Introducing The New Collings MF Deluxe

By Mandolin Cafe
May 25, 2013 - 11:15 am

Austin, Tx. — Collings Guitars and Mandolin is excited to introduce the new MF Deluxe mandolin. Based on their popular MF model, the MF Deluxe combines premium tonewoods, meticulous workmanship and striking upgraded aesthetics that are sure to stand out on stage.

Crafted from carefully selected Adirondack spruce and figured eastern maple, the MF Deluxe provides the distinctly rich tone and responsiveness that players have come to expect from Collings instruments.

In addition to exceptional tone and volume, the instrument's upscale appointments highlight the beautiful shape and contours of the Florentine-style design. The MF Deluxe features a glossy nitrocellulose lacquer top and peghead veneer with a satin finish on the back, sides and neck.

Grained ivoroid bindings on the body, fingerboard and peghead are complimented by a matching ebony pickguard to provide an added level of trim previously available only on fully appointed models at an affordable price point.

Available in traditional sunburst finish or "Merlot" as shown above.

Base Model Features Include:

Select Adirondack spruce top
Select figured maple back, sides and neck
Parallel tone bar bracing
Grained ivoroid top, fingerboard and peghead binding
Grained ivoroid bound ebony pickguard
Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish on top and peghead veneer
Satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish on back, sides and neck
Ebony peghead overlay with inlaid Collings logo
22-fret Ebony fingerboard
Mortise and tenon neck joint w/ contoured heel
V shaped neck profile with 1 9/16" string spacing
5 1/2"-11 5/8" compound fingerboard radius
1 1/8" bone nut
13 7/8" scale length
Medium 18% nickel-silver fretwire
Mother-of-pearl dot fingerboard inlays
Fully adjustable truss rod
Custom adjustable floating ebony bridge
Collings original one-piece nickel tailpiece
Nickel tuners with ivoroid buttons

Additional information:
Collings MF Deluxe

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Reader Comments

Tomando

May 25, 2013 05:28 PM

Makes me want a merlot.. And that sweet mando...

Martin

May 25, 2013 07:54 PM

I guessing this would take a big chunk of my retirement savings. I might have to work a little longer

Wupeide

May 26, 2013 01:36 AM

Pricing?

Timothy S

May 26, 2013 02:43 PM

The Mandolin Store has the prototype MF Deluxe for $5400.

roysboy

May 27, 2013 12:38 AM

Guess if I have to ask I can't afford it

PlayerOf8

May 27, 2013 09:27 AM

Now that's a beautiful instrument!

grassrootphilosopher

May 27, 2013 10:11 AM

I'm not a Collings fan (kinda like their guitars) and that color doesn't do anything for me. If I would want to do a "deluxe" why not give it the teens red sunburst of the F-/A-4s?

But I accept that other folks like this.

Timothy S

May 28, 2013 12:28 PM

Finish options are the sunburst or the merlot that's shown here.

jimmy powells

May 28, 2013 04:18 PM

With their place in the market so established I would have thought "the new" Collings mandolin to be more creative and make their mark. Don't like the colour although I know some will and why the bland pickguard ? They could have done something special with that.

I agree with the other comment re sunburst which never fails.

Jimmy
UK

doc holiday

May 28, 2013 11:09 PM

Olaf & JP, You guys are a tough audience. A maker introduces a new model that bridges the gap between a 7.2K instrument & a 4.5k instrument. The color is eye catching. Heiden has made some cool merlot F mandolins too but you don't see many. The standard sunburst wouldn't really stand out from the crowd, but is available. As for the 'bland pickguard' ..."beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I think any new mandolin in our small world is a good thing. Adam Steffey seems to like the Collings enough & Chris Thile seems happy pulling sound out of Edgar Meyer's MT2. I guess opinions vary smile

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6yij4_chris-thile-edgar-meyer_music#.UaWAOWQ-swE

oldwave

May 29, 2013 08:42 AM

Looks like their response to the Custom f5-g that the mandolin store was offering for a while, though no back binding and satin finish. I'm sure they sound good though, I have not played a Collings that didn't. I own an Mt-2 that's a wonderful instrument. Collings does have a distinctive voice that they seem to strive for. Not everybody cares for it, but as we know every instrument no matter who makes it is unique. Me I would like to see the new model in person. Perhaps Acoustic Works will have one at some time, when the Mandolin store moved form Ohio to AZ we lost a good store that was driving distance.

Galileo

May 29, 2013 08:56 AM

Amen Old Wave! I live about 45 minutes from Washington Courthouse and remember going to Dennis's first location that seemed like you had to walk through a maze in an old building to get to the Mandolin Store. Hated to see him leave Ohio...

I haven't made it over to Acoustic Music Works as of yet but have ogled plenty an instrument on their website.

I'm not enamoured with the Merlot color on the Collings, but am a fan of their instruments.

Roland Sturm

May 29, 2013 09:48 AM

I think the merlot color is great, it is beautiful and something other than sunburst. I also have a blond and an amber Collings, great instruments, aside from a few traditional sunbursts.

californiajed

May 29, 2013 11:30 AM

This is an exciting development from Collings. Looking forward to seeing one in the wood. It is hard to tell exactly what the color will look like, but I like what I see!

sgarrity

May 29, 2013 04:09 PM

I've always been a Colings fan but is this really news? It's nothing you couldn't get on a regular MF except the neck and headstock binding. Now if they'd done this in varnish......that'd be Deee-luxe! I thought I'd read/heard somewhere that they were going to do some MTs and MFs in varnish. Anybody know anything about that?

Phil Goodson

June 08, 2013 11:18 AM

I think the gloss merlot finish is beautiful but a little like a beautiful black car. A speck of dust, a fingerprint, or a ding will jump right out. Guess you just have to keep moving so no one can focus on you.;)

lorrainehornig

August 28, 2013 10:27 AM

I LOVE the Merlot! It's simply beautiful!

JeffD

August 28, 2013 12:00 PM

Yea, I love that color too. I have a preference for solid color instruments in general, and that is just a beauty.

But ultimately color is an individual taste thing. I am sure, even if the mandolin were safety yellow, it would sound great.

mikefleck

December 24, 2015 08:13 PM

I know I'm a little late responding to all this. But I bought a MF Deluxe Merlot last summer (2014) and I love it. Not sure how many are out there. would like to connect with others who bought one. Bought mine at Telluride Music. Dave did a great job on set up. did have to save a lot but it was well worth it. I didn't have to go the the next level at 7+k to get a quality instrument. crisp clean sound, good volume, very good response. I love the color too. stands out like no other. had nothing but great compliments from friend musicians. really happy I bought it.

DataNick

December 25, 2016 01:46 AM

Thread Bump:

Several ads on different sites list specs that state that the neck joint is mortise & tenon, but the Collings website says dovetail....I'm confused. I thought they used to be M&T...have they changed to dovetail?

slinds

October 03, 2017 02:23 PM

Quote from mikefleck: I know I'm a little late responding to all this. But I bought a MF Deluxe Merlot last summer (2014) and I love it. Not sure how many are out there. would like to connect with others who bought one. Bought mine at Telluride Music. Dave did a great job on set up. did have to save a lot but it was well worth it. I didn't have to go the the next level at 7+k to get a quality instrument. crisp clean sound, good volume, very good response. I love the color too. stands out like no other. had nothing but great compliments from friend musicians. really happy I bought it. End Quote

Mike - I'm a bit late tothe game as well but I bought an MF Deluxe Merlot last week. I's a beautiful thing. Do you still have yours? If so, how is it doing?