Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 26 to 43 of 43

Thread: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

  1. #26
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Manchester - Lancashire - NW England
    Posts
    14,187

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I wouldn't want to own any instrument with finish issues like that. They'd be the first thing i'd see every time i opened the case - & that's not how it should be. Frankly,unless they're heavily discounted,i'm amazed that a store would accept them that way !,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  2. #27

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I used to have a Eastman 815v that had an average amount scroll work, and while it wasn't perfect it was no where near as bad as those pics
    I also noticed that second picture of the scroll has wood binding, which Eastman only uses on their 900 series which is the highest model that they make
    Also on a side note, those pictures of the scrolls, has anyone else seen a Eastman with that red of a finish? just wondering.

  3. #28

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I've got the 915v not a perfect finish by any standard but it sounds and plays superbly.

    Dave H
    Eastman 615 mandola
    2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
    2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
    Eastman MD 915V
    Gibson F9
    2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
    Ibanez Artist 5 string
    2001 Paul Shippey oval hole

  4. #29

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerusalem Ridge View Post
    has anyone else seen a Eastman with that red of a finish? just wondering.
    Those definitely aren't reference-grade white-balanced photos. Just from my phone. I don't recall it being super red.

  5. #30
    Down the road I go Trav'linmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    WA on the Snake River
    Posts
    142

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Having watched this thread with interest, I pulled out my 815 and looked closely at it. I have to say that my detail work is much nicer than the photos above. I should have done this several days ago, however my Pava is receiving most of my pickin time.
    Very few of us know, how much we have to know, in order to know, how little we know.
    Father Ed Dowling

    Pava A5 #156
    Eastman 815V
    Eastman 514
    Eastman 404
    Godin A8

  6. #31

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    These are definitely not typical. Of course, they are not normally perfect inside the scroll or up under the fingerboard, but these seem to be more the extreme cases for whatever reason. The worst offender there, seems to have maple binding. With that and the color, I would guess that to be an old 915. They shouldn't have made that anytime recently. Current Eastman's are the best they have ever been. Pretty much without exception, Eastman has the cleanest workmanship of anything near their price point.

    Here are some of my pics. No trick Photography or photoshopping here.. This is natural light with a mid-range sony camera. Mandolins are recent examples and what happened to be around at the time, no cherry picking going on for the photos. I imagine each of these have some degree of these issues, but overall, I would say they are clean mandolins with good fit and finish.

    MD515-CS
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_MD515-CS_Mandolin-7.jpg 
Views:	199 
Size:	267.5 KB 
ID:	161628

    MD614
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_614_Oval_Hole_Mandolin_Electric-10.jpg 
Views:	178 
Size:	443.2 KB 
ID:	161629
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_614_Oval_Hole_Mandolin_Electric-4.jpg 
Views:	188 
Size:	498.3 KB 
ID:	161630

    MD615-SB
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	MD615-SB_Eastman_615-SB_Mandolin-11.jpg 
Views:	172 
Size:	316.1 KB 
ID:	161631
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	MD615-SB_Eastman_615-SB_Mandolin-19.jpg 
Views:	188 
Size:	515.1 KB 
ID:	161632

    MD815
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_MD815_Mandolin-6.jpg 
Views:	169 
Size:	424.1 KB 
ID:	161635

    MD815-SB
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_MD815_Mandolin_Sunburst-3.jpg 
Views:	174 
Size:	441.5 KB 
ID:	161634


    MD815PGE-HB
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Eastman_815_Performer_Mandolin_MD815PGE-HB-13.jpg 
Views:	180 
Size:	570.1 KB 
ID:	161633
    Last edited by Folkmusician.com; Oct-19-2017 at 11:26am.
    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

  7. #32
    Registered User Roger Adams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    285

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I have an Eastman 515, and the fit and finish around the scroll, and overall is near flawless.
    If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a vet.

  8. #33
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Any company can make mistakes; what bothers me is that the Eastman quality control let them through.

    Of course, they could have been wholesaled as "B stock," and the dealer could be asking the regular price. Pretty sure Eastman only sends "B stock" instruments to dealers they've had extensive business with; they'd probably "pull the pin" on any dealer selling "B stock" Eastman instruments at regular market price.
    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

  9. #34
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Zanesville, Ohio
    Posts
    2,490

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    The longer I build, the less critical I am of other builders' work. I'd say you can find mistakes in all builds. Not that they're bad, but rather our expectations have increased. I'm pretty sure brand new Loars weren't up to many of our standards.

  10. #35

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Thats as rough as guts.
    That looks like something I would do.

  11. #36

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    In fairness (and to avoid confirmation bias) I took a photo of a friend's 1975 Gibson F-5. No idea which model but the fretboard inlay is fancy... not just a dot so I'm guessing it was one of the nicer models?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Gibsob F5.JPG 
Views:	245 
Size:	32.8 KB 
ID:	161721

  12. The following members say thank you to Brian Harris for this post:


  13. #37
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Orcas Island, Washington
    Posts
    6,172

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Quote Originally Posted by fscotte View Post
    I'm pretty sure brand new Loars weren't up to many of our standards.
    ...the pic i posted earlier was indeed a Loar...

    [/QUOTE]

  14. #38
    Adrian Minarovic
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Europe
    Posts
    3,461

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Bruce, don't forget that even the less carefully built Loar F-5's (with very few exceptions) still show the "style". Workmanship may not be perfect but overall nice perhaps showing some toolmarks, much like old violins. But those in OP are just butchered sloppy finish with no "style" to start with.
    Adrian

  15. #39
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    720

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Quote Originally Posted by ladyssolo View Post
    i too might let it slide if i loved the sound, but also i have better fit and finish on my old $200 the loar!
    Quote Originally Posted by spruce View Post
    well, some of those $200 loars can be pretty funky too...

    Quote Originally Posted by spruce View Post
    ...the pic i posted earlier was indeed a loar...

    [/quote]

    Sorry, I'm confused. The first post above was referring to modern day "The Loar" brand mandolins I think. It looked like the second post was also referring to those modern Loars. But now it seems from the third post that the second post picture is of a Gibson mandolin actually made during the Lloyd Loar era (early 1920s)???

  16. #40

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    My MD 805 custom performer is finished to perfection. I would not buy a model that looks like that, no matter how great it sounds, but I'm really picky--it has to be perfect for me to part with my money.

  17. #41
    Out of tune HappyPickin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    NE 10EC
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I just received a lightly used 515 today that I purchased from Elderly. I am extremely impressed with the fit and finish as well as it's tone and volume. I can find no fault with the setup either. I could not be happier. A local luthier cautioned me about Eastman having some inconsistency issues but buying through Elderly took that out of play. I had found a new "B" stock 515 for the same money elsewhere online but elected to buy a used one described as excellent condition. The only thing standing between it and "mint" is a tiny chip ( <1mm in size) and some slight rubbing on the back. Now I just need to practice, practice, practice, up, down, up, down...
    Out of tune and out of time.

  18. #42
    Registered User John Aubuchon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    California
    Posts
    21

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    I purchased an MD415-GD and have had a problem with the finish where my hand touches the neck. It is becomes soft and forms into a glob on the back of the neck. Eastman has replaced it and the new one seems like it will be the same. I played it for about ten minutes and the finish is starting to get dull, soft and tacky right where my thumb rests by the second fret. I have been playing guitars for 40+ years and never had this problem. I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem with this model. I'm thinking maybe I should try another model? I don't know what to do at this point. Other than that I love the way it plays and sounds!

  19. #43
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Orcas Island, Washington
    Posts
    6,172

    Default Re: Eastman Quality: You Be the Judge [pics]

    Quote Originally Posted by jesserules View Post
    But now it seems from the third post that the second post picture is of a Gibson mandolin actually made during the Lloyd Loar era (early 1920s)???
    Yep...
    Last edited by Spruce; Oct-30-2017 at 5:55pm.

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •