String gauges for eastman 615

[Dave Hanson]

I've just bought an almost new Eastman 615 [ I love it already ] with what appear to be it's original strings, can anyone out there tell me what gauge strings Eastman put on new 615s ?


Thanks in advance, Dave H

[DryBones]

I believe they ship with J74's but try going up to J75's the larger E and A make mine sound better. YMMV of course.

[Stephen Perry]

J74 mediums seem the standard. Neck angles vary a little, different players like different things. So we use J75 on some. Played one with FT74 flat tops - nice tone, different.

[Mattg]

I like J74's the best so far. I tried some lighter gauge D'addarios and they just didn't have the momentum to drive my 615.

[cooper4205]

i like the GHS silk & bronze or silk & steel on the ol' 515

[Troyer]

Put expj75s on my 515 and it sounds like a diff. mando. so much louder, than the j74s. my 2 cents.

[cooper4205]

the GHS silk & Bronze (the S&S also) have the beefier D & A strings- .26 and .16; they also sound played in when freshly strung up and last a pretty long while

[Dave Hanson]

Thanks everyone, I'll go with J74s to start.

Dave H

[Trey Young]

I know on guitars alot of times a guitar may be built to handle medium guage strings and not heavy guages, is that the case with mandolins? I am assuming the 75's are not enough of a jump up if that is the case?

[Dave Hanson]

Incidently I emailed the Eastman Company 4 days ago and have not yet had the courtesy of a reply.

Dave H

Well, I contacted Mr Tim Finch (Eastman rep) on the "Eastman rep" thread in the general mandolin forum regarding this subject.
He replied post haste.
It seemed the obvious thing to do.
Have a look, that's what he's there for.

[Dave Hanson]

This may well be true deputydawg, but it still doesn't explain why after one week Eastman Strings still haven't replied to my email. Not good customer service methinks.

Dave H

Hmmm..
It isn't cricket I suppose.
Perhaps Tim would address this issue with them if we asked nicely.

[Tom@Eastman]

Dave, I'm sorry we haven't responed sooner. I'm still getting familliar with this and other sites. Your mandolin shipped with the J74s, but should handle any normal set well.

[Dave Hanson]

Many thanks Tom, I'll stick with the J74s

Dave H

[mandroid]

should be able to use any string that you could put on #most any Gibson , so feel is more the issue #as to 10-38, or 11-41, bronze, monel, silk n bronze , nickle , #round wound and flatwound, you will have a good variety to pick amongst. #try many and find what your ears favor. #

[JHo]

I have a 615 that I purchased from Gianna Violins (great instrument, thanks again Steve). I find the standard D'Addarrio J74s to be a very good string set and generally well matched to that instrument, though I've personally become partial to DR strings. For the extra dollar or so per set, they seem to last significantly longer than the J74s, also sound very good (I won't say better as that's so relative and personal), and have a very nice feel to them as far as playability goes. They're absolutely worth a try in my opinion.

[Dave Hanson]

I re strung with J74s and quite frankly I'm amazed at how much I'm getting to like this mandolin in view of the fact I have two top line mandolins already.

Dave H

And they get better and better believe me. Mine is just starting to loosen up regarding all aspects of the instrument. (Even the F style tuners that at first attempted to disslocate my left thumb as they were so stiff),they work like a dream now.
The Eastman seems to be finding its 'groove'and its own sound.

[good_ol_al_61]

Dave:

I've had my 615 for close to a year now and it seems to be getting a little, say "darker". The bass side seems to be more resonant than it once was. Is this "opening up"? I don't know, but I like it.

I use the JS-74 strings (stainless steel). They last longer for me. The bronze last about 2 to 3 weeks. The stainless last about 6 to 8 weeks.