Soupy,
Mid-Mo only makes flat top tear drop shaped mandos. #No scrolls there. #They are plain jane looking great sounding mandos. #I think short of buying custom mid mo may be the best flat top out there. #A nice range of tone woods for the backs. Quality product that is well supported and stood behind by the company. Not much in terms of fancy finishes / sunbursts going on there either. #They will burn intricate patterns into the tops though.
Eastman and Mid-mo are very different animals. #RobP ask Dennis at the mandolin store or Steve from Gianna Violins to play some Eastmans over the phone. #I won't recommend any over the other as I have yet to play a mid mo and I'm not sure what you want to do with either of them.
If you just want to have a less expensive mando at your office to practice on maybe the Eastman is better b/c it will be shaped/voiced more similarly to what you have (but an oval holed Eastman will sound different from the ff holed Rigel). #If you want to broaden your styles or mando voices the mid mo may be the way to go. Either way it doesn't seem as if you plan on Upgrading a 2nd/beater/office mando or is that always an option?
Don't discount the value of a decent Flatiron Pancake mando either (deffinately in your price range).
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
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