I've been playing an MT for a couple of years. I love it a lot - plays so easy and the tone is very warm and sweet. My only complaint is that I tend to overdrive the top a bit when I'm at jams.
Now I have just purchased a used MT2. Apparently it is about a 1 year old MT2, but hardly played at all by the original owner.

I would love to hear from anyone who has owned both an MT and an MT2. What differences did you observe. Am I right that the red spruce to will be louder, less likely to overdrive? Any other differences you noticed?

Thanks for sharing,

rich: i have owned both mt and mt-2v at the same time. i think you're right about the adi top: dig in as much as you want, and it responds with a clear tone. however, i regret selling the mt. it had a woodier sound to my ear. it's a different beast altogether. btw, my mt was actually louder than my mt-2v when the mt-2v first arrived.

I had both at the same time also and have to agree with Peter's experience. I'm down to just an MT now but do miss the MT2 I got from Steve at AMW. It was a winner with more clarity but less Woody-Goody.

Well, now the MT2 has been with me for a couple of weeks. It was basically new, not really played in yet, so I'm working hard to make up for lost time.

I can definitely hear the differences described by Cowboy and Pete. I'm planning to keep the MT for a while and see how they compare once the MT2 is broken in. So far I really like the better clarity of the MT2, and it also seems a bit more balanced. The main driver for me to get the MT2 seems to be paying off as well - dig in hard and she's never overdriven.

This is going to be fun!

cowboy,

have you played the used mt2v that steve has now?

Yes, I think I did play that one. I don't remember much except it was one of 3 I was considering the day I was mando tasting.The MT2's seem really consistent to me. I haven't played one yet that I didn't like. I miss my old one....it's playing gypsy jazz in Colorado last I heard.

i had an early mt2- serial number 78 or somewhere in that vicinity. it had a very sharp neck profile and i soon acquired my first Brentrup mandolin. off went the mt2.

last year, while shopping for MT's i came across an MT2 from 2004. i loved the neck. it had been played very little (the original owner was a fiddle player)........i should have bought it, but hindsight being what it is......i would really like to get an MT2 with an adi top.

i sent steve some "gitars" to sell for me and was planning on driving out there and trying things out in a few weeks.

guitars....mandolins.....guitars.....mandolins.....i just cannot help myself......

marymary: cotten music has a used mt-2v which looks to be in pretty good shape... somewhat pricey, but it looks killer. the birdseye maple is similar to the one i have.

MaryMary: How do you like your Brentrup? Mine is as fine as any mando I've ever played. It has tone to die for. BTW, the MT-2 is very good too but the Brentrup is in another class. Chuck

i have quite a few of hans' mandos. and am planning a few more.......that said, i think the collings have come a long way from that first mando i had. i have two collings mandos and ......well, i have more collings guitars than i am willing to mention.

i've a yen for an mt2v or an mt2.......we'll see.

i like to spread the support around and am happy to keep everyone employed.

I would love to try a MT2V. I have heard great things about them. That being said, Rich has an interesting decision to make but he could always keep both.

you need to make a significant contribution in playing time to really "get to know" an adirondack top.......unless of course you buy one that has been played incessantly for several years.....sometimes i think buying used is a good idea, but then again, when i seem to be looking, there are no used ones about.