Eastman F-Style Mandolin Comparison (MD-315 and MD-515)

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[@Smithy67]

I bought the matt finish MD315 a couple of years ago and absolutely love it, it sounds exactly like this one, loud and woody, highly recommend it

[@stevepennington7879]

Great demonstration of both. Thanks for posting.

[@codymac181]

just bought the matte, its its beautiful to look at and feels amazing!

[@TheHammer454]

Are you still happy with the mandolin?

[@juliebon3429]

I have the MD515 and a Friend has the MD315. There is some difference in sound But the biggest difference I find is My MD515 has better frets in it making it play smoother. The MD315 has skinny thin frets that are rather high making fretting it a little more difficult.

[@jamiej14544]

I have the Md 305 (oval style of the 315) with the matte finish and the md 615 with the gloss finish. I couldn't believe how loud the md 305 was or how good it sounded!! I attribute this to the finish which allows the wood to vibrate more freely, resulting in more volume and superior tone. The 300 series from Eastman may be their best mandolins!

[@gibby6904]

I have a 305.....matte finish which I love.....I do think the finish gives it a more woody , open sound.......

[@kmhob]

I would like that someone adressed the narrow spacing on the fretboard on Eastman mandolin. I have tested many and this seems to be similar for all Eastman mandolins. I experience that I cannot play all tunes I know on these. If Eastman would make a wide nut version I would by one at once.

[@GregoryPearsonMusic]

Do you have a video comparing the MD 314 and 514?

[@johnmarlin7269]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@coolhandluke2310]

Love my 305 a style.

[@vegtamvanderveg]

Thanks for playing them back to back. I think the 515 has a more mellow tone.

[@clawhammer704]

Hard choice to make. They both have great attributes.

[@hearguitar262]

Nice work.

[@voiksmusifan]

How about the MD415. Is this a good option, too? What are the differences to the MD315 and MD515 ?

[@colmivers]

515 has more brightness and cut in its tone, 315 sounds louder but both extremely close in sound so really a question of finish preference.

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

The 315 is deeper woody tone. The 315 will cut through a jam session with ease. You want a woody deep tone. That is the term meant. When people say. Popping Corn, Chopping Wood sound.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I betcha the sound will open up on the 515. These are new, right? Heck they both sound really nice for brand new instruments.

[@musicvilladotcom]

Yes, brand new when filmed.

[@clawhammer704]

Iv tried both in a outside jam band back to back at the same time....The 315 sounds more open woody pleasing by itself but,,,,the big but is the 515 cuts it with a dang loud banjo a lot better. The 515 has that pierced sound that is needed in say a outside campground open air no mike help situation jamming with other picking buddies.

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

Bull you're nuts

[@jamsforyams]

Good vid!

[@fredbohley5430]

I can definitely hear the difference between these two mandolins. I like them both but think the one with the gloss has a more subdued sound and the matte finish sounds more open. I would probably personally prefer the matte finish aesthetically as well as the tone quality. Thanks for the comparison.

[@Atemporalacab]

I would definitely say is the tail piece

[@pluckerpick]

I prefer the Gloss

[@jimbowsandtheflycatchers]

Can someone tell me how the intonation and playability around the 12th fret is?

[@musicvilladotcom]

Intonation at the 12th fret depends on how well the mandolin is setup... we go over the setup on every instrument we sell so the playability and intonation be perfect when you buy one from us! -Chad

[@murphroberts4891]

@@musicvilladotcom Twelfth fret? On a guitar, sure. But I don't think it's relevent to the mandolin. Granted, the twelfth fret is an octive above "open" but, isn't the test of correct intonation the halfway point between the nut and the bridge saddle? Is the twelfth fret that point on the mando?

[@ioodyssey3740]

@@murphroberts4891 The half way point is always the octave! Half the wavelength = double the frequency = an octave. (which is 12 half-steps or 12 frets apart)

[@user-fd1qb7ml2j]

How much are they? Need some pricing!!! Greatly appreciated!

[@musicvilladotcom]

Send me an email, happy to help..... [e-mail]

[@coolhandluke2310]

305 imho😂😂😂I meant the 315. Oops

[@ChrisStoneGetStony]

515. No question. Tone is significantly better and “rounder”. The 315 is tinny and almost shrill at the high end.

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

You're tone deaf

[@joeylazio5989]

The 515 has way more depth. No question imho the 515 sounds better.

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

No way the 315 has a lot more volume and chop. There the exact mandolin. Only thing different is Eastman used nitro poly finish, white binding, and different style finger board on the 515. The 315 is the best sounding mandolin . That Eastman makes. Most definitely the 315 has the most volume and deep tone in there line.

[@Flat_Stanley]

I love blanket statements about very subjective topics. I too believe the 315 sounds better for the style I play…and in this video.

[@joeylazio5989]

@@Flat_Stanley I guess people aren’t allowed to have humble opinions anymore 😂

[@bensimons4417]

Does anybody know where these are made? Was thinking about a loar but I heard they are made in china, so I was like NOPE!

[@musicvilladotcom]

Eastman is located in Beijing.... not out sourced to China but an actual Chinese manufacturer, from China. They make many different stringed instruments, Violin family, Mandolin family, Guitars, Banjos... etc.

[@thesimonscrew5923]

Acoustic Letter Interesting, I bout a Loar anyways, got to try one at a little music shop, was much better then I expected.

[@ksalanpang]

i heard years ago they had someone from overseas there making sure the QC is alright before going out in batches. Not sure about now, I think it all comes down to the quality wood and QC. The rest is just standard.

[@michaelbrohl1625]

Then you won't be interested in these either because they are made in China. Very nice affordable mandolins. If you are interested in a USA made mandolin better have your bank account ready to take a hit for several thousand dollars minimum.

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

China is making instruments that will compete with American instruments. You want a great mandolin. Then buy a Kentucky mandolin. There Chinese manufacture. They also make blueridge guitars. In SanFran in California. Alot of Chinese instruments are being made in the USA. Why are you worried about being Chinese? Look at apple iPhones. There American company in China and being made by Chinese and iPhones are the biggest pieces of shit being made. A lot of Chinese instruments are great sounding . There Chinese owned, but made by Americans.