New Mandolin Day - 2010 Collings MT O (Satin Honey Amber)

[cigarfan]

I've heard, although the oval hole mandolin is not quite as loud and punchy, it has a sweet tone. I know Collings makes a quality product so I decided to give this MT O a try. It's going on 4 years old with loads of play and the Engleman sounds very sweet and mature. Action is excellent ... almost like it was just set up. I'm psyched! It has some play wear but that is expected ... even desired.

Specs
Select englemann spruce top (with some very nice silking)
Select figured maple back, sides and neck
X-bracing
Tortoise-style top binding
Tortoise rosette and bound soundhole
Honey Amber Satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
Unbound "Haircut" headstock
13 Degree headstock angle
Ebony peghead overlay with inlaid Collings logo
Ebony fingerboard
Mortise and tenon neck joint
22 frets, neck joins the body at the 13th fret
V shaped neck profile with 1 9/16" string spacing
7"-11 5/8" Compound fingerboard radius
1 3/16" 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 black buttons
Collings deluxe hardshell case by TKL

Dimensions
Body Length: 12 7/8"
Body Depth at Side: 1 13/16"
Lower Bout Width: 9 15/16"
Total Length: 27 7/16"
Scale Length: 13 7/8"
Standard Nut Width: 1 3/16"

Pics

[TaylorGirl]

I knew you'd have another NMD. It sure is pretty.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Wow-ie!  A beaut!  I love collings instruments and this one looks great!

How does it sound?  Did you call Emory yet.....lol

[shorty]

Nice addition cigarfan! I am in envy of your musical talents

[Jersey tuning]

Looks like a great instrument.  Beautiful maple too. I:'m going to mandoline some veggies for dinner in your honor

[cigarfan]

I knew you'd have another NMD. It sure is pretty.

Thanks Susie. Not sure how you figured that out.   

Wow-ie!  A beaut!  I love collings instruments and this one looks great!

How does it sound?  Did you call Emory yet.....lol

Thanks Diane. It has a very sweet sound. I like the oval hole. But it hasn't taken over spot number one (Weber).

Haven't called Emory yet. So far I've memorized the C and G major scales and The Irish Washerwoman Jig although I can't get all the way through the jig without screwing up. I'm progressing but it's slow. Definitely having fun with it.

Nice addition cigarfan! I am in envy of your musical talents

Thanks shorty. I have a bunch of fine instruments but no one needs to envy my talent. Really have to work at it. Believe me ... I'm no Chris Thile.

Looks like a great instrument.  Beautiful maple too. I'm going to mandoline some veggies for dinner in your honor

Thanks Jersey. I hope they were tasty!

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Nice find. What are the four adjuster/slide thingies on the strings between the bridge and tailpiece?

[cigarfan]

Nice find. What are the four adjuster/slide thingies on the strings between the bridge and tailpiece?

Mandolins tend to convey "sympathy" vibration to the strings on the tailpiece side of the bridge. What you are seeing are little black rubber grommets which deaden those vibrations. Those unwanted vibrations are not obvious to the naked ear, but when you record, they become very obvious.

[cigarfan]

I added a McClung armrest from Hill Country Stringworks and it made quite a difference. Doug made this one up special for me. Cocobolo with a Christian fish.

[mgap]

Nice Cigarfan.  It looks like it is well finished, and the inlay is really nice.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Armrest is nice, I've been thinking about getting a Toneguard for mine.

The mandolin has been in the shop the last few days so I've been getting acquainted with my new GSM.  I really miss the mandolin tho.....

[cigarfan]

Thanks mgap & BSTP!

I find that my little instruments are so doggone fun they are gobbling up all my practice time. Having fun with it.

Yeah, that GSM is beautiful. I'm sure you aren't suffering too bad.