View Full Version : My new Collings
ledmandlin
Sep-06-2006, 6:49pm
I wanted to share a few pics, along with the early word that it sounds even better than it looks!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Bruce
ledmandlin
Sep-06-2006, 6:52pm
Onepiece back
Really like that color on the front. Any chance you have a picture of the back? The sides almost make it look like it might be quilted.
Ask and you shall receive!
ledmandlin
Sep-06-2006, 6:59pm
Thanks to so many people for inspiration, support and execution, all of it brilliant, IMHO. To Bill C., Alex and all of the unsung heroes in Austin, to Steven Gilchrist, Michael Heiden, Scott Matthews, Jim Hoar, Peter Mix, Arthur Stern and, of course, Ian Goldstein and The Music Emporium, this has been an amazing collaboration in lots of obvious and less-than-obvious ways.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Bruce
ledmandlin
Sep-06-2006, 7:09pm
gwalt, ...not quilted, but interesting that it has some of that quality, heh?
ledmandlin
Sep-06-2006, 7:14pm
Okay, ...maybe one more, ...with the scroll.
mandoforme
Sep-06-2006, 7:33pm
Bruce, congrats on the beautiful Collings mandolin. #That mandolin is classy looking. #If it sounds as good as it looks, then you will have one awesome mandolin! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Hey Bruce:
Yikes! That is AMAZING. Can't wait to get the in hand reports.
I know that you have already experienced one INCREDIBLE Collings (heh heh). Just think what a little scroll, some amber and whole lot of anticipation can do?
Congratulations!! You deserve it.
Best,
Clem aka Geoff
F5G WIZ
Sep-06-2006, 8:58pm
That is the purtiest Collings I have ever seen. Is it custom? Beautiful wood and color scheme. Bet you are excited.
stevem
Sep-06-2006, 9:39pm
Beauty! I actually decided on a very similar design just a couple days ago on the custom build I'm having made (by Andrew Mowry). This is a good confirmation. That is one of the best looking mandolins I've ever seen. Congrats!
What does the back of the headstock look like?
Kevin K
Sep-06-2006, 10:05pm
So is that an MF? MF5? What are the detials. I like the look very much.
Rick Schmidlin
Sep-07-2006, 1:18am
Really Cool:p
telepbrman
Sep-07-2006, 2:44am
Excellent set up bud, keep us posted, dy.
Soupy1957
Sep-07-2006, 5:14am
Like the body........it looks great.....can't say I'm "into" the pick-guard however; just not my cup of tea.
-Soupy1957
Hoosierpred
Sep-07-2006, 7:38am
That is a really nice way to appoint a blond mandolin. The dark binding and the pickguard look very good together.
Darren Kern
Sep-07-2006, 7:48am
F5G WIZ took the words right out of my mouth, it's the prettiest Collings I have ever seen. Congrats, you should be proud to own it.
Love that nekkid fretboard. Better know your dots!
Bill Van Liere
Sep-07-2006, 10:07am
Congrats Bruce, it looks awesome, bet it sounds good too.
Are you still working on the house also?
ledmandlin
Sep-07-2006, 2:21pm
Doug, Darren and Darrin, nice to hear from you guys and your shared appreciation for my new friend. I'm still catching my breath, 'cause it's prettier in life than photos capture.
Geoff, ...you Dawg, you. It just arrived and, whether it needs it or not, I'm letting it acclimate for a couple hours before tuning it up (how's that for self-restraint?). I'll talk to you soon. In-hand report at 11.
AlanN, fortunately, it's still got dots where I can see 'em, but, yeah, I'm a nekkid fboard kinda guy, as my Collings CWsb attests. What an amazing pair!
Kevin K, it's a custom MF5V, originally slated to have birdseye, but that idea was scrapped when the gents in Austin unexpectedly came across this piece of maple, from an old batch with which they'd had great results, and which was suitable for a onepiece back. Red spruce top. A lot of care was taken with this mando and it really paid off. Awesome is the word.
Soupy and Hoosierpred, fingerrests aren't for everybody, but I'm really pleased with this one. Tortoisebound, it holds with the elegance of the mando and, while my playing doesn't particularly warrent the protection, it's reassuring to have it there for the occasional more aggressive pickers who're apt to want to play it.
Bill, 's'been a while; good to hear from you; I'll keep you posted re. the sound, once I spend some time with it, but I've heard great reviews from those who've already played it; got the property--the house'll be a longer-term project.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Bruce
Chris Biorkman
Sep-07-2006, 4:24pm
That thing is beautiful. I'm usually not that big of a fan of blonde finishes, but yours looks great. I like the understated fretboard and headstock. Some mandolins tend to look like instruments that only Liberace should play. Where do you live and when are you going on a vacation? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
sgarrity
Sep-07-2006, 4:44pm
I thought you were crazy when you sold your Sumi Dawg mandos. Now understand why! That is a truly breathtaking instrument. Very reminiscent of a particular Gil F5C http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
ledmandlin
Sep-07-2006, 6:25pm
Thanks, Shaun, ...I still have the oval hole Dawg and I like to think of the F5 as being out on loan to a real Sumi afficianado who'll give it more playing time than I can now that this beauty's come home. #I've gotta say, I love the sound and the feel of this instrument. #Plenty of us have talked about the "tightness" of new Collings mandos--not necessarily a bad thing, but this is so warm, open and immediately playable. #A keeper? #I think so. #It is, in fact, inspired by a particular Gil F5C belonging to Art Stern, one in which I had a very strong interest in until I realized obtaining it would be the heighth of middle aged insanity. #The Collings project was plenty ambitious and, as I keep saying, well worth it. #I've never played a Gil, but I've heard quite a few of them in concert settings, as well as recordings, so I was pretty stoked when I got word that this sounded more like a Gil than any Collings my friend had played/heard. Gotta get back to it, right now!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Bruce
Bruce:
So glad it arrived safe and sound...I'm sure the sound is incredible!
FYI, my custom Collings D1A is completely nekkid--no dots on the fretboard and no logo on the headstock overlay. Still, NO doubts about who made it. I sold my pre-war D-18 after getting it...'nuff said.
Pick that thang!
Clem/Geoff
ledmandlin
Sep-08-2006, 10:56am
Clem, the sound is wonderful already and it's a real pleasure to play--very comfortable, beautifully set up; just feels like it's been around for a few years. How'd they do that? It'll be coming with me to Austin next trip, so you can check it out for yourself.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Bruce