The hard case is a rectangular case retrofitted for the mandola. It's quite a bit longer than the instrument. Probably made for electric guitar. It works though.
I have had my Eastwood Mandola for about six months now. I am getting a pretty decent jazz guitar type of sound with only 4 strings. I still tune it CGDA but I put light strings on so it feels slinky, like an electric guitar. Here is a video clip from a gig at a winery a few weeks ago. Sorry about the poor lighting.
Yeah, the Airline has a very cool mysterious sound to it. Playing alone it sounds eerie, but when I play with others (mainly a strummer here), it sounds almost a bit out of tune - something I, the novice, attribute to the low C string. It seems to blend better when I stay away from the C string.
I capo'd at the 7th fret to play like a mando and it sounds "happier?" Maybe that's just because the notes are higher.
Sorry to those that responded to my classified ad for the Airline. I'm still playing around to see if the Airline stays or gets replaced by an electric mando. On the plus side, I love the unique shape and vibe, the ability to easily play power chords on the two low strings, and the ability to just capo up to play GDAE.
I did try capo at the 5th fret, but not all those chords I want are easily reached (or faked) by my stubby fingers. Am I missing something (other than natural abillity)?
BB
Indeed you did Rico, and you were spot on!
I love my Eastwood Warren Ellis. I play it everyday, and always have a big smile on my face after the playing session (especially since getting my Earthquaker Devices Fuzz pedal! )
c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
"What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
"Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
Think Hippie Thoughts...
Gear: The Current Cast of Characters
Since the Kay guitar I decided to sell was only getting low ball offers, I contacted Mike at Eastwood about his trade in deal, & today received my new Airline Mandola, with hard case. It looks as good as or better than it does online, & I'm thinking it may turn out to be fun. Tuning it, though, it felt like it might could go to mandolin tuning with the strings on it, which look, as someone noted on the cafe, to be bronze(ball ends). It seems to sound okay,but I think the strings will need to be switched for something else before long.
Addendum: I just ordered 2 sets of e'dola strings from Martin(emando). I'd rather try flatwounds, but piecing together the right gauges looks like an expensive process.
Last edited by MandoSquirrel; Nov-29-2012 at 9:39pm.
Elrod
Gibson A2 1920(?)
Breedlove Cascade
Washburn 215(?) 1906-07(?)
Victoria, B&J, New York(stolen 10/18/2011)
Eastwood Airline Mandola
guitars:
Guild D-25NT
Vega 200 archtop, 1957?
Bookmarks