Hello all,
I was wanting your "expert" opinions on the tone, workmanship, and play-ability of the older Eastman f style mandolins (2004-2005) compared to what they put out today.
Thanks!
Pat
Hello all,
I was wanting your "expert" opinions on the tone, workmanship, and play-ability of the older Eastman f style mandolins (2004-2005) compared to what they put out today.
Thanks!
Pat
I do not own an Eastman, but I have a friend who does and it sounds great for the price. I have also seen a couple played in blue grass bands and have spoken to the players. They both very much liked their Eastmans.
I have a 2006 514 (oval hole). Great sounding mandolin. I have no complaints about the fit and finish either
1919 Gibson A3
1920 Gibson A2
1937 Gibson K1 Mandocello
2015 Eastman Bowlback
All of mine are recent, so don't know much about the history.
Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
DSP's: Helix HX Stomp, various Zooms.
Amps: THR-10, Sony XB-20.
I have a current MD 305 and am a big fan.
aka: Spencer
Silverangel Econo A #429
Soliver #001 Hand Crafted Pancake
Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here
"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous
I was looking at this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/222166037766...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Sounds kinda pricy but was wondering if this is about the right price range for this instrument.
Pat
A friend who works in a Music Store , had an opportunity to go to the Eastman Importer's warehouse ,
and got to play a lot of inventory of lookalike , same model of mandolins , to pick the one thats sound appealed to him .
A way of saying each one will sound individual in spite of appearing Identical..
Being of natural, Wooden, materials..
I can say even less about the playability changes that may have taken place
over 12 years of weather changes, someplace.. unknown..
Humidity/ dryness, heat and chilling..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
As a fellow newbie, I'd advise buying your first mandolin from a dealer who does first class setups. My Eastman MD 505 has been a good first mandolin.
I have a 2006 and 2010 a-styles (505 and 605). Ones on the upgrade trail (CA bridge, grover tuners, maybe evo 50/80's) and they both spent a lot of time at our local acoustic instrument specialist. When i took them in, the senior tech spent about 45 minutes looking at them with dental mirrors and whatnot
They're in excellent condition, except the 2010 has a lot of finish checking (i should take a picture). Eastman had a few batches of that and also sticky neck finishes sometime over the last 10 years, but i don't consider those problems. The one thing that's a problem: the tuners. Strongly recommend 309's or golden age.
Kentucky km900
Yamaha piano, clarinet, violin; generic cello;
a pedal steel (highly recommended); banjo, dobro don't get played much cause i'm considerate ;}
Shopping/monitoring prices: vibraphone/marimbas, rhodes, synths, Yamaha brass and double reeds
I owned 3 pre 2008 Eastmans 2005 MD615 it had bound f holes very nicely finished mandolin sounded clear & clean with good projection I preferred a bit stronger mids and low end. All my Eastmans had small fret wire which show a lot of wear in a short period of playing.
I have 2 oval holes a 2006 MD504 and a 2008MD 804D 2point. Really liked the 894 the 504 not so much. I think I gave up to quick on the 615 it seems to take longer for the mature sound to developers than some and I was not fair comparing it to a small builder F5 that had been played about 15 years. I had hoped to save some wear on my older mandolin by playing the Eastman.
I've been acquiring Eastman mandolins for about a decade, starting with a 615 mandola. I now have a DGM-1, DGM-2, and an 805 mandocello.
IMHO they've been getting better over time. The 615 had really soft finish, and could feel a bit "sticky" on the neck. The two DGM's are beautifully fit and finished, and the 'cello -- despite a failed tailpiece, which Eastman replaced -- is excellent as well.
In short, I wouldn't pay a premium price for an "early" Eastman (not really that "early," after all), over one of the current models. Of mid-priced mandolins, I'd say you're likely to be satisfied with an Eastman.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
I agree with Allen. The Eastman's have gotten progressively better over the years. This is the case with all of the imports.
While there is no difference in the specs, the newer versions have had some minor tweaks in addition to improved workmanship. The latest Eastman's I received, feel like there is a bit more girth to the neck. This is just a seat of the pants observation, I haven't measured them.
They seem to be graduating them a bit thinner now. The tone is more open on Eastman's of the last year. There is a different look to the finish lately.
They have also worked out a few bugs over the years.
I wouldn't avoid an older Eastman. The olds ones are nice instruments. The newer ones are just better.
Robert Fear
http://www.folkmusician.com
"Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
" - Pete Seeger
Thanks for all your advice! You mando guys rival all of my fellow clawhammer banjo chums with advice! I think y'all might have saved me some money as well!
I don't think you can do better for a beginning Mandolin than an Eastman.
Because mine has eight, does that make it twice as cool as a ukulele?
There is an Eastman 805 in the classifieds that looks awesome! And they are asking about as much as you'd spend on a 515 new.
Austin, TX
Ellis A5
I have an 815V from 2009 that is amazing, I played it against a Weber and a Northfield this week, put mine back in the case and walked out with it, a much better sound. I would be careful of the 2005-6's hit and miss, they do get better all the time. I have a DGM3 that just gets better everyday
I love my recently acquired 315. It's loud, sounds great, plays great, and barks like crazy. FWIW, it was made 7/13.
Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4
I owned a 315 I bought new, sounded ok but the edges were a little rough where you can tell it needed more sanding but over all it was not bad.
I have the md615 acoustic-electric and the md 305. Despite being an entry level instrument, the 305, in particular, has great tone, perhaps the best tone, because of the satin finish. Both are hand carved (in China) and have 3/16" neck which makes playing much easier than mandolins with the standard 1/8" neck or the Gibson F5 and Epiphones which are even thinner at 1.06". The finish on the md615 was beautiful and it has an internal pickup. Recording is the test of tone, in my opinion, and I like what I hear on the playback, very much! Lot's of bark, very woody, not at all tinny or shrill, and very loud in the case of the md305. The tuning keys are of average quality, but work perfectly well. I replaced the tuners on both mandolins for aesthetic reasons with tuners that had removable buttons. Since these are solid wood, graduated and hand carved mandolins, there is every reason to believe they will only sound better as time goes on when they are fully opened up. The only thing left is to play them better!
I just bought a new MD515 with the classic finish this past December and I like it very much. The workmanship and tone are very good for this price point. I am quite satisfied with my purchase.
Eastman MD515 with K&K pickup
Lakewood acoustic guitar with K&K pickup
Agree, go newer if you can. I can remember playing some in the 2006-2008 vintage and was underwhelmed. Last summer I picked up a 315 on clearance to use as a "beater," and I'm really impressed with how good it sounds. Loses a little up the neck compared to my Silverangel and MT, but it's honestly getting better in that category. And, I picked it up on clearance for $429...
That said, I've heard some really good sounding older models, but the quality seems to be improving in jumps over the past couple of years...
Chuck
Bookmarks