Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2022
    Location
    Fayettnam, NC (unfortunately)
    Posts
    177

    Default Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    Impressions compared to Gold Tone or Trinity College?
    ________________________________________________
    Starving to death in the public safety sector

  2. #2
    Doesn't practice enough
    Join Date
    Nov 2022
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    125

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    I used to own a 305 and have played a Gold Tone. The GT sound was much fuller, due to the significantly larger body. Scale length is quite different; 21" on the 305 vs 22.5" on the GT.

    Have you played any of them?

  3. #3
    Registered User Hexvaldr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2023
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    It seems like the Eastmans have a better reputation on this forum from what research I did prior to buying a Gold Tone OM-800+. I'm happy with mine though, but I am pretty damn new to this.

  4. #4
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    It's okay, you can always buy another one. Its encouraged around here.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
    Arrow Jazzbo
    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
    Gibson F5L
    Gibson A-4
    Ratliff CountryBoy A

  5. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Bill McCall For This Useful Post:


  6. #5
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts
    2,045

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    Have had a MDO305 since not long after they came out. Have compared to the Trinity, and I like the quality of the Eastman better. Now, sound - the TC has a bit fuller sound, but it seemed to me it didn't cut through as well.

    Have played mine in a few jams with other OMs or zouks and mine can always be heard. Whether that's a good thing or not is something different.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
    https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
    https://www.lauluaika.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723

  7. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Columbia River Gorge
    Posts
    303

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    My first mandolin was/is an Eastman MDO305, bought through the MC classifieds about a year and a half ago. I took it in for a setup and fresh strings (D’Addario EJ72 mandola set) and I’ve been happy with it. I play mostly fiddle tunes, old time and folk. As noted above, the body is rather small for an OM, yielding a tone sometimes described as “nasal” but I feel that it works very well when there’s a guitar or two playing. They handle the bottom end and the MDO305 timbre is heard well without stomping on aural toes. The 21” scale is comfortable and when I do graduate to a more better OM I’ll be looking at 20”-22” scales. I have played (briefly) a Gold Tone but not yet a Trinity College and I’m not terribly fussy so I have little to offer WRT comparisons.

    HTH
    A couple years in, now, and still learning!
    Ratliff F-style Country Boy
    Eastman MDO-305 Octave Mandolin
    Kentucky KM-272

    I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

  8. #7
    Registered User McIrish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    237

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    I had an Eastman MDO305 for about a year. Playability and feel were great. As stated, It has a thinner nasally quality that does cut through. I needed something a bit fuller sounding so I picked up a Weber. If Eastman had made the body a bit larger and deeper, they would have a total hit. But, they hampered it by using a mandola size body. Played great and had good pop with J72 strings, but for solo work, it's just doesn't have the largeness in sound that I needed.
    Gibson 2016 "Harvey" Fern
    Collings MT Mandola
    Weber 2017 Bitterroot A20-F Octave Mandolin
    Crump BIII Irish Bouzouki
    Petersen Level 2 Irish Bouzouki
    Eastman MDC805 Mandocello
    Collings 0002H
    Five & Six String Banjos
    Lots of other Guitars
    http://www.shadowfields.com

  9. #8
    Registered User 5Guitars's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Location
    Boston Metrowest
    Posts
    52

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    I have an MDO305. I agree that it has excellent playability (also using J72 strings) and a - pleasing to me - somewhat nasal quality. Yes, the body could/should be a bit larger/deeper. But I bought mine with a K&K Mandolin Twin pickup system pre-installed, and it sounds glorious through a good acoustic guitar amplifier. Still want a Weber Yellowstone, though!

  10. #9
    Registered User urobouros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Sunny PNW
    Posts
    399

    Default Re: Anyone own an Eastman MDO 305 or 605?

    I had one TC but a few GTs & an MDO305 among other Eastmans & I thought Eastman was the better brand within my sample. I didn’t like the MDO305’s lack of low end though I do think a pickup could help immensely.
    2020 Northfield Big Mon
    2016 Skip Kelley A5
    2011 Weber Gallatin A20
    2021 Northfield Flattop Octave Mandolin
    2019 Pono Flattop Octave
    Richard Beard Celtic Flattop
    And a few electrics

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
  •