Collings @ Auction (UK)

[Ray(T)]

Spotted this but what’s happened to it? https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...c-aff800ced50a

[Ray(T)]

Nobody? I’m sure it didn’t leave the factory looking like that.

[pheffernan]

Nobody? I’m sure it didn’t leave the factory looking like that.

It looks like someone buffed out the satin finish and intentionally or unintentionally distressed the top in the process. The bridge doesn’t look right to my eye — the thumbscrews look too big — signaling that perhaps something else has happened over the years. I don’t know why someone would otherwise choose to replace a stock Collings bridge.

[Eric Platt]

Something definitely happened. The neck has a good shine on the back. Not so much on the body. Not sure if it was buffed out or some sort of artificial aging was attempted.

Almost like someone wanted to make it look a lot older than it was.

[mrmando]

Interesting mandolins in that auction: there's also a Phil Davidson and an Eastman Bacon copy. Not to mention an 1893 Vinaccia bowlback lumped in with 3 violins! https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...8-aff800cea5de

[Ray(T)]

Yes, but I really don’t need any more mandolins!

The Collings certainly looks strange; almost as if somebod has attacked the top, in patches, with some sort abrasive and tried to re-finish it. If you look carefully, you can see the bruhs marks. But why? It dates to 2006.

[Mark Gunter]

Yes, but I really don’t need any more mandolins!

The Collings certainly looks strange; almost as if somebod has attacked the top, in patches, with some sort abrasive and tried to re-finish it. If you look carefully, you can see the bruhs marks. But why? It dates to 2006.

This. The brush marks on the top and the back tell a story. Based on the blotchy spots on the spruce top, I’d guess an amateur sanded to bare wood and attempted to stain it before brushing on a finish. Pretty sad to look at, really. Why did they do it? Need more than these pictures to know, perhaps it had been damaged.

[Richard500]

Mark has the process right, in case anyone wants a blotchy finish. Actually, some factory finishes lately trend toward rustic, and personally, I’m comfortable with it. We can’t know, of course, but this might still be a very good instrument that might go a bit cheap. Or a wreck.

[Simon DS]

Nice, a mandolin with history.
Fire or smoke damage, maybe it was kept above the fireplace, or in a canal.
And it’s had some upgrading.

Here’s the piece:


Empty the sawdust, maybe it’s playable.

[Davey]

My guess is that someone stripped the varnish to make it sound better & applied stain - which didn't sink in evenly as they didn't get all the varnish off. Probably put French polish over the top. It looks like my attempts at furniture "restoration" a long time ago.

[Jim Garber]

Case has Mandolin Cafe sticker. Maybe one of our members was the previous owner and cab explain.

[hubrad]

I watched that bit of the auction.. did anyone here get anything?

[Ray(T)]

No. Just checked. The Collings made £950, the Eastman £480 and the Phil Davidson £900. (All + 24.6% commission) glad I didn’t go - could have been an expensive day!

The lot including the Vinaccia didn’t sell - make ‘em an offer and they’ll probably let you have it for £100.

[mandotool]

Appears to be a case of "Random Hippy Sanding"..

Thread here identifies MT's as being subjected to such..
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...hippie-sanding

origin story of the "Technique" starts 1minute in..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kik8LPQMWK4

If anybody has a recording of the Infamous "Random Hippy Sanding" incident..
Here would be a good place to share..

[Ray(T)]

Your first link doesn’t work for me.

[Mark Gunter]

For posterity

[Anglocelt]

I got the Eastman DG2, a match for my original Bacon Professional mandolin. The finish on the Eastman has not been assaulted like the Collins has been, but the ex-owner was evidently not bothered about resale values and was happy to intervene. With the DG2 the fingerboard extension has been removed (a professional job) as has the scratch-plate. The tuning machines have been turned upside down, presumably to correct the reverse gearing that annoyed some original owners of DG2s. None of that bothers me but some odd re-sculpting of the top section of the bridge will need correcting. The sound and action are both very good, as is the original case.

[Davey]

I think the Collings just turned up on Ebay UK for £2,495.

[Simon DS]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334880551...Bk9SR76t8dyHYg

[Ray(T)]

Looks better in the ebay photos than in those of the auction house.

[Anglocelt]

I think the Collings just turned up on Ebay UK for £2,495.

The same seller in Cambridge is also selling the Davidson, from the same auction sale. Fast work!

[rcc56]

It's only been 4 days since the original auction closed.
I suspect that the current owner did a quick levelling of the finish, then rubbed it out with fine compound. That's about as much as could be done in that amount of time.
At any rate, it does look better.

[Ray(T)]

And all without taking the strings off! The cut ends are still in the exact same place they were in the auction listing.

[Ray(T)]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334880551...Bk9SR76t8dyHYg

Looks like it didn’t sell. The seller now has an over-priced ‘19 A up for sale - no pick-guard, wrong tuners, wrong case …… etc. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334896913...oAAOSwa-hkel3q