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Thread: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

  1. #1

    Default I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    After selling off all of my expensive electric guitars and amps, I was left with enough money to invest in a new mandolin. I already have an Eastman MD505 and I have a Big Muddy arriving soon, but, I found a Collings MT in the color and nut width I wanted used here on MC, so I pulled the trigger.

    I sure hope it ends up being a great mandolin! The MD505 isn't bad, but I'm not completely sold on the tone. I may sell it or just keep it for practicing or travel. I'm hoping these MTs are as good as people say. It sure is a beauty, that's for sure!

  2. #2
    Pittsburgh Bill
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I never tire of my MT. It is aways a joy to play and the tone always brings a smile to my face. That said, the MT sounds much better than my Eastman 305 (which sounds pretty good for an instrument costing less than 20% the price of a MT).
    Sounds to me like you will have two good tools to play. Enjoy and don't loose any sleep. You will not have regrets.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Congratulations Tmcmakin!

  4. #4
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Congrats and happy pickin to you!

  5. #5

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Thanks guys! I am looking forward to receiving it and I'll post some pics when it arrives. This is the honey amber colored one, which is exactly what I wanted.

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  7. #6

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I've come to this conclusion: Buy an entry level Collings, Weber, Northfield, Girouard, Pava...probably a few names I missed too. You won't go wrong. It may be great; it may be good but it won't suck. You may like one a bit more than the other but whichever you choose will be all the mandolin you need. It's a safe buy.

    When/if you want to upgrade from there, play before you buy. Don't try to improve on the above without hearing and playing it. You will often be paying for a side-grade.

    Enjoy your Collings!
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  8. #7

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    An MT is about as safe a buy as you can get in a situation where you can't play one. Not that you wouldn't possibly like another mandolin better if you could do a side by side comparison. But even in a shop with multiple options, plenty of MTs go home with happy owners. Collings always reeks of quality.
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  9. #8

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I'm a very happy MT owner. I upgraded from an Eastman MD 305, which was a pretty spiffy little mandolin, but the MT is miles beyond that. It calls my name constantly, so I practice even more now than I did before. I predict you'll be very happy with your purchase. Congrats!

  10. #9
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I find it hard to believe that you'll be disappointed.

    Congrats on your wise purchase. Please report back when you get it.
    Chris Cravens

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  11. #10
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    A Big Muddy and a MT on the way!! Nice. Good choice on both.
    You will like the Collings. I liked mine a lot. Bad case of MAS took it or i'd still be picking on it

  12. #11
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Of the dozens of Collings I've played they have been uniformly superb and consistent sounding mandolins. Seriously, their quality and consistency is really remarkable. I recommend them to folks all time. Honestly, you will have to spend a lot of money to upgrade, and even then, it's not going to be that much of an upgrade. Collings just makes some damn fine mandolins. Congrats!

  13. #12
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I have a honey amber Colings MT, I also have a Pava and a Weber, the Collings compares very well. I enjoy all 3 for their different sounds, I think you will love your Collings.

  14. #13
    Registered User MissingString's Avatar
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Congrats! Great instrument and impeccable fit and finish. While I can’t imagine parting with my MT2, I also bought it pre-owned and suspect I could recover close to 100% of my investment if I decided to sell.
    “Without music, life would be a mistake” Neitzsche

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  15. #14

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    According to UPS, it should be here Monday!

  16. #15
    Pittsburgh Bill
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Quote Originally Posted by Tmcmakin View Post
    According to UPS, it should be here Monday!
    Sounds like a long weekend, but worth the wait.
    Big Muddy EM8 solid body (Mike Dulak's final EM8 build)
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  17. #16
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Quote Originally Posted by Tmcmakin View Post
    After selling off all of my expensive electric guitars and amps, I was left with enough money to invest in a new mandolin. . . .
    Ugh. I've been agonizing over a sell-off to scare up cash for new toys. I have an old Martin, a new Smith & Young squareneck, and a Mid-Missouri mando. I'm thinking about things like a buying good reso mando or a solid-wood squareneck, or producing a vanity CD.

    But parting is such damn sweet sorrow!

  18. #17

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Quote Originally Posted by efox25 View Post
    I'm a very happy MT owner. I upgraded from an Eastman MD 305, which was a pretty spiffy little mandolin, but the MT is miles beyond that. It calls my name constantly, so I practice even more now than I did before. I predict you'll be very happy with your purchase. Congrats!
    The statement above is why you should always buy the best instrument you can possibly afford and maybe a little more, very important the more serious you are about your playing.
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  19. #18
    Registered User Michael Neverisky's Avatar
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Quote Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
    The statement above is why you should always buy the best instrument you can possibly afford and maybe a little more, very important the more serious you are about your playing.

    Best SOUNDING and PLAYING instrument, which may not be the most expensive or most ornate instrument.

  20. #19

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Congrats! I also just pulled the trigger on a Collings, an MT2O. I hear it calling my name as I type... Bill C. was an old friend. I never had one of his guitars, but now I have a mando.

    Dave
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  21. #20

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    Only a couple more days!

  22. #21
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    don't leave it to chance. plan the first tune to play on it now

  23. #22

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I think I made a great choice!

  24. #23
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    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I’m seriously considering a Pava. Could you describe how you feel the tone differs
    between the Collings, Weber and Pava? Thanks!
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  25. #24

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    I owned a Collings MT for several years and it was a great mandolin. In fact, every Collings instrument I've played has been excellent (mandos & guitars). I had my MT with me when I was in Nashville. I took it to Grhun's and Carter's and put it up against about 10 mandos in the $5,000 - $12,000 range. The MT held up to many of them to my ear and hands. Congrats on your purchase!

  26. #25

    Default Re: I hope I made the right decision... NMD

    My first mandolin was a MT HONEY AMBER finish with engelman top. Nice. Think you will like yours also. Enjoy.

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