To me the Eastman had more balance, particularly in the upper register. The Kentucky was a bit on the bright end for me, verging on harsh, but I know some people prefer that more old-time sound. I’ve also always found rosewood fretboards very unattractive - that peach-like colour can’t compare to the ebony! I also really like what Eastman do with their mandolin bodies. They seem to be a little shallower than many others, as appears to be the case in this video, but they somehow retain all the volume and sustain. Very well carved and voiced!
Having played most mandolins at this price range, I would choose Loar 600 or 700. All 3xx series Eastmans I tried sounded dead in comparison. Kentucky was better, but still not quite there. The satin finish might have something to do with it, but I don't know. Eastman on the video sounds way better. Maybe the three examples that I tried were from a bad batch or something..
Same, I was surprised at how good the Loar LM-600.vs sounds, woody yet sweet, with a subtle punchiness to it. More power would be useful if I was gigging, but for less than $600 on the used market I've yet to try something better.
Both great mandolins for the money. Tone assessments are very equal, with slight differences to my ear. Kentucky had a better low end with an overall woody chop. Eastman makes a prettier instrument IMHO. Can't go wrong for the money with either of these. Thanks for comparing the two!
I have an old Kentucky A model .handmade in Korea, and an Eastman 316..... Personally , I prefer the A model Kentuky, not only in sound be also in playability.... That Eastman has a fat neck ... It kind of reminds me of the old Gibson V-neck with fat cheeks to boot...That said , I plan on slimming thst down... it's not a hard process to do, and i want to "speed neck" it anyway... The eastman does wave a woodier tone and not as much bite with the chops because the Kentucky has a red Spruce top.. And before anybody gets upset over them being different models, a versus f, I can say that makes no difference at all a mandolin because the app model is nothing more than a solid block of wood that makes the scroll up, the rest of the top is carved just the same as the a model. I will say this , if you ever run across 70s or 80s, Kentucky, either F or A, snatch it up... It will say "made in Korea" .. and even their lower cost models back then we're pretty doggone good. P.S ..The F stsnds for florentine, which is what they call instruments with Scrolls on them. And this is strictly aesthetic and not a tonal aspect of building a mandolin. As far as the two different tones go each one has a good place for it. It all depends on your picking style, if you are playing it on stage or if you are recording with it.
The Kentucky has the volume and mid-range bark for bluegrass. The Eastman is wonderful too, more modern sounding, nice even tone, but not as much chop. The Eastman looks a little better IMHO.
To me the Eastman had more balance, particularly in the upper register. The Kentucky was a bit on the bright end for me, verging on harsh, but I know some people prefer that more old-time sound. I’ve also always found rosewood fretboards very unattractive - that peach-like colour can’t compare to the ebony!
I also really like what Eastman do with their mandolin bodies. They seem to be a little shallower than many others, as appears to be the case in this video, but they somehow retain all the volume and sustain. Very well carved and voiced!
I want that Kentucky.
Having played most mandolins at this price range, I would choose Loar 600 or 700. All 3xx series Eastmans I tried sounded dead in comparison. Kentucky was better, but still not quite there.
The satin finish might have something to do with it, but I don't know.
Eastman on the video sounds way better. Maybe the three examples that I tried were from a bad batch or something..
Same, I was surprised at how good the Loar LM-600.vs sounds, woody yet sweet, with a subtle punchiness to it. More power would be useful if I was gigging, but for less than $600 on the used market I've yet to try something better.
Both great mandolins for the money. Tone assessments are very equal, with slight differences to my ear. Kentucky had a better low end with an overall woody chop. Eastman makes a prettier instrument IMHO. Can't go wrong for the money with either of these. Thanks for comparing the two!
The Eastman. Im a fan of the richer overtones. I own one thats over 10 years old now and its an absolute hoss.
I’m a bit biased as I own a Kentucky KM-606, but that’s definitely my favorite of the two. It’s got slightly more punch than the Eastman.
I have an old Kentucky A model .handmade in Korea, and an Eastman 316..... Personally , I prefer the A model Kentuky, not only in sound be also in playability.... That Eastman has a fat neck ... It kind of reminds me of the old Gibson V-neck with fat cheeks to boot...That said , I plan on slimming thst down... it's not a hard process to do, and i want to "speed neck" it anyway...
The eastman does wave a woodier tone and not as much bite with the chops because the Kentucky has a red Spruce top..
And before anybody gets upset over them being different models, a versus f, I can say that makes no difference at all a mandolin because the app model is nothing more than a solid block of wood that makes the scroll up, the rest of the top is carved just the same as the a model.
I will say this , if you ever run across 70s or 80s, Kentucky, either F or A, snatch it up... It will say "made in Korea" .. and even their lower cost models back then we're pretty doggone good.
P.S ..The F stsnds for florentine, which is what they call instruments with Scrolls on them. And this is strictly aesthetic and not a tonal aspect of building a mandolin.
As far as the two different tones go each one has a good place for it. It all depends on your picking style, if you are playing it on stage or if you are recording with it.
The Kentucky has the volume and mid-range bark for bluegrass. The Eastman is wonderful too, more modern sounding, nice even tone, but not as much chop. The Eastman looks a little better IMHO.
Eastman sounds and looks better IMO
The Kentucky sound is less metallic more precise but the e string sounds too high and too tiny.
ive owned one forever, those medium strings dont do it justice, i run heavys and it sounds much more balanced