2008 Eastman 804D 2-Point Archtop Mandolin

I have mixed feelings about Eastman mandolins that come through the shop. Most of them are pretty good boxes and they're clearly well-made. A lot of them don't really turn my ear but I expect that if I weren't such a jaded guitar-shop fella, I would be very happy with them. I've just heard and played so many fantastic instruments over time.

Suffice it to say that this Eastman got me a bit excited. It's pretty, it has a great sound that flits between old-fashioned round-hole-A-style and modern F-hole-A-style, and the neck is close to a classic, '20s-era Gibson. It's got a good mix going-on.

It's also pretty clean for a 2008 -- the finish has some weather-check/cracking and a small nick or ding here or there but the wood's crack-free and it arrived in good order, though needing a mild level/dress of the frets and a good setup and strings.

Post-work it plays spot-on fast and is ready to go with a nice hard/foam fitted case.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, restring, setup.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid flamed maple

Bracing type: tonebar

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: maple

Action height at 12th fret: hair-under 1/16" overall
String gauges: 36w-10

Neck shape: medium C/soft V

Board radius: flat

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: small

Scale length: 13 7/8"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

Body width: 10"

Body depth: 1 3/4" +arching

Weight: 2 lbs 1 oz

Condition notes: it's pretty clean save for minor finish weather-check/cracking here and there. There's a couple of tiny dings/nicks as well, but they're non-obvious save for one on the back.

It comes with: its original foam/travel/semi-hard fitted case.