David grisman speaks of eastman

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

this is a short quote from a much longer interview posted here on MC.

The Giacomel-Eastman-Dawg mando collaboration: "I have great hopes for the Eastman Giacomel and all of the models that I have been discussing with them. I believe that the quality will be extremely high. The Eastman folks seem very dedicated to building quality instruments, and the prototypes they sent me of both the Giacomel and the Bacon Artist were very impressive. I will receive two more within the next month, which I hopefully will approve for manufacture."

[Keith Erickson]

WOW!!! This is great news indeed...

...not surprising to hear that Eastman is involved in this project. This speaks volumes of them. High quality + great customer service & promotion = High Customer Loyalty.

I wish them all of the best success http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[BiscoMando]

yeah Eastman! I was certainly proud to read that part of the article, too, as an eastman owner.

[fstylemb1]

Look forward to get my hands on'em! I agree with Keith. Great product and great customer service!

[Jim Garber]

The Eastman folks seem very dedicated to building quality instruments, and the prototypes they sent me of both the Giacomel and the Bacon Artist were very impressive.
WHAT? They are doing a Bacon Artist clone as well? Sean do you have pics of that? That is very interesting.

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

The Eastman folks seem very dedicated to building quality instruments, and the prototypes they sent me of both the Giacomel and the Bacon Artist were very impressive.
WHAT? They are doing a Bacon Artist clone as well? Sean do you have pics of that? That is very interesting.
Yes, but they are being safely guarded. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[yoods]

I bought my first mando, a Flatiron in 1980. One of the main reasons I bought it is because Dave Grisman said that these pancake models are well built, made of good woods and is a great beginner model. He was right and I still have it, spruce top, Koa back and sides, and ebony fret board.

[sgarrity]

C'mon Sean, that's not fair.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[gregjones]

The Eastman folks seem very dedicated to building quality instruments, and the prototypes they sent me of both the Giacomel and the Bacon Artist were very impressive.
WHAT? They are doing a Bacon Artist clone as well? Sean do you have pics of that? That is very interesting.
Yes, but they are being safely guarded. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
What beter place for one to "leak out" than right here?

[F5GRun]

Can someone fill me in on the Bacon Artist Model? Im assuming this is another reproduction of a awesome mandolin? Im not sure what one looks like. Thanks All!

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

It will leak...when the time is right.

[Bob Wiegers]

I dont know much, but a google search produced this:
http://www.acousticmusicworks.com/Bacon.html
(scroll to the right for more)

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

ok, a small peek. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

(this is just a prototype)

[Jim Garber]

Can someone fill me in on the Bacon Artist Model? Im assuming this is another reproduction of a awesome mandolin? Im not sure what one looks like. Thanks All!
One of my favorite mandolins. Sort of a cross in sound between a Lyon & Healy and a Gibson. Made around 1921 -- mine is dated on the label and signed by William Place, Jr., a well-known mandolinist of the time -- sort of the Lloyd loar of the Bacon Company.

[JEStanek]

You guys who have been around know I'm an Eastman booster. That Bacon will be interesting. I'm not sure about blonde or the usual Eastman sound hole rosette but, we'll see. This is pretty exciting.

Jamie

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

I agree that this model will look best in our Classic finish with a simple rosette.

[John Hill]

I can't wait for the Giacomel models to come out. I will have one.

[Jim Garber]

Here's my Bacon.

I wonder if the Eastman folks are actually copying the graduations etc or just adapting their standards to a "cosmetic" copy. The sides have binding that extends over the top and back to give it the affect of a violin-style top.

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

The structure will be replicated.

[Jim Garber]

Next, that have to work on a Lyon & Healy A and then a cylinder back. I am sure that it is in the works, right, Sean?

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

(silence)

[BlueMountain]

More Bacon Artist photos here (same source, different mandolin, 1921, signed): http://www.acousticmusicworks.com/Bacon03.html
A couple more photos here: http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/1228/MandoPics/mando1.htm
Was the Bacon Artist mandolin made by the Bacon or Bacon & Day banjo company? They made some of the finest banjos of their time. I used to own a B&D Silver Bell tenor banjo. http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskies/264/bacon.html

[Jim Garber]

More Bacon Artist photos here (same source, different mandolin, 1921, signed): http://www.acousticmusicworks.com/Bacon03.html
A couple more photos here: http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/1228/MandoPics/mando1.htm
Was the Bacon Artist mandolin made by the Bacon or Bacon & Day banjo company? They made some of the finest banjos of their time. I used to own a B&D Silver Bell tenor banjo. http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskies/264/bacon.html
The picture in the second link is my Bacon (and my photo). You can also read about them and other models on this thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=27;t=49501;hl=bacon).

A little confusing about the Bacon Company. According to Mike Holmes of Mugwumps, there was never a Bacon & Day Company but they did label their instruments. I think they called themselves the Banjo Company when they made the Silver Bells. The label on my Artist mandolin says the Bacon Mfg. Co. Groton, CT. I believe that Day came into the picture later.

Sorry to hijack the thread... hey, Sean, your silence speaks louder than words. Looking fwd to the new line of vintage repros. Let's see... how about a B&D Ramona copy... hmmmm... what else.

[JEStanek]

I gotta admit, I'm very excited about a production company making new versions of older shaped mandolins (e.g, Bacon, Cylinderbacks, L&Hs). I'm sure this collaboration with David Grisman will be exciting even if in limited runs (a'la Kentucky Dawg models). But bringing back some of these other voices is very cool to me.

I wonder if Sean's silence includes a repro of David's Regal reverse scroll model? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Ha.

Jamie

[DryBones]

but will they be available in a lefty? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[F5GRun]

Ah the Bacon. I should have know that. When I first thought of it all I could picture in my head was a L&H. Thanks for the info. I cant wait to see the finished product. Any price range set?

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

but will they be available in a lefty? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
My sincere apologies, but probably not.

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

The lineup for this series is not set in stone, but the one constant is that they will all be from David's personal collection.

[John Uhrig]

Not to barge in ( well OK maybe I will) Hey Sean, Just wanted to know if the bowlbacks will be available any time soon?

Thanks
John

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

Not to barge in ( well OK maybe I will) #Hey Sean, Just wanted to know if the bowlbacks will be available any time soon?

Thanks
John
no secured ETA yet,sorry

[John Hill]

The lineup for this series is not set in stone, but the one constant is that they will all be from David's personal collection.
Wow, that cover's a lot of makes & models. Well it will be fun to watch this unfold.

[man dough nollij]

I've seen a couple of pictures of the Bacon "four point", and I like the look of it. Is it known for tone? Did it get considered for an Eastman "recreation" because DG has one? Curious how that came about. I'll be very interested if they hit the shelves (assuming, of course, that they have the kind of sound I'd be looking for).

[Sonomabob]

Hello all: Speaking of David Grisman, I attended a performance of the Quintet in Marin this evening. Wonderful show under the stars at a very cozy venue. The members of the group are so good. Frank Vignola on guitar is a real master. They did Dawg's groove, Opus 56. The encore was shady grove and cedar hill. Got to hear the Giacomel and the loar mando and mandola. A real treat. Lucky to be there.

Bob

24 snake head

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

All these models will be determined by Mr. Grisman's selections from his own collection.

[Mental Floss]

When can I get the Giacomel and how much should I write the check for? I will buy right now.

[Lefty&French]

but will they be available in a lefty? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
My sincere apologies, but probably not.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[gabe]

Well, there you go. I just commented on another topic that I don't lend my lefty Eastman 615, Breedlove KF or Collings MT mainly because i don't run into lefty players. The downside is that when new stuff mentionned in this thread come along.......... no lefties, dagnabbit!
Gabe

[dan@kins]

You mean you can't special order a lefty through a dealer??!?!

[gabe]

I'm sure I could, however the lefty Eastman F models took a long time in arriving on the scene and I bet new stuff like Bacon's, L&H's etc., would have to become routine production before they tended to us 'sinister' crowd.
Gabe

[SChase@EastmanStrings]

We took many orders at the show, contact your local dealer to see if they were one of them. If not, tell them to order ASAP, as this series will be limited.

[philc]

Comments deleted by Moderator. Please review board Posting Guildelines (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/faq.php).

[GTison]

DG is a great if not the greatest proponent of the Mandolin.
His endorsement of the MasterModel Kentucky line and specificly the "dawg" model in the 1980s. I believe that helped Kentucky a lot. I hope he was well compensated. I purchased a KM1000 partly due to his endorsement I guess.

Looks like he is doing the same kind of thing here with his new mandolin and maker with the best (pacrim)kid on the block Eastman. He deserves to be well compensated.

He sure must not have gotten anything from the unmentioned taped out name on his old war horse uh?

[Michael Cameron]

So where's the BEEF!?(Eastman/Giacomel)...already.

Sean,at LEAST tell us what distributors to check with,eh?

Elderly,Bernunzio,Mandolin Bros...?

I'm hoping the Giacomel doesn't have a wide/thick neck;something Loarish
for me,please,sir. Blonde is fine.

Where do I sign?

[JEStanek]

I'm hoping the Giacomel doesn't have a wide/thick neck;something Loarish for me,please,sir.

Sean is quoted here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45383&page=2) in post 34 with a nut width of "It looks to be between 1-3/32" and 1-1/8"."

I have the similar measurements from my Eastman 2 point a couple posts later. So if you like the Eastman neck the Dawg Copy might work well for you.

Jamie

[trevor]

I have just been told to expect an Eastman DG 2 Bacon next week.. watch this space..

[stevenmando]

Have a Eastman MD515 and love it sounds great and its real perdy hope to get nother .
steven

[Jill McAuley]

There is a photo of an Eastman DG 2 Bacon up on the Sylvan Music website:

www.sylvanmusic.com/inventory.php?function=view&id=1385&search=Mandolins

Cheers,
Jill

[Jon Hiller]

Hi, sorry to bump an old thread, but I have a small music store that mostly does sound systems and guitars in southern Illinois. I have a friend that has a Bacon Artist model dated 1921 and signed by William Place. She wants me to appraise it for her, but I am not real familiar with this particular mandolin, since more of my expertise is in other areas. I take it from reading through this thread that these are fairly desirable and at least somewhat rare?

[lenf12]

Yes Jon, they are somewhat rare and don't come up for sale often. I could not guess a reasonable asking price but someone else on the list may be able to. Another suggestion is to contact George Gruhn in Nashville and obtain a written expert appraisal. This will reflect the insurance replacement value of the instrument but at least it's a good starting point to determine the asking price for a potential sale. Take some good quality digital photos and post them here as well.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[JEStanek]

George Gruhn's service is for a fee or replies are more worth what you paid for them but there are several folks I would trust here who might know a relative value after you show some photos. You could start a new thread in the Looking for Information section since this thread is more about the Eastman copy than your original.

Jamie

[wmferg]

Sean,

Looks like I will be headed to China in the near future...would it possible for a mando enthusiast to schedule a factory tour? I promise to to try hard not to drool on anything....

:)

[JEStanek]

Sean isn't with Eastman anymore (reported to us from NAMM this year). Try contacting them via their website. Good luck and safe travels.

Jamie

[Ivan Kelsall]

Quote from Jamie - "Sean isn't with Eastman anymore" . Maybe not surprising !. In a recent thread on Mandolin cases,Sean mentioned that he'd asked Eastman to consider modifications to their fibreglass cases to make room for 'strings 'n things'. I got the distinct impression that he felt like he was banging his head on a brick wall - who'd want to work for a company that doesn't listen :whistling: (oooops ! - i used to),
Ivan

[JEStanek]

Pure speculation on why someone leaves a company does neither the person or the company any good. The bad news is Eastman no longer has a face on the Café. However most of the other mandolin production companies don't have one here either. The Eastman case has been re done to accommodate their oval hole models so now all of their products (except bowlbacks) will fit in the F-shaped fiberglass case. Also remember, Eastman mandolins is a younger offshoot and a smaller market than what they are known for, violins and cellos.

Jamie

[ColdBeerGoCubs]

The lineup for this series is not set in stone, but the one constant is that they will all be from David's personal collection.

I know this post is almost two years old and that you don't work from the company anymore, but those details are minor compared to the burning this zen like question has caused in the back of my mind. What would Eastman do if Mr Grisman were to bring them oneof his old Kentucky models for reproduction?