Eastman 515 vs 815

[Mr5150]

Is the price difference of $600 for the 815 over the the 515 worth it? I've played both and the 815 did have better tone.

I am not happy with my The Loar 520 and plan to replace it in the near future.

[James Rankine]

It's purely aesthetics - the 815 gives you more highly figured wood, back binding, binding on the headstock and gold plated hardware. This may or may not be important to you. Eastmans are hand made instruments and no two are ever going to be identical. They don't seem to have the scientific consistency of say a Collings. It's probably more important how an individual Eastman sounds and plays for you. Is there a particular issue with the Loar?

[billykatzz]

I can't say about the difference between the 515 and 815. I can only tell you that I own an 815V and am very happy with it.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to play a $9.5k Ellis. The Ellis is an excellent mando, but I didn't hear an $8,000 difference. I think the 815 is a great-sounding instrument at a great price.

[Mr5150]

It's purely aesthetics - the 815 gives you more highly figured wood, back binding, binding on the headstock and gold plated hardware. This may or may not be important to you. Eastmans are hand made instruments and no two are ever going to be identical. They don't seem to have the scientific consistency of say a Collings. It's probably more important how an individual Eastman sounds and plays for you. Is there a particular issue with the Loar?

I don't care for the way the 520 sounds. After playing some other mandolins, I came to realize the neck is too wide/thick for my hand. Otherwise it is good quality instrument for the price.

[Trav'linmando]

When I bought my 815V I compared it favorably with a Collins next to it. No , it was not as sweet sounding overall but close and more importantly for me 1/2 the price.

[Dave Hanson]

The difference between my 615 and 915 is like light and dark, the 815s I have played are also a lot better sounding than the 615.

You get what you pay for.

Dave H

[DataNick]

The 815 has a red spruce top vs sitka on the 515...as far as tone, I think it's probably more of an individual variation between mandolins more than model variation. I've played a couple of md515s that were really good mandolins...YMMV

[indexless]

I have an older 815V and it's stellar, I've had it to Gryphon, played it with a lot of others, it's pretty GOOD...the Cumberland Acoustic bridge made a very big difference. I did own a 514 (oval hole) that was great and a 315 that was almost as good...good stuff from these folks