Archtops

Russell Letson

It's hard to argue with a repairman with field experience with a brand's foibles, but I've played quite a few Eastmans and have owned an 805CE (16" cutaway) for several years with no problems at all. (It lives in Minnesota and has traveled to West Virginia in the summer.) I bought it at the old Podium in Minneapolis, which carried the brand almost since its introduction and never reported any problems. (And I trusted those guys to report issues. They did not, for example, like the Eastman molded cases and advised against using the stock case.) The Eastman's sound and playability hold up quite well against both my '46 Epi Broadway and a 20-year-old handbuilt. Good-sounding pickup, too. Of course, it does not sound like my Dunn, but I'm a rhythm player and don't have to worry about that Selmer lead attack.

I also have a Loar LH-600, which is less refined than the Eastman but still a more-than-adequate rhythm instrument and much better than the less-expensive (and to my ear, banjo-y sounding) Godin 5th Avenue.

Mandobart

I've got an Eastman MDC805 mandocello, built in 2007. I just noticed the website calls this an "A style mandocello." Weird, this should be called a "guitar bodied mandocello". A-style means looks like this.

The original strings are too light, so I use heavier strings; C .066, G .046, D .032, A .020. With dual string courses, its a workout, maybe more so than Lango's Epi. I know of two people who had the tail piece hinge go out. No problem on mine, yet.

lostjohn

I'm glad you resurrected this thread. I watched the video again by Jonathan Stout. and it gave me a second chance to tell you, Jonathan, man, that is some great playing. I loved that!