanks,
Dennis

[JEStanek]

Steve,
Are the Eastmans not considered pretty much bench made?
Just wondering.
I would consider the Eastman bench made with a caveat, they are still made by a group of people (analogous to any other larger scale production facility that builds by hand Weber / Gibson). Different parts are done by different people. See the Eastman factory tour here. (http://www.eastmanmusiccompany.com/)

Not bench made by a single person from start to finish like a small shop builder.

I'll stick with my original advise and state try a bunch and buy the one that plays the best to your ear regardless of brand and body shape. If you want a quality, handmade instrument the Eastman line should be considered (IMO - and yes I'm a proud owner and that may taint my view on it).

Jamie

[Santiago]

I have a custom shop Gibson 335 Curly Maple guitar and a stock Eastman 605 (A-f). The wood on the 605 is far superior to what I got from the Gibson custom shop (yes it ws made in the Kalamazoo shop toward its end. I bought on speculation that being among the last it might appreciate, which it has just for being a Gibson insturment). My point is not about Gibson, the guitar is still my most-prized posession, but that calling an Eastman a PacRim instrument is to miss the point. I guess Beijing could be considered in the Pacific Rim, but to lump a quality hand-carved instrument together with factory cheezeboxes is a mistake.

[MandoSquirrel]

Have you see the new Breedlove FF? I was extremely impressed with this piece. We've only had the one come thru but at $1499 it's the best buy out there in a mandolin under $2k............hard to believe it's made in the USA with the price. We have more coming but I think it's going to take production a while to catch up with demand. You can check out pics of it on our site and see if you like it. While its not 100% traditonal, it's certainly closer than anything Breedlove has offered in the past.
Thanks,
Dennis
Thanks for the info, I've been watching the progress on these at your site for some time now, that one went quick, one day it was expected, the next ANother was expected, & it was gone! I'm not financially r4eady to make a purchase, but I love my Breedlove KO, & find the FF an interesting idea. Nice to hear you were impressed.

If you don't mind, I'd like to copy your post to the Breedlove Forum, as there has also been some curiosity there.