Wondered if a Northfield M would be a BIG leap up from the Eastman MD505 or even an 805? Thanks.
Playing before buying is not a realistic option.
Wondered if a Northfield M would be a BIG leap up from the Eastman MD505 or even an 805? Thanks.
Playing before buying is not a realistic option.
Last edited by MikeVB; Jan-23-2023 at 1:32pm.
Mike
Grasp things by the smooth handle - Tom Jefferson
Play before you buy (if possible).
Not all 505s or Model As are equal.
Now that that's out of the way, it's a logical upgrade path. It should be noticeably better.
Before I would buy one for 2700 I would look at this Hinde A style. It's at 2700 and he's accepting offers:
https://reverb.com/item/63760633-hin...dolin-sunburst
And this Northfield NF5S used for 2499 at Guitar Center (Link is a wall of text but just look up used instruments on Guitar Center website).
NFI
Girouard Concert A5
Girouard Custom A4
Nordwall Cittern
Barbi Mandola
Crump OM-1s Octave
www.singletonstreet.com
Girouard Concert A5
Girouard Custom A4
Nordwall Cittern
Barbi Mandola
Crump OM-1s Octave
www.singletonstreet.com
Huge bargain here: https://www.davesguitar.com/collecti...al-mandolin-20
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
That would be the one to jump on. Nice looking instrument.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
I would be all over that NF-A5 if I was the OP. Holy cow.
2018 Kentucky KM-950, 2017 Ellis A5 Deluxe
I would say if you can't play it ahead of time, make sure you get an trial period where you can try it out and return it (paying shipping cost, of course). I say this because I have an Eastman 515V and a Collings MT, and the Eastman sounds as good as the Collings. Also, I have A/B's the collings with other instruments (other Collings, also a Stiver F) and the differences were subtle. I would try to set yourself up to be able to the A/B with your own instrument without fully committing.
Cheers,
Rob
Follow the Flatt Stanley Incident on Facebook
Listen to original tune "When You Fly" by my old band The Kindreds
Congratulations!
Give us a report once you get it.
Eastman MD515 mandolin
Gretsch G9310 mandolin
Eastman MDO305E-SB octave mandolin
Eastman E20om guitar
Vega Little Wonder tenor banjo
Epiphone El Capitan acoustic bass
Now, considering the finish is spirit varnish would it be a bad idea to try a Tone-Gard and armrest if I decide to keep this Northfield?
Mike
Grasp things by the smooth handle - Tom Jefferson
It should be old enough for the finish to have cured well. If it feels tacky at all maybe give it some time before adding the accessories, but I suspect you’re fine from the git go…
Chuck
I'm about as big an Eastman booster as there is on the forum, but not even I would pretend an Eastman is a match for a Northfield.
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.
As my dear friend Dave Surette used to say, “Yeah, Buddy.”
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
The Northfield A Special arrived yesterday. I waited 24 hrs to open it until this morning as the box commanded me to do. It's a beautiful instrument. Fit and finish are flawless other than a few micro scratches here and there which are less than one would see on most new specimens hanging in a nice music shop. Don't have a way to take and post photos at the moment. But I will eventually.
The sound is very honest in that it sounds like I hadn't played a mandolin in over 10 years.
Time to get my literal chops back!
Thanks to Mandobar and everyone else's help in my search.
Mike
Grasp things by the smooth handle - Tom Jefferson
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