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Thread: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

  1. #1
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    What could I expect a mandolin like that to sound like? What genres would it be good for?

    Irish? Classical? Sea shanties? Basically anything that’s NOT bluegrass?

    I was browsing around, and I saw that a store not too super far from me has an Eastman 404 in stock. I’m thinking next weekend I’ll take a run down and give it a test drive, see what sounds I can tickle out of it.
    Eastman MD-514 (F body, Sitka & maple, oval hole)
    Klos Carbon Fiber (on order)

    And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.

  2. #2
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    I don't know the model. Assuming it's all solid wood, it would certainly be good for Celtic and blues and folk in general. You're right, the bluegrass club would eighty-six you in perpetuity.

    You can expect it to sound relatively warm and three-dimensional — better for expression than for cutting through.

    Now let's hear from some folks who know what they're talking about. . . .
    Gibson A-Junior snakehead (Keep on pluckin'!)

  3. #3
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    Not an Eastman or A shape but just an example for the combo of spruce/mahogany: years ago I had a Weber Gallatin F oval mandolin that had a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It had a lovely sweet sound to it, I wouldn't have called it the loudest of mandolins. I play irish traditional music and was very happy with it, still consider it one of the ones that got away.
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
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  4. #4

    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    Don’t expect it to last long.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  5. #5
    Registered User Narayan Kersak's Avatar
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    I really enjoy the oval hole eastman I found. Wasn't a fan for a long time, but have been really happy with the sound and projection.
    https://youtu.be/gEetP9RdE8E
    There's a clip from a recent Irish Session
    Asheville Celtic Mandolin Blog and Tablature Resource.
    www.AshevilleMandolin.com
    The Asheville Celtic Mandolin Collection: Standard Notation, Tablature and Chords for the Celtic Mandolin https://a.co/d/2KaJwBq "] - Tablature, Standard Notation & Chords to 50 Celtic/Irish Tunes.
    Hurdy Gurdy Music - https://youtube.com/@TheHurdyGurdyWi...nCX2BHJY7jCVM4
    The Mud Larks - Hurdy Gurdy and Nyckelharpa - https://the-mudlarks.com/

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  7. #6
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    I own an Eastman MD-404. In comparison, I would define a maple body mandolin as having a more dry sound. The round sound hole (and certainly in more proportion, the different bracing and the not surelevated fretboard)

  8. #7
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    What is “surelavated?”

  9. #8
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    A mis-typing of "elevated"?
    too many strings

  10. #9
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    Default Re: A body, spruce top, mahogany b&s, round sound hole

    Yes, musicofanatic got it right, I meant "elevated" (I am French so some vocabulary issues may happen).

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