IF...I were going to trade my MT for an F style

[FrDNicholas]

This is a big IF, because I'm not really considering it seriously. I have a new Collings MT in great condition except where my fingers have rubbed a shiny spot in the Satin finish. I am beginning to want an F mandolin, for no apparent reason. I would like something with as much volume as the MT. What would be a fair straight across trade, (I have no money to put into this) for an F style? Again, at this point, this is just curiosity, I'm not really considering this for real.

[sgarrity]

Trading an MT for a like priced F5 would be a pretty serious downgrade IMHO.

[Patrick Gunning]

At the price point of a used MT you would not get a remotely equivalent F under almost any circumstances.

[John Flynn]

I wouldn't do it, unless for you it's more about the looks and less about the music. The MT is one of the best deals out there and it would be hard to get a straight-across trade that would come close in tone or volume.

[man dough nollij]

Put yourself in the shoes of the other trader-- what would motivate them to trade? They would be willing to trade their F-style because they know an MT would SOUND BETTER. Suppose there are a lot of folks out there who have "anti-scroll envy"? I doubt it. Why trade tone for scroll, anyway?

Having said that, there may be someone out there with a particularly nice Weber Gallatin or Bitterroot who just needs to sample the Collings mojo. It could happen.

[Kevin K]

The MT is nice and trading straight for an F probably wouldn't work out in your favor.
What a change, change tuner buttons for a different look. Custom truss rod cover.
If your set on an F, save, sell, then buy unless you can find that special deal that does come along from time to time.

[John Flynn]

Someone should market "scrolls and points" that glue or velcro on to A's. :))

[fatt-dad]

You'll end up with a top-tier Eastman, most likely - not that there's anything wrong with that. . .

f-d

[Chris Biorkman]

You'd be making a big mistake.

[Payit Forward]

I have an MT that I absolutely love - the tone, playability and fit & finish. I always figured that if I moved up to an F style, it would have to be nothing less than an MF, or I know I wouldn't be completely happy with it in the long run.

[Patrick Sylvest]

I had an MT, and a nice, Beard E dobro. Someone wanted the dobro and I didn't.....so, I wound up trading it for a Weber Limited Edition $3700.00, new purchase. I had a guitar ordered about the price of the MT and I could only keep one mandolin. I wound up with the Weber.......Just liked it better.

I miss the MT, but now I'm onto Ratcliff Econodistressed heaven. With this and the Weber, I'm set.......for the time being.

FWIW....the F thing isn't all it's cracked up to be. I like tone, and the MT has plenty of that. If I owned another Collings, it'd be an A. I won't spend money on the scroll when I can have varnish instead.

[CES]

You may find someone willing to trade a pretty darn used F-9, a Breedlove FF (not REALLY an F style) or, as Lee said, a Weber Gallatin in the American made realm. An upper tier Eastman or Kentucky owner may be willing to make that trade as well; whether that would be a downgrade would really depend on the individual mandolins...odds would fall towards the downgrade, but you can find some real monsters in those "lesser tier" mandos.

Another option may be to keep your A until you've saved enough cash to trade the A plus cash for an "equivalent" F.

Beware the Siren Scroll....

[lespaul_79]

I agree with all the above. I'd love an F, but there is no way your going to find one as good as the MT for the same price as an MT. Maybe a Gibson F9. I heard those were also nice and around the same price.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Trading an MT for a like priced F5 would be a pretty serious downgrade IMHO.



This is agreed

[FrDNicholas]

Thanks, everybody for the feedback. It looks like I'll stay with the MT and forget the idea altogether.

[jim simpson]

Yes, keep your MT and save for an F to supplement. You'll enjoy having two.

[Ken Olmstead]

Trading an MT for a like priced F5 would be a pretty serious downgrade IMHO.

Shaun is absolutely right! Resist the scroll thing!! The MT is sonically superior to just about anything in its price range. Look at more of a long term transition. Save $100 a month or whatever you can afford and play as many F5s as you can and keep the MT untill you have the dough to get an F5 that has equivalent sound quality. My $0.10!

Good luck!!

[red7flag]

I am an F style lover. In this case, however, I strongly agree with the other posters. If you are not adding any money, you would get most likely get a downgrade in both sound quality and playability. MTs are a fine instrument in both those regards. Now if you were to add money to get an MF or MF5, and that is what you desire, all at it. You have played long enough to recognize what would be a downgrade in quality and I feel that would more than override the satisfaction of relieving your scroll envy. Just my opinion.

[Brandon Flynn]

IF you were to do such a thing...I'd be happy to swap with you! I am yearning for an MT as an upgrade, everyone's advise is spot on.

[mandroid]

Put a Fingerrest/pickguard on what you have, and/or have the rest of the Satin shined up.