A few years ago, knowing that I was looking for a new mandolin, my friend Al told me about a used Gibson A for $1200 at the Twelfth Fret in Toronto. I took my Washburn and went down the next day. I had never heard of Eastmans (Eastmen?), but when I saw them I took a 605(A style f hole) and my Washburn and the Gibson into one of the back rooms and played the same passages on each mandolin. The Eastman blew the Gibson away and it was $300 less expensive. I've been playing it for three or four years now and I love it. My only complaint is the reverse tuners. I always wind up loosening the strings when I'm trying to tighten it. A very minor complaint.