View Full Version : How versatile is a collings mt
shadco
Jan-03-2008, 9:22pm
Collings MT's
Are they pure bluegrass or are they more rounded and good for other styles like celtic, traditional, and blues?
Does a gloss top make a difference?
sgarrity
Jan-03-2008, 9:27pm
Gloss top makes no differnece in sound. the MT is a very versatile mandolin and an extremely good value. I often wonder why I don't own one!
John Flynn
Jan-03-2008, 9:51pm
I think the MT is the best overall value and the most versatile mandolin anywhere near its price on the market today. It is very good for bluegrass, but I don't consider it as having just a bluegrass sound. Collings mandolins really have thier own sound and I like it a lot.
lefty mandoman
Jan-03-2008, 10:20pm
The Collings MT's are great instruments and a excellent value! I have a MT and a MT2, both sound great for any genre of music..... but the MT2 has a Adirondack top that gives it just a little more cut than the MT's Engleman top. Between the two.... the MT2 is my first choice for bluegrass, but you can't go wrong with either one. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
I can't say enough good things about my MT. I've had it about 18 months, and I just bond with it more every time I play it. I'm really just a bluegrass hack, but I think it's got a nice, woody, old-timey tone that works great for other styles. I think it's plenty versatile.
Does a gloss top make a difference?
I guess you'd have to ask an expert about that. All I can say is I've played lacquer and varnished finished instruments that cost multiples of what I paid for the MT, and that didn't do a thing for me. I count it as one of the best purchases I ever made.
homeslice
Jan-03-2008, 10:55pm
I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to own my MT, and it being so versatile is one of the many reasons. I tend to have "Mandolin ADD". Meaning that I jump around from style to style a lot in tunes that I try to learn. One day I get really excited about a bluegrass tune, then a celtic tune, then a latin tune etc... It can be as clean and pretty as I want it to be (with practice, of course), but I can also pull out a down and dirty chunk when I need to.
Here lately I tend to lean more into old-time and fiddle tunes, but the friend that I bought the mandolin from plays a lot of celtic tunes. It was his playing that made me love this mandolin. Since then I've been able to play a few others to, and they are very consistant. Considering the sound, quality, resale value and everything else...I dont think anyone could go wrong with an MT.
shadco
Jan-04-2008, 9:29pm
Well heck
MAS struck and I should have my hands on a sweet satin MT with ivroid binding by next wednesady
Rick Schmidlin
Jan-04-2008, 9:35pm
The MT is a fantastic mandolin for the price;Great value, sounds great,great resale if you move further and I have never heard a bad thing about any one of them.
mandolirius
Jan-04-2008, 9:41pm
I think you made a good choice. That's a fine instrument to get started on. Most people's first mandos aren't nearly as nice. Congrats and welcome to the fold!
shadco
Jan-04-2008, 9:50pm
coupla pics
http://www.pbase.com/shadco/image/91244133.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/shadco/image/91244137.jpg
homeslice
Jan-04-2008, 11:18pm
Alright Shad! Looks great. That back has character. FWIW When you delve into string testing, dont pass up a run with the Gibson monel steels. They arent for everyone but I really love the way they sound on mine. Worth a test drive for sure. How many minutes til next Wednesday? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Whoo hoo! Congrats. Nice looking back on that MT.
Frank T.
Jan-08-2008, 1:57pm
I played an MT two days ago and have thought about nothing else ever since. The one I played had an incredible fingerboard and excellent sound. Its very rare when you find an instrument that just seems to be the perfect fit. I was astonished at how low the action was all over the neck without one hint of a buzz, with still good volume... Best fret work I have ever seen. I have already lined up the instruments/amps I am going to sell in order to buy one.
shadco
Jan-08-2008, 2:29pm
If you are interested in the continuing saga of my MT pursuit you can view this thread.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=49982 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=49982)
;)
Phil
Rick Schmidlin
Jan-08-2008, 3:51pm
When you can afford it is a great mandolin to start and you may never ever part.