I'm looking to "buy up" in mandos from my MT to a F version...I know Steve has some great Collings (new and used) at AMW, and I'm seriously considering driving over in the next couple of weeks and playing what he has. Mind you, I'm no mando player, really, but I'm learning, and love the instrument.

I've also been looking at the web and have seen a couple of Oliver Apitius' mandos (used) for about the same price as some of the Collings I know are available.

Can anyone give me advice on buying here? Anything from what you know about tone, pedigree (resale may matter, or even further trades as learn more about the instrument....)...

I also wonder if I'm overbuying, given that my MT really is a good instrument. But I've got the bug...have also looked at an Ellis A5, although never played one. Slightly lower price point (the Ellis F's are higher than I'm contemplating at the moment), so I just need whatever those with more experience can advise me.

I do think I prefer the 1 3/16 nut width, although perhaps my MT could just use a set up, too.

What can you tell me? Would an Ellis A take me anywhere I want to go, rather than an F style from either Collings or Apitius, or another builder? I have an MT2O that isn't going anywhere, I love it, but just looking for advice about an F hole, and whether I need to get an F style, or whether an A will do, and then the builder questions....

OK, let the advising begin...

I will be cautious as a computer plus an opinion is all that forums require.

I own a MF and the wife has an MT(englmn top-ser# in the 350's) I play the MT once a week and and it is great. I tend to get blue grassy on mine and more mellow on the MT.

I am not saying that the scroll is an expensive strap hook as some say, but Bill Monroe had a lot of influence in the mando world as CFM did in the guitar world.

I could be perfectly happy with a high-end A over a F-style. There is a lot of labor intensive time to make a nice one of these:



This opinion comes from a man who shoveled snow 2 days ago wearing gym shorts and boots.

With a garden shovel no doubt ??

As for all general mandolin questions, I'd go over to mandolincafe.com. I believe you'll get a lot of info about Apitius mandolins, which are considered really good.

Keep in mind that I have NOT played the models I'll be talking about. But my guess from looking at the market is that the Ellis and the Collings will maintain a higher resale value over the long run.I do remember seeing some comments over at the Mandolin Cafe that the Apitius mandolins were uneven in quality and that may have been part of the reason that he got out of the mandolin business. I'm relying on my memory here - so please check out these stories for yourself.And bear in mind that it's your set of ears and your wallet that need to be pleased with any purchase you make.

One other comment is that Adam Steffy often used an Apitius F mandolin when he recorded with Allison Kraus and Union Station. The tone he got was astounding to my ears. So there you have it.

ccguy, go play some mandolins before you decide. oliver apitius was at one time a very popular builder who was represented by some pretty big name players and instrument shops. then he decided he was going to sell direct to customers and faded away as the multitude of builders overcame the market. at one point he stopped building altogether.

you can get a used apitius F5 at times for around $5k.

that said, ellis seems to be popular, but as i have said before the woman who builds mandos in his shop was trained and worked at collings for a while. tom marries a hard top with a sugar maple figured back which gets a good chop.

i've owned a ton of mandolins. what i have sitting in the closet here says, Collings and Brentrup. all the rest have gone west.

some nice mandos at AMW. i'll race you there. i got my christmas money all ready.

Thanks for all the comments...Mary, I may have that race with you to AMW. I think I'm closer, so may have a natural head start...

michael

CCGuy, if you want an F style just find you a used Collings MF. It will do anything and be all you need. And not that expensive by Mando standards.

Don't worry too much about the nut width. I have a 3 year old MF with the standard nut and (thanks to a tip from someone here) one of the very first MF Oval holes sold. It has the wider nut and I can go back and forth and really it just doesn't seem to make any difference once I get playing on it.

Mary, if you guys race to AMW, would you see if that Weber Mandola is still there. It's almost to a second birthday and I am getting the itch for a Mandola pretty bad.

i'm in nj, right up against the pa border this week........so, you'd better hurry. and i've taken that drive enough times that i have it down to about 4 hours from here. actually i am awaiting my soco with the tv jones pickups.....guitars all done, just waiting on ameritage and the case......;-(

as for the mandola, rick, charlie told me that was a nice one. far as i know, it's still there.

You win, then, I think. It's about 5 hours from here as I recall....

As recorded anyway, Steffey's Apitius tone was beyond words gorgeous. Seems like there was a feature on Apitius in one of the Bluegrass Unlimited Mag's annual instrument maker issue within the last 5-6 years: might be available in a city library?

I'm sure Steffey's Apitius was a fine instrument, but I would tend to attribute most of the tone to Adam. Mandolin tone, much more so than guitars, really require the touch of a master.