Any thoughts about eastman mandolins?

[sitarjams]

SO I have recently began my search for my new mandolin. I am upgrading from a Kentucky(no hype there)and just wondered what any of yalls thought were on Eastman Mandolins. I played one here at my local shop in VT and it was nice, but it seemed as if a little was lacking. I just don't want to drop $1200 on something that I feel might be lacking. Any thoughts, suggestions or feedback would be most welcomed. Hope yall are doing great!

[Glassweb]

For $1200 you will have some decent choices so shop around a bit. Eastman, Weber, Breedlove etc... get to a shop where you can test drive a bunch of mandolins and you'll feel great about your ultimate choice.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Find a used Colling MT for $1,600, this might mean no in the near future up grade possibly.

[gnelson651]

I second the Collins MT. I have two Eastmans, a 805 and 514. I like them both but when I tried a Collins MT at Buffalo Brothers last year, there is no comparison-the Collins was the best sounding mandoin of the whole wall at BB that day.

If my wife wasn't standing next to me, I would have been so tempted to buy the Collins right then and there. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Just one comment on Eastman, they are a good bang for the buck mandolin, if you go with their lower 500 series models. The real difference is the appointments such as binding, grade of wood,etc. You can get a new Eastman 515 for arbout $1,000, less if you wait for a used one.

[birdman98]

Eastman 515 in the classifieds...NFI. Half the price as what you'd pay retail.

And I think they really improve after they've been played a while.

But if you've got $1200 burning a hole in your pocket, check out some of the above recommendations as well. And some of those used A-9's sure are nice.

[sitarjams]

Any ideas where I might look for a used Collings MT? I live in VT. They look real nice. I would love to play one but I defnintaly need a used on unless I got a raise at work haha

[Jeff Hildreth]

Check the nut width carefully on the Eastmans
narrower than a Gibson or a Kentucky

under 1 1/8th

[F5G WIZ]

Go to the search feature and type in Eastman in the search field, you should get bunches of past threads on the subject. Welcome to the Cafe. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[sitarjams]

Thanks for the info yall. I am gonna check things out an hopefully w/in a month be pickin on somehting sweet. Those Collings are sweet though.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Search and yee shall find....also education is a must. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[allenhopkins]

Here's my 2¢ (I own an Eastman 615 mandola and 805 mandocello):

Excellent workmanship, fit and finish. #Good cases. #A wide range of models -- A-style, F-style, round-hole, f-hole. #Sometimes "soft" finishes; I wore through the finish on the 615 with my "planted" ring finger in a couple months. #As to sound, well, {1] that's a really subjective area, and [2] there's a great deal of variance among individual instruments. #Some find Eastman mandolins "thin" sounding. #Since I've bought lower-pitched instruments, that's not an issue for me.

One thing I would say, is that the sound of Eastman instruments does not necessarily improve as you go up the line to the 800 and 900 series models. #My 615 mandola, IMHO, sounded better than the 815 against which I compared it. #This current thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=52205) has several postings in which owners preferred the sound of the lower-range Eastmans to the fancier models. #The higher models have more figured wood, gold hardware etc., but may not be better-sounding instruments.

[f5loar]

Most imports need setups and most stores don't set them up.
Possible the one you tried was not set up so maybe not a good guage to go by. If all you got is around $1200 then I assume you are talking the 815 Eastman. And F body with f holes is what you are after. If it were me I'd put another $300 to it and look seriously at the new KM1000 Kentucky. Again one that has been set up. I think you would be hard pressed finding anything better for that price. Now if you don't want an F model and the A model is fine then it opens much more up in that price range.

[Jim Kasperson]

Check Gianna"s violins and call and talk to
Steve. You can get a great sounding Mandolin for less than 1,000 . I recommend the Mando voodoo investment. With a new mando it is not that much more money. His prices are less than most E-bay used listings and you have the pleasure of a new mandolin. I believe that he offers one of the best opportunities to owm a good mandolin for the less tha 1 k crowd that can be found. No financial interest here. Just another satisfied Eastman owner from Gianna's.

[mercenarymandolinist]

Tony Kramer has at least four at Fretted Instruments in Amherst, Ma. I tried them all and there was a great deal of variation in the tone. He had an A style with bound F holes that was WAY better sounding than the others to my ears. You should go down there and try them yourself.He also had a lower end Weber F style with no binding in matte finish- used- in your price range. Eastman is the only Chinese maker I would consider. I'd recommend shopping for a used American mandolin like a Flatiron or Breedlove, or one of the low volume luthiers.
OR if you posess basic woodworking skills and patience, you could buy an International violin F style mandolin kit, a dremel, finishing supplies, a hardshell case,and Siminoff's book and still have enough left over to go to Grey fox.

Kurt in W. MA

P.S. Bring long green and be prepared to dicker.

[Philox]

I would also recommend a used Rigel A+ Deluxe in that price range. Really love my Rigel, which I picked up a few years back after upgrading from a Kentucky. You have some good options between a new or used Eastman, Breedloves, used Webers, and a variety of used smaller production luthier's instruments (check out the Arrow and Stiver in the classifieds at approx. 1500, other sites presently have/recently had used Laura Ratliff, Newell, Summit, Brad Donaldson, and other makers at or below that amount). I've played some Eastmans and liked them, but reading posts on em, go through a place like Gianna Violins or get the opportunity to play the one you are thinking of before purchasing. From reading other's comments and my experience, individual Rigels, Breedloves and Webers are probably a bit more consistent across the line. One suggestion, once you settle on what you are thinking of, post in the WANTED section of the classified section on this site. I have done that on several occasions and was really pleased with it - obtained what I was looking for in the price range I was willing to pay when particular instruments were not listed in the FOR SALE sections.

[Ctone]

Your signatuyre says you are Brattleboro. Maple Leaf in Brattleboro is a Collings Dealer. Music Emporioum in Lexington, MA is also.

[Mandobar]

check out maple leaf.

[coolwood]

Even though Vermont tends to lack stores with a wide selecetion of Mandos, Vermont is home to both NewMAD and Campanella Strings. #Both Peter Mix and Joe Cleary are very accomidating. #That may not help with your Eastman search, but you'll have fun just the same.

Mandolin Brothers, in Staten Island, does have a variety of everything, and is only a few hours from Brattleboro.

Bill
Williston, VT

[Steve Ostrander]

I think Eastmans are good mandos for the money. You can find them used for well under 1k. Mine took a while to play in, but now it sounds pretty good.

The Collings MTs are terrific for but cost more. Probably will be my next mando.

[Stephen Perry]

Again, have to compare apples & apples. Fully set up, fully played in is much much different from stock setup, new, versus played in older.

Different people also get different things out of different mandolins.

[birdman98]

Just tried a pair of J-75's on my 515 and it sounds awesome.

Bringing out the low end that I had found lacking since I bought it a year ago.

So yeah...apples and apples...

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Sleepy Moon Music]

You should ask giannaviolins /Stephen Perry what he has for sale and also check on his mandovodo set up .From the post on other forums it is worth it .Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro is a good store other than travling to Burlington or to Hanover ,NH. at Hanover strings , she may be your best local bet . As you might have guessed i'm in Vt.also only up on the Canadian border in the Northest Kingdom .