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I prefer the F over the A purely for looks. I had the money so I got the Eastman 515 instead of the 505. No regrets

If you don’t like Eastman, don’t buy an Eastman. Fairly simple.

Like the above poster said, if they were not well made and designed, no one would buy Eastman. Why would I, a musician of 45 years,...

To each their own. You find the nut width impossible to play, I find it easier to play than a wider nut.

Ax

When I was looking to upgrade from my The Loar 520 in 2016 I was in the area of the Mandolin Store. Demoed the Kentucky 1050 and loved it for its sound and the neck size was what I was use to. Also...

Well, I played the flute for 45 years and the Sax for 20. I retired 2 years ago and taking up the mandolin seemed like a good idea. It was and it opened up a whole new musical world for me. Now I...

I guess it depends if you wear a strap or not. I play standing as much as sitting. Good luck playing standing without a strap.

. The strap is also helpful when sitting. Your mandolin stays in...

I understand that point of view. In my case I am working on everything at once. As a musician of many decades, I decided to not touch my mandolin until my first lesson. Reason being I wanted to learn...

In my other pinky thread the majority were clear that using four fingers to pick is better than three. Others said it didn’t matter. So my next question is what are the benefits of not using one’s...

Surprised this has gone to six pages. Just rattled off Sweet By And By, I saw the light and a few hymns with the pinky on the fifth fret. Can’t imagine how not using the pinky is an advantage.

Note my signature. Bluegrass sax, sure. Bluegrass flute, most definitely! Heck, even my mandolin works for bluegrass.

Pickin Redwing, old Joe Clark, Some Glad Morning, I’ll fly away and a few other tunes. That pinky of mine making life easier and the tunes faster. The answer to my question is clear. Not using my...

The teacher in question is an accomplished musician on the fiddle and gutair. A fiddler friend recommended him. Towards the end of the lesson he said he really wasn’t a mandolin player, can play the...

Using four fingers is what I’ve gotten use to and I am working on playing without looking at my hands. Going to three fingers would mess me up in that regard. Using four fingers makes sense. I’m...

I figured as much.

Been playing for over a year and a half and doing well. Comfortable jamming with friends.

My first teacher had me use all four fingers when picking or reading tabs. Pinkie was weak but got...

Ah! In my part of CA winter is a high humidity, low temp time of year. Heat one's house, humidity drops to summer levels inside.

I keep reading about how low humidity can cause a mandolin to crack, yet in my area I know of no one with a wooden instrument developing cracks. I know a ton of guitar players fiddle players and a...

I visited the MS last August when visiting my brother in law who lives 90 minutes away from the store. Easy to find, wonderful place. Not much to it. Two guys with nothing better to do than let you...

As I played my mandolin today, I came to the realization that when playing by ear I learn the instrument. Play by tabs I learn a song.

Did eight or 10 old gospel/ hymns. Without tabs, just by...

i agree. Observation. Those who play by ear can, in some cases master notation. I tried and had very minor success. Mrs5150 took up bass and got half way decent. Playing at church requires...

As a musician of many decades, I can say there are basically two types of musicians. Those that play by ear and memory, but can't really read music all that well (me) and those who can play reading...

Having owned a the Loar 520 as my first mandolin, and now a happy owner of an Eastman 515, I would strongly advise to go with an Eastman. Much better tone and easier to play.

I am a musician of...

Hi long time musician here also. 45 years on flute and 20 on alto sax. I play by ear, can read simple notation, but I memorize stuff and do improvisation. To my great delight I discovered that the...

I shipped my old the Loar to Russia-eBay sale. Hard shell case. Just reused the box my Eastman came in. Arrived perfectly according to the buyer. No padding. Just wrap cardboard to protect the case...