Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 27

Thread: A quick eastman 904 review please

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Anaheim, CA
    Posts
    209

    Default

    I have put my 63' Vega 5 string tubaphone openback banjo up for trade for an Eastman mandolin on "Banjohangout" (the kind folks here would'nt allow other instruments to be classified on M.C., but it's their site and rules).
    # I had really wanted to trade for an Eastman F style w/ oval holes as I already have an Givens A and have always wanted an F but I've got a nice offer for an 904 (A model oval hole).
    # #Has anyone got one that can give a quick review-(even any oval hole Eastman). I play some bluegrass, alot of Irish & Scottish and use it in the Slovenian polka bands I play in on some tunes. I would appreciate any info, thank you. Jon



    Jon

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Fairfax Co., Virginia
    Posts
    3,013

    Default

    Warm, crisp. Bass a bit woofy. Short neck. What's a Vega worth? I have an extra F / oval Eastman! 866 884 6546
    Stephen Perry

  3. #3
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    I had an Eastman 814 (F-oval) that I liked alot. The Eastman had a nice tone to me, open, good sustain, the neck was comfortable and Stephen Perry did a great set up - Voodoo on it when I got it. With my Spira (flat top oval hole) and a Brian Dean Lyon and Healy Style A repro coming next spring I didn't need another oval hole mando so I traded it for a Breedlove KF.

    What I liked about the Eastman was the neck shape was comfortable, the Varnish finish was nice. It was an F4 I could afford.

    What I found challenging, at least now as I deal with the Breedlove, is the Eastman had a narrower neck and thinner not as tall frets (call 'em vintage frets if you like). The Breedlove is pretty darn wide for me and I've not yet gotten used to it.

    A well set up Eastman can be a joy to play. Many folks feel the Eastmans do not improve in tone substantially as you go up from the 500-900 series. Just the wood and binding get nicer. Only you can be the judge of that when you have several Eastman mandos on hand to taste.

    Jamie



    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hampton NJ 08827
    Posts
    1,502

    Default

    "Warm, crisp."

    Stephen, that's chicken!

    Curt

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Fairfax Co., Virginia
    Posts
    3,013

    Default

    I don't understand "chicken" in this context. I ate chicken last night.
    Stephen Perry

  6. #6
    Registered User Frank Russell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Coachella Valley, CA
    Posts
    893

    Default

    Had one, sold it. Played several others, nice but not the old Gibson A oval hole tone I wanted. I have an old A3 on loan right now that sounds exactly like what I was looking for with the Eastmans, and would not cost any more than a new 904. Look around before you jump. And don't expect anything to sound like your Givens. Frank
    FJ Russell


    Es mejor morir de pie que vivir de rodillas. E. Zapata

  7. #7
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default

    If you sell the 5 string, going rate should get you more.

    than SRP , for the 904.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Fairfax Co., Virginia
    Posts
    3,013

    Default

    Eastman has parallel bars, unlike old Gibson. Will sound much different.
    Stephen Perry

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Hamburg, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    1,247

    Default

    Steve, he means that "Warm and crisp" sounds like you're describing fried chicken. But he was probably hungry when he wrote that. The rest of us know what you meant.

    Speaking of which, I drove past a Kentucky Fried Chicken store last week, and they were advertising that their fried chicken was made with "No Trans Fat!" Of course, they didn't mention the cholesterol and the bucket of "okay" oil it's fried in. Warm and crispy!

  10. #10

    Default

    I really like my 904D (oval hole, 2-pointer).

    Sounds great, plays smoothly, looks pretty, hand made. If it's in your price range, I wouldn't hestitate.

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Western New York
    Posts
    58

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by
    I really like my 904D (oval hole, 2-pointer).

    Sounds great, plays smoothly, looks pretty, hand made. If it's in your price range, I wouldn't hestitate.
    I have the same model; I really like the sound and playability of mine, too.

    I know the wood binding is a bit more fragile than "the man made stuff", but the wood binding is real pretty to look at.

    I have a lot of room to grow before I will need to upgrade, it was a good choice.

  12. #12

    Default

    I like the binding myself. As a matter of fact, I have a Huss & Dalton guitar with the same maple binding. Great look for me as well.

    I've no complaints about it at all. Steve Perry at Gianni did a great set-up on it. It was a IBMA model, #13.

    Mine's a blonde one.

  13. #13
    Registered User guitharsis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Finger Lakes region NY
    Posts
    388

    Default

    I have an 804D, 2 point, classic finish. Purchased from Bernunzio's, Mandovoodoo by Steve Perry.
    Beautiful to look at, sounds great, plays easy.

  14. #14

    Smile

    I too have a 804D two point from Steve Perry, very nice tone and a joy to look at.

    Gibson A9
    Eastman 804D two point, blonde

    Nothing is fool proof for a talented fool

  15. #15
    Registered User John Flynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    8,076

    Default

    When it comes to chicken, I prefer original recipie, "warm and soft."

    I played a very early Eastman oval. It was one of the first in the country. Then I also played a new one a couple years later. I found them both to have a very boomy bass and strong mids. Like a lot of ovals, I found the treble end to be weak, although that could possibly develop with time, or with some luthiery work. Fit, finish, appearance and playability were all good. Seemed like a good deal for the price. Just MHO, YMMV.

  16. #16
    Registered User Elliot Luber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Long Island, NY, USA
    Posts
    4,157

    Default

    Jim Richter's F4 up on youtube seems to give out a lot well defined bass. I know he's got strong skills, but is that also an oval thing or just the traditional Gibson sound I'm liking?




  17. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Western New York
    Posts
    58

    Default

    Hi guitharsis

    Must be John Bernunzio likes the Eastman 804's and 904's. My 904 2-point, blonde came from Bernunzio's also! It was from NAMM Jan 2006. I was "just looking", I guess it found me; I tried to walk away from it, but it called me back.

    I love it.

    Vicky

    PS Thanks for sending me the RMSO music, it is still beyond my ability, but I'm working on it. I still have hopes!

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Fairfax Co., Virginia
    Posts
    3,013

    Default

    Maybe an oval should be like the original "Jeff Davis" fried chicken. Pressure cook, then brown in a skillet. Crisp outside, soft tender inside.
    Stephen Perry

  19. #19
    Registered User guitharsis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Finger Lakes region NY
    Posts
    388

    Default

    Hi Vicky,
    Sounds like your 904 is pretty special and was just too nice to walk away from!! Yes, Bernunzio's is a great place. The last time I went "looking" there, I walked out with a 1915 Gibson A1! It was brought into Bernunzio's by the granddaughter of the original owner.

    Glad you're still enjoying the music. It's a bit difficult for me too.

    Doreen

  20. #20
    Registered User Kevin Briggs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    State College, PA
    Posts
    2,636
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    I've had a pretty good experience every time I play an eastman. Sometimes I have a great experience. They are nice. Talk to Steve Perry about it. He's been with Eastman since the beginning.
    Hamlett Two-Point
    Eastman MD805
    Schertler DYN-M + Yellow
    http://www.youtube.com/ktbriggs
    https://www.facebook.com/kevin.briggs.1213

  21. #21
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    south dakota
    Posts
    136

    Default

    my oval eastman needs a set up job right now, but as whole the E string rings out with a long sustain I like. I feel the mandolin deadens out along the D string and is parts of the A.
    For me my eastman is just the campfire mandolin. Eastman is nice stuff for sure. However, don't expect any professional level sound quality out of it.

  22. #22
    Registered User Kevin Briggs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    State College, PA
    Posts
    2,636
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Yeah, my buddy who is looking to upgrade is experiencing that. He likes everythign about it expect for the tone. The problem is, to go from $1,300 to a nice American made F style is a huge jump. He is trying to find the gem for like $1,800. I told him good luck. On top of it, he's not really able to get creative. He wants a cadillac for the price of a Chevy.
    Hamlett Two-Point
    Eastman MD805
    Schertler DYN-M + Yellow
    http://www.youtube.com/ktbriggs
    https://www.facebook.com/kevin.briggs.1213

  23. #23
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Fairfax Co., Virginia
    Posts
    3,013

    Default

    "9) Eastman mandolin. “Eastman makes violins, and I’ve been dealing with their violins for a long time. To me, the mandolin is amazing - and I’ve had three Lloyd Loars at different times. It’s Chinese. Mandolin players talk about how an instrument does or does not ‘bark.’ Well, the only new mandolins I’ve eve played that barked - with the exception of one Gilchrist that’s better than any of the Loars I ever had - are a couple of Eastmans. They’re really good. The one thing about it that was not wonderful was that it was very trebly sounding. So I had Stephen Perry in Tennessee do his MandoVoodoo thing on it, and it’s now much deeper and richer sounding. It’s a better mandolin than I am a mandolin player."

    David Bromberg quoted by Dan Forte in Vintage Guitar, July 2007

    As usual, different players get different mileage. There's not an absolute best for everyone. David's mandolin was well broken in when I went through it.

    I've tweeked Eastmans for a number of other professionals. They worked very well for their uses on stage. Good players, some you'd recognize.
    Stephen Perry

  24. #24
    Registered User bmm5255's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Sabina, Ohio
    Posts
    90

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by (Snakebeard Jackson @ Oct. 22 2007, 10:04)
    my oval eastman needs a set up job right now, but as whole the E string rings out with a long sustain I like. I feel the mandolin deadens out along the D string and is parts of the A.
    For me my eastman is just the campfire mandolin. Eastman is nice stuff for sure. However, don't expect any professional level sound quality out of it.
    Don't tell Roscoe Morgan this.

  25. #25
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Maryville, TN
    Posts
    237

    Default

    That would be correct! I had to buy my 2000 Gibson F5L to get a markedly different, if better mandolin than my Eastman 615. I paid over 4 times the price to get into the Fern. I'm not sure that it is that many times better, I've just been intrigued by the tone of players like Lawson and Sizemore and heard that particular tone in the Fern I bought.
    Pick through a bunch...I've had to do that whatever the headstock says. Eastman is a professional mandolin...my 615 paid my mortgage and put food on the table for 3+ years! Eastmans are also made from different trees <g>, so why should every mandolin have the same sound anyway? I wish I had the tree, or part of it, that July 9, 1923 Loars came from. Engineering and build quality (both irrevocable factors) aside, you've just got to find the mandolin that came from the "lucky tree"! Then...look at the name on the headstock, and hopefully it will be at your budget price point. Eastman DEFINITELY did it for me!
    Roscoe Morgan

    2000 Sim Daley signed Gibson F-5L


    www.sunsethillmusic.com

Similar Threads

  1. Eastman Mandolin Review
    By Philip Halcomb in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 96
    Last: Oct-31-2013, 11:26am
  2. Eastman 604 no. 32 review
    By MandoHobbit in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 4
    Last: Jul-12-2005, 9:45pm
  3. Got my Eastman ! - review
    By Kbone in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 4
    Last: May-03-2005, 10:14pm
  4. Eastman MD-814 review
    By bdisp in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 37
    Last: Feb-12-2005, 11:32pm
  5. My Eastman 515 Review
    By Carolinamando in forum Looking for Information About Mandolins
    Replies: 14
    Last: Jan-17-2005, 3:41pm

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •