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Thread: Collings Mandolins

  1. #1

    Default Collings Mandolins

    Are there any major bluegrass stars that play a Collings mandolin? I cant think of any

  2. #2
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Here's a list garnered from the artist pages on the Collings website:
    Kym Warner of The Greencards, Sarah Jarosz, Nolan Lawrence of The Hillbenders, Jesse Cobb of The Infamous Stringdusters, KC Groves of Uncle Earl, Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky, James Nash of The Waybacks, & Chris Hillman
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
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  3. #3

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Ed Goist View Post
    Here's a list garnered from the artist pages on the Collings website:
    Kym Warner of The Greencards, Sarah Jarosz, Nolan Lawrence of The Hillbenders, Jesse Cobb of The Infamous Stringdusters, KC Groves of Uncle Earl, Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky, James Nash of The Waybacks, & Chris Hillman
    Any traditional players??

  4. #4
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    What are you digging for here?

  5. #5

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Just wondering cant remember seeing any

  6. #6

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Sara Jarosz plays one, definitely not trad.

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    Registered User mandobassman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Ed Goist View Post
    Here's a list garnered from the artist pages on the Collings website:
    Kym Warner of The Greencards, Sarah Jarosz, Nolan Lawrence of The Hillbenders, Jesse Cobb of The Infamous Stringdusters, KC Groves of Uncle Earl, Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky, James Nash of The Waybacks, & Chris Hillman
    Chris Hillman plays a Collings? Doesn't he have a signature mandolin with Breedlove? You would think he'd be playing that! My band opened for Hillman and Pedersen last year and he was playing a Gibson.
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    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by mandobassman View Post
    Chris Hillman plays a Collings? Doesn't he have a signature mandolin with Breedlove? You would think he'd be playing that! My band opened for Hillman and Pedersen last year and he was playing a Gibson.
    Again, from the Collings website:
    Chris Hillman picking Monroe-style bluegrass on his Collings MF5 Deluxe V - Photo by Sherry Rayn Barnett

    Click image for larger version. 

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    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
    "What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
    "Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
    Think Hippie Thoughts...
    Gear: The Current Cast of Characters

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    Registered User Miked's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by mandobassman View Post
    Chris Hillman plays a Collings? Doesn't he have a signature mandolin with Breedlove? You would think he'd be playing that! My band opened for Hillman and Pedersen last year and he was playing a Gibson.
    He also has a blonde A style Collings, I'm guessing an MT2 or something similar. The last time I saw Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen he was playing the blonde Collings. Time before that was a Red Diamond. Maybe the Gibson he was playing was his Loar.
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    Registered User Miked's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    On playing "traditional", Chris Hillman does that and a lot more. Have you ever heard him play "The Old Crossroads"?
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    Registered User Dan Margolis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    The three times I've seen Chris Hillman he's played his MT2V.
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    Registered User sbarnes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    rebecca lovell used to play one.....not sure about now

  13. #13
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Rebecca Lovell now plays the Duff F5 I am playing in my avatar.
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
    "What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
    "Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
    Think Hippie Thoughts...
    Gear: The Current Cast of Characters

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    Registered User Justus True Waldron's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    While I have seen a video or two of Jesse Cobb demo-ing some collings on youtube, any video or picture I've seen of him playing, and indeed when I met him, he was playing what I believe is a San Juan mandolin from Colorado. At any rate it's obvious that list is out of date, as he no longer plays for the Strindusters. Of course, once somebody endorses for your company I doubt you take that off your site unless specifically asked to... Another pro I can think of who played a collings was the guy from Cadillac Sky before they broke up... also not traditional though
    - 2004 Macica A
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  15. #15

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    I don't think Collings is trying to build a Loar replica. I think his aim is to build quality instruments, offer different options to make them affordable to a wide range of players and to give the most bang for the buck on what he does build. They exceed this goal. Reliable, great sounding instruments, well built. What more could you ask for?

    MT2's are a hot item. How many of them are out there and how many do you see in the Classifeds or on ebay?

    As for traditional, I can only interpret this to meaning folks like Roland White or Doyle, or Skaggs. Bill's not giving those mandos away. He's also not going to pay someone to endorse them.
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  16. #16
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    The MT is one tasty mandolin. I have enjoyed every one I got to play.
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  18. #17

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    the MT mandola is no slouch either.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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    Registered User Justus True Waldron's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Oops I just realised Bryan Simpson from Cadillac Sky WAS in original list... anyway, I agree I don't think Colling's goal is to create yet another loar replica... but they are pretty good mandolins, I believe. CNC cut, not hand built, but very solid American construction... I've liked the tone and playability of the ones I've played enough that I was considering buying one before I got my Macica. However, since I got my macica I'm starting to notice the difference in the Mid-rangy "loarish" BG mandolin sound that cuts through Vs. the boxy throaty sound a lot of mandolins have these days. Someone (who apparently was a recording engineer in Nashville) lent me a collings last year down in Tennesee, and said it had been hand picked by some big name player (I forgot who). I started playing and it was AMAZING, woody, throaty, choppy tone. Jamming with one guitar player we were both blown away. Then I moved to a full band.... and suddenly the thing was useless... it just wouldn't cut through! It's not that it wasn't LOUD it just wasn't loud at the "right" frequencies. So, I'm glad I made the choice I did for the kind of playing I do. I still wouldn't mind having one someday though, just for playing alone or with one other person, that bassy woody sound is quite cool! It's all a matter of what you're looking for, and I'm glad Collings is making the instruments they are, they're pretty cool... hmm maybe an MT mandola would be a good thing for my future!
    - 2004 Macica A
    - 1952 Selmer Centered Tone
    - Eastwood electric mandola
    (and lots more)

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  21. #19
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Doesn't Tim O'brian play one.

  22. #20
    Lost my boots in transit terzinator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    I definitely love the MT I own (in my sig), and I played an MT2 at the Podium in Mpls that was outstanding. I would think you'd want the extra punch of Adi to really cut through in a bluegrass setting (my next mandolin will be likely go in that direction).

    From the Collings site: (Lots of cool players with their Collings mandolins, including a few plain-jane MTs)

    Mumford


    Kym Warner


    2010 Telluride Mandolin Champion Bryan McDowell


    Dagger Gordon


    Analise Gold


    Nolan Lawrence

  23. #21
    Lost my boots in transit terzinator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Thomas View Post
    Doesn't Tim O'brian play one.
    His is a custom collaboration between Collings and Mike Kemnitzer (Nugget)...

  24. #22
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Adam Steffey
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  25. #23
    Idiot Savant padawan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    I play one (poorly)

    Does it add anything to the conversation to know that Sarah Jarosz got a Grammy nomination for playing her Collings?


    Deja Vu - FWIW: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...-play-Collings
    My GFs: Collings MF, Mandobird VIII, Mando-Strat, soprano & baritone ukuleles tuned to GDAE and a Martin X1-DE Guitar.

  26. #24
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    On the DVD accompanying the Edgar Myer Chris Thile CD, Chris is playing one before the house concert. I saw everything from Oscar Schmidt to Gibson mandolins this past weekend being played on a stage in a John Hartford tribute band. I was pretty impressed with the MT I had in my hands.

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    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    I have seen Adam Steffey play one on YouTube.

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