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My youngest son bought a Trinity College last year, and it’s a very nice Octave mandolin. We also tried a Gold Tone but were both very underwhelmed with it.

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Here's the tin I use - it's a mint tin bought for me by one of my kids. He says it describes me perfectly!!

Very nice! Does it glow in the dark when orcs show up?

The 305 is streets ahead of the Ozark and, in my personal experience, better than any The Loar I’ve tried too. You have chosen wisely!

Enjoy the journey.

Have bought a few instruments from Eagle music (and know other picking friends who have too) and they've always turned up nicely set up and very playable.

Hobgoblin stock Kentucky, but their...

Those A5 Specials do look amazing. Also, totally concur about Northfield quality - I've played several and all of them have been great. I've had my F5S for almost 6 years now.

It's all really good, but I especially love the harmony mandolin section!

Words fail me. Good luck, and enjoy the chromatic harp.

Not played either as a mandola. However, I played a Trinity College and Gold Tone octave mandolin last year, when shopping with my son for an OM. The Trinity College was way better - deeper sound,...

The Eastman 305 is a good starter mandolin. Tamco and Eagle Music have a good reputation, and will make sure that it’s well set up to play comfortably.

Never played a Seagull, so I can’t comment...

I don’t have one, but a picking friend of mine does, and I’ll throw in a vote for the Travellite too!

For my tastes, for mandolin I prefer a larger triangle (rather than a teardrop), with points (not rounded), and a pick thickness of around 1.5mm. That gives me a really punchy tone, good bottom end...

A good choice!

Got to say, the kid in the Muso Mirror link is asking for tendinitis or carpal tunnel issues!

Must admit that I agree with Ray on this one. Just sit in front of a mirror if you want to! :)

The Eastman 305 is a good mandolin. One of my sons has one, and it plays and sounds great. The tuners are a bit stiff, but it stays in tune and has a really loud and punchy, woody tone.

Broke Down and Hickory are two stunning songs by Slaid Cleaves. A very fine songsmith.

I used a Prime Tone, large triangle, 1.5mm Dark Brown smooth (non-grippy) pick for about 2 years, until I finally settled on a Blue Chip TP60.

The Prime Tones are really good picks - they deliver...

Sad news indeed - he was a true master of the acoustic guitar.

Thanks F-D!

Yeah, I bought a cheaper flat-topped OM last year, used. Been playing it a lot more this year, but it needs new strings, hence the question. Will give the Mandola strings a shot.
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Hi Fatt-dad - I'm afraid I can't help you with the Thomastik question, but I have a question for you!

Just wondering what difference using D'addario 72 Mandola strings made to your OM, rather than...

Thanks for the update! Enjoy your new mandolin - I had an Eastman 505 for about 3 years. They're good mandolins.

Eastman, without a doubt.

Hi Bren - the MD305 is around 530 here in the UK.

One of my sons has one and it's a really good mandolin - loud, woody chop, and great tone. The tuners aren't the best, but it plays (and stays)...

If it’s a straight choice between the KM150 and the Hohner, then the Kentucky wins hands down.

However, the Eastman 305 is also a great sounding mandolin.