Eastman nut widths

[Mandyplayer]

I've been looking at getting a mandolin now after "letting go" my nice Collings, Breedlove, and Weber. Sold them during the pandemic and now I'm sorry.

I thought I'd try an Eastman but seeing these come in 1 3/32" nut widths. Not sure why they are so narrow unless I'm really slow with my math. I'm best with 1 3/16" nut width.

Any suggestions?

[NDO]

My suggestion is to just try one at a shop and see how it feels. I have two Eastmans and they’re super easy to play but they were among my first mandolins so they feel very natural.

[Captain Kirk]

My suggestion is to just try one at a shop and see how it feels. I have two Eastmans and they’re super easy to play but they were among my first mandolins so they feel very natural.

+1

[Sothoth]

I’d recommend playing one. I started on an Eastman with a narrower nut and prefer the Collings 1-1/8” nut. It seems a bit silly that the tiny difference would matter but for me it certainly seems to. But for many people it makes no difference and for you it might not, either.

[pheffernan]

I'm best with 1 3/16" nut width. Any suggestions?

Buy a mandolin with a 1-3/16” nut width.

[Steve 2E]

I don’t know what your budget is, but this one looks pretty good.
https://reverb.com/item/63762113-web...-lacquer-brown

[RobP]

When I bought my Eastman, I was worried about how the 1-3/32 nut width would play, given that all my prior experience was with 1-1/8. I was pleasantly surprised. Playability was and still is very good, and it's now easier for me to finger the 2200 a chord with one finger. I concur with the recommendation to give one a try.

[Steve Mead]

I had an Eastman 915 for quite a while. I found it was a combination of nut width, radius fretboard and neck shape that was not agreeing with me but beautiful mandolin. Ended up with a '55 Gibson F12 -:1 3/16" nut, flat fretboard and c shaped neck. More comfortable for me.

[JEStanek]

As others have said, try and get your hands on one first. The instruments you had prior have very different necks than the Eastman. Like the Weber and Breedlove I had were substantially clubbier than the narrow V of the Eastman. Some folks aren't that particular, others have a preference. You may also want to try a Kentucky to see how that neck feels on a similarly priced model to the Eastmans.

Jamie

[Northwest Steve]

I have a Kentucky KM-756 (all 750 series are the same but different finish). They say 1 1/8" nut and I think is is slightly over that and has a fuller U/C shaped neck than Eastman's. It is a terrific mandolin. If you have a chance, you might try one.