Mando photos from NAMM

[TheMandoShop]

I posted a series of photos from the NAMM show on www.themandoshop.com. Just click to the NAMM picture.

[TheMandoShop]

New Eastman mando photos have been added to the NAMM photos link at www.themandoshop.com. Also I couldn't resist playing the $100,000.00 Martin so I asked someone to take a picture as proof.

[cooper4205]

are those eastman 500 series black-faced ?

[TheMandoShop]

No, that is the classic finish which is dark but not black. I have a Morgan Monroe Phantom which I haven't yet seen, which is black and waiting for me back at the shop to be unpacked, setup and played. Amoung other new mandos I'll be posting the Phantom to the site for sale when I return from the show.

[JEStanek]

What is the guitar shaped Eastman? OM or Cello? There was a prototype cello around before IIRC... I like the darker Eastman bursts better than their lighter ones. Thanks for the photos. Have a blast.

Jamie

[TheMandoShop]

The guitar shaped Eastman is a mandocello. I like the classic finish the best. I'm having a great time. I bought a half dozen Eastmans and a half dozen Michael Kellys at the show. The real fun will be setting them up and playing them. I'll be posting more photos later tonight.

[cooper4205]

does saga have the new kentucky km1000's out yet, looks like a pretty nice mandolin? i am interested to see what they have done with there new line of f-styles as well.

[TheMandoShop]

In addition to his questions above, Cooper4205 asked me in an email if I thought some of the new Kentucky mandos were brought up to the level of some of the Eastman line. Here was my reponse.

I played the new Kentucky F-Styles today. I was evlauating them to see if I wanted to sell that line of mandos. I have to be honest. They looked good but the sound was weak, really weak. I found that they do not measure up to the Eastman, Michael Kelly or Morgan Monroe mandos. I recommend if you are shopping in the price range of an Eastman then try and/or buy an Eastman. Michael Kelly has great choices both in the Eastman price range and by far is the best choice below the Eastman price range. Morgan Monroe also offers some interesting options. I'm sure there are those who love the Kentucky line of mandos but I believe there are much better choices available. This is just my personal experience and may or may not fairly represent someone elses experience.

[TheMandoShop]

The final pictures I took at the show are posted on www.themandoshop.com including Brad Hill's green mando. Nice mando Brad! For me it's back to Florida to wait for all the new mandos I bought to arrive. What a great time!

[fwoompf]

How'd that Martin play? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[TheMandoShop]

I still prefer my D-35. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[cooper4205]

Kyle, for the price, do you think the kentucky oval hole mandolins were pretty decent? i think its interesting that saga is redoing there line-up (i don't really know why though http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif )

[TheMandoShop]

I played and evaluated the Kentucky mando line today at NAMM to determine if I wanted to offer them in my shop. I decided against it. I thought they looked great but felt the sound quality did not measure up to a comparible Michael Kelly mando. Michael Kelly mandos looked and sounded great and were a good value for the price. In the price range below the Michael Kelly I turn to Morgan Monroe. When I go to the high end of Michael Kelly I also consider the Eastman mandos. I'm sure that there are others that will have a different experience with Kentucky than I did but if I can be honest I felt there were better choices.

[James P]

Any more background on this Breedlove?
http://www.themandoshop.com/images/NAMM-Breedlove-003.gif

[JimRichter]

I think that is the Radim Zenkl electric mandola model. He was interviewed in Fretboard Journal this month and talked about how Breedlove made him a 4 string electric mandola. That looks like the style they photographed for the magazine.

Jim

[Don Grieser]

Anybody play that Eastman mandocello?

[Phil Jolly]

To follow Don,
are these Eastman 'cellos out on the market now, or only a prototype? Any ideas on where they might be priced?

[TheMandoShop]

To follow Don,
are these Eastman 'cellos out on the market now, or only a prototype? Any ideas on where they might be priced?
Hi Dan,
It's not a prototype. They are now available. I sell them at The Mando Shop for $1916.00. That comes fully setup and delivered with free shipping. Contact me at kyle@themandoshop.com if you are interested.

[Caleb]

Kyle - Thank you for posting those pics. I really enjoyed looking at them. Truly beautiful little instruments.

[jefflester]

I think that is the Radim Zenkl electric mandola model. #He was interviewed in Fretboard Journal this month and talked about how Breedlove made him a 4 string electric mandola. #That looks like the style they photographed for the magazine.

Jim
It was there last year, too.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....6;st=26 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=31256;st=26)

[mandroid]

Thats RZ's kind of neck, wide , no taper .

[delsbrother]

Ted, have you given the Zenkl mandola a try yet? I'm thinking considering it might fit in with your new single-string vibe.

BTW, do we need TWO NAMM photo threads? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[MandoSquirrel]

Different guys, different photos, I don't mind.

[fredfrank]

BTW, do we need TWO NAMM photo threads? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Not many photos in this thread. The one I did see was a wee bit out of focus.