Eastman mandolin owners

[LowGapBG]

Wanted to see how many eastman owners like there eastman or even if you have played one.What ya think?How is the 515?Just some input please,thanks http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[JEStanek]

I really love my Eastman 814 (oval hole F style). I got it from Gianna's Violins (http://www.giannaviolins.com/esmando/home.html)and have been very happy with it. Mine is set up very well and plays very easily. I play it with Jazzmando flatwounds and prefer the Dawg pick on it. I would recommend working with Steve and the Mandovoodoo process as a set up on any Eastman (or any other mando for that matter).

My main motivation when I got it in April 2005 was there wasn't really any other source for a F-oval in the price point I could afford. I haven't regretted the purchase. Some other people have commented favorably on it and some others haven't. The main thing for me is it does it's job (stays in tune and has proper intonation), it is beautiful (inspires me to play) and I am happy.

The only things that inspire MAS for me in the same realm (carved oval holes) cost more than double the current one. As a hobbiest / beginner player I don't need more than I have in my Eastman.

Jamie

[stringjockey]

I have owned an Eastman 615 for about a year now...and love it. I am a guitarist who recently fell in love with this instrument. I first purchased an entry level Samick mando and quickly knew that I needed something more....'
The Eastman people offer a very nice instrument for the price. You need to....and let me stress this....you need to be able to play several as they are hand made. This means that each one will play and sound differently.
If possible, visit a dealer who has many from which to choose....including other makes as well. This will give you a good feel for what is best for you.

[Eric F.]

Are you kidding? I don't think any brand has been written about more. If you do a search you'll see about 8 gazillion threads on them.

[pickinNgrinnin]

You can use the search function as you will find Eastman threads to ad nauseam http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Check this (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=37242;hl=eastman) as an example of one of many. Seriously, there are a lot of Eastman threads out here. Heck they seem to come up every week. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[CosmicHillBilly]

I have an Eastman 515 and love to play the darn thing so much i can hardly put it down - if it just wasn't for the jerk who invented work!

I have In-Laws up your way in Lambsburg. Maybe some weekend, when I'm up there, we can meet and I'll let you pick a few tunes on it.

[Roydw3]

Love my 504...just have had a hard time getting use to the shorter neck...by the tone is amazing...seriously clear and loud...great highs and lows

[f5loar]

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[pickinNgrinnin]

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[Greenmando]

Love my 804, of course who does't love a blond?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/ferretkona/Mandolins/804d2.jpghttp://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/ferretkona/Mandolins/804d4.jpg

[LowGapBG]

Yea Cosmic holler at me,i'd like to hear what your 515 sounds like http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[jackofall]

I love my 504. I play the hell out of it every day. As they don't have pickguards, the finish on the floor-facing side of the soundhole is getting quite a Hoss 'distressed' thing going on. My mando holds its own pretty well against two guitars and a banjo. It'll never drown them out, but it can compete!

Loud, battered and beautiful! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[LKN2MYIS]

Love my 904D (blond 2-pointer).

VERY underpriced instruments. They are incredible instruments and shouldn't be viewed as stepping stones. People play and record with them, n.p.

Somewhere on the cafe there was a report on some mandolin blind testing and the Eastmans rated at the top of the pack to the surprise of many (same strings, picks, and player - group could only hear what was played and voted on tone).

Can't find the thread, but the point is: it's the instrument, not what's on the headstock.

Just my humble opinion.

[ben_wv]

I have a 515 with the full mandovoodoo setup from Gianna Violins. So far, I've gotten some pretty rave reviews from Gibson, Weber, and Collings owners that have played it.

I'm very happy with mine.

[Elliot Luber]

Greenmando -- that's really a beauty. Question: Does the extended fingerboard blocking part of the oval hole limit the sound?

[gnelson651]

I like my 805 alot. I take it everywhere I play, jams, festivals, etc. Play it more than the MK Legacy Dlx which sits hidden in the closet (my wife doesn't know I have it).

I should probably sell the MK because I would love to have a 504.

[Frank Russell]

They are what they are, a good value for the money. I was very pleased with the 515 I bought for a travel mando, and the Cafe member I sold it to was happy with it. I did not try and compare it to Collings or Gilchrists or anything silly like I see here occasionally, but for the money I paid, it was great. One interesting thing was that at least in the store I got mine in, the 515 sounded much better and louder than all the more expensive models they had. I don't know if that always applies, but it certainly did at that store, and I was not just telling myself that to justify not spending more $$. I had no intention of buying anything, but that 515 was too good to pass up. Frank

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey, good tone or pretty good tone, no one can argue with that tiger maple in the blond two-pointabove. Look at that 3D effect! It's like blinding or something. Outta sight!

[pager]

My 515 is so amazing, that I sold my Gibson F9. #Enuf said.

[big h]

are you sirius?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Kevin Briggs]

A fairly well-known repairman named Chris Warner at Campbell's Music Store in York, PA said Eastman's are the best value on the market. Here's Chris's page on the Campbell's site: http://www.campbellsmusic.com/documents/29.html

[allenhopkins]

Just bought a 615 mandola, and IMHO it's a great instrument for the price. I got a good pro set-up at Stutzman's here in Rochester, and in terms of workmanship, materials, sound and appearance, I have nothing to complain about. I had a choice of three instruments, two 615's and an 815, and I thought that the 615 I bought sounded better than the more expensive 815. Didn't want to pay the additional just to get gold-plated hardware and slightly more figured maple. Others might make a different choice...

[ajm]

I've owned two 615's and a 914. I think they are well constructed good instruments. After setup to my preferences I was quite happy with playability. In both 615's there was room for improvement in workmanship of scroll details, etc, but acceptable at the price level in my view. The lower priced models are very good value. At the price point of the higher end Eastman models (815, 915) you may want to consider alternatives more carefully. In the end I've traded away each of my Eastmans. I've found other mandolins that I prefered, but would not hesitate to buy another if I stumble into the right one.

[mandohubris]

I've got a 615 and just brought an 814 home last night. I'm very happy with both, the 814 has a loud, mellow tone I really like. If you are shopping, Skip's Music in Sacramento just got in 8 Eastmans that I believe were selected for a NAMM show. There is a beautiful 2 point 904 in classic with curly maple binding, another 814 with a hand rubbed varnish finish, and a blond 915, plus a few 5 and 600 series mando's. No financial interest here, Rich and Skip at Skip's Music were just so great to work with (and hang out with) that I'd like to alert everyone that they are around. (916) 484-7575. If you want to find out how wonderful they are to work with, see the "Tiny Moore's Mandolin" thread in ghe General Mandolin Discussions.

[csstanley]

frussell, I may be the one that you sold yours to.

I am VERY happy with mine. I had MAS in a bad way, still got a little of the bug, but the 515 holds it down pretty good.

Donnie, get with me and we'll do some jamming soon. I been busy but let me know and I'll set up something with a couple other guys.

[LowGapBG]

Hey Chris,would next friday work?

[csstanley]

We'll shoot for 2 weeks from tonight. Or 1 week from next Friday after Thanksgiving.

[LowGapBG]

sounds good just LMK God Bless http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandojimmy]

Hi. I bought an 815 sunburst with bound f-holes in 2004 and it's an excellent bluegrass band situation mandolin in that it is very very clear and cutting and loud. For a non-band situation it maybe doesn't have the warmth but for the money it is a great buy. having said that I played several in the Uk distribution shop (The Music Room, Cleckheaton) and to be honest didn't like any of them so it's just a case of trying each one until you find the one that does it for you. I have a friend in London who has a 515 and it's very good. Don't like their A model headstock at all. It turns me off before i play it but that's typical of me.

[James P]

Vera, my #615, is holding me back. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

If she didn't sound so good, it'd be easier to justify buying a nicer mandolin. #

[Five]

Love my 815 will replace only with something better and as it stands that may take awhile. It is a really nice sounding and playing mandolin. I really don't care who built it I only care if it is the best sounding and playing that I can afford and in this respect it is great. These mandolins will go up in price once people understand construction. Some builders charge more for the hand applied varnish finish than I paid for my mando. These mandolins should age wonderfully considering the building technics they employ. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[guitharsis]

I love my Eastman 604, Classic finish. It's got wonderful sweet tone strung with TI's. It "lives" at my beach condo and is a second mandolin. Doesn't quite equal my A style Mather's (www.oldtimemandolin.com) but is a very good mandolin. It will only get better with time.

[Dixieland]

I really like my 515 even though I still play my Kentucky 150S quite a bit. The Eastman is a much nicer mandolin in looks as well as sound (richer, rounder tone). My "A" string sounds just a little thin to me. The hardest thing for me to get used to is the radiused fingerboard, I sometimes push the "G" string off the fingerboard. All in all though I'm very satisfied with the 515.

[Five]

Dixieland
i also thought that the A and E were also a bit thin. I switched to the J75's with 16s on the A and 11.5s for the E. This helped quite abit. I also dropped the action just a hair to help keep the action on the easier playing side. I not really sure that the 41s instead of the 40s on the G paid much difference. I think I would like to try 40s,26s,16s,11.5s. in the exp. My friend who is one of the more knowledgeable mandolin players in the country says that the A strings in the EXP's are different than the ones in the J75 regulars. I believe he said the are bronze. He said they have a better tone and uses them on his Loar and Fern.
Give them a try. Might help. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[DryBones]

EXP's use brass plated steel on the E and A not plain steel like the standard J's

[Five]

Thanks for the help, Jason. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif