Back to navigation


Handcrafted for Traditional Quality





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





The MDA315E F-style acoustic-electric mandola from Eastman Guitars debuts with masterful design for a deeper, richer spin on mandolin tone. Enhanced sound chamber real estate and strings tuned a fifth below the mandolin give this mandola a powerful, rustic sound similar to that of a mandolin, but with a touch more muscle. The MDA315E’s F-style body is masterfully carved from solid spruce and solid maple and fitted with F-holes for an authentic bluegrass punch. Moreover, a maple neck and “Soft V” neck profile lend unwavering support to your hands, which makes exploring the lower mandola registers a rapturous affair. Eastman Guitars finalizes the MDA315E mandola with a gig-ready Duotone pickup and a Truetone satin finish that highlights woodgrain and lets tonewoods vibrate fully. The MDA315E F-style acoustic-electric mandola from Sweetwater earns straight As across the board ? it’s a ravishing mandolin alternative at a great price!





Solid, mature tonewoods, expertly carved





Solid tonewoods give the MDA315E a warm and hearty sound with obvious vintage flair. The MDA315E’s solid spruce top is the crux of tone, and it responds instantly to dynamic changes and technique while ensuring notes are loudly projected. Maple back and sides supply vibrant clarity and shimmering overtones that sustain but never overstay their welcome, leaving you free to proceed onto the next chord or riff. Lastly, the MDA315E features a maple neck with a “Soft V” carve that simplifies accurate fretting. Even players at Sweetwater with large hands and fingers endorse this “Soft V” carve, as it tends to ward off strain and prevent cramps while giving proper support for effortless play!





Serial N2402080


Serial N2402080


F-style body





The F-style shape boasts detailed craftsmanship, the most obvious example being the ornate scroll located above the neck joint. The scroll increases the overall mass and, according to many mandola players, provides a thicker tone, competitive volume, and increased sustain. Professional players who stand while playing often favor the F-style body shape because the extra mass helps them perform with even control and accurate technique.





Snappy F-hole projection





This mandola’s F-style soundholes provide unique percussive traits that pros refer to as the mandolin “chop.” F-holes are especially critical to bluegrass players, as their loud, focused projection keeps your mandolin audible above the fray of a busy ensemble sound.





Eastman Guitars: thinking inside the box





Many know the Eastman Music Company as a trusted name in the realm of band and orchestra instruments. Fortunately for all mandolin lovers, Eastman Guitars has attained a similar stature with its steadfast dedication to this noble and historic instrument. Similar to how Sweetwater got its start, Eastman founder Qian Ni grew his business from its humble origins in the back of his car to its status as a burgeoning, reputable company. True to Ni’s vision, Eastman Guitars meticulously approaches each instrument, backing them with a lifetime warranty and masterful designs crafted for a superb musical experience.





Eastman founder Qian Ni


Serial N2402080


Eastman Guitars MDA315E F-style Acoustic-electric Mandola Features:


F-style mandola body with F-holes puts a deeper, richer spin on mandolin tone


Punchy and resonant thanks to a solid Sitka spruce top and solid maple back and sides


Smooth, thin maple neck with a comfortable “Soft V” profile, topped with a stepped ebony fingerboard


16-inch mandola scale length with strings tuned a fifth below standard mandolin tuning


Bone nut and parallel spruce bracing fuel mature, professional tone


Deluxe body binding and a handcrafted Truetone satin finish for a top-notch look and feel


Integrated K&K Sound Duotone electronics provide seamless passive amplification ? no batteries required!