Okay, I've made a decision. The MT2 is a keeper. I've played the heck out of it these past 2 weeks, and it is responding very nicely. I can tell she's still a little tight but I've heard enough to know she will just get better and better. The tone is not quite as woody as the MT, but just as loud, and more pure and sweet. It also plays sooo easy! With J74s it seems that I don't need any left hand pressure to fret cleanly. It really just feels like I touch the string and the note is fretted beautifully. I know this is probably more of a set-up thing, but it is much easier to play than my MT. Doesn't seem to be just a string height thing either - the two mandos seem to have about the same string height.

I'm still hanging on to the MT for now, but probably will put it up for sell at some point.

i bought myself a blonde MT2 from Jeff at Acoustic Vibes Monday morning (still waiting for the blonde MT i ordered last year- seems to be harder and harder to get the blondes, even the more expensive models)........so i had just sold some stuff.......quite a bit of stuff and decided i was going to find a blonde MT2. there were two, but i decided on this one as the neck profile looked "beefier".......and i guessed right on that. it is very nice and i am sure with all my wailing on it, it will open up more and more.

here she is:

http://www.acousticvibesmusic.com/catalog/index.php?mai...4_29&products_id=124

jeff was great to work with and by tuesday morning i had this in my hands. now i am busy breaking it in.....

Marymary,

That's a beautiful mando! If it is on par with mine you must be having a blast breaking 'er in.

marymary:
you've got a great looking mandolin there. let us all know how you like it compared to the others in your collection. i sold my MT last summer, and i sometimes miss it. the black MT at Quincy's is calling me... ever so faintly...

peter p..........give into the call. collings mandolins are getting scarce all of a sudden....especially the blackfaced MT's. there were 5 or 6 last year at this time. nothing much out there right now........took her to my lesson last night. big low end, but still very tight. finally, i can rest.....blonde mandolin in mandolin closet.....now waiting for the MT is not so very important.....