Eastman M104 Goldburst with Gigbag

The Eastman PCH-M104 Goldburst Mandolin (often simply referred to as M104) with its gig bag is part of Eastman's Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Series. This series is designed to offer the quality craftsmanship and tone Eastman is known for, but at a more accessible price point, making it an excellent option for beginners, intermediate players, or anyone looking for a reliable and good-sounding mandolin without a significant investment.

Here's a detailed look at its features:

Eastman PCH-M104 Goldburst 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 generally produces a warmer, more open, and resonant tone compared to F-hole mandolins, making it popular for folk, Celtic, and classical music. The flat back is a common construction for more affordable mandolins, contributing to its price point.

• Construction:

  • Body Top: Solid Spruce. The solid spruce top is a key feature at this price range, as it's crucial for resonant tone and will improve with age and playing (it "opens up").

  • Body Back/Sides: Laminated Mahogany. Using laminated (layered) mahogany for the back and sides helps keep the cost down while still providing durability and a warm 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 chording and single-note playing.

• Nut: Bone, a traditional and high-quality material for nuts, contributing to good sustain and tone. 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).

• Truss Rod: Single Acting, allowing for neck relief adjustments.

• Binding: Top binding (often Ivoroid), adding a clean and finished look to the instrument.

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

• Rosette: Single Black Ring around the oval soundhole.

• Side Dot Color: White, for easy fretboard navigation.

• Hardware Color: Nickel.

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

• 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 Goldburst. Eastman's "Truetone" finish is a thin, open-pore satin finish that is designed to be very resonant, allowing the wood to vibrate freely for better tone. The Goldburst color is a visually appealing, classic sunburst-style finish with warm golden tones.

Included Gig Bag:

• The mandolin comes with a padded gig bag. While not offering the same level of protection as a hardshell case (like the one with the ER-M-GB), it provides sufficient protection for light travel and storage, and it's lightweight and easy to carry.

Overall Impression:

The Eastman PCH-M104 Goldburst Mandolin is highly regarded as an excellent entry-to-mid-level mandolin. It offers a combination of a solid spruce top (crucial for good acoustic tone), quality hardware, and Eastman's attention to detail, all at a very competitive price. The oval-hole A-style body provides a warm, sweet, and open sound that is well-suited for a variety of musical styles, particularly folk, Celtic, and old-time music. It's a popular choice for those looking for a reliable, playable, and great-sounding acoustic mandolin to start their journey or upgrade from a basic instrument.