Eastman PCH-M104 Classic Mandolin with Gigbag

The Eastman PCH-M104 Classic Mandolin with gig bag is an excellent entry-level to intermediate A-style mandolin from Eastman's Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Series. It's specifically designed to provide a warm, resonant, and traditional mandolin tone at an accessible price point.

Here's a detailed breakdown of its features:

Eastman PCH-M104 Classic Mandolin:

• Body Style: A-Style with an oval soundhole and a flat back. The A-style is a classic teardrop shape, and the oval soundhole typically produces a warmer, more open, and resonant tone compared to F-hole mandolins. This makes it particularly well-suited for folk, Celtic, classical, and old-time music, or for players who prefer a mellower, less percussive sound. The flat back is a cost-effective construction method that still delivers good acoustic properties.

• Construction:

  • Body Top: Solid Sitka Spruce. This is a significant feature for a mandolin in this price range. A solid spruce top is crucial for excellent acoustic resonance, projection, and will develop a richer, more complex tone as the instrument ages and is played ("opens up").

  • Body Back/Sides: Laminated Mahogany. Using laminated (layered) mahogany for the back and sides helps keep the cost down while providing good durability and contributing to a warm, rich tonal foundation.

• Neck Material: Maple.

• Fingerboard: Rosewood, a durable and commonly used wood for fingerboards, offering a smooth playing surface.

• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches, providing a comfortable feel for both chording and single-note melodies.

• Nut: Bone, a traditional and high-quality material for nuts, contributing to good sustain and accurate string spacing. The nut width is typically 30mm (approx. 1 3/16 inches).

• Fretwire: 23 Jescar FW43080 frets, known for their durability and consistent feel.

• Scale Length: 13 7/8 inches (standard mandolin scale length).

• Truss Rod: Single Acting, allowing for neck relief adjustments to maintain optimal playability.

• Binding: Ivoroid binding on the top of the body, adding a clean, finished aesthetic and some protection to the edges.

• Inlay: Simple yet elegant Pearl Dot inlays on the fingerboard.

• Rosette: A single black ring around the oval soundhole.

• Hardware Color: Nickel.

• Tailpiece: Eastman Cast Aluminum Tailpiece, a sturdy and reliable component for anchoring the strings.

• Bridge: Adjustable Compensated Ebony Bridge, allowing for precise intonation adjustments to ensure the mandolin plays in tune across the fretboard.

• Tuners: Quality Geared Tuners, ensuring stable and smooth tuning.

• Strings: Typically comes strung with D'Addario XT Phosphor Bronze 1140 strings.

• Finish: Truetone Satin finish in "Classic" (often a reddish-brown sunburst) or "Goldburst." Eastman's Truetone finish is a thin, open-pore satin lacquer that is designed to be very resonant, allowing the wood to vibrate freely for better tone compared to thicker, glossy finishes.

Included Gig Bag:

• The mandolin comes with a padded gig bag. This provides sufficient protection for light travel, storage, and transporting the instrument to lessons or casual jams. While not as robust as a hardshell case, it's lightweight and easy to carry, which aligns with the PCH series' emphasis on affordability and convenience.

Overall Impression:

The Eastman PCH-M104 Classic Mandolin is highly praised as an outstanding value in the mandolin market. Its combination of a solid spruce top, quality components, and Eastman's meticulous craftsmanship (even with laminated back and sides) results in an instrument that punches above its weight class in terms of sound and playability. The oval-hole A-style design provides a warm, sweet, and open tone that is particularly well-suited for a variety of acoustic genres. It's a fantastic choice for:

• Beginners: A high-quality instrument to start on that won't hinder progress.

• Intermediate Players: A reliable and inspiring step up from more basic laminated instruments.

• Practice/Travel Mandolin: For experienced players who want a good-sounding, durable mandolin that's easy to transport without worrying about a more expensive instrument.