Eastman Mandolin Feedback wanted PURCHASE MADE W/PICS.

[obe-wan]

G'day folks, anyone own an Eastman Mandolin? I'm considering the MD515 F style gloss finished one. I'd love a Larrivee one but I don't like the chances of getting one here in Oz.....

Cheers, Scott.

[ducktrapper]

Never played one. It looks nice though. Here's some feedback from the Mandolin Cafe.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?24747-Eastman-Mandolin-Review/page3  

FWIW, I own a Kentucky KM-900. "A" style, around the same price and very nice indeed. It gets very good reviews.

Great deal on one from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-KM-900-Master-A-model-Mandolin/dp/B003N7OUU8

[Queequeg]

Friend has their entry level F-style, MD315 ~$700.
He got it from Elderly so the setup was bound to be pretty good.
The mandolin is surprisingly nice.
This one is a satin finish, but all solid woods, hand-carved, maple back & sides, bound spruce top, maple neck.
He's had it for a couple of years now and still very happy with it.
For what it's worth, I have one of their archtop guitars [AR805CE].
Took me a while to get the right one.  It's not $8000, but it's really rather nice.

[obe-wan]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Just sold a Strat so I may drop the hammer on the Eastman. Theres a 000-50 for sale near me too though..... 

Decisions.

Cheers, Scott.

[Walkerman]

Eastman carries a blonde model f style.  Killer.

[Caleb]

I own an Eastman 505 A-style.  It's common knowledge but worth repeating that you won't get any more tone from an F-style, though many just prefer them over the A-style.  My taste happens to run exactly the opposite though.  My Eastman is a great mandolin.  I also own a Collings MT that is a better instrument, but the Eastman could've served me for all of life and I'd have been just fine.  Also, mandolin is my main instrument.

The lower-end, satin-finished Eastmans have cheaper tuners and tailpieces. Bad lot of folks end up upgrading them and spending the difference between the cheaper and a better model. 

If you want a great mandolin, an Eastman is a good choice.  But also check out J Bovier and Kentucky.  They are in the same ballpark.  If I were buying a new Asian-made mandolin, I'd probably go for the Bovier, just because it's the road slightly less traveled, like Larrivee. 

[obe-wan]

G'day folks, well I ended up stumbling across an Eastman MD805V A style at a price too good to pass up. V stands for varnish finish as opposed to the Nitro finish they normally have.

Cheers, Scott.

[Parlor Picker]

I know a great mandolin player here in the UK who has a selection of instruments. He (almost reluctantly) admits he prefers his Eastman to his lovely old Gibsons, etc. That has to be a recommendation.

[obe-wan]

I know a great mandolin player here in the UK who has a selection of instruments. He (almost reluctantly) admits he prefers his Eastman to his lovely old Gibsons, etc. That has to be a recommendation.

Gday Parlor Picker, a friend of mine has a 305 and a 605 and is very happy with both of those too. They seem to get a lot of favorable reviews from various sorces and I think they're a great buy.
As you said they compare favorably to some more expensive Mandolins. 

Cheers, Scott

[ryler]

Scott,

Looks pretty.  How long have you been a mandolin player?

[obe-wan]

Scott,

Looks pretty.  How long have you been a mandolin player?

G'day Ryler, some 20 years ago I played mandolin for a few numbers in an acoustic duo I was in at the time. I then sold that mandolin and haven't played again since getting this. I'm not much of a mandolin player, I basically strum and throw a few little runs in here and there. Think 'Rise' by Eddy Vedder.

Cheers, Scott.

[Caleb]

That's a great looking Eastman and a fine choice, and it will probably be all the mandolin you'll ever need. I've always thought Eastman's varnish finish was pretty classy.  Enjoy it!

[obe-wan]

That's a great looking Eastman and a fine choice, and it will probably be all the mandolin you'll ever need. I've always thought Eastman's varnish finish was pretty classy.  Enjoy it!

Thanks mate, yeah I reckon it'll do me fine.

Another pic, this time the flamed maple back.

Cheers, Scott.

[Walkerman]

I don't see any pics ??????

[obe-wan]

I don't see any pics ??????

They were posted through Photobucket mate. Seeing they want to extort their own users to gain access to their own pics I've deleted them.

Cheers, Scott

[Walkerman]

Looks good.  I am sure you will enjoy it.