i have an issue.................

[darylcrisp]

i listed a Collings OM1 guitar a few weeks ago for sale or trade. a long term AGF user responded to my ad at the AGF and said he had a Collings MF with 1 hour play time.

my initial reason for sale/trade of the OM1 was to replenish the instrument fund which is currently empty-actually i owe $2900 to it due to a very svelte and suave Collings 02H acoustic i picked up a month back. i figured it would be fun to list mandolins as a trade option and have the possibility of trying something different out, then moving it on. seems like mandolins sell quicker and easier than acoustics these days.

so i get the prerequisite pics, its a wide nut MF purchased from McCabes a year ago. the trader is a long term guitar player and thought he'd like to try mandolin out but just didn't dig it. i thought, interesting trade, should be able to move an MF for a good price, i've never had one at the house(only played some at stores and never the base MF model). we make the trade. the MF arrived yesterday. needed some slight adjustment for my style, new strings, a little dust cleaning.

oh my..............................

this MF is a grand mandolin indeed. i didn't think i'd like it with the tortise binding as the pics make it look kinda bland. in person, whoa, different story. it looks stealth. nice flame everywhere, wide nut(my fav), and just a very nice balance on the courses.

i have a MT2V which has been the best mandolin i've owned, and for me, played. it does everything way better than me and is very pleasing each time i hold it. i just love my MT2.

i really don't have time to devote to one mandolin correctly, let alone two. around 2 years ago i decided then and there i would become a one instrument per style owner(i had 5 acoustics-i don't need or really want 5 acoustics, so i sold off 4). did the same with the 3 open back banjos-have one. i don't need two mandolins.

but this MF rocks. i like it.

maybe i just need to be a two mandolin type guy. at least for a while.

**and plus side is they don't take up much space at all do they, not like 5 bulky acoustics all over the place, and then all those banjos knocking around the house, jeez.

Merry Christmas to all, have a Blessed time of year and i hope everyone health and peace
d

[aphillips]

Daryl - I'm pretty sure we are kindred spirits. I remember seeing your OM on the AGF and it looked beautiful too. I was too busy getting my all hog 000 fix taken care of though!

Just enjoy it! If at some point you feel like you need the money for something else then contemplate selling one of them. But if you don't need to, you don't need to.


Merry Christmas!

[multidon]

If you are looking for support, justification, or enabling, here you go.

You HAVE to have a backup instrument! What would happen if one of them had to go to the shop?

[pheffernan]

i have a MT2V which has been the best mandolin i've owned

That's an interesting verb tense you have there, d. Knowing your preferences, I for one am shocked that you would like a wide nut f-style from the shop of Bill Collings!

[soliver]

OR... you could just (in the spirit of this season of Christmas giving) give one of those mandos away to one of your less fortunate cafe brothers who can't afford such a fine instrument ( wink wink). That solves your 2-mandolin issue AND makes you feel really good for contributing to the worthy cause of spreading the mando love... who needs money anyway when you can share awesomeness

Obviously I'm kidding,... enjoy those mandolins!

[kenny boy]

DARYL . I'M ON YOUR SIDE. ENJOY life is short. MR KEN

[Tom Sanderson]

actually, you need 2 mandolins. One "A" and one "F"

[tiltman]

I believe that this is what they call a "first world problem"...we are blessed to be living in this time and place! Enjoy!

Kirk Miller
Portland, OR

[LadysSolo]

I personally think you need to take several years to decide which one you REALLY like the best! You wouldn't want to make a wrong decision, after all. You will need to play both of them at every opportunity......

[Mandoplumb]

Yes you need to be a two mandolin guy for a while, at least until you get the third.

[Tezzerh]

actually, you need 2 mandolins. One "A" and one "F"

...and a mandolin banjo!

[DataNick]

actually, you need 2 mandolins. One "A" and one "F"

+1...I'm really glad that so far I have not had to sell my Flatiron Performer A...it's just nice to have both styles...I personally have liked all of the Collings MF style mandos that I've played; they are top shelf in fit/finish and have a really nice tone...the older ones can be very "Gibsonesque" in their tonal qualities and feel as well. I say keep'em both!

...Always good to have a back-up

[multidon]

As you can plainly see Daryl, if your looking for someone to tell you you should have only one, you are talking to the wrong crowd!

As for myself, I feel I need a minimum of three: my number one (Bitterroot F custom), my good backup (Bitterroot A) and my good sounding but relatively inexpensive beater for outdoors and other high risk (to the instrument, not me) gigs (Kentucky KM 600). This plan makes perfect sense to me and I don't understand how anyone can function without at least three.

[DataNick]

...I don't understand how anyone can function without at least three.

Pray for me Brotha as I'm a just a barely holdin' on!...LOL!

[Barry Wilson]

I was thinking I had too many instruments because I don't pick some of them up very often, but you always need a back up

[F-2 Dave]

Just enjoy being a two mandolin guy, until you become a three mandolin guy. It happens.

[Russ Donahue]

Daryl....hate to tell you but you are actually still one short. There is an MT-O missing from your herd...
From a friend you previously enabled (actually an MF almost exactly 1 year ago!)
Russ

Merry Christmas!

[multidon]

Nick, all you need now is a good beater!

[lflngpicker]

Daryl, Congratulations on finding such a one of a kind mandolin! A Collings MF-- Wow!! It must be a great feeling for the holidays. Many happy years of playing enjoyment to you.

[Petrus]

We all have issues ... some of us have subscriptions.