Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
I just received an Eastman MD304 I ordered online. The fingerboard is fully attached to the front body, unlike a MD505 I played at one time. I had not noticed this prior to ordering.
Other than not being able to string a strap under the fingerboard, is there any other disadvantage to the fully attached fingerboard design of the MD304.
Thanks.
Last edited by randybrown; Feb-11-2021 at 5:59pm.
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2021 Eastman MD505
2000 Master Works hammered dulcimer
1953 Body
Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
I looked at some other models. I guess it has to do with the oval sound hole. Interesting.
Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
It's a designed based on the old Gibson oval sound holes. Enjoy your new mandolin. The couple of that model I've heard have been nice.
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Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
My MD305's fingerboard is attached just about all the way down. There might be an inch on the underside of the fingerboard that is shaped so it doesn't contact the body. Apart from that, it's attached.
Phoebe, my 2021 Collings MT mandolin
Dolly, my 2021 Ibanez M522 mandolin
Louise, my 193x SS Maxwell mandolin
Fiona, My 2021 GSM guitar-bodied octave resonator mandolin
Charlotte, my 2016 Eastman MDO 305 octave mandolin
And Giuliana, my 2002 Hans Schuster 505 violin, Nehenehe, my 2021 Aklot concert ukulele,
Annie, my 2022 Guild M-140 guitar, Joni, my 1963 Harmony 1215 Archtone archtop guitar,
Yoko, my ca. 1963 Yamaha Dynamic No.15 guitar, and Rich, my 1959 husband.
Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
Do you want an oval hole mandolin modeled after the early Gibsons or a f-hole mandolin made with an oval? The former traditional, the latter modern. I've had both and prefer the former.
I do like f-hole mandolins also!
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Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
Agreed - my 305 F hole type looks like it has a wedge glued under the end of the fingerboard, with just enough fb overhang left to fit a strap bootlace. That overhang looks to be over the soundhole on the 304. I guess you could get a strap button fitted somewhere around the neck heel on the 304. We're certainly not going to suffer from the fingerboard dipping at the end, if any of us play up thereOriginally Posted by Sheila Lagrand
Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
Oxymoron alert. Perhaps "F-model with an oval sound hole?"
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Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
Eastman has gone with a more "retro" or "traditional" design with their ovals. Also notice where the fretboard meets the body at the 12th fret instead of the 14th.
Compared to the modern Kentucky ovals which sport an elevated fretboard that's joined at the 14th fret. Weber and others do the same.
Both, to me, have slightly different tone qualities. 14th fret joint mandolins are more comfortable to me.
Congrats and happy picking!
Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
No, My 1922 A4 is like that & its just Fine..
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Re: Eastman MD304's fully attached fretboard design
I still got a strap on mine - the kind with a shoestring at the end. The end of the fingerboard is enough of an edge for the shoestring to work ok.
Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
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