New to Mandolin Cafe

[LKinser]

Hello all.... New to Mandolin Cafe. I've been playing guitar for 45 years and wanted to challenge myself with something new. I played violin in Jr. High and High School but haven't really done anything with it since. I have really fallen in love with the sound of the mandolin. A few months ago I bought a Eastman 515 to learn on and I'm really having fun learning a new instrument. I signed up for the Banjo Ben tabs and videos to help me out. Here is my mandolin, what do you think.

[gtani7]

Welcome to the Cafe. I've had 2 Eastman instruments, they're great to learn on, top notch quality control (I've had 8 mandolins altogether and some interesting problems with other brands). That looks like a recent model with ebony bridge. My only real beef is the small frets showing wear pretty quickly, which kind of eats into resale value (but the small frets are what you see on most mandolins, so not Eastman specific). Also i use blue painters tape and/or a capo to make changing strings easier.

Besides the armrest, you might want to look at threads about pickguards and toneGards, which might help your ergonomics and sound. I like both but pickguards are tricky to mount at exactly the right height so I don't have any mounted right now. Also lots of threads about picks and strings (you can try GHS silk/bronze, EXP's, nanoWebs, Monel strings by Mangan, Thomastik flats, the new d'addario nickel bronze etc)

For learning resources, there's lots of great books, DVD's, online skype lessons, festival workshops, Artistworks, and of course live teachers depending on where you live. I think if you google anything mandolin related, google will show Cafe threads as the top hits, they've decided the Cafe is THE mandolin authority

[HonketyHank]

Welcome LKinser. Eastmans are pretty popular around here. You have good company.

[JeffD]

Here is my mandolin, what do you think.

Its a beauty!

[Mark Gunter]

I think that's a beautiful instrument! I think you're in good company here at the cafe. Also with Ben Clark, he's a first rate musician and excellent teacher, I've learned some good tunes and licks from him for both mandolin and guitar.

I'll recommend the videos from Pete Martin and from Baron Collins-Hill. I have some links to their beginner videos in this article and though you are not a beginner with strings, it does pay to study basics when you pick up a new instrument. For basic mandolin right hand technique you can also find videos on YouTube from Mike Marshall, Chris Thile and others.

Welcome to the cafe and enjoy the ride!

[LKinser]

Thanks for all the good comments and suggestions. I've been following posts for several months before I bought a mandolin and joined the group. Reading the posts helped guide me to an Eastman for a good first mandolin to learn on.

[JEStanek]

Welcome and have fun. Feel free to ask questions.

Jamie

[Randi Gormley]

Welcome to the café!

[addamr]

Welcome, and nice mandolin. This is an awesome site, for sure.

Adam

[Stacey Morris]

Welcome LKinser. Based on my observations of other folks here on the Cafe Forum, a long time guitar player like you will pick up playing the mandolin pretty quickly. Some of us (like me) are starting from the beginning with no musical experience at all. Slower going, but it is still fun learning .

[Bill Kammerzell]

Hello all.... New to Mandolin Cafe. I've been playing guitar for 45 years and wanted to challenge myself with something new. I played violin in Jr. High and High School but haven't really done anything with it since. I have really fallen in love with the sound of the mandolin. A few months ago I bought a Eastman 515 to learn on and I'm really having fun learning a new instrument. I signed up for the Banjo Ben tabs and videos to help me out. Here is my mandolin, what do you think.

The 515 I owned was a very good mandolin!

[Skip Kelley]

Welcome to the Cafe'!