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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 3, 2018 10:25:23 GMT
From this thread acousticsoundboard.co.uk/thread/8532/upgrade i'm now down to a shortlist of 2: a new Eastman MD 304 and a second hand Hathway. I haven't been able to play either of them as I'd have them set up as the Hathway is currently set up in octave pairs on the G and D strings whereas I prefer unison and I couldn't play the 304 but the 504 which my research tells me is the same but with better fittings and finish. The Eastman was the first I tried and felt right instantly despite having a radiused and thinner fretboard (not to mention my self-conciousness at playing in "public"). The Hathway was harder to play because I had to "ignore" the octave strings but I kept coming back to it after playing instruments so had a definite "pull". Both had their own voices the Hathway being more mellow but I'd be happy with either. Head says Eastman, heart Hathway. Any thoughts?
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Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 3, 2018 12:19:37 GMT
Never played a Hathway, so can't comment on that but they do look very nice. My pal has two Eastman's and they are both really nice mandolins. I very nearly bought one myself a few years back... it was a toss up between that and a Breedlove and I marginally preferred the neck on the Breedlove. Sounds like your gonna end up with a really nice mandolin whichever way you jump
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Post by Riverman on Jan 3, 2018 17:48:59 GMT
If you'd genuinely be happy with either, then I think there's a lot to be said for the Hathway. Being able to contact the person who actually made the instrument has a lot to recommend it, not to mention supporting home grown workmanship. Also, presumably the new cost of the Hathway would have been considerably higher than the Eastman, so maybe that's a reflection of it being a better instrument (whatever that means...). I don't play mandolin so my opinion isn't worth much anyway. But, from my own experience, I think I'd be more likely to come to regret choosing a "head" instrument over a "heart" one than the other way round, if you see what I mean...
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Post by vikingblues on Jan 3, 2018 20:43:36 GMT
I've fallen into the trap of going with the head instead of the heart on an expensive instrument. It didn't work out well. I try to base my choice these days primarily on which instrument I find myself playing music most easily on and whether the said music is flowing - whether the instrument makes me creative. Obviously the instrument has to sound good and look half decent and it also has to feel right. But if I have a choice between an instrument that makes me want to play versus a higher quality instrument that might sound a bit better but doesn't make me want to play so much, I will go the the first of these instruments without hesitation. A 30 to 45 minute or more session of two instruments in a head to head swapping from one to the other quite often finds things clarifying for me. Good luck - it's a difficult choice to make sometimes! Mark
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 4, 2018 7:55:28 GMT
Thanks all! Riverman, don't think that it matters that you don't play mandolin the logic applies to all instruments I think. vikingblues, side by side would be nice but the examples I have aren't set up the way I would and are in 2 different shops, fortunately 5 minutes away from each other. Wonder how many times I can run up and down the street before I'm banned from both places? Thought I'd decided last night when I went to bed, now I'm not so sure. Suppose I'm worried that I'm being drawn into the lure of having a "boutique" instrument (the Hathway) over a mass produced one. Think I need to play them again
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Post by vikingblues on Jan 4, 2018 8:29:18 GMT
vikingblues , side by side would be nice but the examples I have aren't set up the way I would and are in 2 different shops, fortunately 5 minutes away from each other. Wonder how many times I can run up and down the street before I'm banned from both places? Yes - tricky is that! Especially in remembering the sound. Though playing enjoyment is easier to recall. You also have to contend with, regarding sound, that you're trying the two instruments in different room acoustics! I speak as someone who got fooled into thinking what I was getting was much better than what I had only to find that the stores quiet booth had such a good acoustic it made the guitar sound much better than it was. One embarrassed buyer taking the guitar back the next day for a refund. With the different sound - one more mellow you said - would one of the types of sound be more suitable for the type of music you play? You can have a great sounding instrument but if it's not quite right for your type of music the sound is not so much of a plus. My choice of mandolin was particularly influenced by the need for a more mellow type of sound that would suit Celtic trad stuff. It's difficult to ignore the guitar "badge" but as a skinflint who has no boutique instruments in my stable I would say it's possible to have an instrument collection that you really enjoy even if they're all mass produced. Last year I did have a Tanglewood v Martin shoot out and it was possible on that occasion to dismiss the badge from my thoughts because, after a wee while it became apparent that the Tanglewood was just so much easier and more fun to play. So difficult when there's not that big a difference though. Anyway - not at all a bad idea to try them both out again if you're not sure. Good luck - I hope it all clarifies. Mark
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 4, 2018 12:38:35 GMT
Thanks, in my case the "boutique" one is cheaper but I have the concern that I may favour it (although I'm not sure that I do ) for the wrong reasons. Anyway plan is to go back and play them both tomorrow, one after the other and then decide. Just hope that they haven't got anything new in...
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Post by Riverman on Jan 4, 2018 13:50:37 GMT
Just reread your initial post Onechordtrick and it looks like you haven't played the actual Eastman you're considering? If so, there's another factor to take into account - although Eastman have a good reputation for consistency, you just never know whether any individual instrument will sound as good, be as comfortable to play etc as a different example which you have actually had in your hands. From my experience that's particularly so with Far Eastern instruments, though it's true of all makes to an extent. If you buy online you have a legal right to return an instrument (which sounds like it would be easy for you to do in person) which is a great way to audition stuff at home without any pressure. If the credit card permits you could even buy both that way and return the less favoured one after the permitted trial period. Just a thought.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 4, 2018 14:09:41 GMT
Just reread your initial post Onechordtrick and it looks like you haven't played the actual Eastman you're considering? If so, there's another factor to take into account - although Eastman have a good reputation for consistency, you just never know whether any individual instrument will sound as good, be as comfortable to play etc as a different example which you have actually had in your hands. From my experience that's particularly so with Far Eastern instruments, though it's true of all makes to an extent. If you buy online you have a legal right to return an instrument (which sounds like it would be easy for you to do in person) which is a great way to audition stuff at home without any pressure. If the credit card permits you could even buy both that way and return the less favoured one after the permitted trial period. Just a thought. That's correct, but it's a I risk that I'm happy with. The consensus on the Mandolincafe forum is that the model that I'm considering sounds as good as the one that I've tried but hasn't got such a good tailpiece or tuners. As you say I can always return it if I don't like it. Thanks for the thought
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 5, 2018 16:58:02 GMT
The dilemma is over
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Post by Riverman on Jan 5, 2018 17:03:21 GMT
The dilemma is over Oh, do tell!
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 5, 2018 17:06:44 GMT
I followed my heart and bought the Hathway. I spent 15 minutes playing the Eastman and then strolled sprinted up the street to play the Hathway. Only took a couple of minutes to decide but I played longer for the pleasure of it.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jan 5, 2018 21:27:52 GMT
Just catching up on this thread - sounds like a good choice to me!
Does it look like (from the nut slots) the Hathway was made for octave strings or is that just what the last person put on it?
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jan 5, 2018 21:52:35 GMT
Just catching up on this thread - sounds like a good choice to me! Does it look like (from the nut slots) the Hathway was made for octave strings or is that just what the last person put on it? Well I’m happy with it The nut was made for unison strings but as it has a zero fret it’s less of an issue. I also checked with a Paul that it would be OK to restring in unison before I bought it and have just done that.
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Post by vikingblues on Jan 6, 2018 9:22:58 GMT
I followed my heart and bought the Hathway. I spent 15 minutes playing the Eastman and then strolled sprinted up the street to play the Hathway. Only took a couple of minutes to decide but I played longer for the pleasure of it. Thanks everyone for the advice. Congratulations! Sounds like you've connected to the Hathaway and "playing longer for the pleasure of it" is a very positive sign! I hope you have lots of fun music making on it. Any chance of seeing a picture? Mark
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