Breedlove kf vs eastman 2pt f-hole

[JEStanek]

I have a specific question. I have a potential to acquire a "new to me" instrument. I have nothing but oval holes and wanted to add an F-hole intrument to the mix to cover my bases. I have two choices I'm considering a Breedlove KF and the Eastman 2point F-hole (805D). I have no concerns about where they were manufactured or by whom (the made in X arguement is kind of moot unless you want to talk about customer service). Please don't reply with country of origin as a consideration. My question is on tone and playability. I'm not a bluegrass player. I will probably play the similar kind of tunes on either of these that I play on my oval holes (folky, fiddle tunes, chording, classical and older)

I would be trading my Eastman 814 (F4) for these in deals that I'm/we are comfortable with so the issue really comes down to sound/playability. For those of you who have played both a Breedlove Quarts with F holes (K or O shape) and an Eastman with F holes, please tell me your preference and why. Thanks.

Jamie

[Kevin Briggs]

I owned a Breedlove Spirit, which is basically a Quartz, and I've played a bunch of Eastmans, including the top Eastman two point.

You should decide for yourself, first and foremost. However, my opinion is that the Breedlove is in a class above the Eastman. Breedloves are known for being consistent, and they are known for a sound that can fit in a number of genres. They have been doing it successfully for years, and there are rarely any complaints on this board about Breedloves. Mine had good volume, good tone, and looked#cool. For the price of a Quartz, that's about the best review a person can hope for.

Eastmans can also be very good. I've played some that are very nice. However, most I've played, even with good setups, are just okay. They are better than the average Kentucky, but worse than the average Breedlove. They tend to sound tinny, and don't often have much bark. However, I have played a few that had nice tone and good bark.

It's hard not to mention they are a pac-rim mandolin, because they are one of the best imports in the pac-rim catagory. However, if you want a subjective piece of advice, I'd recommend the Breedlove with abosultely no reservations. They are superior mandolins.

Just remember, it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.

[Chippster]

I've played both and they really are different. I liked the feel and sound of the Breedlove better, and the construction of the Eastman better. The two Breedloves (in the price range of the Eastman) i played K and O, either were unbound or the binding was wood, which, IMO is cosmetic only. Top and back binding is there for a reason as that's a place where instruments break when thumped or dropped. If you're super careful all the time, then maybe it's not necessary, but i'm a banger ... and i often drink when i play, so i need a good hard binding on the top and back.

[ben_wv]

I've noticed that Breedloves come standard with bigger frets, and the Eastmans I have seen and played have smaller, Gibson-sized-not-Sam-Bush-model frets.

I love my Eastman, but I'll look for bigger frets on my next instument. Also, I'm getting some pretty deep grooves on frets 2-5 on the A & the E, which is starting to concern me. I've had my Eastman (515 classic) for just more than 2 years.

As for sound, the Breedloves I've played were bright and loud. My Eastman is the best sounding Eastman I've heard, and I get regular compliments on its tone (when someone else plays it). I can tell a distinct difference in the sound as it's opened up, both in tone (richer) and volume (loud enough for everyone to hear my mistakes). I believe that the full MandoVoodoo setup by Steve Perry at Gianna Violins is in a big way responsible for how much I like the way my instrument sounds (NFI).

There was a very interesting thread in the Builders section last week about fret size including some pretty strong opinions and facts on both sides. I think it's worth reading before a new purchase.

cheers, and good luck!

[Celtic Saguaro]

I'm not sure that there is much difference except for the way they look and personal preference. I played both Breedloves and Eastmans at the store in the last couple weeks and found the tone to be of similar good quality.

[Tighthead]

I think a Breedlove will likely have a wider nut than an Eastman?

I like a wide nut and small frets (my old Gibson is an inch and a quarter with mere suggestions of frets), and I found the neck on the Breedlove I played (a very early KF (or Cascade)-style model) to be very comfortable.

I'm not sure how big a factor nut width is for you, but it may be something to consider.

[Kevin Briggs]

The Breedlove is 1 and 3/16 of an inch, I believe, which is the usual "wide neck" that people ask for. The Sam Bush is the same, I'm pretty sure. I concur that the Breedlove neck felt strangly comfortable, despite it being bigger. Typically, I like smaller, but the shallow U shape and the wider nut felt guitar-like to me. That was the first thing i thought when I played my Spirit.

AS far as how long frets should last... I wore out some frets after just a year or so, and had some bad buzzing. Wearing out frets over two years is not too bad. If you play a lot, you will wear out frets. I don't want to offend anyone, but the only people I know who don't wear out frets in a year or two are old-timers who play the same frets for like 10 years because they don't practice all the time or anything.

[MandoSquirrel]

I've had a Breedlove KO for just about one week over a year. I frequently rave about it having the nicest neck/fretboard/action of any mandolin I've played in over 30 years of trying. I've practiced/played on it all that time, & though it was apparently already 2years old when I got it, I've noticed No fret wear. & sounds fine , especially with flatwound strings. I've tried a OF at Guitar Center, & it compares favorably.

I've only tried 2 Eastmans; one a 615, the other an 815. They played nicely, & the 815 had a great, dark, F hole sound. The 615 had nothing special in sound, no better in my opinion than a Michael Kelly or any other good Pac-Rim mandolin.

I wouldn't give up my Breedlove for either of these Eastmans, but the 815 would be a good F hole/Bluegrass second mandolin.

Maybe this will help, if not, so be it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[JEStanek]

Thanks for the input guys. Keep it coming.

Jamie

[lastchair]

I have an Eastman 2pt f-hole model. #And I played a few Breedlove at the store. #I liked the larger frets on the Breedlove which makes it easier (IMO) to fret without lots of pressure. #I think on a smaller fret instrument you have to be much more careful the exact placement of your finger right behind the fret. On a larger one, you can place it even over the fret and not mute the sound, or if it is slightly back it doesn't twang as easily. That said, I found that my Eastman is pretty easy to play because of the low action and you just have to be more precise.

That said, I cannot comment on the sound because I was using a Medium Tortis "D" pick on both instruments, and that pick makes everything brighter and thinner. #However I thought the Eastman sound was similar and the Breedloves also run on the bright side.

I did not like the wider neck of the Breedlove, but it is only because I have extremely small hands. #I ended up with a Collings because of the v-shaped neck, the large frets and thumpy more full-bodied sound than either the Eastman or Breedlove.

I still like my Eastman very much, as it is a bright and happy sounding mandolin and great for jazz, gypsy style. #I did try overdriving the tops of both of them by hard strumming the chords, and I think the Collings achieves the "bark", whereas the Eastman just strums even louder and ringing (maybe I have to hit it harder, but it seems that it cannot be crushed). #The Eastman sings higher and clearer up the fretboard. #I attribute it (in my ignorance), to the Eastman being glued with hide glue, whereas I don't know, but think that maybe the traditional mandolin makers use Titebond. #Hide glue is crisper and doesn't creep, so it doesn't muffle or dull out the sound. #And the Eastman has a beautiful hand applied violin varnish, rubbed out in and then topped with lacquer and glossed to a shine.

Getting back to the Breedlove, the ones I played had a satiny finish blueish brownish color, and takes some getting used to. #The nice thing about the satiny finish is that the neck is easy to slide around on it. #Violin necks are not varnished so that they don't get sticky. #The satiny finish is not sticky like the lacquered finishes.

Anyway, each mandolin is different, even if made by the same manufacturer and numbered the same. #You just need to try them until one of them grabs you.

[MandoBen]

I think if you want something a little different from your round holes, the Eastman F-holes are going to sound more different than the Breedlove F-holes. Compare the two yourself and you might see what I am saying. Breedloves dont really have any 'chop' or 'woodiness' but maybe you don't want that anyway. I just think a Breedlove is going to be more similar to what you already have. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[flairbzzt]

I've owned the Eastman 2 points and have played Breedloves. I think the consideration is the neck and nut width. I always preferred smaller nuts and v-type necks of the Eastmans which compensated for my short fingers. I used to play a Martin 2-15 which had a very small neck.To me , the breedlove necks are wide enough to land planes on. The comfort/playability difference stands out as the most obvious contrast in the two models aside from aesthetics.