Back to navigation


Handcrafted for Traditional Quality





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Mandolins built by Eastman Guitars feature solid tonewoods and an array of striking handcrafted appointments. The outstanding MD305 A-style mandolin debuts with a compact A-style body carved from solid spruce and solid maple for tone that’s bright, crisp, and authentically mandolin. Moreover, F-shaped soundholes tease out percussive qualities that lend themselves to bluegrass. The MD305’s maple neck and “Soft V" neck profile lend unwavering support to your hands, which makes playing all sorts of styles a breeze. Eastman Guitars finalizes the MD305 A-style mandolin with a fit and finish rarely seen at this price point. Solid wood appointments include an ebony bridge and parallel bracing carved from spruce. The finishing touch? An inviting Truetone satin finish that guards good looks while letting tonewoods vibrate fully. The MD305 A-style mandolin from Sweetwater earns straight As across the board ? it's an outstanding choice at a great price!





Solid, mature, expertly carved tonewoods





Solid tonewoods give the MD305 a brilliant sound that’s equal parts warm, bright, and faithful to historic designs. The MD305’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 MD305 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 N2403085


Serial N2403085


Rounded A-style body





Mandolin players have long prized the symmetrical A-style body shape for its durability, comfort, performance, and price! Well-built A-style models are frequently priced more competitively than more ornate F-style body shapes, which makes this a reliable choice for beginners, but also pros who perform above all else. Moreover, as you fret toward the body, the symmetry of the A-style body provides breezy access to more notes on your lowest string.





Snappy F-hole projection





This mandolin’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 Music Company President Qian Ni


Serial N2403085


Eastman Guitars MD305 A-style Mandolin Features:


A-style body with F-holes provides outstanding comfort and assertive tone fit for bluegrass


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


Handcrafted and finalized with a Truetone satin finish for a top-notch look and feel


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


Resonant bone nut and parallel spruce bracing fuel mature, professional tone