December 29th, 2011 update... Note:  If you are reading this post via the Mandolin Cafe, we respectfully wish to allay any notion that this instrument was "unloaded" as has been inferred.  As one of the leading Collings dealers on the planet, we have more than just a fond respect for our good relations with them, and would never jeopordize our association with such actions.

The bare truth:  We recently traded this instrument (at full MAP price) to a fellow whom we had otherwise considered a "good customer", suffering from buyer's remorse concerning another instrument he had previously purchased, presumeably in haste...  Said he wanted the mandolin as a gift for his wife.  We accepted that explanation at the time.

Keeping the faith:  Some of you know of our passion for hard work, born from  two primary objectives.  First & foremost, we provide respectful & honest representation for each of our luthiers.  As important, we also provide a superior level of customer service experience.  Regardless of the perhaps latent ill fated representation of this instrument, our goals are continually renewed in making new musical relationships every day.  Now, back to our original post about this fine instrument (thanks for visiting):

The MT2V is Collings' fully appointed A-model, built with an Adirondack Red Spruce top and premium flamed Maple back and sides and finished with a hand-rubbed varnish. The luthiers at Collings use an alkyd resin varnish on their varnish finished mandolins and guitars. It does not have the sheen or gloss of lacquer, but has a deeper looking luster like early oil varnishes from the 1800s or the early Loar instruments. The process takes a lot more time, both in application and drying, and is certainly not conducive to volume production. The difference in tone, however, make up for this. The varnish creates a faster response with deeper and warmer treble, and a greater overall dynamic range.

This mandolin has a tone that is rich in low mids and very smooth in the treble range.  The Varnish finish makes the Collings MT2 that much warmer, making the tone sound much deeper with lots of warmth and definition.  A custom nut width of 1 3/16" gives your left hand plenty of room to fret notes cleanly and accurately and is especially nice when transitioning from guitar to a mandolin.

This Collings MT2V also features a custom bound ebony pickguard, which aside from being both functional and visual, actually balances the tone when recordings, similar to engaging a high-pass filter on the microphone.  It reduces proximity effect, or the boominess that can arise when recording close miked.  The pickguard will also do an exceptional job at protecting that beautiful dark varnish sunburst.

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