Hi Everyone,

Lately I'm seeing more new Collings mandolins with a one piece back. I'm wondering about the pro's and con's of this option. They are stunning but other than appearance why would you choose a one piece over the standard two piece back.

Thanks
LaVonne

As I recall I asked this same question once over at the Mandolin Cafe. The general opinion was that it was cosmetic only. It is supposed to be tougher to find one piece of material that is large enough and suitable to make a one piece back. But tonal differences are not supposed to be significant. My mandola has a one piece back.

I would prefer the one piece back to the two piece but like Wesley says, there is not suppose to be much difference in sound.

L, have you tried the MT-O at Madison Music? I was hoping to get there before someone bought it. I would certainly like to give it a listen, although I probably would not opt for the adi top version, instead I'd go with Englemann for a softer, but bigger sound.

Kenny, I have not played the MT2-O at Madison Music but I've been fantasizing about it. My OM1ac is at Lanes Lutherie for a little tweaking. When I pick it up I'll be in the neighborhood and will check it out if it's still there.

I would probably also go with the Engleman top. My MT2 has an adi top and I love it but if I replace it with an oval I would go for the softer more open sound.

If I play the MT2-O I'll post some comments.

what you will get with the engelmann is the need for a lighter touch. on a collings the engelmann gives a more immediate "broken in feel" and a bit more volume. if you are a heavy handed player stick with the adi top.

sound depends not only on the mandolin, but on your pick, your hand position and your attack.

what you will find that with a heavy handed style like mike compton's you get that "blat blat" sound from engelmann.

Very true. I loved my MT but tended to overdrive it when playing at bg jams. "blat blat" is a pretty good description. I have never been able to overdrive my MT2 w/ adi top. I did love the character of engelmans tone, though, and I agree that it would make a great choice for an O.

I do think that the style you play might dictate which top is best suited for one. For me, while playing in church and being amplified via K&K through the sound system, an oval hole with Englemann top would be best. I tend to play lightly, arpeggiated chords, single notes, sometimes tremelo on the single notes, sometime a few pulloff combined with open strings. The open sound of an oval hole with quick response is great. If you play lightly, or say 60% of full force, you can accent individual notes to come thru the mix when you want to... gives one more control over the sound as opposed to depending on the sound man to know when the music calls for something. Usually, they just set the volume level and leave it after the first song. With an adi top, sometimes you have to play harder to drive the top, so you have more headroom, but less overall dynamic range... I know this may bring some arguements from the adi lovers, but hey... who's reading the mandolin section... most people are just interested in guitars, guitars, guitars...

My Lawrence Smart mandolin has a one piece back and an Engleman top. It sounds wonderful. I think the top is the crucial factor in tone and not the one piece versus two piece back. Also, I don't feel that Engleman needs a gentle touch. I bang mine pretty hard and the mando rewards my efforts in spades. I do agree that Engleman breaks in quicker. Chuck

Great comments on Engelmann Vs Adi. I have a pretty light touch but when I play swing rhythm I sometimes play with a bit more force.

Does Collings offer Sitka or German as an option as do some other builders? I've never seen reference to these woods. I would think either would be a nice mid point between Engelmann and Adi. What do you folks think? Has anyone checked into these options.

I have the MF5varnsish with Adirondack top and it's a great mandolin, and as great an instrument as it is, it is replacable. My other two F's are not. I have an incredilbe John Sullivan F w/ German top/quilted back/mahog neck that is incredibly balanced and can be played loud too. My favorite mando is my 2 point, S hole, Nugget with a one piece back and Engleman top. It's a '91 and Mike K. tuned up some stuff a couple years back...incredible mando.

What y'all said, however, is true...The Collings is the best if I'm beating up banjos...Since, I rarely play bluegrass, however, I string all my mandos with Thomastick flat wounds and love the balanced tone. I lose some of the bright cut, but the jazz and singer-songwriter stuff I do on mando is better suited to flatwounds on an Engleman top.

Speaking of an incredible Engleman topped mando, I pur an order in for a custom varnish Collings about 2 years ago...or longer with Steve at AMW. He figured something happened to it and took it off his website...That is when I picked up the Nugget that is insane. Well, Steve called me this last week and what do you know, Bill finished up this incredible varnish mando....Unbelievable. I wish I had the cashola to pick it up, but I just can't swing it right now. Someone should buy this thing...I'm sure it would be a keeper...of course, not pocket change at $12K plus....

Back to the original post, If you play with banjos and fiddles, go with Adirondack...everything else, I prefer Engleman...for what it's worth.

Kia Manuia,

Dale

www.daleinskeep.com

i own a variety of mandolins, many with adi tops, some with engelmann, several with italian. i had a german topped.........it is all a matter of choice. the one piece backs are nice looking, and just that.

as for your mf5v deluxe, dale, if it had an adi top i'd be hocking my shoes right now to own it. ordering is a tough thing. you really have to have the stamina for waiting. i can wait a year, but after that i get antsy. which is why i am one of those people who buys most of their stuff by going into a retailer and pointing- "i want that one." (i buy most of my cars that way, and have bought the majority of my instruments that way).

just an added note: after buying a used mt2v off steve miklas a few months back i have to say, there is NOTHING like a broken in adi topped mando.

You can take this as gospel cuz It came from me! (kidding, just kidding, well...sorta) ;-)

One piece vs two piece back...no tonal differences. Glue joints transfer vibrations too.

Top woods. This debate just never gets old does it?? LOL Adi gives you that ringing clarity while Engleman gives yo a fuller, more open sound from the beginning. Which is better? Play them and decide. And listen to your luthier. But I will say that you do not need to have a light touch with an engleman top. I play a Heiden A5 with an Engleman top and I definitely do not have a light touch. I'm no Mike Compton, but I do play Monroe-style bluegrass and the Heiden just keeps on giving!

Now back to Collings mandolins, which I love. I want an MT2-O so bad I can't stand it!!! If I was going to get one it would definitely be adi topped. Oval holes by nature have big, lush overtones and I'd like the bite and clarity that adi usually adds. I owned a German topped oval hole and while it was an amazing instrument, in a jam of any size it was instantly lost. Huge, open tone but no focus.