Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: EastWOOD electric mandolin

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Yes, Eastwood. I already have an Eastman.
    I took a chance on this chambered electric mandolin with a humbucker pickup. Eastwood makes some really funky looking instruments, including mandocasters, but this appealed. Anyone with experience with these?
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DB710BBD-BF20-4C78-B531-5F50AC69FF8E.jpeg 
Views:	98 
Size:	198.6 KB 
ID:	195432

  2. #2
    Registered User BoxCarJoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
    Posts
    248

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    I own a couple of Eastwood instruments and I've always been happy with their product.

    But about 2 years ago I tried their electric mandola . Same look and headstock.
    I couldn't bond with it. It had a weird balance and I never got a good sound.

    They took it back with no problem, so it's worth a look I think.

  3. #3
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    I just bought the 4-string version, which they are marketing as a uke but there's no reason it couldn't be restrung. 15" scale. Looks nice. Haven't done anything with it yet.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  4. #4

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    My first Eastman is a El Rey guitar. It is the obvious ancestor of the El Rey mandolin. It's a guitar with some contradictions. First and emphatically, it's wayyy neck heavy, so heavy it's hard to believe anybody actually played the thing before they released the model. I bet the neck weighs more than the body. On the other hand it's my favorite guitar neck. It's also a very light guitar, which is good for me. In conclusion it's an odd, somewhat beautiful archtop electric guitar with a real lousy pickup.

  5. The following members say thank you to Joed for this post:


  6. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Joed View Post
    My first Eastman is a El Rey guitar. It is the obvious ancestor of the El Rey mandolin. It's a guitar with some contradictions. First and emphatically, it's wayyy neck heavy, so heavy it's hard to believe anybody actually played the thing before they released the model. I bet the neck weighs more than the body. On the other hand it's my favorite guitar neck. It's also a very light guitar, which is good for me. In conclusion it's an odd, somewhat beautiful archtop electric guitar with a real lousy pickup.
    That looks sort of similar to the Eastwood, though this one is more like a solid body but chambered, with a flat top.
    It arrived today. Tunes well, the pickup actually sounds pretty nice. Fret ends poke a little, action is ok. It will be fun and a good match for my occasional use in my band.

  7. #6
    Registered User northfolk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Lake Superior, WI
    Posts
    341

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Anyone out there ever string a 4 string tenor scale uke to GDAE tuning? I am thinking specifically the Vorson electric tenor uke; it is only like a $100. I believe it is a 17 inch scale...maybe too long? Any thoughts? Thanks.
    Thanks for your support?

  8. #7

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by northfolk View Post
    Anyone out there ever string a 4 string tenor scale uke to GDAE tuning? I am thinking specifically the Vorson electric tenor uke; it is only like a $100. I believe it is a 17 inch scale...maybe too long? Any thoughts? Thanks.
    Soprano Uke (like my banjolele) is more suited to GDAE. Tenor is better converted to a mandola (CGDA). Use a string tension calculator and grab either a cheap six-string electric set that has closest to the appropriate gauges among them or even better buy four singles as closely balanced as possible.

    C. ~/:/~
    Northfield F5S Amber #347 - 'Squeeze'
    Mann EM-5 Hollow Body - Gimme Moore
    Kentucky KM-270 - Not just for whisky
    Flatiron 1N Pancake - Not just for breakfast
    Epiphone Mandobird IV - Djangly
    Cozart 8-string e-mando - El Ch(e)apo
    Lanikai LB6-S Banjolele (tuned GDAE) - Plinky and the Brane

  9. #8
    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Picardy
    Posts
    2,176
    Blog Entries
    81

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by northfolk View Post
    Anyone out there ever string a 4 string tenor scale uke to GDAE tuning? I am thinking specifically the Vorson electric tenor uke; it is only like a $100. I believe it is a 17 inch scale...maybe too long? Any thoughts? Thanks.
    I have strung a concert uke as a mandola. I forget which company does this, but there is a specific set for CGDA tuning.

    Daniel

  10. #9

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel Nestlerode View Post
    I have strung a concert uke as a mandola. I forget which company does this, but there is a specific set for CGDA tuning.

    Daniel
    Yes, Aquila makes two sets of strings for fifths tuning on either acoustic Soprano (GDAE) or Concert (CDGA) ukeleles. I use the AQ30s on the banjolele and they make it a fun if not very practical plucker with a familiar tuning. It is my smallest stringed instrument which means it's very portable if size is the only consideration.

    The strings are nylon however so wouldn't work for converting an electric.

    C. ~/:/~
    Northfield F5S Amber #347 - 'Squeeze'
    Mann EM-5 Hollow Body - Gimme Moore
    Kentucky KM-270 - Not just for whisky
    Flatiron 1N Pancake - Not just for breakfast
    Epiphone Mandobird IV - Djangly
    Cozart 8-string e-mando - El Ch(e)apo
    Lanikai LB6-S Banjolele (tuned GDAE) - Plinky and the Brane

  11. #10
    Registered User BoxCarJoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
    Posts
    248

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Daniels View Post
    The strings are nylon however so wouldn't work for converting an electric.

    C. ~/:/~
    I use acoustic guitar strings on Baritone Uke's with great success using CGDA tuning.
    Silk and Steel sets work well.
    You just have to mind the gauges and experiment a bit.

  12. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    I took the Eastwood mandolin to my local shop to have the nut slots cut deeper and for a set-up. Once it is a little more comfy to play, it should be a lot of fun.

  13. #12

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    I have the first version 8 string they made. It is OK but not spectacular. It got me by in a rock setting for awhile until I got a much better one.

  14. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by steve in tampa View Post
    I have the first version 8 string they made. It is OK but not spectacular. It got me by in a rock setting for awhile until I got a much better one.
    OK is OK with me! Hasn't come back from set up yet.
    If it plays nice, I will be happy. Not my primary instrument, and I truly enjoy my acoustic mandolins.

  15. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Back from the tech today. Action became comfortable with just an adjustment to truss and intonation set.
    It plays really nice. The sound through an amp is good. A lot of adjustment via the tone knob.
    It's a keeper.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	E24F6509-3616-4A97-98C8-5D7CAA0DA806.jpeg 
Views:	67 
Size:	1.26 MB 
ID:	196017
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	A7FBDDE0-5681-4DE7-BE65-58FB168D33B2.jpg 
Views:	70 
Size:	494.9 KB 
ID:	196015Click image for larger version. 

Name:	19F17EAA-02FD-4F71-B301-51CE1C4CDD2E.jpg 
Views:	71 
Size:	518.6 KB 
ID:	196016

  16. #15
    Registered User BoxCarJoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
    Posts
    248

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by cc7 View Post
    Back from the tech today. Action became comfortable with just an adjustment to truss and intonation set.
    It plays really nice. The sound through an amp is good. A lot of adjustment via the tone knob.
    It's a keeper.
    It's good looking.
    I'm seriously tempted to go for their baritone uke when it's available.(basically a 4 string mandola)
    But it overlaps other instruments I have a little too much.

  17. #16
    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Seattle WA
    Posts
    821

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    I've never been able to find a solid body 8-string electric mandolin that I thought sounded great - most often I hear a phase type noise which is annoying I do love me some 4 string (or even better, 5 string) electric mandolins though
    Information on lessons, gigs, and misc musical stuff: www.mattcbruno.com
    Weekly free Mandolin Lessons: www.mattcbruno.com/weekly-posts/
    My gear and recommendations: www.mattcbruno.com/gear-recommendations/
    Cooking fun: www.mattcbruno.com/quarantine-cookbook/


    Mando's in use
    Primary: Newson 2018
    Secondary: Gibson F9 2014
    Primary Electric: Jonathan Mann OSEMdc 5

  18. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mbruno View Post
    I've never been able to find a solid body 8-string electric mandolin that I thought sounded great - most often I hear a phase type noise which is annoying I do love me some 4 string (or even better, 5 string) electric mandolins though
    I get a good clean sound, more "acoustic-y" than I expected.

  19. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    65

    Default Re: EastWOOD electric mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by BoxCarJoe View Post
    It's good looking.
    I'm seriously tempted to go for their baritone uke when it's available.(basically a 4 string mandola)
    But it overlaps other instruments I have a little too much.
    They have a number of instruments in this MRG series. I am tempted by their resonator guitar...
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	9EB46EF2-B5A4-4E54-97F9-1F8F1DFDEB96.jpeg 
Views:	73 
Size:	289.3 KB 
ID:	196018

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
  •