Used Collings MT2

It's tough to imagine a 23-year-old instrument being in much better shape than this 2003 Collings MT2, with the beautiful parallel telegraphing lines in its fine nitro finish being just about the only evidence of its age, and yet it somehow has all the woody resonance and richness of a well broken-in Adirondack spruce mandolin. Woods and hardware are all first class, with a particularly symmetrical set of flamed maple for the back, sides, and neck a notable highlight. It plays like a dream, too, with effortless low action measuring 4/64" and 3/64" from the 12th fret to the bottom of the low and high courses, respectively, with a touch of relief in the neck and plenty of room for adjustment on both thumbwheels of the ebony bridge. Frets are in great shape, showing a hint of wear beneath the plain courses in the first 5 positions — it's minor and there is tons of life in them yet. Hardware is all original with the exception of an aftermarket gold strap button installed in the heel. Includes the original case in excellent condition.

• Year: 2003
• Top: Adirondack spruce
• Back & sides: Flamed maple
• Neck/fingerboard: Flamed maple/ebony
• Inlays: Mother-of-pearl dots, Flourish peghead inlay
• Binding: Grained ivoroid — top, back, fingerboard & headstock
• Nut width: 1-1/8"
• Scale length: 13-7/8"
• Tuners: Gotoh, gold w/ pearloid buttons
• Bridge: Ebony
• Tailpiece: Collings original