Road Trip III - classic Eastman 815/v

[Dan in NH]

Lol. I DID go to The Music Emporium not that long ago. I think that was my first Road Trip report.

I remember playing an Eastman 515 CC and liking it. Then I took down a $5k Northfield and gave it a few strums. I think my conclusion was “I don’t play a five thousand dollar mandolin any better than I play my $500 mandolin.”

I’ve either gotten better since then, or that Eastman 815/v is just really nice and playable.

[Captain Kirk]

I remember playing an Eastman 515 CC and liking it. Then I took down a $5k Northfield and gave it a few strums. I think my conclusion was “I don’t play a five thousand dollar mandolin any better than I play my $500 mandolin.”

Yep. That is precisely what happened to me.

[milli857]

I think my conclusion was “I don’t play a five thousand dollar mandolin any better than I play my $500 mandolin"

This is how I've felt since I got my Morris. I've played other mandolins that have felt and sounded great, but none have made me think "I will sound significantly better playing this mandolin instead of my Morris."

[NDO]

This is how I've felt since I got my Morris. I've played other mandolins that have felt and sounded great, but none have made me think "I will sound significantly better playing this mandolin instead of my Morris."

Same here! I have Morris #475 and it just begs to be played every day.

[tmsweeney]

Lol. I DID go to The Music Emporium not that long ago. I think that was my first Road Trip report.

I remember playing an Eastman 515 CC and liking it. Then I took down a $5k Northfield and gave it a few strums. I think my conclusion was “I don’t play a five thousand dollar mandolin any better than I play my $500 mandolin.”

I’ve either gotten better since then, or that Eastman 815/v is just really nice and playable.

I hear ya, and if the 815 is what you like, then that is what you should get!

[Mando Esq]

I stopped over at Strings and Things after work today to play this 815 and compare it against my 515.

It’s a very nice mandolin and plays very smoothly (good setup).

A few specific observations:

1) The neck is larger than my more recent 515. A little deeper and with a little wider shoulder to the v. This 815 is from approx. 2007 or 2008. My 515 was built in 2017. Somewhere in the intervening decade, Eastman must have refined its neck proportions. It wasn’t massive, but the 815 neck was large enough that my medium-sized hands preferred the feel of the 515.

2) Adirondack is LOUD. My 515 with a Cumberland Acoustic bridge is a loud unit, but this thing was even louder. Each note had a little more character than my 515, with a bell-like chime on the A and E strings. A little more resonance and sparkle. Very nice.

3) Playing in a public store almost immediately makes you forget nearly every song you know.

It’s a great mandolin. The neck is just big enough that I will pass on it and keep saving up for that next level, but someone with bigger hands would be right at home.

[Dan in NH]

I’m glad more people are getting a chance to play this mandolin. The more people that play it and post reports, the more likely it is that someone will realize what a bargain it is and take it home.

[GDAE]

3) Playing in a public store almost immediately makes you forget nearly every song you know.

Boy, isn't that the truth!