We are proud to announce that we are now carrying Collings mandolins! Hand-crafted in Austin, TX; Collings mandolins are built with finest seasoned spruce and eastern maple. With equal emphasis placed on tone, "fit and finish" and playability, they strive to create a new benchmark of quality in mandolins.

The MF5V is Colllings features the same fully appointed specifications of the MF5 series, but with a beautiful hand varnished finish. This particular mandolin is finished in a with a beautiful blonde varnish finish, an ebony pickguard with tortoise bindings, and tortoise bindings on the body and neck. It features a carved seasoned Red spruce top and premium maple back and sides. With its superb tone, elegant stylings and unmatched playability, the MF5V is sure to please the most discerning eyes and ears.

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. Putting tonal differences into words has always been challenging, so our best advice is to get one in your hands and let the mandolin speak for itself. We think you'll be pleasantly suprised.

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