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 MD314E F-style acoustic-electric mandolin debuts with masterfully carved cuts of solid maple and spruce and onboard electronics for gigs and recording. The MD314E’s F-style body shape provides an authentic bluegrass punch further augmented with an oval soundhole for soulful, expressive sound. The MD314E’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 MD314E F-style acoustic-electric mandolin with a stage-ready K&K Duotone pickup, solid wood appointments, and parallel bracing carved from spruce. The finishing touch? An inviting Truetone satin finish that guards good looks while letting tonewoods vibrate fully. The MD314E F-style acoustic-electric mandolin from Sweetwater earns straight As across the board ? it’s an outstanding choice at a great price!





Solid, mature tonewoods, expertly carved





Solid tonewoods give the MD314E a brilliant sound that’s equal parts warm, bright, and faithful to historic designs. The MD314E’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 MD314E 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 N2400330


Serial N2400330


F-style body





Aside from playing a defining role in the development of bluegrass, the F-style mandolin is still wildly popular to this day! 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 mandolin 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.





Oval soundhole





The oval soundhole shape likely graced the very first mandolin-like instruments produced hundreds of years ago. The design is simple, but an oval soundhole gives tone a nimble, raspy quality that’s more open than the spartan focus of F-shaped soundholes. An oval soundhole is the preferred choice for Celtic and folk music and an excellent choice for emotive accompaniment in any genre or style.





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 N2400330


Serial N2400330


Eastman Guitars MD314E F-style Acoustic-electric Mandolin Features:


F-style body with an oval hole provides outstanding comfort and generous access to frets


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 an ebony fingerboard


Bone nut and parallel spruce bracing fuel mature, professional tone


Deluxe diamond rosette pattern and body binding accent the handcrafted Truetone satin finish for a top-notch look and feel


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