I had an opertunity fo play a Collings MFlast Sunday. I really liked the tone. My question is about the difference between 1 1/8" nut width and the wider 1 3/16". Does anyone have the widernut width? Could you share any thougths on the subject.

I have two MT2s, one of each neck width. Each has benefits and disadvantages, and those are probably pretty obvious. If you're coming from guitar, the wider one is going to sound like it will be easier to play, but the reality is that it doesn't matter which way you go: your hands and brain adapt to whatever is in your hands after about 5-10 minutes of playing.

If you found a mandolin that you can make sing, and if it sings to you, then that's the one for you.

Thanks for the info. I use a 1 3/4" nut guitar really can't play an 11/16" so I thought a larger nut on a Mandolin would be wise. No one seems to Carry the wider nut in my area. What type of music do you play with your MT. I personally like the sound of the MT but I like country as well as Bluegrass.

If this is your first mandolin, it might be easier to transition from guitar to the wider neck mandolin.

Breedlove mandolins all have 1 3/16" necks, and they're a good buy on the used market (mandolincafe.com classifieds). I'm generalizing, but Collings mandolins sound pretty similar to me, and and they're the industry standard for excellence, so buying a wide neck mando from a Collings dealer online isn't risky. Or buy used from the clasifieds here or on the 'cafe, and be sure to ask for 2-3 days aproval.

alan, the neck profile, as with guitar can be a big factor also. collings used to make a very pointy neck- this was early on.

if you can, take a trip to acoustic music works in pittsburgh.........i know it is a pretty long ride, but he has the widest selection of mandos that i have seen- including the wide neck ones. he's also a good guy to work with. i'm headed out that way soon- keeping my eye on the weather.

marymary,when are you going to be in Pittsburgh? I have to be there a few times in the next 2 weeks and I was planning on stopping by to see Steve and all the new goodies.24th is one of the days.

I used to think the wide necks were the way to go but like arcane says...if you find one that sings...I adjusted to the 1 1/8 on my MT. mary is right ,Steve has a wide selection of mandos and I got to compare regular and wides on MT/MT2's and found a regular MT that sang for me.

Most guitar necks are too wide for me(I have a 1 3/4"-nut, D3BaA that basically never gets played). 1" nut is about perfect for me on mando.
I need to sell the D3...to help pay for my Gibson /Derrington MM.

I recently received an mf with wide 1 3/16 neck, and secondly the neck V customized more into a U. My other mandolin, an old Kentucky, is thinner neck with a more pronounced V.

If I did it again, I might opt for the 1 1/8" neck but with in the U shape (slightly easier to reach those G string notes when they are far apart). The U feature was the change that really worked out, but really, I am already used to both.

I also had Alex throw on a hard maple back, for more of a deep throaty bluegrass flavor.

It is a terrific mandolin. Part of the time I play in a duo, and the guitar player has asked me if I can keep it down a little. It is very cool because the slightest difference in attack changes the response and volume by a lot. Love it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tom Friedrichs,

I know I'm late for jumping in but I started with the wider necks, but have since got rid of all of those mandolins for standard 1 1/8"...I found the smaller profile was easier to play even after coming from many decades of guitar...Certain dealers will say and direct you to wider neck profiles, but I found it harder to play with speed and accuracy and it limited the market in resale because not everyone wants that wider neck...The standard is the standard for a reason...