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A recent thread about a Collings acoustic has activated my gas.
I already own a couple of nice Gibson flat tops, but now I've find myself jonesing for a Collings.
I spend most of my guitar-time playing flat top unplugged working on fingerstyle jazz, and I'm wondering if a Collings would be a good fit for me. I'm also wondering if a Collings is going to offer that much more in terms of playability and tone than my Gibsons . . .
I'd love to hear some Collings experiences, pros & cons, model recommendations, etc.
I can't move very quickly on this because the nearest dealers are about 180 miles away . . . so I guess I'm safe for now LOL. But I might have to do a little road trip before too long
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04-23-2016 04:21 PM
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Collings workmanship is second to none but, for some reason, I've never liked the tone - they seem to be voiced more in the treble range - not the full, fat sound you get from a Martin or Gibson. I've had the same experience with Taylor - they play great, some are really pretty and they're made well, but I just can't get with the tone. Of course, YMMV. Check out the Northwoods guitar built by John Mcquarrie in British Columbia - I gave up a really good Martin for one and haven't regretted it for an instant. John is a one-man operation and only makes 40-50 guitars a year. Check You Tube for some vids.
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Yup. Workmanship is flawless. I found mine stiff feeling and sold it. He says he builds them on the stiff side and I likely won't live long enough to break it in
ALOT of guys love them though. Especially the flat pickers.
I auditioned a Northwoods once but it didn't motivate me to pay the price. May have just been that example.
I ended up with a '95 Taylor GAMC prototype and am thrilled with it, and I mostly play jazz on it. However, I have other archtops and it never gets played, so I'm considering letting it go.
Just my 2 cents
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I have a Collings 002H (12 fret).
Love the tone and the instrument has been solid as a rock.
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0002H here and it's a great guitar.
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I have an 0002H too, and loved the tone, etc.,etc. UNTIL I played the used Martin 000-42 that I now own. Somehow the Martin seems fuller and fatter and .......more. Never thought I'd say that. The Collings never gets played now, the Martins shorter scale and easier action suits me, and as long as I wear shades the abalone bling doesn't bother me. Have to say though, I played 6 or 7 Martin 000s before I found mine. They have to speak to you.
The build quality on Collings is superb, (better than the 000-42 IMO) and it sounds great, just not quite as good to me as my death-by-shellfish model Martin.
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I also have a Martin OM18 Golden Era and yes, the tone of that Martin is also fuller and the guitar is louder.
Collings seems to go for his own sound somewhere between vintage and modern (Taylor and non-pre-war Santa Cruz's I consider examples of modern).
Great feel and build quality on the Collings.
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I had an opportunity to try a used Collings "Baby."
Beautiful object!
For me, too heavy (especially for a small guitar, a type I love), too much
of a 'D' shaped neck, too stiff. I was surprised but I haven't written Collings off.
Have you looked at their "Waterloo" line. Martin is doing something similar, just this year.
Santa Cruz is also a name to remember; happy hunting!
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Played a mini Collings jumbo at an auction. Best acoustic i've ever played, couldnt stop smiling whilst playing it.
Sorry
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Originally Posted by bananafist
Was going to say, did you try a few first?
I am prepared to believe your story but only because it's coming from you. Other wise i'd say martin were over priced and under delivering and have been for years. Not as badly as Taylor but getting there!
I would rather a Furch over a Martin 9 times out of 10.
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I have a SJ Adirondack cutaway (maple) and it is exceptional. Vinny Raniolo plays a rosewood version on his own stuff and when accompanying Frank Vignola. Collings are pricey guitars and new builds are really up in price so trying to find a used one is a good idea. The SJ is a great size for all kinds of playing and would be a great choice for fingerstyle jazz IMO. Good luck.
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Thanks for all the great replies
Sunday I got to play a new $2500 Martin at my weekly jam -- swapped out my J-45 custom for one blues song with a buddy. Sorry I don't know the Martin model -- it was a dread with cutaway of some kind. Sounded good when he played it, but pretty lifeless in my hands. I have yet to catch the Martin vibe.
Looks like a road trip up to Lawrence to do some test driving at Mass Street Music will be in order soon . . .
If I'm going to spend $3+ grand on an acoustic guitar, it's going to have to sound spectacular!
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Nothin' like getting your hands on an instrument to know if it's for you or not! I played a Colling 000 at a music store about 10 years ago and it still haunts me. Didn't have the money for it then and still don't
The Santa Cruz Eric Skye model is also drool worthy.
OO Skye :: Santa Cruz Guitar Company
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I have to say I played a friends Collings 0002h and another in a shop before I got mine and the quality of build - and the sound, was very consistent between all three. In fact I've never played a duff Collings, but I've played more than a few duff Martins! I was a total Collings man..........until I played my 000-42. I have played five or six 00-42s, including a Marquis model (£6000+ used) and quite a few other Martins over the years, but none of them made me smile like my bling machine.
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In 1994, after a long search and playing many guitars, I found a Collings OM-1 that was everything that I was looking for. Loud, balanced tone, played like butter. Good for rhythm, fingerpicking and single string.
Twenty-two years later it's still my go-to acoustic.
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So I went on a gas-fueled 150 mile trip today to the nearest Collings dealer to test drive some of these fine guitars in person. I brought along my Gibson LG-2 that I was prepared to sacrifice in a trade-in / trade-up scenario. It didn't quite go as planned, and I came home with my LG-2 instead of a new Collings. No complaints, I saved a few thousand $$$.
I got to try out 3 various OM's, 2 dreads, a mahogany top parlor of some sort, and 2 waterloo's. I gotta say: it was great fun
They are superbly built guitars, no doubt. Stunning really. But none of the OM's spoke to me tone-wise and their necks felt wide and flat compared to my usual Gibsons. The Waterloo's were definitely fun, but the whole V-neck retro thing is not me. Ironically, one of the Dreadnaughts was the best fit. Ironically I say, because I already have a J-45 custom that is a great Dreadnaught so that's not what I was looking for!
Nonetheless, the Dread spoke to me, and they were running a good sale and I was ready to scratch the itch, so I brought my trade-in guitar to work a deal. I figured it was a no-brainer, but after a bit the tech comes around and is giving me a big story about problems with the neck in my LG-2. I listen, but I'm not really buying into his fuss, partly because I had it set up with my usual tech a couple of months ago, and partly because I play it most every day. Bottom line was, he didn't want the trade in, I didn't really need a new Dreadnaught, so I walked away with no new Collings in hand.
Would I enjoy a Collings Dreadnaught at some point? Sure, but for better or worse, my Gibsons are still home base for now. The good news is that gas has abated, and I have a renewed respect for the tone of my Gibson acoustics.
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Good to hear that, Longways, its always interesting to try out stuff that appeals, especially when you eventually decide you are quite happy with what you've got, and so much less expensive.
Over the years I've had the opportunity to play quite a number of guitars that I was drawn to, but when I actually get to play them and handle them, and listen to them for a while, more often than not, I decide I'm happy with what I've got.
My wife thinks it'd be great if I could hire the current object of desire for a week, with the option to buy, because most would go back after 7 days. I am inclined to agree, and I think it would still work out cheaper than buying stuff you then sell again.
Having said all that, I still can't wait to try an ES-275, and that Peerless Maestro I played a while back is still exerting a pull!
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