Eastman mandolins

[bluemtgrass]

What would be a not to pass up price for a 615 Eastman ?
Can one, while in Bejing China, purchase one direct from the
factory ? If not, are their stores that sell them in Bejing ?

[bjc]

You may want to go to the Eastman site and look for dealers: http://www.eastmanstrings.com/eastma...rs/dealers.htm
Or contact Eastman Gordon with a PM.

[Jim Yates]

I may be wrong, but I thought the Eastman was partially assembled in China and sent to the States for final assembly. (bridge, tuners, tailpiece & strings...)

[JEStanek]

Blep, I was under that impression as well but I went to the tour on the website and it looks like they're finshed ans set up in the factory in China. I'm sure Gordon will set us straight.

Jamie

[EastmanGordon]

Sorry, you can't pick up an Eastman in China. We have a special tax status that only allows us to manufacture for export. The instruments are finished and set up completely in Beijing and then sent to the US with cheap chinese strings on them (to keep the necks honest on the long boat ride). We restring them here and do any necessary adjustments before shipping them to the dealer. Some dealers prefer them to arrive without being adjusted by us, they like to do it themselves and we oblige them on this.
Hope this helps!
Gordon
ps. If you are going to China make sure you check out some of the traditional chinese instruments available. They are dirt cheap and they are amazing to play and they look so good in the music room.