I went to The Twelfth Fret in Toronto a few years ago to buy a Gibson A model that was advertised for $1200. When I got there I saw some Eastman mandolins hanging on the wall. I'd never heard of Eastman before, but I took the Gibson and a few Eastmans into the back room with my Washburn and played the same thing on all mandolins. An Eastman A model blew away the Washburn and the Gibson and it was $300 cheaper than the Gibson. I bought the Eastman and have never been sorry about it. A great mandolin at a great price.