Lay around the house? Singing and songwriting? Complete hogwash. Have they even considered the Irish trad market? Or artists like Sierra Hull or Sarah Jarosz giving octave mandolins exposure? Or did they even consider the possibility that it could be alternatively strung like a short scale bouzouki? At their price point, the next highest option would be at least quadruple their street price. Yes! +1! Who is doing their market research? If it lives up to expectations, they would be filling a niche that had been empty for a long time. But first, this less expensive option needs to actually get out there as a real contender. Maybe in the long run it will help expand the archtop OM market for all the builders. It might hurt the market for higher-end Weber and independent luthier instruments a little, but it will also expose more people to this particular sound spectrum in an OM. And one that actually looks like a mandolin and not a guitar (heh). I still hope this turns out well, because it would be great to have a more affordable carved archtop OM. Which is a long way of saying I can understand people getting a little frustrated at this point. It's not clear yet whether this is a "real" line of instruments they'll be able to offer in a steady run at this price point, or just knocking off a few to gauge market interest. With the Eastman octave, there is no track record to speak of (prototype only, I think?), and moving the delivery targets sounds like they're still getting a handle on production. With those orders however, there was an existing track record of quality and I knew what kind of wait I was in for. I've ordered a few high-end custom guitar builds in the past, with waiting times ranging from 8 months to a little over two years. Last edited by multidon Jun-24-2017 at 8:20am. For instance, writing curmudgeonly posts like this! Personally, I have better things to do with my time and energy. And all of you on the "waiting list" just sit and wait. But by feeding the marketing hype, we all just exacerbate the problem. I guess the prospect of getting a carved top octave for 1/6 the price of a Weber was too much to resist. It makes me a bit angry that good folks here have bought into the hype. If I see one in a store, or see on line that it's in stock and available, just like countless thousands of other musical instruments are sold every day, then I might bite. Too ambitious, perhaps? Is it possible Eastman has bitten off more than it can chew? I remain skeptical, and I absolutely refuse to lay down one red cent deposit so I can be on some kind of "waiting list". Indeed, it is in the same price class as the flat top Trinity College. This model, with a solid carved top, is actually coming in at a lower price than the flat top. So Eastman does not have the greatest track record with octaves. Dealers (at least reputable ones) sent them all back, and they were never re-designed and were never seen again. And, incidentally, does anyone remember the ill fated flat top octave they came out with years ago? They designed them so they would not fit in any off the shelf standard hard case out there, and they were delivered to dealers with pre- collapsed tops. I have to say, this has caused my respect for the Eastman brand to go down even further. Exactly how many people have placed pre orders, I wonder, for instruments that may or may not exist? Seems to me they introduced them at Winter NAMM to create buzz and excitement, then allowed their dealers to take pre orders, which created more hoopla. First it was June, then July, now Fall? It really makes you wonder whether Eastman will be able to deliver on their promises. The arrival date keeps getting pushed farther and farther back. I have nothing to add except to say I share your frustration.
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