Has anybody played and/or purchased one of these yet? Please share your review and/or thoughts
https://northernlightsmusic.com/prod...-m5-a-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
I'm watching this closely to see what they are like. Larivee mandolins were a disappointment, so...
These guys seem to love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csCUpsMZpHE&t=27s
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
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
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
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!
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
2015 Passernig A5 #76
2016 Pava Pro A5 #197
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.
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...."
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.
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...."
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.
still trying to turn dreams into memories
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...."
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 “
- Data Nick
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.
Bookmarks