Collings MT2 Carved Top Mandolin (2016), ser. #3641

Collings MT2 Model Carved Top Mandolin (2016), Austin, TX, serial # 3641.

The MT-2 is Collings' more deluxe F-hole, A-style body mandolin with a classic look harking back to the Gibson aesthetic of the 1920s. It is built with a spruce top and premium quilted maple back, sides and neck. This example was made in 2016, when Bill Collings still hand-signed the mandolin labels. Modeled on Gibson's semi-mythical A-5 (Lloyd Loar had one built as a test for himself) this is an A style model with F holes sporting a lovely Cremona Brown nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst finish on the back and sides and a jet black finish on the top giving it a more rakish, less traditional look.

The figured maple neck has a rounded soft V profile with an ebony fretboard; there is triple ivoroid binding with a side line on body and neck and a single bound, pearl inlaid headstock. The instrument is equipped with a Loar-era style adjustable ebony bridge, Fancy vintage Waverly styled tuners and Collings' own integrated tailpiece. This is one of the company's best 8-string offerings, an excellent playing and sounding instrument with a lot of power and style at a lower price than their comparable sounding F-body models.

Overall length is 27 in. (68.6 cm.), 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).

This MT2 shows very little play wear and has aged in nicely over the last 10 years, with a still-maturing sound. There light scuffs and handling wear to the finish but that's about it. There are no playability issues, the frets have been crowned down a bit showing no subsequent wear. This mandolin plays extremely well and offers a lovely powerful but still warm sound. It includes a Collings-branded TKL HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.