To hell with Eastmans. Wow, that felt good. I must have played 60 of them by now and maybe four were OK. The rest should have been run through the band saw instead of sent off to retailers.

The hatred of Eastmans has always been a mystery to me. I've played quite a few, and they've ranged from decent to really good. I don't play one, but if I were looking for a mandolin at that price point, I'd consider one. Of course, why someone who'd never played a good one would continue on to play 60 of them is also a mystery to me. Guess some people gotta hate something.

No, I don't hate them or feel compelled to hate them. I just am sick of them being pushed so hard. I think there are better alternatives at every price point they hit, except maybe for the lowest priced one. I play mandolins at whatever music stores I come across when I travel; that's why I've played 60 or so of them. Also, I keep thinking I;m missing something and sooner or later I'll see/hear what others do.

I think the gushing the Eastman owners are doing is just hype to convince themselves they haven't wasted the money they just spent on one.

Right now, I think Eastman is the "player" on the block.  Well, maybe the new kid on the block.  I can remember when I was looking into buying a mandolin in 2002, Michael Kelly was the rage of the mandolin world.  Now they are rated as "firewood".  I must have gotten a decent one, because I still have it.

It's not worth getting worked up over it.  Eventually, a new player will come around and the Eastmans will be "firewood".

An overpriced and overhyped Mandolin. You can find some better Mandolins on the market with what you would pay for an Eastman. If you say that on the other site, you would likely be criticized or the hoards of Eastman owners would come out and defend their purchase. I've played a bunch of these and I've found them to be just OK. Have yet to see a decent looking scroll on an Eastman F5.

YMMV  

--Last edited by Pancake Picker on 2007-01-03 21:16:15 --

I've always felt that way about Weber. Tone is average at best, but prices are through the roof. The lower end ones are fine for the price, the the higher end ones are pretty darned mediocre for the prices they are asking.

I've found the Cedar topped Webers to be outstanding in terms of tone and volume. Bruce and Company aren't giving them away but I respect him for the work they do. Running a Mando company in Montana has to be a challenge.

At least the Weber mandolins are made in America. I personally know some of the people who earn their living at that factory. I'm sure they are paid considerably better than the Chinese who make the Eastman products. I think this is the one reason many people don't care for Pac-rim mandolins. If you lose your job because some company in your field outsources what you do to a company in Asia, you may change your mind about Eastmans.

Incidently, I have heard that the Sound to Earth (Weber) factory is the largest mandolin factory in the country. Just FYI.

Interesting. So I've learned three things so far:

1. People hate Eastmans because they're made in China. It has little to do with their quality as instruments.
2. If you make a substandard instrument in the USA, that's okay.
3. People who defend Eastman should be derided, but people who defend Weber should be encouraged.

This board is very educational.

Mink, I just thought that as long as you are going to buy a substandard instrument, why don't you buy American? Unless, of course, you aren't American.

I've never seen an Eastman that could compare favorably to a Weber anyway.

From your tone, I suspect you don't really enjoy this board, so why do you come here? Is your wife getting tired of your smart-aleck remarks?

Fred, leave Mink alone, every board needs a malcontent.

Quote :

fredfrank wrote : From your tone, I suspect you don't really enjoy this board, so why do you come here? Is your wife getting tired of your smart-aleck remarks?

I come here because I play the mandolin and I enjoy the discourse. You need not agree with me and I need not agree with you. You moved pretty quickly to personal attacks, usually the last resort of someone who has nothing of substance to say.

As far as the last resort Mink, I kinda thought I'd go to the personal attack right off the bat, rather than saving it. I'm assuming you know this is all tongue-in-cheek. The fact is, I couldn't care less about the Eastmans since I never plan to buy one.  

--Last edited by fredfrank on 2007-01-04 18:52:18 --

Boys, be cordial.  Mink, you've been on the attack every since you got here.  That's ok, you're more than welcome, as I said above, every board needs it's malcontent.

Sorry, Neal. It's just that we only have one thread on the whole internet that runs down the Eastman mandolins, and Mink has to come in here and spoil it by offering a dissenting opinion. =^P  

--Last edited by fredfrank on 2007-01-05 08:53:44 --

For What its worth ...I like the Micheal Kelly's better than the Eastmans!!.....Just some FYI the Loar mandolins from music link are starting a new loar line that will be in the same price range as the Eastmans and Master Builder Sumi will be heading up production....

Your gonna be shocked but I have partnered with music link, Recording King banjos, Loar mandolins.... I haven't played any prototypes of the mandolins yet but the banjos are as good as any Gibson RB-250.... 2 Asians companies have got the banjos down.. This is as far as the Goldstar and Recording King brand... The other asian makers are very poor quality still.

but I still play a huber    

--Last edited by mav on 2007-01-05 12:58:37 --

I have yet to play a Recording King, but I agree that the  Gold Stars are very good (both the '70's versions and the current ones).

I play a Deering (Calico). Just love the way they feel.

I play Pono ukuleles.  Made on the sunny island of Java (Indonesia). Just sold the 6 string, so that leaves me with 2 4 string tenors, an 8 string tenor and a concert size.

These are excellent, FWIW.  Mandolins?  Don't have any at this time.  When the time comes, for a grand, I'd rather have an old Gibson Ajr.  

You guys and your scrolls........

Mav--I'm a Huber guy, too. Jim Mills model. Red Diamond mandolin, though. Anybody want to buy my Gibson Fern?