Eastman Mandolins
"The Affordable Classic"TM
866-884-6546 toll free
     
Gianna Violins is a very small family
run business in rural Tennessee.  
We pride ourselves on careful
attention to our instruments and our
customers.  Please don't hesitate to
call with any questions.

866 884 6546 toll free
Click here to tour Eastman
Strings' workshop.

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Eastman Mandolins' Construction

Eastman mandolins are made completely by hand
using traditional techniques employed in violin making.   

  • Skilled luthiers
  • Hand tools
  • Air-dried tonewoods
  • Acoustically transparent hide glue
  • Varnish finish
  • Bone nut
  • Schaller tuners
  • Traditional flat fingerboard
  • Our setup
  • Mandovoodoo (tm) optimization available
  • Fitted case included

Construction

Eastman Mandolins are made by hand, with hand-cut dovetail neck mounting, hand cut
and fitted binding, and hand applied and leveled varnish.  Eastmans' luthiers use hide
glue for the critical joints, insuring acoustic integrity.

Eastman Mandolins use 12" radius fingerboards and precisely set narrow frets.  They use
modern adjustable truss rod and an adjustable ebony bridge.  Usually the fretboard
extension is relieved to provide pick room, or even eliminated on the lower end models.  

Bracing

Most Eastman Mandolins use traditional converging tone bars, as pioneered by Lloyd
Loar.  Tone bar construction requires break in for a full bark & chop.  

In contrast, X braced mandolins tend to sound more open from the beginning.  They don't
tend to have as much punch and bark.  But there are always exceptions in performance
and in preferences.  Some have X bracing.  If you have a preference, let us know.

Cast Tailpiece

Eastman Mandolins use a solid cast tailpiece rather than a thin metal stamping.  The extra
mass may also contribute to their excellent tone and punch.  

Lush hand-applied finish.

Left:  Hand carved and shaped scroll with
hand set binding

Right:  Traditional proven dovetail neck
mounting and multi-piece extension; no
shortcuts.
   
Left:  Ebony headstock veneer with delicate
binding.  Inlaid "Eastman" logo

Right;  Back extends over base of neck,
carefully fitted binding.
     
Beautifully done smooth & elegant points with
crisp binding.  Hand cut F holes.
     
Cast tailpiece heavily plated, double ramp
design makes string changes easy.
NOTE:  Eastman and other handcrafted
mandolins may exhibit variations from
mandolin to mandolin inherent in this
process.  They may also exhibit minor
"flaws" in finishing work or otherwise that
are also inherent in this process.  We do
not consider these minor glitches a
problem, nor do we consider them a
warranty issue or cause for return after
our usual approval period.  If you are
concerned about a specific mandolin, call
and we will examine it and describe the
detail work.
     
     
Gianna Violins  Maker and seller violin, viola, fiddle, violin case, violin bow, accessories, support, appraisal, restoration, Eastman mandolins & guitars.

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