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Thread: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

  1. #1
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    Default Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Has anybody played and/or purchased one of these yet? Please share your review and/or thoughts

    https://northernlightsmusic.com/prod...-m5-a-mandolin

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    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    I'm watching this closely to see what they are like. Larivee mandolins were a disappointment, so...

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    Registered User Lucas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin


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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Buckingham View Post
    I'm watching this closely to see what they are like. Larivee mandolins were a disappointment, so...
    I never got to play any Larrivee mandolins. Why were they a disappointment?

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Hello MikeEdgerton - Have you played one?

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Chompa View Post
    Hello MikeEdgerton - Have you played one?
    I have not but there is a video on that page that was posted by the Mandolin Store so you can hear one and I'm sure if you give Dennis at the Mandolin Store a call you can get a hands on critique.

    www.themandolinstore.com
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I have not but there is a video on that page that was posted by the Mandolin Store so you can hear one and I'm sure if you give Dennis at the Mandolin Store a call you can get a hands on critique.

    www.themandolinstore.com
    Gotcha'... I've done that...

    Got confused. I thought your tad quotes (below) were your assessment

    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Chompa View Post
    Gotcha'... I've done that...

    Got confused. I thought your tad quotes (below) were your assessment

    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber
    OK, that's hysterical. No those are my favorite quotes from Jim and Martin. It looks like a decent instrument, it sounds good and it's on sale.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Seems like a very high-quality instrument built for the Bourgeois brand by Eastman... who now is in "collaborative ownership" of Bourgeois. Seems comparable in price to the Northfield M model, but with several nicer appointments. Would like to try one!

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    Registered User Rich Benson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    I played one last week and thought it was very good for the price. It had good sound and feel, played very easily. I liked it.
    Rich
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    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Chompa View Post
    I never got to play any Larrivee mandolins. Why were they a disappointment?
    Thin tone and poor volume from what I experienced. Looked nice but just didn't deliver the goods.
    Axes: Eastman MD-515 & El Rey; Eastwood S Mandola
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    Registered User rnjl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    David, I think the phrase you're looking for is "that ain't no part of nothin'."

    But Bill was just translating Kohelet: גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃


    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Greenspoon View Post
    Thin tone and poor volume from what I experienced. Looked nice but just didn't deliver the goods.

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    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    I played 2 at IBMA and given the crowded exhibition hall, about all that I could tell was that they were set up well, had good wood and finish. Played one at Elderly and thought it sounded better than the run-of- the-mill Eastman's that they had in the showroom. A reasonable mandolin for the price and a toss-up with the Northfield A's that I've played, but didn't blow me away.

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  18. #15

    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    The proof will be in how many they can sell to ignite any interest in the market. Right now, if you had a choice between a used Northfield F5S and this what would you buy?
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  20. #16
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    The proof will be in how many they can sell to ignite any interest in the market. Right now, if you had a choice between a used Northfield F5S and this what would you buy?
    Good point! The F5S, even at its current retail price, is unbeatable. Pre-owned models routinely sell for under $3K.

  21. #17

    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    As a Bourgeois (ME) guitar owner and builder of mandolins I was curious. I've only heard one short YT video and was wholly unimpressed. In that price range, if I was willing to buy a Chinese mando, Northfield would be my choice.

    There's a fair amount of competition at that price point, including some quality domestic builders- I'll be surprised if that mandolin makes a dent in the market, at least stateside.

  22. #18

    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Europe is a larger market for Eastman’s guitars.
    Last edited by Mandobar; Oct-25-2022 at 1:25pm.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  23. #19
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    None of the Bay Area stores are Eastman dealers, but I've listened to several videos done by stores that are dealers, and I really haven't been impressed. The tone is generally clear, but thin.

    I see that TMS sells the Eastman MD815 for just under $2K and Bourgeois M5A for $2,400. That would be a really interesting side-by-side comparison, and I wouldn't be surprised if that 815 sounded a little better.
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Glassweb View Post
    Good point! The F5S, even at its current retail price, is unbeatable. Pre-owned models routinely sell for under $3K.
    Wouldn’t a more accurate comparison be between the new Bourgeois and one of Northfield’s A models?
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

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  26. #22

    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by cayuga red View Post
    Wouldn’t a more accurate comparison be between the new Bourgeois and one of Northfield’s A models?
    The comparison was based on what one could get in that price range. A used Northfield M model would be much less than the Bourgeois.
    Last edited by Mandobar; Oct-26-2022 at 9:22am.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    The comparison was based on what one could get in that price range. A used Northfield M model would be much less than the Bourgeois.
    I understand, thanks. TMS describes the Bourgeois has having Waverly Golden Age tuners and a James tailpiece. The James is a nice upgrade and even more the Waverlies. However, on closer inspection, I saw that Stew Mac lists Golden Age as separate from Waverlies with a significant price difference. Given the price it’s selling for, it wouldn’t make sense to outfit it with $500 plus tuners.
    “Mandolin brands are a guide, not Gospel “
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  28. #24
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by cayuga red View Post
    Wouldn’t a more accurate comparison be between the new Bourgeois and one of Northfield’s A models?
    I stated that in my earlier post in this thread....

  29. #25

    Default Re: Bourgeois M5A Mandolin

    I can't speak to the comparison to the 815 or an A model from Northfield, but I was at Elderly today and played the M5A right beside a pretty much exactly priced KM 1500 and I liked the Kentucky a lot better. Just woodier and deeper in tone. The Bourgeois was good. Definitely brighter and stronger on the high end, but the Kentucky was fuller and deeper on the low end.

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