Correction to my post above: EIGHT months to market, not nine.
Correction to my post above: EIGHT months to market, not nine.
Nice review, and I agree with you pretty much across the board. Hard to believe they could get this done for $699 as it is. I think you'll be pleased with the j72 swap. I am considering when i get a setup done on it to actually try a set with .052 on the bottom like other 21" scale OMs seem to have. I found the heavier gauge actually seemed to make it easier to play which is kind of counterintuitive. Certainly easier to get better tone out of bottom end with less pinky fretting precision (ie playing low C in open position). But hopfully that will also improve with practice, building strenght and muscle memory. It's not quite like guitar or mandolin.
Re: the tuners, i agree mine are a bit sticky as well and the only place on the instrument where I'd complain a bit. Could be an issue of just tending to them in a setup or they might just be not super good quality tuners. Hasn't been a problem for me as it holds tune really well even after string changes. Since I really like the OM and probably won't have funds for anything much nicer in the near future (and because, gasp) it could just be the last one I buy, I'm considering try a set of the Rubner tuners on it. Big fan of ebony buttons.
My back is a pretty plain jane too. No biggie. I'm with you on good quality simple appointments.
If those are the same tuners that they use on all the other 300 series instruments, people have been complaining about them for a long time. It is common to upgrade those, as well as replacing the stamped tail piece with a cast one piece. Both would be worthy upgrades when you get the time, money, and inclination. Getting drop in replacements is unlikely so plugging and drilling will probably be involved. Might be best to live with it until the warranty expires. Unless it's lifetime, of course!
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Couldn't help myself, had to do some tweaking. Decided I'd go ahead and try the heavier EJ72 mandola strings. Glad I did, as they add definition and heft throughout the range—as noticeable on the E strings as on the Gs. Wondered whether it would require a truss rod adjustment but so far the relief, essentially flat to begin with, hasn't budged. Before installing the new strings, I dropped a bit of lightweight oil between the tuner string shafts and bushings and worked them with a manual string winder to loosen them up a bit. Also made sure the post screws weren't putting undue pressure on the pinion gears. With the addition of graphite in the nut slots, the tuners no longer stick as they did on day one. They're cheap-ass tuning keys, never will be great, but they'll do the job. The fit of the bridge base to the top was acceptable but improvable, so with a roller jig I sanded it slightly to better match the top contour. I then lightly rubbed the bridge and fretboard with linseed oil to moisten them up a bit. That's about it. This thing sounds and plays great. It's definitely a challenge and a finger stretcher—kind of messes with my memorized classical/baroque fingerings—but it's fun and helpful to my playing overall. It'll probably sound like an open-back Harmony banjo compared to my neighbor's F5-bodied Gilchrist OM (the price of which could buy 35 Eastmans!) but for my humble needs I doubt I'll upgrade in the OM department any time soon. Totally pleased with this purchase.
Does anyone else have a demo of this octave being played. I played one at freshgrass, but couldn't hear it very well due to the crowd. Also, are there any other budget octaves around worth looking into?
Here's a couple:
For those that have them, do you still like and play it? Tried out one yesterday. Really trying to decide if I need it, or if I just like the idea of having one. Was able to play a duet with a fiddle player I've known for ages and it seemed to go well. Did take a bit of getting used to the bigger jumps than a mandolin, but not as much as my guitars.
Still, it's very tempting. Probably will be gone today when I go back to look.
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To answer your question, "Yes I have one and I like it a lot. I have put many hours on my Eastman octave and have become quite used to the larger fret spacing. I have several nice mandolins but have hardly touched them since getting the octave. I have experimented with the strings, the D'Addario mandola strings work the best for me. I can play pretty much every tune I know on the mandolin (not all) and the lower octave gives such nice rich tone it is a big hit with my family. When I first made the purchase, but before it arrived I did have second thoughts about it and thought I may have had another MAS moment. I now think it is one of the best buys I have made. The Eastman is a quality, all solid instrument and you will enjoy owning one for sure.
The Eastman octaves seem to be selling well around here (Rochester NY); Bernunzio has four on his website, all marked "Sold."
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
And now Eastman are coming out with a MDA 315 - F5 Mandola... for sub $1,000 - to compete with the MDA 815?
Pre-order at The Mandolin Store for $799.
Thanks for everyone's help and advice in this whole thread. Decided to go for it this morning. Thankfully, the dealer still had it. While I may still do a few adjustments, including maybe heavier strings, it is surprisingly nice. Nice enough that about 7 hours after I purchased it, was playing it for a tune on stage tonight. Was just one tune, but it went off very well.
While at the festival today, had a number of my friends play this particular one. Probably could have sold 4 of them by the time we headed home. Am grateful our local dealer got this one in stock. Going to be fun figuring out where it will fit in my music.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
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First performance with the new Eastman. As in I had purchased it about 7 hours before and had less than one hour of actual playing time. Went off a lot better than expected. Very happy with how it sounds and plays.
https://www.facebook.com/tamara.bake...6437248185270/
Last edited by Eric Platt; Mar-04-2018 at 8:38am. Reason: First link didn't work. Corrected
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
Just bought one of these. It is brilliant! I enjoy playing this far more than the Weber Yellowstone I once owned, and far easier to play. Now that Weber have regrettably decided not to make any reasonably priced octaves any more, the Eastman more than makes up the gap in my opinion, and they deserve to fly off the shelf. I am not impressed with either the tuners of the case, but in every other aspect this is an absolute bargain.
Robbie
I just pulled the trigger and ordered one from Elderly. Anyone find a decent hard case that fits yet?
Finally got a set of J72 on mine last night. Yes, it's worth it, IMO. Immediately, my wife noticed there seemed to be more bass coming through.
For playing ease, I can see why the J80 is standard. As well as a probable cost issue. And it's not like the instrument sounds bad with them on. Just more potential with the heavier strings.
Now to decide on a pick. That's going to be the tough one. Down to about 6 or 7 different candidates.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
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https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
These are flying off the shelves... at times. The four at Bernunzio came in last week and all sold within 48 hours. But interestingly, the one at Elderly has been there five days, no bites yet. The Mandolin Store just posted one at a real low price that had a minor top crack repaired. I'm going to have to pick one of these up eventually. That's way too much fun for the price. Will likely buy the next one that arrives at Mass Street Music since they're less than a mile from Cafe headquarters. They got one in a month or so back but it sold before it hit their web site.
Mandolin Cafe - Since 1995
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Yeah, I was surprised mine lasted as long as it did at the festival. Did help that I was able to test drive it before buying and was able to play with a fiddler to see how it worked in that type of setting. Was a classic example of talking myself out of it Friday night, and by Saturday morning was ready to buy.
It's possible the Elderly one has sold, and the website is not updated. Did an order with them Monday and it arrived yesterday, without any heads-up on it being shipped. First time that's happened in over 20 years.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
This is not in defense of Elderly, but assuming someone can email you in 2018 and it's a guarantee 1) it arrived, or 2) it arrived and it's not in your spam folder is quite possible. Had a guy screeching at me a few days ago that had a dozen or so ads, said the classifieds didn't work--and then he finally did look in his spam folder after I told him twice, and there they were. No apology or nothing.
But the first thing we all do is point the finger at who we think should be responsible when often it's an issue on our own end as users.
A week doesn't go by that we're not working on issues we see arising with overly aggressive external email services that think they have all this figured out. They clearly do not. Bottom line is if you are not checking your spam folder once a day there's a pretty good chance mail is arriving right into your inbox and being missed.
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Totally agree. Usually it's in the spam folder. My guess in this case is they were short staffed & just didn't have the time. In the end, no harm happened. Probably shouldn't have mentioned it. Just out of the ordinary for them. They are still my default seller if I can't get it locally.
And to follow up, had more compliments of the Eastman at the old time jam this morning. And another person noticed the fuller bass with the new strings. Still in my honeymoon period with this instrument. Hope this feeling lasts.
Saw that one. I'm not sure why I decided to click around and see it since I had convinced myself that I was going to wait to pick up an octave until I got more passable at the regular mandolin and mandocello. Here's hoping it sells before I give in to my weakness for shiny new instruments.
I've hesitated giving my opinion on the new Eastman Octaves, but believe it's only fair to give buyers a variety of opinions. My advice is to try to play one and compare it to other OMs before buying. I ordered an Eastman OM last year and waited many months for it to arrive. When I finally received it, I played it for 30 minutes and was frankly disappointed at how thin and quiet sounding it was, especially compared to my Petersen oval hole OM. I slept on it and tried again the next day. Same result. I played it in my bathroom to see if it was just the f-holes projecting the sound away from the player. Same conclusion. So I returned it.
Those of you who bought Eastman OMs and love them - I'm happy for you. But despite my happiness with Eastman mandolins, the OM to me was a dud. (Caveat - I did not try heavier strings). You hear it all the time and it's true - try before you buy.
Steve,
Agreed that it's best to try before you buy. And I may have been lucky. Not only did I get a chance to try it out, but did so with another musician to see how it sounded. Full disclosure - did have one fiddler tell me it sounded quiet. So what works for some doesn't mean it will work for all.
If I didn't have the opportunity to try it out, might never have purchased one. In this case, glad I did.
Post removed.
Last edited by multidon; Mar-12-2018 at 4:40pm.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
I like the sound of the one I received (after an 8 month wait). I did immediately put on a set of thicker G strings though to increase the low end. It really sings with J72s.
The tuners do suck though. I replaced them with a pair of Rubners. Tuning is much better now.
Pete Braccio
"The Rules: Play nice and don't run with scissors"
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