New Mandolin Day

[archerscreek]

I've been thinking about buying a mandolin for awhile now and finally settled on getting myself a nice intro-players grade model. My local shop, Spruce Tree Music, in Madison, WI, had some Eastman models in stock (as well as some by Weber), so I told myself if I got all my work done by noon on Friday I would take off early and go see about trading in a 16 Series Martin guitar I never played anymore for one.

I compared a 315, 305, 515, and an 815V. I liked the sound from the 515 the best. So that's the one I put my chips in on. Including my savings on sales tax via trade-in value, the shop was only $10 off what I had tried to sell the guitar for last year. No brainer.

I'm now a happy owner of an Eastman MD515 mandolin. Thank you, Mr. Monroe.

[frankmcr]

That's a nice looking piece of mandolinistry there!

[ifret]

Beautiful, enjoy!

[Erithon]

Good looking indeed! I love that subtle burst on the body and its not-so-subtle counterpart on the neck.

[scooter74]

Nice! I'm borrowing a friends mando right now to see if it's for me. Lot of fun so far.

[schneidan]

Congrats, it's truly a lovely instrument!

[Hoyt]

I had an A style Eastman that was really a fine instrument. The wonderful mandolin player in Mandolin Orange used an Eastman like yours in some early live videos, it sounded beautiful. Enjoy.

[SalFromChatham]

I have an MD304 with a k&k. It’s a fantastic mandolin and we gig with it every week. I wish I paid up and got your model! Beautiful...

[KitKat1]

Congratulations Archerscreek on your beautiful Eastman MD515! Love the story about taking off work and running to the shop. Madison is my home town and Spruce Tree is a great shop. Enjoy!

[Charlieb]

It is a beauty for sure. I’ve been thinking about getting an A style. Love the looks of the F but would be too embarrassed to pull out an F style unless I was one helluva player. Just my old fogey thinking

[leew3]

it's a beauty, enjoy some mando bliss!

[Dru Edwards]

Congrats on that beautiful Eastman!

[ziapack]

That indeed is a pretty mandolin, Eastman builds some fine instruments. Stick with it, the mandolin seems to be a very intuitive instrument, with some time, your fingers will know where to go.

[archerscreek]

Thanks everyone. Two days in and I'm ecstatic with this thing. I read some tips on fretting that helped get a cleaner sound, and I am quite surprised how fast I've adjusted to the smallness of the instrument. There is no smallness to the sound, however. The next time someone in the main board asks about a banjo killer, I'll tell them to get a mandolin. Haha. The G D A E tuning also seems great for playing melodies.

[Br1ck]

The thing with Eastmans is any given one will be the one I like most. Could be a 315 as often or more than an 815. Granted it might not look better. I have played some pretty good sounding 315s. It comes down to the individual instrument.