Sorry Guys!  I have not been around for a while, but just found this again and want to make an update.  Since I last posted I first of all bought a 1922 Snakehead (told you I do not intend to leave any money for those who inherit to blow on booze).  That really is a superb instrument, but is not a real bluegrass machine, so I traded in the Eastman against a Weber (Bruce Weber ran the Flatiron Mandolin Co bought out by Gibson, and now makes mandolins under the Weber name.) I have found the instruments for me.  The snakehead gets played at home when there is no chance of anyone sitting on it, in a drunken moment, and the Weber goes gigging!

Eric,

Welcome back.  Glad you like the Weber.  I’ve been playing a Weber Bitterroot for the past year and really liked it.  I recently was able to find a small volume local luthier to build me an F5 which I love.

Last week I had business in Nashville and found a 1921 A-2 Gibson which really sounded good and was in good condition.  These don’t compete with F4s but it sounds nice for American Old Time music.  In fact I’m taking it to its first jam session today.  We’ll see how it holds up.  Hope I don’t sit beside a banjo player.  Ha!

Good to hear from you.  Keep pickin’
Phil

Nothing like a good old Gibson A model for tone, & Red Rector & Andy Statman played mighty fine Bluegrass on them for years!