Re: Trinity College vs. Eastman mandolas?
Different types of construction: Trinity College flat-top, oval-hole; Eastman carved-top, f-hole. Depends on what you want. I had an Eastman MDA615 for a while; it was sorta like a bluegrass mandolin on growth hormones. If you like the sound of bluegrass mandolin, but with a deeper voice, one of the Eastman instruments might suit you. It should have a sharp attack, with the notes fading ("decaying") more quickly. It will have an assertive voice for ensemble playing, perhaps not as lyrical or sustained.
Flat-top, oval-hole instruments like the Trinity College tend to have a gentler attack, longer sustain -- more of a "ringing" sound -- and are often preferred for general-purpose "folk" and Celtic playing, and for solo vocal accompaniment. That's not to say that you can't play any kind of music on either type of mandola, but players who lead toward non-bluegrass/country styles of play seem to prefer oval-hole instruments.
Right now my two main mandolas are an old Stahl built by the Larson brothers, and a Sobell which has an arched pressed top; both are oval-hole. I bought the Sobell to play in a Celtic band, and it's pretty close to ideal for that purpose; loud enough to be heard, but sweeter, with long sustain. The Stahl is just a great all-around instrument, though a bit elderly and finicky. It has plenty of volume, but a bit of a "hollowed" sound that supports vocals and treble instruments with a lot of depth.
As meow-n-dolin says, the choice is probably related to your own musical tastes. If these lean toward the Trinity College, you could also investigate the Gold Tone mandola, which is similar in construction.
I don't think Eastman's making an A-model mandola. My usual advice is to play each kind of instrument, see what suits you.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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