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My local shop just got a Collings Eastside LC in.
What a fantastic instrument!
Out of my price range, but I loved playing it.
Ergonomically, I thought it was just about perfect.
Tonally, it had a woodiness that was unexpected and very enjoyable. And the smell was intoxicating.
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12-10-2012 01:29 PM
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Interesting. I have never smelt a Collings. All of my used guitars smelt like old wood with a mustiness that took time to clear.
Originally Posted by Bryan T
I would like someone to take measure of the gestalt of the Gibson ES-175 VOS 59 Reissue and the Collings Eastside LC and compare them. I saw a 3" depth Deep Body Eastside LC over at Gryphon Stringed Instruments but don't have the wherewithal for it.
Shawntp has one. Perhaps Shawn could pipe in?
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I was just waiting for someone starting a thread about this guitar.
I never played one but I expect it should be a fantastic guitar, top level, like a Sadowsky.
I like the fact that it is a laminated guitar and I think it is crafted with extreme care in every detail.
Well, these are just my suppositions, but I own a Collings I35 LC and I like it so much.
Maybe in the future.....
Was the fingerboard of the guitar you played rosewood or ebony. I read on the website it comes in two options.
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played one at my local shop a week ago- was underwhelmed.
went thru 3 dif amps:
fedback at low vols,
pickup sounded thin,
woofy low E,
also setup wasn't great:
high-ish action,
pickup unbalanced: polepieces unadjusted
at $5400 not for me.
at that price they should be set up well out of the gate IMO.
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Hi,
me too have curious about this guitar. In Norway I think they sold 1 as a special order for a customer and I don't who, but could be somebody I know. Anyway I have a Collings I-35 DeLuxe and a Sadowsky SS-15. The Sadowsky being my main instrument, but that Collings is just a fantastic instrument and I must say that the sheer quality in ALL areas are just great and beyond anything I have owned and played in the 335/CS336/339 line. So, I'm sort of convinced about a Collings Eastside being even better craftsmanship and deeper than on a Sadowsky. Sort of stupid to postpone and say and as much as I love my SS-15
, I sort of go against myself (since I'm planning to sell the I35...), anyway. Collings make about 5-8 guitars a week, I don't know about Sadowsky.
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Not doubting your description, but that is kind of surprising to me. I did some research and it looks like they use a Lollar Imperial high-wind, which should be a higher output pickup. I was actually surprised that it sounds as "woody" as it does given that it is a higher wind pickup. Originally Posted by tucson matt
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I love a good smelling guitar. My Taylor (Spruce/Ovangkol) smells a bit like chocolate.
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I played one at my local shop a few weeks ago. Very nicely made as expected and I really liked the sound and feel. OTOH, can't stomach the design: that upper bout is just odd, and the f holes aren't in the right place.
It's too bad, I was in the market for a guitar like that, but I guess I'm not the intended market.
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I own a Collings Eastside LC. Its a wonderful instrument but it is a unique build whose application might not be ideal for everyone. Collings instruments have very unique voicings. If you have ever had the pleasure of playing a carved top or laminate top Soco/I-35 model then you should have an understanding how these instruments sound nothing like a Gibson 335 (as you might have thought). The Eastside is very much UNLIKE a 175 in the same way the I35 is different from a 335. Collings builds have a sound their own. Light and resonant, very acoustic in nature, and a very clear and focused tone. People from Collings have commented that they toyed with the thickness of the Eastside (they havesome deep body prototypes floating around) but decided they preferred the 2.5" depth because it had a more focused sound. Its easily the most acoustic laminate construction guitar i've ever played. Its much more articulate and acoustic in nature than any ES175 I've played but you can dial in the dark woody tone. Lots of air, perhaps not so much as a 175. ES175's to me are darker and muddier where the Eastside is a little more piano-like and forward sounding. The Eastside LC sounds lively unplugged but its obviously not meant to be played this way given the decidedly narrower body depth. I think the choice in depth size certainly benefit the instrument at stage volume. The tone full on is really interesting (lots of information and lots of acoustic overtones). Dialing the tone back to about 2-3 out of 10 gets you that dark woody Jazz tone. Its a very versatile guitar for looking like a one-trick pony. The scale length (24 7/8") is great also as it doesn't feel sloppy but gives it an easier action than the typical 25.5" of an archtop. The action on mine is low and perfect. I've never played a Collings that didn't have perfect fretwork and setup so to hear comments stating otherwise is a bit of a surprise as these are a staple of the companies mandolins and guitars. The cutaway is meant to fall in line with the aesthetics of the CL Jazz and Soco so it depends on ones presences but I like the look and feel. I would not call the pickup of mine thin, it's kind of hot and full to me and begs dialing back of both the volume and tone through a blackface tube amp (Two-Rock Studio Pro). I gigged with it a couple times through an AER Compact 60 and it was very balanced and versatile for Jazz and Blues. They sell new for $4860 in the US from all dealers (collings pricing is set at 10% off list and you never see discounts/variances). I purchased mine mint and used from John Stewart (MyJazzHome.com) for $4250 which I think is a superb price. One note is Collings tweaks these so some are out with deeper bodies and also there are some out there with a rosewood fretboard. Mine has an ebony fretboard which is quite snappy. I will dig up a pic and clip.
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Clip:
Pic:
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Gorgeous!
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Glad you guys like it, maybe I played a bad one or I had a bad day.
Is my local store selling it at an inflated price or what?
I checked online and, indeed, they go for $4800-ish...?
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Unlike Gibson, Collings Sunburst is at a 10% premium over Blonde.
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Is that because Gibson reserves their better looking wood for blondes?
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This instrument is more in particular because it has the Optional Full-Body Sunburst (on the back and sides) and not due to the top. Any standard configuration of the Eastside LC in Blonde or Sunburst will be the same price. This one is more only because of the Full-Body sunburst option. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
A standard Eastside LC (in Sunburst or Blonde) is $5400 MSRP and $4860 Street:
The Full-Body Sunburst/Laminate Maple one above is $6000 MSRP and $5400 Street
There is one that was a Deep Body Prototype with full body sunburst (including neck) and deluxe appointments (bound neck/f holes) for $6600 MSRP and $5940 Street.Last edited by shawntp; 12-11-2012 at 01:04 PM.
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One other thing to note, They have been doing a bit of experimentation with body depth and materials and tweaking certain elements (fretboard/depth/etc). I know when I spoke to a dealer he had a standard early Eastside and a Prototype on loan of a new build with some tweaks he was giving feedback on. I general on the Collings forum it seems they have gone back and forth on a few things but ultimately settled on the original design/depth/materials for the standard build. That doesn't mean there aren't tweaks or special orders/changes out there made by Customers or even Dealers. I think its safe to assume two builds of the same spec are going to sound/play pretty similarly from Collings (as much or more consistency than I have seen anywhere else) though if an instrument has tweaks to depth of fingerboard material you can certainly expect differences. Originally Posted by tucson matt
I would also like to note that I have had an interesting time figureing out the right amp for the Eastside. So far I have played through a AER and a Two-Rock studio pro in my home (also a Fishman acoustic and a couple others out). I have a Henricksen JazzAmp arriving today for audition. Its a difficult guitar for me to make my mind up on amp wise because the tone is somewhat of a laminate construction guitar in a slightly shallow depth that really tricks you with its inherent acoustic properties. It sounds different than you expect it to and has a lot of tonaly variety that you need to figure out how to focus. It has been a challenge for me to find the amp that pairs "perfectly".
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Did you try the Eastside with a Fender (say a Deluxe Reverb or Princeton Reverb). I play my 175 through the Deluxe Reverb and I get such a sweet sound (according to my taste). Originally Posted by shawntp
I've also got the Henriksen, but I prefer the DR.
I am not saying I don't like the 175 through the Henriksen, but I have to put some nice reverb in front of the amp, otherwise it sounds a bit boxy to me. I like reverb (TC Hall of Fame).
Last experiment I did was going through the Hall of Fame and sending one output to the DR and the other to the Henriksen.
Nice combination of sounds if the volumes are well balanced.
Let us know how your Collings sounds with your next amp.
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Hi Shawntp.
Thats a wonderful looking and sounding instrument, congrats! What kind of strings is on the recording? Flats/rounds? Thickness?
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Yeah - thanks for the tips. I picked up the Two-Rock expecting it to be clean but it broke up way to early (6v6 based) so I sent it back. I have the JazzAmp here now which is great but is not a tube amp. My plan is to look for a Headstrong Lil King (boutique build of a Princeton Reverb) to run in tandem with the JazzAmp. Originally Posted by Jazz_175
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Originally Posted by JanLF
D'Addario Flat Wound Chromes, they were on the Eastside when I bought it last month and I have not rewound it.
I recorded into an AER Compact 60/3 which I didnt like with this guitar (compressed too easily and didnt have great EQ control). The whole thing felt too hot and strained. I have a Henriksen here now that sounds pretty good - much smoother and more accurate to the tone of the instrument unplugged. I am playing with the pickup height because I am thinking it might be a hair too high for my tastes. It is really interesting that Collings uses High Wind Lollars on this instrument though it is Laminate. On Carved Soco's and I-35's they use Lollar low-winds.
I really love the 24 7/8ths scale lenghth though. Taught and loose but not sloppy. Some guys love the standard 25.5" length but Ive always favored instruments with a shorter scale and heavier strings.
I am interested to try a Benedetto some day as they are 25" scale length which seems appealing to me but they are hard to find.
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Great clip! I particularly enjoyed the Old Love riff. Originally Posted by shawntp
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That is something that surprised me too when I read the specs on the Web Site. This is the description on Lollar Website Originally Posted by shawntp
"Our High Wind Humbucker Pickups are similar in overall tone to the Imperials, but their higher output retains some of the airiness and balanced tone of the originals, while pushing your amplifier into distortion faster and harder. Creamy treble, smooth and fat bottom end with softer attack and lots of sustain"
The last part of the sentence might be relevant for the guitar.
In my I35 LC I usually tame a bit the trebles lowering them in the amp or using the tone knob in the guitar, or, also,
slightly rolling off the volume knob in the guitar.
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I just got a blonde one(will post a video soon), great guitar.
I am a long time Collings-player(since 2008) and have a great soco deluxe.
I am trying to get used to 12's. I didn't like the D'addario 12's that was on it, so I switched to Thomastik 12-50(with a plain 3rd). I am considering switching to 11's since I play a lot of legato. I used it on two gigs already, sounded great. Very resistant to feedback as well. I have a couple of more gigs this weekend and will report back.
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Beautiful, I always get grass greener/envy syndrome with Collings guitar colors/tops because they are all so damn georgous.
Looking forward to hearing your experiences.
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Hi, thanks-yours is gorgeous too. Some of them blonde ones I have seen looks darker than mine. In real life mine looks almost faded/vintage-like. Originally Posted by shawntp
Here it is hanging out with my soco.
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Raney and Abersold, great interview.
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