Took the plunge

**Lefty5** · May-02-2008, 10:02am

Howdy yall, I've been thinking about taking up the mandolin for a quite a while now and yesterday finally took the plunge and bought one.

My choices were limited being a southpaw but after careful consideration I decided on one of these little beauties...

It's an Eastman A Style 505L.
Hope i made a good choice and can get the hang of it.

Anyway, just thought I'd stop by to say hello and I'll be lurking around looking for tips/advice for the foreseeable future. I already ordered 3 Murphy Method dvds so I'm ready to get started. Woot!

**Ken Olmstead** · May-02-2008, 10:08am

I think you made a great choice!! Lots to learn. Keep in mind 10 minute segments of focused practice several times a day is just as good as a 30 minute slot and will keep the practicing from becoming teadeous. Your mandolin choice should last many years and will make the option to upgrade...optional. Welcome to the world of mando, it does not seem to let go once it has you!! ENJOY!!!!

**JEStanek** · May-02-2008, 10:08am

Welcome to the Mandolin Café. You made a good choice and Dennis was a good guy to buy from.

Jamie

**Lefty5** · May-02-2008, 10:14am

Yes, Dennis was very helpful and had a great price. He had it in the mail before I got my receipt so very efficient too.

**JeffD** · May-02-2008, 10:50am

That is one beautiful instrument. Good choice. The bad side is nobody will believe you if you blame your instrument for any lack of progress.

**Mr. Loar** · May-02-2008, 11:47am

Congratulations. Beautious!!!

**Santiago** · May-02-2008, 11:48am

Great way to start out! Welcome.

**Siminole** · May-02-2008, 12:16pm

Nice Mando, congradulations............work hard and be patient.

Al

**Susan H.** · May-02-2008, 12:47pm

Welcome Lefty5. I have an Eastman. Love it! You will find alot of good advice and people here. Enjoy!

**Susan H.** · May-02-2008, 12:48pm

Welcome Lefty5. I have an Eastman. Love it! You will find alot of good advice and people here. Enjoy! BTW, beautiful mando.

**red7flag** · May-02-2008, 12:59pm

Nice choice. I bought one for my cousin and was very impressed with the way is sounds and plays.
Tony

**sean808080** · May-02-2008, 1:05pm

gorgeous mando. i loved my eastman...a great choice.

**Lefty5** · May-06-2008, 8:46pm

well she came in the mail yesterday and I'm having a good time so far. working on my "shuffle" strokes and my first solo. fingers are a bit on the tender side.

i think it sounds pretty good. seems loud enough and clear and the low strings have a nice hollow sound. i put my first tune up for a friend, you can hear it here (new mando) if you'd like and tell me how it sounds to you. bear in mind my newbie technique makes it probably as bad tonewise as it will ever sound.

**devilstone_the_bard** · May-06-2008, 9:11pm

Nice choice and welcome to the club. I have an Eastman 514 and 604 and my skills will not surpass the ability of these instruments for a long time

**camsheeps** · May-06-2008, 10:43pm

Was that The Eighth of January that you played? That's really good for a beginner.

**Ken Olmstead** · May-07-2008, 12:17am

Originally Posted by (camsheeps @ May 06 2008, 19:43)

Was that The Eighth of January that you played? #That's really good for a beginner.

Don't let Mike fool you! He can tear up a banjo pretty good!

Sounds good Mike, if you progress on the Mando as fast as you did on that Banjo, you are not allowed back in Alaska!!

**birdman98** · May-07-2008, 12:32am

Lefty,

That's a nice mando. I have a 515...but I wish I had saved that scroll money and bought a 505 like yours.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-07-2008, 1:32am

Welcome aboard Mike & you've got a really great looking Mandolin there. The colour of the Eastmans always pleases me & the few that i've played have been very nice indeed.
# Stick with it & if you need help with anything (apart from your bank balance !),this is the place to get it. There are centuries of experience in all aspects of Mandolin,music etc. (not from any one player i might add)& the folks are only too willing to help.
# From what Ken says above,you play Banjo as well - so do i,but the strings on a Banjo are positively slack compared with Mandolin as you're very likely finding out. I've got callouses like coconuts on my fingers.
#You're doing well if you're already playing the '8th of January',work your way up to John Reischman's tune '' The 8th of February'',then there are a few 'Marches' that you could try - i suppose if you look hard enough,you could play your way through the calendar !!!,
# # # # # # Best of luck - Saska
PS - I just had a look at your link. Nice,clean playing - all the right note in the right place,a heck of a sight better than i was when i started.

**BlueMountain** · May-07-2008, 8:53am

Lefty, you have a nice, relaxed finger position with your right hand--very light pressure. That's good. Try moving the pick up toward the neck instead of near the bridge, so people don't think you're banjo player or something. There's a sweet spot up there that sounds really nice.

**Lefty5** · May-07-2008, 9:56am

haha, yes i am really learning mando just so i can start telling banjo jokes.

Saska, you are right. 5 years of banjo and i really dont have any calluses but that looks to be a different story here. Im doing my best to avoid the dreaded newbie death grip.

thanks for the tip BlueMountain. Ive noticed the sound change but havent locked in yet. still too much to keep track of for my pea brain.

I do have a question... I started resting my wrist a little on the strings behind the bridge and havent noticed any change in sound. Its helping me keep the pick in the sweet spot but I dont want to do it if its a bad habit. what is the general knowledge on that? thanks.

**first string** · May-07-2008, 10:53am

There are varying schools of thought on planting your wrist behind the bridge...Some people rank it with pinky finger planting, as a bad habit to be avoided at all costs. Personally, I think that as long as it is only resting there lightly, it's probably ok. For my part I enjoy the little bit of extra control it gives me, and I still can keep my wrist pretty loose (as long as I'm not playing in front of anyone

).

**Keith Erickson** · May-07-2008, 11:29am

Lefty,

Gosh there is something about an A-Style that tugs my heart strings every time I see one.

You've got a beauty!!!!!

Welcome and the best of luck to you

**Ken Olmstead** · May-07-2008, 11:40am

Mike, LIGHTLY is the operative word there. Many have commented that when they stopped resting their hand on the bridge they gained sound and increased speed and freedom. Your choice. I lightly rest for single note work and the come off for chords and sustained tremolo work.