The Collings Fretless Bass Mandolin

**NewsFetcher** · Apr-01-2011, 7:01am

The Mandolin Cafe has posted news:
The Collings Fretless Bass Mandolin
http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_001339.shtml

Collings Guitars and Mandolins has announced the addition of a new member to their mandolin family of instruments, the Collings Fretless Bass Mandolin (Model BMF) with the prototype to be on display at the Summer NAMM show in Nashville, Tenn., July 21-23, 2011.

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**Mandoviol** · Apr-01-2011, 7:28am

If it weren't April 1st, my hopes would be up....dang, a fretless mandolin, can you conceive how fun that would be?

**JEStanek** · Apr-01-2011, 8:08am

Fretless _BASS_ mandolin. Thrummy!

**Tom C** · Apr-01-2011, 8:19am

Why give it up so early? Should have let it go longer.

**Matt DeBlass** · Apr-01-2011, 8:20am

"and we really wanted it to look like a big mandolin" it sure would be one BMF

**Payit Forward** · Apr-01-2011, 8:35am

When is Collings going to start building banjos?

That's all that would be needed now to have an all Collings band. Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Banjo. How cool would that be?

~Fiddle??...

**David Miller** · Apr-01-2011, 9:05am

I would have thought that a 'cello would have been next up, but still, the idea of having a modern company making mandobasses is pretty cool!

**Mandoviol** · Apr-01-2011, 9:10am

I now think I know what BMF means.... :O

**Mike Bromley** · Apr-01-2011, 9:59am

TeeHee...nut width? 5 inches? What a HOSS!

**Andrew DeMarco** · Apr-01-2011, 10:04am

Hilariously, if you search for Fretless mandolin in google today (hey, I was curious!) the new Collings BFM comes up as big news, even before bona fide search results!

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**cocaseco** · Apr-01-2011, 10:29am

Well he got me, even if I was half asleep when i read it. I was thinking "when did we make a soft case for Collings?"

**swain** · Apr-01-2011, 12:48pm

Weber might beat them to market on this one

Right after I win the Weber Sweepstakes,,,,,,,,

swain

**John Flynn** · Apr-01-2011, 12:58pm

Were this real, it would be perfect application for a poster I did a while ago:

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**Con Dowd** · Apr-01-2011, 3:39pm

I had my eye out for something like this today. But you would have to go pretty far to top your effort of last year (the Cabbella/ Mad collaboration). Pretty funny though. Looking forward to next year. Corny

**Dave Greenspoon** · Apr-01-2011, 3:49pm

I was expecting to see either a Schyrtler-thru-the-tailpin pickup or even some on-board Fishman active electronics--with perhaps auto-tuners--on this. Instead, the constraint makes it even more well done.

**John Flynn** · Apr-01-2011, 4:07pm

It would be great to get a candid answer from the Collings folks to see if anyone called and tried to pre-order one!

**delsbrother** · Apr-01-2011, 4:24pm

Wait, so the Thile doing Old Time thing was true?

**MandoSquirrel** · Apr-01-2011, 6:28pm

Originally Posted by Mandoviol

I now think I know what BMF means.... :O

"Bass Mandolin Fretless" ; easy!

**John Flynn** · Apr-01-2011, 8:27pm

"Wait, so the Thile doing Old Time thing was true?" - delsbrother

Now, that's funny!

**John Flynn** · Apr-01-2011, 8:33pm

BTW, I have to opine that the "NewsFetcher: I just fetch news" thing is now busted! I've long thought that thing was rigged. This proves it!

**bassthumper** · Apr-01-2011, 9:09pm

i seriously once called and asked weber about building me an upright bass mandolin...they said the guys in the shop were wanting to but it would be strictly a cash up front deal...

**Bob Knysz** · Apr-03-2011, 10:00am

Does anyone know the Over All Dimensions if the BMF?
Is it meant to be played with a plectrum?
Does it have an End Pin and Side Pin like the old Gibson Mando Basses?