Did Bill sign all or just some of the inside labels on Collings mandolins?
Did Bill sign all or just some of the inside labels on Collings mandolins?
John A. Karsemeyer
Looks like it's a secret.
John A. Karsemeyer
You might contact Collings and ask them.
I've never seen an unsigned label from Collings ....(before Bill's passing)
New to mando? Click this link -->Newbies to join us at the Newbies Social Group.
Just send an email to rob.meldrum@gmail.com with "mandolin setup" in the subject line and he will email you a copy of his ebook for free (free to all mandolincafe members).
My website and blog: honketyhank.com
I know mine is. And yes, it wasn't until I looked really closely that I made out the signature. Or actually, that I even realized there was a signature there.
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
Thanks all.
John A. Karsemeyer
All the mandolins I had before his passing were signed, the custom MT2-O I received just after his passing was not signed.
Gunga......Gunga.....Gu-Lunga
I personally would not want a signature by anybody that did not have a primary role in building the instrument. Gilchrist, Dudenbostel, Heiden et. al. means something.
Chris Martin sighting a guitar does not.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
My ‘91 Santa Cruz “Tony Rice” has Tony’s signature on the label. I have it on good authority that he personally scalloped the braces and buffed up the nitro finish before it left the factory!
Regarding Bill Collings involvement from my personal experience: I had a varnished Nugget/Collings Tim O’Brien on order. The order was taking longer because of the varnish (seems like an extra 6 weeks). As delivery time got closer, I got a call from the dealer to say that when Bill Collings was inspecting the mandolin prior to finishing, that he saw something about the top that he didn’t like. BC refused to let it be finished with that top. The mandolin was further delayed while they waited on Nugget to carve a new top.
Russ Jordan
I know a guy who has an exceptional Collings MF5, both in looks and sound. Bill Collings has a BIG signature on that one. As for Chris Martin, he preserves and advances the quality of Martin Guitars, unlike at least one of his previous Martin CEO forefathers who almost ruined the company.
John A. Karsemeyer
I have toured the Collings facility a number of times (got to spend an entire afternoon visiting with Bill after one of the tours.....talking about his prototype cases and his extreme dis-satisfaction about existing latches). One of the reasons their build quality is so high is that when an instrument is moved along to the next process the person at that station has to inspect each instrument for flaws. If they find anything....no matter how tiny.....it goes back to the last station to be fixed until he deems it perfect. No exceptions. Ever. Cost and time (profit motivation) meant nothing to any of them. Bill least of all. Seems like that commitment is carrying on.
Wow... all along I t hought my Collings MT label didn't have a signature, but I just looked closely and there it is! Kinda hidden by the busy label. Thanks for the tip!
Last edited by RobP; Jan-22-2020 at 1:52am.
Follow the Flatt Stanley Incident on Facebook
Listen to original tune "When You Fly" by my old band The Kindreds
That's cool if he did. Here's something else, can't guarantee you will find signatures, but if you take an inspection mirror and light and look down near the end pin block there may be 2 or 3 signatures down there. That's the folks who made the instrument. And if one of the names is "Otis B. Rodeo" that's Richard Hoover's signature. It's his old stage name.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
There might also be a few Collings out there without a signature. Owned a D1 that didn't have one. This was during the early years and he sometimes was too busy to sign. Or at least that's what the dealer told me.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
Bookmarks