In this video I set up an Eastman Mandolin to play as easy as possible. It became very loud after installing the deer antler saddle. A very nice mandolin considering the price.
Jerry, What I found that helped me some on tight tuning keys on my mandolin is that some of the ring gear hubs appeared too long so when the Phillips screw in the center of ring gear was screwed down tight the ring gear hub base would pinch down way too hard against the main frame causing binding. This is likely the result of no custom fitting during assembly of the cheaper tuning key sets. As I see it, there are two approaches to fix the problem. The quick and dirty approach is to simply take the Phillips screw out, put a dab of loctite on and tighten the screw back on the shaft but only enough to where the action works smoothly. The more professional approach would be to file (shorten) the base end of the ring gear where it contacts the main frame so when the screw is tight it will not squeeze the gear down crazy hard against the main frame. This may not cure every tight tuning key problem, but it helped in my situation.
I bought this same model mandolin a few months back, and for $750 with a free case and setup, it cant be beat. It sounds AMAZING! The next model up from this one comes with the fancy high gloss finish, which is the only difference between the two. They have been tested side by side, and this model is TONS louder than the "better" model. That extra finish kills it! Them dang things are right at $1000 too. So Im well pleased with my purchase. Since this one here, they have updated the tailpiece on them. The solid spruce top and solid maple back and sides, really make a huge difference in the sound! The only flaw with them evidentely are the stiff tuners. I couldnt hardly turn mine at all. So I worked and worked with them until I got plum aggravated. So I took those sapsuckers off and ordered me some really nice vintage style nickel Grover tuners. I put them on, and got a deer antler saddle from you Mr. Jerry, but things came up healthwise and just life period, and Ive yet to get it back together. Im gonna do it soon though. Im still going to send you that first wrong set of new Grover tuners I got. I havent forgotten ya. Lol. Ive thrown in a couple more goodies that you like and use, and am gonna get a few more things to throw in. Then I will get it all sent off to ya.
That "Ashoken Farewell" is sure a beautiful tune. I never get tired of hearing it. You could swear that it was an actual tune from around the civil war period, but it was released in 1991. Lol.
I love the story about the folks with tire trouble. I'm sure that you are proud of your son. You raised him right! The Wildlife Hospital where I work used to be the first thing people would come to off of the Interstate. I couldn't tell you how many tires I changed for older folks or gas , or water for radiators or whatever we could do ;-). I even used my AAA card a few times for folks! We moved a while back so we don't have the "strays" any more ;-)
Glad to hear you do the same. Yesterday it was a guy broke down hauling hay. He needed a spare tire. I thought mine would fit so I drove the three miles back to the farm to retrieve my spare however it wouldn't fit. So I had to drive the three miles back to tell him. Oh well, I tried.
.Lovely Video and how to set up a mando, nice work!! BTW,its people and families like ye all that make this uncertaIn world ,still a good place to live and keep trust in humanity, we need these types of People like ye.I work/trained in Usa for many years out of Louisanna and met some lovely awesome people that has and will be my friends for forever.,God Bless them all. Cheers, From NL, Canada,TY
Those stiff tuners really respond quite well after a lil clover treatment. Apply a dab of fine clover valve grinding compound to the worm and gear, spin em with the drill, clean em up and they are silky smooth. Lane
You did a great job. You made a big difference in the sound. I enjoy watching your videos. I wish I could took up that trade when I was young. I love music instruments. Thank you for sharing.
I found one of the mandolin videos and now I'm stuck. Can't stop watching. I would love for you to take a look at my instruments butI live in Sweden so I guess thats not possible..Keep up the good work!
Hello Jerry, wood workers use a tool that takes the shape of a guitar top. Once you do this you can use a router to foute the guitar top profile onto the bridge you are working on. All the best, Edgar
Sadly the arthritis has gotten so bad as of late I finally have gone to the doctor to get on the medicine. I hate that because those medicines cause so many other problems.
What a pleasure to watch. I have a 815 varnish that I love but after watching this it might be worth beaming it over your way for some tlc......if you still offer that service. Either way, great video!
I have an Eastman 805 A model and I too had all the same things you pointed out as far as the tuning pegs I too mine apart used a rat tail file and too just 3-5 strokes on the inside and they are lie butter now and must be a eastman thing as mine has some real good tone as well as great punch as always Sir a joy to watch so happy I found your channel last month
I love the improvement you've made to that mandolin. I just bought a similar model today, but without the scroll. Beautiful mandolin but it feels hard to play and I think the main reason is the nut saddles need to go lower and strings also need to come down at the bridge. Too bad you're in the US and not Australia otherwise it would be going to you for a setup.....for sure.
@Belman5 I am going to take my Eastman 815/v to Fretco in Adelaide within the next month. They really improved my Epiphone A type. I’ll ket you know how they handled the higher end instrument.
Also, I noticed that when you play you "mouth" the noises that the instrument is making. I do the same thing! hahaha I don't even realize i do it until I watch a recording of me playing
Jerry, I like the sound and look of this mandolin better than any mandolin that you have put in your videos except your #2 mandolin and the last one that you built. I have never played or worked on a mandolin, could you post the tuning for a mandolin please? Also is each pair of strings the same note on both strings? I love the matte finish on this mandolin. Great video as usual. Thanks for your wonderful posts.
Thanks Jerry. Can they use two sets of the same strings as violins, or are mandolin strings longer or shorter than violin strings? I don't know the scale length of a mandolin and it seems like the tuning head is longer too.
A worm drive cannot turn the other way, ever. No matter how much oil goes on, fact and physically impossible! You can try on an old machine head with a pair of pliers until the sprocket breaks out a bit out of the worm... Just to let all those 'I know better nannies' know. Sometimes the bracket can be crimped to tight in the factory and pinches the axle, very carefully opening that gap by a 'hair' or two will also help :o)
You are wrong. The rear end of a front engine/rear drive car is a good example- the pinion gear is, essentially, a worm gear mated to a ring gear. If what you claim were true, you would not have a functioning reverse option in your car. I may be off on the dated, but I believe reverse has been a feature since the 19-teens.
Why did you not replace the machine heads? You didn't seem happy with them after you worked them . . . On my old martin I have one that is bent slightly and it's a real pain, can't imagine having eight of them, (I mean when the lube dries). Fantastic video as usual.
+Rod MacKinnon can't say I can remember what happened that was quite a while ago. But I would imagine the customer wasn't willing to pay for new tuning keys.
Thank you very much. It depends on how the tuners are made. Some come apart, these didn't. By design if they come apart they are a bit more adjustable. Some that don't come apart can sometimes be tweaked by bending various parts very slightly. Sorry, but there's no easy answer.
Jerry, does the felt padding damage the finish after years of being left under the chin rest on a violin? The first violin that I built had a break in the tailpiece after seven years and I took the chin rest off to do the replacement. It had come with cork padding and it glued itself into the finish. I put it back with cork for now, but want to find something to replace it with that will not damage the finish. I would appreciate your input on this issue. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Just about anything that comes in contact with finish over a long period of time especially something as tight as a chin rest will cause damage to the finish. I can't say that felt is better or worse than cork. I know cork definitely leaves an impression.
I don't know why it didn't cross your mind to use some lapping compound on the open gears of the tuners. In fact, tooth paste (also a mild abrasive) may have done what the tuners needed. I hope you didn't send that thing home with those tuners in that condition.
I should have continued watching the video before I ask the question! You seem to do good work how do you feel that this man one compares to the Michael Kelly mandolins?
I meant how do you feel that the quality of this Eastman 315 compares to the Michel Kelly mandolins ? I have a Mk and like it but I got the mando fever and want a upgrade.
I use several. On the big buffing real I use some sort of compound sold by stewmac. On the workbench by hand I use the semi chrome polish and Renaissance wax
nice mandolin great set up. i have a cheap rogne i'm learning on thanks to your lessons dvds, it needs a setup bad but what it dont have is a nice woodie sound, it's all treble, how do i help this sound better ?
Jerry, just want to tell you that your video's have been incredibly helpful. Being too far away to send my mandolin to you for a setup, I've followed your advise and have managed to greatly improve the playability of my new Eastman MD305 mandolin. It was pretty good overall, but the nut slots definitely needed to come down. Plays like a dream now, and more than adequate to start learning on. I've posted my own video so if you get the chance drop by to the following link....Cheers, thanks, and Happy New Year! ruclips.net/video/9MsUBCKWZZw/видео.html
@ Colin Richards Why? WD-40 is a light duty silicone (10W) lubricant. How is it going to correct an obvious clearence issue between gears. Did you miss the part where Jerry applied oil to the gears and it fixed nothing? As an aerospace then automotive mechanic since 1970, I can tell you the tight clearences need adjusting and lapping is the easiest method.
Jerry, What I found that helped me some on tight tuning keys on my mandolin is that some of the ring gear hubs appeared too long so when the Phillips screw in the center of ring gear was screwed down tight the ring gear hub base would pinch down way too hard against the main frame causing binding. This is likely the result of no custom fitting during assembly of the cheaper tuning key sets. As I see it, there are two approaches to fix the problem. The quick and dirty approach is to simply take the Phillips screw out, put a dab of loctite on and tighten the screw back on the shaft but only enough to where the action works smoothly. The more professional approach would be to file (shorten) the base end of the ring gear where it contacts the main frame so when the screw is tight it will not squeeze the gear down crazy hard against the main frame. This may not cure every tight tuning key problem, but it helped in my situation.
I bought this same model mandolin a few months back, and for $750 with a free case and setup, it cant be beat. It sounds AMAZING! The next model up from this one comes with the fancy high gloss finish, which is the only difference between the two. They have been tested side by side, and this model is TONS louder than the "better" model. That extra finish kills it! Them dang things are right at $1000 too. So Im well pleased with my purchase. Since this one here, they have updated the tailpiece on them. The solid spruce top and solid maple back and sides, really make a huge difference in the sound! The only flaw with them evidentely are the stiff tuners. I couldnt hardly turn mine at all. So I worked and worked with them until I got plum aggravated. So I took those sapsuckers off and ordered me some really nice vintage style nickel Grover tuners. I put them on, and got a deer antler saddle from you Mr. Jerry, but things came up healthwise and just life period, and Ive yet to get it back together. Im gonna do it soon though. Im still going to send you that first wrong set of new Grover tuners I got. I havent forgotten ya. Lol. Ive thrown in a couple more goodies that you like and use, and am gonna get a few more things to throw in. Then I will get it all sent off to ya.
That "Ashoken Farewell" is sure a beautiful tune. I never get tired of hearing it. You could swear that it was an actual tune from around the civil war period, but it was released in 1991. Lol.
That Mando sounded nice to begin with but after you finished with it, It was so LOUD! and it sounded even better.
I love the story about the folks with tire trouble. I'm sure that you are proud of your son. You raised him right! The Wildlife Hospital where I work used to be the first thing people would come to off of the Interstate. I couldn't tell you how many tires I changed for older folks or gas , or water for radiators or whatever we could do ;-). I even used my AAA card a few times for folks! We moved a while back so we don't have the "strays" any more ;-)
Glad to hear you do the same. Yesterday it was a guy broke down hauling hay. He needed a spare tire. I thought mine would fit so I drove the three miles back to the farm to retrieve my spare however it wouldn't fit. So I had to drive the three miles back to tell him. Oh well, I tried.
.Lovely Video and how to set up a mando, nice work!! BTW,its people and families like ye all that make this uncertaIn world ,still a good place to live and keep trust in humanity, we need these types of People like ye.I work/trained in Usa for many years out of Louisanna and met some lovely awesome people that has and will be my friends for forever.,God Bless them all. Cheers, From NL, Canada,TY
Jerry- Your "work ethic" is phenomenal!! Great work & great video!! God bless you, Sir...
Thank you very much.
Those stiff tuners really respond quite well after a lil clover treatment. Apply a dab of fine clover valve grinding compound to the worm and gear, spin em with the drill, clean em up and they are silky smooth. Lane
Lucky guy-you get to work on all of these cool instruments. You certainly know your stuff. This mandolin has a beautiful finish.
Thank you Scott
You did a great job. You made a big difference in the sound. I enjoy watching your videos. I wish I could took up that trade when I was young. I love music instruments. Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.
Nice job setting up that Eastman MD315. It sounds good too.
Thanks Dale.
Jerry you are a trust Worthy person.
Thank you my friend.
I found one of the mandolin videos and now I'm stuck. Can't stop watching. I would love for you to take a look at my instruments butI live in Sweden so I guess thats not possible..Keep up the good work!
MarcusTrygg Official thank you very much my friend.
Hello Jerry, wood workers use a tool that takes the shape of a guitar top. Once you do this you can use a router to foute the guitar top profile onto the bridge you are working on.
All the best, Edgar
Hey Jerry, it’s hard to believe that you have arthritis, you play so fast,I’m impressed. Al 🇨🇭😅
Sadly the arthritis has gotten so bad as of late I finally have gone to the doctor to get on the medicine. I hate that because those medicines cause so many other problems.
What a pleasure to watch. I have a 815 varnish that I love but after watching this it might be worth beaming it over your way for some tlc......if you still offer that service. Either way, great video!
I have an Eastman 805 A model and I too had all the same things you pointed out as far as the tuning pegs I too mine apart used a rat tail file and too just 3-5 strokes on the inside and they are lie butter now
and must be a eastman thing as mine has some real good tone as well as great punch
as always Sir a joy to watch so happy I found your channel last month
Thank you Paul. I truly appreciate the positive feedback.
I like your eye for detail.
Thank you Michael.
This is the one I'm going to buy, thanks for your help!
ftkforte they seem to be real nice mandolins. Thanks for watching.
Nice video. That's a nice looking mandolin as well. I like it much better without having neck binding. I wasn't aware that was an option.
Thank you for watching.
I've had a few Eastman guitars come thru here and they all sounded pretty good for the money. Good job on this it sounds awesome.
Thank you Randy.
Thankyou for doing this. Excellent!
The volume on that mandolin changed a lot! Good sound too!
Thanks Jeff.
I love the improvement you've made to that mandolin. I just bought a similar model today, but without the scroll. Beautiful mandolin but it feels hard to play and I think the main reason is the nut saddles need to go lower and strings also need to come down at the bridge. Too bad you're in the US and not Australia otherwise it would be going to you for a setup.....for sure.
@Belman5 I am going to take my Eastman 815/v to Fretco in Adelaide within the next month. They really improved my Epiphone A type. I’ll ket you know how they handled the higher end instrument.
All he needs now is a set of waverly tuners and he will be set!
Thank you for taking a look.
fine sound from an Estman Mandolin after having been "Rosaried"
Mario Tulio thank you very much.
I also have an Eastman 315 excellent mandolin
They are nice. Thanks for watching.
I see you've learned your Corel quickly! Next up is a db meter!
Thanks Jeff. Spent a whole lot of time on it... "to learn it quickly." lol... Yeah, I think I've scratched the surface, but just barely.
Also, I noticed that when you play you "mouth" the noises that the instrument is making. I do the same thing! hahaha I don't even realize i do it until I watch a recording of me playing
Very nice job! Nice sound....really improved. Never heard of that brand before but I am a horn guy:-0)
Thank you for the nice comments. Much appreciated.
Jerry, I like the sound and look of this mandolin better than any mandolin that you have put in your videos except your #2 mandolin and the last one that you built. I have never played or worked on a mandolin, could you post the tuning for a mandolin please? Also is each pair of strings the same note on both strings? I love the matte finish on this mandolin. Great video as usual. Thanks for your wonderful posts.
Mandolins are tuned exactly like violins. E,A,D,G. Yes the pairs are the same.
Thanks Jerry. Can they use two sets of the same strings as violins, or are mandolin strings longer or shorter than violin strings? I don't know the scale length of a mandolin and it seems like the tuning head is longer too.
A worm drive cannot turn the other way, ever. No matter how much oil goes on, fact and physically impossible! You can try on an old machine head with a pair of pliers until the sprocket breaks out a bit out of the worm... Just to let all those 'I know better nannies' know. Sometimes the bracket can be crimped to tight in the factory and pinches the axle, very carefully opening that gap by a 'hair' or two will also help :o)
You are wrong. The rear end of a front engine/rear drive car is a good example- the pinion gear is, essentially, a worm gear mated to a ring gear. If what you claim were true, you would not have a functioning reverse option in your car. I may be off on the dated, but I believe reverse has been a feature since the 19-teens.
Why did you not replace the machine heads? You didn't seem happy with them after you worked them . . . On my old martin I have one that is bent slightly and it's a real pain, can't imagine having eight of them, (I mean when the lube dries). Fantastic video as usual.
+Rod MacKinnon can't say I can remember what happened that was quite a while ago. But I would imagine the customer wasn't willing to pay for new tuning keys.
love it great job
Thank you. I try!
Love your videos. question. is there any other techniques for getting the machine heads/tuner buttons to loosen?
Thank you very much. It depends on how the tuners are made. Some come apart, these didn't. By design if they come apart they are a bit more adjustable. Some that don't come apart can sometimes be tweaked by bending various parts very slightly. Sorry, but there's no easy answer.
Jerry, does the felt padding damage the finish after years of being left under the chin rest on a violin? The first violin that I built had a break in the tailpiece after seven years and I took the chin rest off to do the replacement. It had come with cork padding and it glued itself into the finish. I put it back with cork for now, but want to find something to replace it with that will not damage the finish. I would appreciate your input on this issue. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Just about anything that comes in contact with finish over a long period of time especially something as tight as a chin rest will cause damage to the finish. I can't say that felt is better or worse than cork. I know cork definitely leaves an impression.
Thanks Jerry, I think I will try the felt anyway as I know the cork damages the finish.
I don't know why it didn't cross your mind to use some lapping compound on the open gears of the tuners. In fact, tooth paste (also a mild abrasive) may have done what the tuners needed. I hope you didn't send that thing home with those tuners in that condition.
Loosen the sprocket screw slightly then re set
What do you charge for the full meal deal
what model of Eastman is this ? it's really beautiful.
MD315 Thanks for watching.
I should have continued watching the video before I ask the question! You seem to do good work how do you feel that this man one compares to the Michael Kelly mandolins?
+Adam FUSON They are comparable. Roughly equal in my opinion.
I meant how do you feel that the quality of this Eastman 315 compares to the Michel Kelly mandolins ? I have a Mk and like it but I got the mando fever and want a upgrade.
+Rosa String Works Thanks sir
What polishing compounds do you use?
I use several. On the big buffing real I use some sort of compound sold by stewmac. On the workbench by hand I use the semi chrome polish and Renaissance wax
nice mandolin great set up. i have a cheap rogne i'm learning on thanks to your lessons dvds, it needs a setup bad but what it dont have is a nice woodie sound, it's all treble, how do i help this sound better ?
If you haven't tried the ghs LS250s, I would start there. You can get them from my website if you can't find them anywhere else.
Jerry, just want to tell you that your video's have been incredibly helpful. Being too far away to send my mandolin to you for a setup, I've followed your advise and have managed to greatly improve the playability of my new Eastman MD305 mandolin. It was pretty good overall, but the nut slots definitely needed to come down. Plays like a dream now, and more than adequate to start learning on. I've posted my own video so if you get the chance drop by to the following link....Cheers, thanks, and Happy New Year! ruclips.net/video/9MsUBCKWZZw/видео.html
Nice job. Thanks for the mention.
Have you tried WD-40 silicone spray?
Yeah I use about a can a month here on the farm.
@ Colin Richards Why? WD-40 is a light duty silicone (10W) lubricant. How is it going to correct an obvious clearence issue between gears. Did you miss the part where Jerry applied oil to the gears and it fixed nothing?
As an aerospace then automotive mechanic since 1970, I can tell you the tight clearences need adjusting and lapping is the easiest method.
An old man doing unboxing, how childish.
Leaving negative comments on someone's video, how childish