larry, hope the wait is tolerable. but i have two MF's. one with engelmann, one adi......and both probably need restringing.

after the last few days i have had (water main to my house broken and caught in red tape with water company and the sub-contractor- water line insurance coverage pays, but you gotta stand up, kick some butt and take names- no water since monday)........i think the zen-like atmosphere of string changing is welcome.

Sorry to hear about the water line problems Mary. I'm retired from the Utility field, wnat me to come up and help kick some butt around ?

You can try to teach me how to actually play one of these things in the off hours. LOL

Gotta say after reading all these posts that I do feel better about the string changing thing. Seems those people who told me they don't change very often are in the majority.

And as for the Mandos themselves, I can honestly say that I have had NO desire to replce my Collings since the day I got it. That F sang to me, and still does every time I pick it up. Even in my far less than capable hands. I may have added the Oval as a compliment to the F, but truly don't have any MAS or need for a newer or "better" Mando. I have played some really stellar and unique Mandos at a friends place, some that sounded amazing. But never have had that urge I seem to live with where the guitars are concerned.

Better go practice some once I get enough coffee in me to really wake up.

thanks for the offer Rick, but i kicked butt and took names and they were out there late into the evening putting in a temporary line last night.

i was a project manager for a top 10 bank during the 90's bank fiasco. kicking butt and taking names was my forte. but thanks for the offer. the real problem was the sub-contractor that got the bid for the water line insurance coverage. them contractors, you can't live with them (i tried for many years) and you cannot shoot them (at least that's what a friend of mine who used to be a death row attorney in texas told me)......

i'm off for more coffee and then oooommmmm, off to change strings.