Practically every Collings dealer I've talked to has said these are absolute killer mandolins. They back up their statement saying every MT we get has sold within a few days if not the same day they arrive. Today, I was unable to find a dealer from the long list of dealers in the Collings web site that has one in stock. Are any of you folks buying them and if so what do ya think of the sound for $ 1755. ?
Best Bang for your buck, and not just because I own one. Compare for yourself, you will be impressed.
I will give up my Collings "A" when they pry it from my cold dead hands!
Hey sonnyjammer, # I posted here a few days ago asking the same question about the MF, since I ordered one this week. #Lots of encouragement, but only one player reported in. #Mine should be here Friday or so. #
The deal Greg Boyd made me is when I get the MF, if it isn't significantly better sounding than the MT, I'll take the MT instead. #Pretty good deal, I think. #Besides that, if neither is significantly better than my Prucha A--and that will take a fine mandolin IMHO--I'm keeping the Prucha. #
Then again, I might get the MT and keep the Prucha....
I'll be reporting in here this weekend with news if this MF is half as good as it looks. #
I have a Collings guitar (OM1-A) and I marvel at it daily.
--Mike Buesseler
My MF is only three weeks old.
The day I ended up buying mine, I spoke to the folks at Collings. They were only turning out about 12 a month.
I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't have an adequate "tone vocabulary".
The instrument sounds gorgeous and I really like the simple look. The finish is extremely nice.
I've been playing it quite a lot (as you might expect) and I'm very happy with it.
Last week I stopped into the Hill Country Guitar shop in Wimberley, TX. Kevin told me that he had just received his first one (an MT), and sold it just as fast. He barely had it long enough to examine it and play it a little. I think its going to be a hot one.
-Raf
A customer came to my shop last week with an MT he'd just bought, and wanted to compare to the Janish A5 here (not quite a fair comparison, since the Janish was $400 more). The MT had beautiful tone, was loud, and had a wonderful played-in feel to it, despite being new. It's clearly a big step up for mandolins in this price range, and I see why the dealers are so excited about it!
After playing the Janish however, the customer and I agreed his MT lacked the superior playability and wide dynamic range of high-end mandolins -- but those are not characteristics one expects or often sees below $2k. At this price point, the MT is a very impressive instrument.
August Watters
http://www.galleryofstrings.com
August Watters
Associate Professor of Ear Training
Berklee College of Music
August Watters dot net
Boston Mandolins dot com
CAPE COD MANDOLIN CAMP
Festival of Mandolin Chamber Music
For 1700, when I accidentaly drop a mando or hit it against a table, I'd want the protection of a real finish.
I have one on order and it should arrive Monday or Tuesday. I will post after I've had some time to fondle, er, I mean play it.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but a satin finish isn't necessarily thinner or weaker, is it? #A friend of mine has a Weber Bridger that came with satin finish and it has held up for two years much better than his varnished Brentrup. # In fact, where there is some wear on the Bridger, the finish #begins to shine just like a glossy lacquer would. # I don't think durability is an issue with satin....Originally Posted by
Can someone who knows something speak to this?
--Mike Buesseler
If the satin finish is thick enough, you can hand buff it to a gloss. As MikeB was saying,you can tell if it glosses where your arm lays on it etc.. I buffed out a 1994 Martin D16H & it turned out wonderfully.
I own a Yellowstone and am looking forward to play a MT.
Oh- By the way. Satin IS a real finnish!
Life is short-Pray hard-Pick fast!
I had the privilege of playing an MT A model at Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville on February 21st. #If I would have had the cash on hand then and there, I'd have bought it. #I love my Weber Aspen #1 for its sustain and brightness. #This Collings MT model had everything I've been looking at in an f-holed model mando. #I loved the satin finish, as it really let the beautiful wood come through. #Somewhere down the line, Collings will be getting my money!
Well, I got a call from Greg Boyd today--my MF has arrived there. Right now the boys in the shop are passing it around, making wild noises in the phone when I call--seems sort of obscene to me ;-)
Greg said there was a guy standing there who would have taken it home if I hadn't already paid for it.
He also said that a satin finish IS thinner than glossy. I have to take his word for it, but this is not a drawback to me, anyway. I like to see the wood. It IS about the wood, afterall.
More next week....
--Mike Buesseler
As promised, my Collings MF arrived today. #I said I'd report in, so here I am....
Trouble is, I'm slightly at a loss for words. # Let me just register some first impressions (keep in mind this is my first F model. #I've played some others, but not extensively).
The bass (if you call the lower register of a mandolin "bass") is MUCH beefier than my Prucha A model, and I always thought it had nice bass. #
The overall workmanship is, like my Collings guitar, FLAWLESS. #This is an understated F, if that is not an oxymoron. #(I always used to think the F was a bit gaudy, but I'm getting over that #).
It is LOUD. #Clear, clean, and loud. #I'm expecting a little more sweetness--or darkness, if that's a better word--as it, and the new strings--settle in.
VERY playable, as far as I can get my fingers up the neck. #
Give me a day or two, and I'll see if I can be more eloquent....
--Mike Buesseler
MikeB congrats on the new mandolin. Collings makes a great mando. One thing i have noticed with the couple(A styles) i have owned is just how quickly the tightness/bright zingy tone melts into this sweet, rich tone. It always amazed me how much the Collings tone sweetens up. Again...congrats sounds like you will be having alot of fun.
Dennis Benjamin
Pavel Sucek Mandolins
Thanks, Dennis. I've been sitting here for an hour or so, letting this mandolin sink in on me. #I bought it from Greg Boyd on approval. #I just sent him a letter...I #thought you all might enjoy it. #I hope Greg gets my point...I'm falling in love
--Mike Buesseler
Ahh....love at first sight.
Ditto Sparechange, I received my MT from Morgan Music in Missouri last Friday, took her to the first jam last night and it was "SSSWWWEEETT". AS the night grew late the tone just kept getting better and better. This is really gonna be a good one. Don't think I'll be missing my Gibson A-9 very long at all.
I thought I told you guys to lie down or go home or something....me and this Collings are trying to make some MUSIC, if you get my point (hint, hint)....
--Mike Buesseler
Ok, Ok, I was kidding. Really, though, on my first post today, I was trying to be calm, objective. I really had reservations about this mando. Sitting here all afternoon plunking away and just have this dreamy feeling come over me is so delicious, partly because I really didn't see it coming. I thought I was prepared to send it back. Hah!
Ain't that just the way true love goes?
"Once I was rich man,
Now I am so poor.
But, never in this sweet short life
Have I felt like this before...."
Well, maybe once or twice....but not for a long time.
--Mike Buesseler
I played three Collings a few weeks back at Dusty Strings (Seattle). I picked up an A style (not sure which model, I think it was the fancy one, the price was about 3500 or so) and I was really impressed. I had played some new collings before that had a metallic new mandolin sound but this one was nice and sounded broken in. Then I picked up the F style (again, don't know which model but I think it was the fancy one) and it was even better (though not $4000 better...). There was also an F style that looked like a Gibson F9 with the chocolate finish that was nice but not near as good as the others. I'm not sure if any of these are still there (I'd think that the A would get snatched up as soon as someone with a thick enough wallet walked in).
Can somebody speak to the difference between the MT and the MT2? #Are you just paying more for binding? #Is it worth the extra $1500? #How do the satin finish and the laquer finish differ in tone or volume? #Thanks...
mandowood, I'm asking myself the same question about the MF vs the MT. #If that MT is anywhere near the mandolin that this MF is, it would be the best buy on the planet! #
From where I am sitting (in my living room, loving this MF), I can't see how the MF-5--the deluxe version of mine--can be $4K better than this thing. #I've played a fair number of F-5s over the years and the only one that does what this one does for #me was one of the first Nuggets (#100) I played about 20 years ago. #THAT was one fantastic instrument!
But, for $3800, this has to be one of the best buys out there, if not one of the best mandolins made today. #Just my $.02, of course...
--Mike Buesseler
I think the whole point of the "plainer" instruments was to offer the "important" aspect of the instrument (ie: the tone) in the least expensive "package".
I suspect that the matte finish is less expensive to apply and be done with. On the Collings, you also don't get the peghead inlay on the MT/MF instruments nor the peghead or neck binding.
I'm not saying that those differences add up to the difference in the selling price.
I do know that appointments matter a lot to some folks and the aesthetics of various appointments can ruin the desireability of an otherwise spectacular instrument.
I'm still very pleased with the MF that followed me home on 2/20.
My .02 from playing one of the new A styles last weekend is that it had alot of the same great qualities of the two more expensive ones i previously had owned myself. I don't think there is much drop off at all if any with the tone. I remember a conversation I had w/Steve from the Collings plant a 1 1/2 ago when he told me that instead of the Collings prices increasing Bill and he felt strongly about finding better ways to decrease production time. Perhaps this is just that....same great sound, and quality in a less ornate package that allows the good folks at Collings to offer their mandolins at a aprice that doesn't increase everytime you turn around. Thanks Bill. Great mandos.
I am a proud owne or a 2002 MT2H - Collings A-style. I purchased it soon before the release of the M2 (lower appointed model) and was a bit frustrated at the amount of $ I could have saved if the same tone was there.
I finally got a chance to play a (new) M2 at Wintergrass (Boyd's stand) and while it was that sweet Collings tone, I had to admit that mine sounded a bit more "warmer" and louder. Now, mine IS two years older with quite a bit of playing time, but it made me feel better about having the more expensive model. Mine is also made of hard maple on the back which evidently changes the tone - a fellow MT2 owner and i compared ours and we both thought that mine was louder than his (Sugar ? maple back).
Gotta love Collings Mandos.
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