Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 26 to 33 of 33

Thread: Collings Mandolins

  1. #26
    Brentrup Evangelist Larry S Sherman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    1,793
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by JEStanek View Post
    On the DVD accompanying the Edgar Myer Chris Thile CD, Chris is playing one before the house concert. Jamie
    The video of that is here.

    When discussed on the MCafe the consensus was that the Collins A5 belonged to Edgar.

    Larry

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Larry S Sherman For This Useful Post:


  3. #27
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    san diego
    Posts
    1,267

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    From what I see is that many regular players who can afford Collings mandolins buy them. Fantastic quality and sound. But it seems the the vast majority of professionals still play Gibson mandolins.
    ntriesch

  4. #28

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Buzz Gravelle plays an MT.

  5. #29
    Registered User Justus True Waldron's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Schuylerville, NY
    Posts
    564

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Triesch View Post
    From what I see is that many regular players who can afford Collings mandolins buy them. Fantastic quality and sound. But it seems the the vast majority of professionals still play Gibson mandolins.
    Personally I would have phrased that as "From what I see many regular players who need a fantastic sounding mandolin but can't afford a Gibson or else need a budget second touring instrument buy a Collings". Collings are great sounding and playing mandolins at an almost affordable price, which makes them very attractive to professional musicians who 1. Don't have a lot of money and 2. Need a professional level instrument. To me they are the quintessential workhorse mandolin - excellent, but from an investment viewpoint not something I'd be interested in (Of course, I'm not an investor anyways so that doesn't matter). I see them as holding their value well as a useful tool, but never rising anywhere near Lloyd Loar prices as a piece of art/master craftsmanship, because that's not really what they were designed to be IMHO.
    - 2004 Macica A
    - 1952 Selmer Centered Tone
    - Eastwood electric mandola
    (and lots more)

  6. #30
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    A friend of mine has a stable of great vintage Gibsons, and a Collings MT. He tells me he prefers the MT in the recording studio. I didn't follow up so I am not sure if its because of the sound, or because, being new, it might be less finicky than the vintage Gibsons.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  7. #31
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Justus True Waldron View Post
    Of course, I'm not an investor anyways so that doesn't matter.
    I am with you there.

    The potential future value of any instrument makes approximately zero difference to me at the time of purchase. I buy everything with the full intention of keeping it forever. Sometimes plans change, but I don't plan on plans changing.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  8. #32
    Lost my boots in transit terzinator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Twin Cities, MN
    Posts
    1,589

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    I'm an investor only in that I like to buy used, simply to avoid the "buy high, sell low" mess.

    Was at a small jam that included a former teacher of mine (really good player), and we swapped instruments. He played my MT, and I played his Weber A. (Absaroka I think.) I think both of them are in the same price ballpark, in any case.

    He marveled at how easy mine was to play, and he certainly made it sound awesome.

    Pro mandolin players who favor Gibson are many times traditional bluegrassers, and there's a certain sound they hear in their heads that they want to hear from their mandolins. Probably the same reason that many bluegrass guitarists play Martins. But it's not absolute, by any stretch.

    I think Collings (specifically the MT) is, like someone said, a "workhorse." It's a do-anything mandolin, a swiss-army knife, perhaps. They might not have a "traditional" sound (whatever you deem that to be), but in the hands of someone who plays it well, it sounds damned awesome.
    Last edited by terzinator; Aug-23-2013 at 3:47pm. Reason: typo!

  9. #33
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Cleveland Area
    Posts
    243

    Default Re: Collings Mandolins

    Well I tell you the custom Collings Mandolins being sold by Acoustic Works in Pittsburg are as good as anything I have ever seen, varnish custom models with exquisite woods and workmanship. I own a custom birds eye maple MT2 lacquer with some custom appointments. It is a professional quality instrument that is very satisfying to play. Every instrument is different as we all know, but this is as good as I have played over the last 30 years or so. I would expect the custom instruments to accrue in value over the years.
    John

    2012 Collins MT-2 Birds Eye Maple
    1924 Gibson F-4
    2010 Custom National Resonator (one of a kind)
    1930 National Resonator with new custom neck and "Doug Unger" inlay and back painted by Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong
    2005 Godin A-8
    2013 Kentucky KM-1050 "stage and club mandolin"

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •