Different music from the same mandos

[red7flag]

After putting the Collings up for sale, I did what any self respecting mando lover would do, play the sheet out of it. I have been ABing it with the Stanley a lot. They both have strap holders (scrolls), they both have f holes, they both can play some serious bluegrass. The Stanley has more of a Gibson sound with one register, sings more than cuts and the Collings has that deep cutting bass and sharp highs that will cut through the a jam with two banjos. Both have subtleties and can be played with a number of different genres. When I picked up the Colling for the first time the other night, I found my self playing a number of harder bluegrass tunes that I had not played with the Stanley and much less Celtic and fiddle tunes. The Collings does not sing like the Stanley, but it sure does like to growl out some Monroe. That is not to say you can't do a nice job with Celtic and fiddle tunes with it, just that it is not its strength. I guess the point of this thread was that two instruments that I initially took for being very similar, really have different souls and reach to different places in my musical soul. This thread took shape after a discussion with mandoplucker about whether it is better to have one hoss or a number of mandos that fit different needs. I find that I am in the second camp. Mandoplucker might be in the first camp, but let's let him sound off.
Tony

[JimRichter]

I'm of the camp that you get the best that you can afford--though I would love to have the so called "arsenal" of mandolins. That's why I have only one mandolin and one banjo and no more. Best I can afford for general purpose though I would love to have the cash to buy different mandolins for different needs.

Jim

[Santiago]

I think you get the best you can afford now, and see which way your playing takes you. I'm enjoying my Eastman A/f, but I find myself playing more jazz and classical things than I anticipated. So I'm hoping to put an oval in my future at some point. For now, finances being what they are, I'm good with what I have. I think Red7Flag has gotten to the gist of MAS; the more you learn, the broader your style (such as bluegrass to newgrass)and the wider your need from an instrument. Going out and buying a Fern may give you a great BlueGrass edge, but it might not be the best for every type of music. Of course, that's not an awful compromise, if you're low on fundage, and there's nothing wrong with just playing BG. Worked for Bill.

[sgarrity]

I'm perfectly happy having one killer mando and one killer guitar. They are both light years ahead of my playing ability but they give me something to aspire to and keep me pulling them outta the case everyday. I've gone through periods of owning multiple mandos and always wind up selling them. I had three F5's in the house at one point. I played one all the time and the other two sat in their cases. So off they went. I tend to think you should spend as much money as you can afford and buy one really good one. However, with that being said, MAS is a powerful thing! And at some point I can see a nice oval hole mando in my future.......:D

[wallflower]

red7flag -

Give that Stanley some break-in. #I've never heard a Collings that had a bark, growl or cut anything like a Stanley. BTW, the default for the Stanley IS the Monroe style.

[JonT]

Having one of each is fine; I certainly wouldn't argue with Mr. Richter. But for me, it's great to have different types of instruments. There are times, for instance, when only an open-back Tubaphone banjo will do, and other times when you need a bluegrass resonatored 5-string hoss. Same with guitars. A big ol' Martin might not be the hot tip when you need to fangerpick something. But that's just me.
Peace - Jon

[Greg H.]

My thinking on this is to maintain two (at least). Frets wear out. Cracks occur. Mandolins get sold (to pay for the next upgrade. This way there's always a good mandolin to play while the other is either being worked on or sold. i.e. if you sold the Collings to buy the Daley/MM/Brentrup/Mowrey/Ludwig/Nugget/Gilcrist. . . and the new mandolin wasn't going to be there for a couple of months you wouldn't have to suffer through the Mando-less crisis. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[red7flag]

I could not agree more about the Stanley being a Monroe type instrument. I was more saying that it sings the Celtic and fiddle music better than the Collings. I guess that makes it a more versatile instrument. I am looking forward to ABing the Stanley with the F4 after the David Harvey setup doing Celtic and fiddle music. If the Stanley wins that, maybe I don't need the Collings or the F4. I would be moving to the one outstanding instrument as opposed to the instrument for each function camp.
Tony