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tallmike
Oct-11-2010, 9:02pm
I just picked up my custom Collings MF-5. 1 3/16" nut, nickel hardware, black tuner buttons, engelmann top, tobacco burst, tortoise binding, and a focus on a bassy dark tone. Definitely has that low growl which seems to be missing from the standard MF-5s yet still rings sharp on the high strings. Anyway, here are the pics:

http://tallmike.com/mando/mf5/IMG_0707.jpg
http://tallmike.com/mando/mf5/IMG_0703.jpg
http://tallmike.com/mando/mf5/IMG_0695.jpg
http://tallmike.com/mando/mf5/IMG_0691.jpg
http://tallmike.com/mando/mf5/IMG_0711.jpg

Kevin K
Oct-11-2010, 9:17pm
Very,very nice

robert.najlis
Oct-11-2010, 9:31pm
That's interesting, I didn't know you could custom order from Collings with a focus on a certain tone...

Jill McAuley
Oct-11-2010, 9:54pm
Congratulations on a lovely looking mandolin there - love the tortoise binding!

Cheers,
Jill

F-2 Dave
Oct-11-2010, 9:59pm
That's a beautiful mandolin. You are a lucky man. I love the headstock shot.

Jason Kindall
Oct-11-2010, 10:47pm
Wow. That's pretty stunning. I'd love to hear it!

Clement Barrera-Ng
Oct-11-2010, 11:09pm
Wow. Astounding. So how is it different from a standard MF-5, other than the appointments?

tallmike
Oct-12-2010, 9:55am
Thanks, everyone!


That's interesting, I didn't know you could custom order from Collings with a focus on a certain tone...
The folks at the Music Emporium in Lexington, MA mentioned that an early batch of MF-5s that came to the shop were built specifically with a deeper low end tone. When placing my order with Collings, they referred to this batch and asked if they'd be able to aim for that specific tone (Collings even suggested the Engelmann top to hit that target tone). Now, I'm not sure if this is standard practice for Collings or if they just have a great relationship with the guys at the Music Emporium, but it does seem that they can at least customize tone by referring to a previous build.

tallmike
Oct-12-2010, 9:59am
Wow. Astounding. So how is it different from a standard MF-5, other than the appointments?

Aside from the tone mentioned above, it's really just the appointments (neck width, hardware, binding and pegheads), and color (more of a flat tobacco burst with less red/orange/yellow than their standard...although you can't really tell from the photos).

Markus
Oct-12-2010, 10:04am
That is one beautiful mandolin, the inlay is nicely understated letting the wood itself shine.

If it plays anything like the last new Collings I've played, it's a dream. Makes me grin just thinking about it.

Have fun with it, would love to hear updates about what you think.

red7flag
Oct-12-2010, 2:34pm
Would love to hear a sound bit from that beauty, if you can post one. I all works together very well and so tasteful.

Austin Koerner
Oct-13-2010, 7:38pm
I wish they would use that color for all the MF5s.

Rob Fowler
Oct-13-2010, 7:51pm
Wow I'm sure you are fully enjoying that beautiful and unique instrument! :mandosmiley:

F-2 Dave
Oct-13-2010, 10:15pm
I'm sure Collings has done enough research (trial and error, etc) to know what works for them. But I have to agree, that's a beautiful color scheme. It works for me.

Bill Snyder
Oct-14-2010, 4:23pm
Very nice.

Randi Gormley
Oct-14-2010, 4:26pm
Beautiful instrument.

DerTiefster
Oct-14-2010, 8:13pm
That color scheme is just about what is on my Breedlove KO from about 1997. I think it's beautiful on my mandolin and on the Collings. I suspect the mandolins sound different enough that you'd be able to tell in the dark. I enjoy the sound of the Breedlove, and don't know exactly what the Collings sounds like. This pre-production KF style mandolin (pics have been up for 1-2 yrs I know of, so I suspect they'll be available for a while more) looks almost just like my very early production KO:
http://www.imagineguitars.com/archive/breedlove/45_007/index.html
My purpose in posting this is to show what a similar color scheme to the Collings above can look like on another mandolin. I -do- approve of the Collings. I think it's beautiful.

Fretbear
Oct-15-2010, 9:17am
You seem quite calm for a guy whose new mandolin is on fire......

Andy Fielding
Oct-16-2010, 6:14pm
Gorgeous. However, I think anyone who starts a thread about their newly-acquired dream instrument (well, it's still a dream for most of us) should be required to post some soundfiles or a video, too. After all, while mandolins can be awfully pretty, it's how they sound that's most important, and how we can take advantage of all that musical potential that's suddenly in our laps. (Well, okay, your lap---I'm still waiting for a Collings to land in mine.)

tallmike
Oct-17-2010, 3:14pm
Gorgeous. However, I think anyone who starts a thread about their newly-acquired dream instrument (well, it's still a dream for most of us) should be required to post some soundfiles or a video, too. After all, while mandolins can be awfully pretty, it's how they sound that's most important, and how we can take advantage of all that musical potential that's suddenly in our laps. (Well, okay, your lap---I'm still waiting for a Collings to land in mine.)

Although it's the "Post a picture of your mandolin" category, I agree 100%! The mandolin just happened to arrive the same week as we moved into our first house and when my sister had her first baby, so things have been a little hectic around here. I do hate to disappoint though, so I quickly recorded a lil' something I've been working on. I'll try and grab something that shows off its low end when I get a moment. ...and be kind regarding my playing -- i'm still new. :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=com_Vq-gXuk

Andy Fielding
Oct-22-2010, 4:00pm
Wow, Mike, you're an efficient guy. I nag about a video, and the next day you have one up! (If only I could find managers like you...)

Anyway, that's one great sounding mando. We all knew it'd be, of course, but it's sure fun to hear it. Thanks a lot. Cheers, Andy

nobullmando74
Oct-22-2010, 6:04pm
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs467.ash1/25645_1395090520734_1336343670_31083350_5581691_n. jpg

My fiery MF5

Little Ed
Oct-22-2010, 8:38pm
Very nice. Thanks for the YouTube:popcorn:

Martin Stevens
Oct-23-2010, 1:35am
Grats!

Jill McAuley
Oct-23-2010, 11:16pm
Great sounding mandolin there Mike - you're a lucky man!

Cheers,
Jill

Avi Ziv
Oct-24-2010, 8:51am
love the way this mandolin looks! The dark coloring with that binding is a perfect match