How many different mandolins do people own? I ran into Eddie Collings in a So. Austin music shop yesterday holding his brand new "Ellis". He had just picked it up from Tom Ellis.
Reminded me that I have been thinking of buying a new oval hole and have been considering a Collings MF along with a Weber Vintage A. An MF would be my first Collings and the fifth mandolin I have owned (Mid-Mo; Epiphone; Shiro; Weber).

who is eddie collings?

Being a real novice in the Mando world I don't know enough about them to make a judgement on any of the brands really.
I have my Collings, and always will. My MF is "MY" Mando. Don't have any desire to replace it etc. I had the Oval hole A, but sold it in hopes of some day getting the Oval hole F model Collings. When they finally make one that us retired people can afford.

I do have my Weber Octave Mando, F style big ole boy. Found it used. I have friend who actually can play these things that have a wonderful assorment of instruments. I wouldn't know the ins and outs of any of them.
Although a buddy up in W Va has this beat up ole Buckeye that sounds amazing.

did you mean eddie collins?

there are a lot of builders who make great mandolins. i just bought a mandola from a great builder up in idaho named ron cole. i may go back and buy an f5, or perhaps an f5 mandola. his work is as good as any of the other luthiers i have gotten mandos from. but when you order something from collings you have an expectation and i for one have never been disappointed.

rick, the f style ovals are coming. they have just been slow rolling them out, but i think summer namm could be the time to jump in with both feet.

I have a Collings MT2V and a Sumi SF-5 (Snowdrop Flower). Each is spectacular in its own way and both very different (the Sumi being very Loar-like and having a scroll; the Collings being lush and jazzy and not needing a scroll).

Ellis mandolins are great. But the only other mandolin I could see owning is a 10 string Smart with fanned frets. That mandolin (Mike Marshall got the first one and uses it on the new Big Trio album) is something to be reckoned with.

I played a Altman mando yesterday that was stunning. Then again, so was the price. But what a musical epiphany.

Bill - I agree with your assessment on the Altman. They are sublime. I love their sunburst... looks antique but not in a distressed way. And they play like butter. But the tone! I've included a few you tubes of Dewey Farmern and Kym Warner (Greencards)with an Altman for anyone wanting to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRk82CvcAg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivdN9FAdrlI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...XJ_k&feature=related

I purchased a Mowry F5 last fall. An incredible insturment! The best detail work I have ever seen on a mandolin-every bit as precise as Collings mandos or anyone out there (in fact better than some of the big guys charging a whole lot more $'s.) Tone is also outstanding.

Here is a link to Andrew Mowry's website. Also noted there is a great used one for sale at mandomutt.com.

Mowry Stringed Instruments

I've never played an Ellis but I understand they are top notch. As for me I'm waiting for a Kimble to be built. I should get it sometime this year if the good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise.

it's my understanding that some of the folks at ellis used to work at collings.

Tom Ellis still supplies a lot of different companies - like Collings - with the inlays that make our instruments so pretty.

yes, i believe that is his main line of business.