Eastman MD415-BK Review

[@rainblaze.]

Sounds like it plays like butter and incredible

[@julesdlevitt]

I have the same one and it is an awesome instrument. Been gigging with it for about 5 years now. I put a K&K in it and works great. Workmanship is outstanding. The value for $$ on the Eastman is fantastic. I love the 'tuxedo' look of the black top, but the stained back and sides are beautiful. It is a cannon as far as sound but definitely sweet not harsh at all. Thanks for the great video review.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey, thanks so much :) I put a K&K in mine as well and it sounds great. I was really attracted to the look too - the black top with that back/sides is so cool!

[@BlueGnome42]

Just found your channel. It’s a treasure trove! This is a mandolin that caught my eye. I’m looking to upgrade from a $400 Loar sometime this year.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there - thanks for checking out the channel! I used to have a Loar myself :) The LM-375 was my first “real” mando and served its purpose well for a couple of years until I got that fun itch to spend more money. I have two Eastmans and love them both! I have the 305 A style and this black 314. The 305 sounds wonderful, plays great and is half the price while the 314 is a work of art that just happens make music :)

[@gdt76]

Congratulations on the new instrument!! Great review 👏 👌 👍

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks so much :)

[@CelticMandolinsGinnyAitchison]

Good topics - especially on FB - they are always talking about Kentucky and Eastman. Stay warm wherever you are...it is very cold and snowy blowy here.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks Ginny, headed below zero tonight and snowing to beat the band as we speak. We may be enjoying the same weather system :)

[@pablo6305]

It reminds me of old 57 chevy with pinstripe and white wall tires. Sweet.

[@pablo6305]

How much, camandor?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hi again - I really appreciate you checking out so many videos :) it is kind of heavy - mostly the headstock. And I usually have a tone guard on there which makes it a bit heavier. Overall, definitely heavier than the MD-305. They retail for just north of 1K these days, but I got this one used off Reverb for $750. Hey, thanks for watching and I hope you have a great night!

[@rickpearlstein6421]

I'm sold. I found this video because I picked this as my first upgrade. I've been playing about two months now. I wanted to see if she plays as well as she looks. Oh yeah!

[@COMANDOLIN]

Wonderful - enjoy it, they are beautiful instruments :)

[@rickpearlstein6421]

@@COMANDOLIN Happy Holidays! I just ordered my KM415. I can't wait! Thanks again for this.

[@COMANDOLIN]

@@rickpearlstein6421 - Sweet, a little Christmas present for you :) I hope it’s awesome - Merry Christmas!

[@rickpearlstein6421]

Hey Neal! Got mine last night and once I took her out of the case, I played for like three hours. Comparing this Eastman to my Vangoa I'm going to use a cooking analogy, it's like I was trying to cut meat with a butter knife. I found all the areas I'm weak in and could finally do things my Vangoa can't right now. You know the little things, like slides, and pull offs. LOL. Anyway, Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. Keep on picking!

[@COMANDOLIN]

@@rickpearlstein6421 - That’s awesome :) I love, love my Eastmans! I even have an Eastman violin. Enjoy the new toy and Happy New Year!

[@mrjaredcalvert]

I have the same mandolin and it sounds great! What are your favorite strings so far on the 415?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there - I haven’t really experimented with strings that much and pretty much use the same D’Addario medium EJ74’s as everyone else :)

[@Harpmando]

That is one nice Mando Neal! Now I want one!

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks so much bud - I’ll start working on that “Here Comes the Sun” for you :) I love, love the new toy!

[@jeffreybutler9877]

Congratulations Neil!

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks bud - I’m a happy boy :)

[@jeffreybutler9877]

@@COMANDOLIN my wife always talks about how much she likes you. Glad you live far away. LoL

[@COMANDOLIN]

Ha - Thanks to you both then! Have a great day :)

[@jeffreybutler9877]

@@COMANDOLIN I miss playing. I started a new job building engines for $40,000 lawn mowers at John Deere in Fuquay-Varina NC and my fingers hurt too much to play. I will get back in the saddle soon.

[@jeffreybutler9877]

Wife says you are younger than us. She's guessing late 40s. We're OLD. LOL Would you like to disclose that information?

[@saggacc]

what a difference two weeks can make in one's life. congrats on the new axe. two burning questions come to mind: 1) will you install an LR Baggs Radius Pick Up, or go with something else? 2) is the Eastman 410 better that the KM670?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there - thanks much. I do love the new toy. Funny you should ask that: I just stuck the LR Baggs on there two days ago. I have a show on the 5th coming up and I certainly want to bring it. I’ll probably stick with that until I feel like blowing more money. I’d like to put a K&K Twin in there so there’s nothing clamped on the front. I really like the Fishman bridge pickup that’s in my Gretsch too. So, yeah, something else someday but riding with the Baggs for now. As far as comparing the two, overall I’d say the Kentucky is probably the winner. Now, obviously, I love the Eastman and they’re both so, so nice and one is oval hole so there is a built in difference in sound. But, the Kentucky is so light and resonate and probably has the louder, brighter tone of the two. I didn’t get to really bang on it at the store like I wanted, so I didn’t get to hear it at full volume, but I’m pretty sure it’s a little louder than the Eastman. Of course, I was thinking about gigs and I’ll be running through PA systems so slight volume differences weren’t a concern and I just think it will be so bad ass on stage. But, yeah maybe the Kentucky at the finish line. ‘Course, it’s about $400 more, so it should be better :) Either one is tons of fun :)

[@saggacc]

@@COMANDOLIN thanks for the reconnaissance Commando-M; i'll keep your suggestions in mind when i get the chance to add an F-type to my arsenal. Have a good show ; )

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks - I think I’m going to broadcast it here live :) Ive never done the live thing before and it might be fun. Check in on Sat the 5th from 3-5 central time.

[@gearoidmaclochlainn1663]

Congratulations. 🙂👍

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks much :)

[@Fourtrax87]

I am just starting mandolin. I picked up a ibanez 510 mandolin. I do not recommend it. It was only 170 new. But its is a real disapointment. I am now looking at old bowl backs. But your videos are very helpful and I appreciate what you do. Also could you post some italian learning videos possibly the tarantata haha. But thank you

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there - I’m afraid that Ibanez has a pretty bad reputation for their cheap mandos (Though I like their guitars). I, personally, wouldn’t recommend a bowl back as your only mandolin. It’s different playing those simply because it’s awkward to hold and you don’t need that when you’re starting out. For right about what you spent on the Ibanez, I’d take a look at the Gretsch New Yorker. You don’t hear much about them, but they’re not bad For $200 new. But, id highly recommend keeping an eye out for a used Kentucky KM-150 or Eastman MD305. I have a 305 that I paid $250 used and I see the Kentuckys about that price on a regular basis. Either one would be spectacular and you wouldn’t believe the difference over the Ibanez. Thanks for checking out the channel and good luck!

[@Fourtrax87]

@@COMANDOLIN Well the banjo is my number one instrument rite now. Only been learning for about 4 months now. The mandolin is more of playing around and tryi g to learn italian style of playing. So I figured why not go back to where they started. And I found a old catiana carmelo bowl back. Im never going to be playing shows with it. I just want good feel and sound. The ibanez I picked up makes me not want to play. I have a deerimg goodtime banjo with a resonator I put on and inlove the feel and sound. So im trying to get that feel from a mandolin. Thank you for getting back to me.

[@COMANDOLIN]

The good thing is that when I see bowlbacks online, they generally don’t cost much. For sure, you’ll get that old world sound. If you scroll down my page far enough, I do have a video called something like “Easy Italian Music Tutorial” or something to that effect that you should certainly check out. Have a great day :)

[@Fourtrax87]

@@COMANDOLIN thank you. And thats actually the first thing i learned to play on the mandolin was that video you posted. Have you heard of the dead south?

[@COMANDOLIN]

That’s awesome. I can’t say I’ve heard of them, fill me in - I’m always into new music :)

[@neilanderson2374]

how do you think this compares to the MD305 for bluegrass? I have an option to buy the 415 on offer or get the MD305 at standard price. They work out roughly the same price on paper once you figure in the hard case.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there. Thanks for checking out the video. My relationship with the 415 has been complicated. I was a big fan at first, but I think you’re much more likely to like something right away because it’s new and you’re excited. Over the next couple of weeks, I came to be pretty disappointed in the sound. It sounded quiet - almost muffled - with a brittle sounding E string. I was considering trading it in, but I thought I’d go ahead and try switching out the saddle to a deer antler saddle that Jerry Rosa (luthier out of Missouri with a channel) makes and what a difference! The clouds parted, the angels sang and this thing came alive. It was louder and brighter and even softened up the E string. Now, I love this thing and it’s my main instrument. The 305 was awesome from day one and continues to be awesome. I love the look , the finish, the tuners and the tailpiece of the 415, but there’s no denying the sound of the 305. It’s so light, resonant and loud and it’s sound is wonderfully woody. It’s a tough call. You don’t want to pass up such a good deal on that 415 and it plays like a dream. Maybe I just got a clunker and it didn’t take much to bring it to life, but the 305 is just a beast that I can 100% say will be amazing for bluegrass or anything else. If you have to buy without a chance to play them, the 305 is a safer bet in my mind. Several people have asked about the differences/similarities between these two - I should really do a video to compare ‘em. Hope any of this helps and have a great night.

[@neilanderson2374]

@@COMANDOLIN thanks. It’s 9am for me. In the UK. In fairness I prefer the look of the 305

[@lynneftw]

It is pretty sexy, I agree. I might not after the fingerprints show up, lol. I wanted the gold top but can't even find them used anywhere now. Looking at the gold top Kentucky mando, too, but not sure about the pick guard. Could probably live with it. It's funny, I went from loving the dark brown, satin finish...to the unconventional gold. Must be my IDGAF 40s. 🤣

[@COMANDOLIN]

Those gold tops are so cool! I love things that are a bit different and both of those fit the bill nicely. Kentucky has a cool blacktop too. They’re all so fun :)

[@JJ_TheGreat]

7:24 What is the significance of the mahogany to the tone - compared to maple? Thanks.

[@COMANDOLIN]

It’s supposed to be a little darker in tone. I can’t really say I can tell much difference - I just thought it looked great :)

[@SteveMartinUSA]

Did you say Reverb? That's where to get a good deal?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Heck yeah it is!

[@Harpmando]

Hi Neal. Are you going to make some more videos with this nice mandolin?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Odds are mighty good :) Hey, I’m real close on the Here Comes the Sun. It’ll be up next after the Grateful Dead thing I’ve got going on :)

[@Harpmando]

@@COMANDOLIN I'm looking forward to Here Comes the Sun. Thank you!

[@alysesteidler9169]

Beautiful instrument. Could you up your volume next time?

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey there, the volume of me talking or the instrument?

[@alysesteidler9169]

@@COMANDOLIN your voice