I own a couple of Eastwood instruments and I've always been happy with their product.
But about 2 years ago I tried their electric mandola . Same look and headstock.
I couldn't bond with it. It had a weird balance and I never got a good sound.
They took it back with no problem, so it's worth a look I think.
I just bought the 4-string version, which they are marketing as a uke but there's no reason it couldn't be restrung. 15" scale. Looks nice. Haven't done anything with it yet.
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My first Eastman is a El Rey guitar. It is the obvious ancestor of the El Rey mandolin. It's a guitar with some contradictions. First and emphatically, it's wayyy neck heavy, so heavy it's hard to believe anybody actually played the thing before they released the model. I bet the neck weighs more than the body. On the other hand it's my favorite guitar neck. It's also a very light guitar, which is good for me. In conclusion it's an odd, somewhat beautiful archtop electric guitar with a real lousy pickup.
That looks sort of similar to the Eastwood, though this one is more like a solid body but chambered, with a flat top.
It arrived today. Tunes well, the pickup actually sounds pretty nice. Fret ends poke a little, action is ok. It will be fun and a good match for my occasional use in my band.
Anyone out there ever string a 4 string tenor scale uke to GDAE tuning? I am thinking specifically the Vorson electric tenor uke; it is only like a $100. I believe it is a 17 inch scale...maybe too long? Any thoughts? Thanks.
Thanks for your support?
Soprano Uke (like my banjolele) is more suited to GDAE. Tenor is better converted to a mandola (CGDA). Use a string tension calculator and grab either a cheap six-string electric set that has closest to the appropriate gauges among them or even better buy four singles as closely balanced as possible.
C. ~/:/~
Northfield F5S Amber #347 - 'Squeeze'
Mann EM-5 Hollow Body - Gimme Moore
Kentucky KM-270 - Not just for whisky
Flatiron 1N Pancake - Not just for breakfast
Epiphone Mandobird IV - Djangly
Cozart 8-string e-mando - El Ch(e)apo
Lanikai LB6-S Banjolele (tuned GDAE) - Plinky and the Brane
Yes, Aquila makes two sets of strings for fifths tuning on either acoustic Soprano (GDAE) or Concert (CDGA) ukeleles. I use the AQ30s on the banjolele and they make it a fun if not very practical plucker with a familiar tuning. It is my smallest stringed instrument which means it's very portable if size is the only consideration.
The strings are nylon however so wouldn't work for converting an electric.
C. ~/:/~
Northfield F5S Amber #347 - 'Squeeze'
Mann EM-5 Hollow Body - Gimme Moore
Kentucky KM-270 - Not just for whisky
Flatiron 1N Pancake - Not just for breakfast
Epiphone Mandobird IV - Djangly
Cozart 8-string e-mando - El Ch(e)apo
Lanikai LB6-S Banjolele (tuned GDAE) - Plinky and the Brane
I took the Eastwood mandolin to my local shop to have the nut slots cut deeper and for a set-up. Once it is a little more comfy to play, it should be a lot of fun.
I have the first version 8 string they made. It is OK but not spectacular. It got me by in a rock setting for awhile until I got a much better one.
I've never been able to find a solid body 8-string electric mandolin that I thought sounded great - most often I hear a phase type noise which is annoying I do love me some 4 string (or even better, 5 string) electric mandolins though
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