Collings Guitars

jeffcoop

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The only Collings I've ever played is the Baby 2H, a sub-parlor-sized guitar owned by my stepmother. Its sound surely is not representative of a typical Collings, but it is nevertheless a remarkable instrument, without any of the compact, boxy sound typically found in small-bodied acoustics (up to and including my GAD-F20 and even the New Hartford-built F20 that I sold a few years ago). It is impeccably made and plays wonderfully. I hope to try a grown-up Collings at some point.
 

fronobulax

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Some LTGers had a tour a few years back. We were all impressed by the facility and the products. They don't make any basses so I played nothing but I thought about learning ukulele so I could justify buying a Collins :)
 

GAD

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I've played a few Collings in my travels, though they were all electrics. A Collings I35 is one of the few guitars that would pull me away from a Starfire. Fabulous instruments, though I tend to prefer the control layout of the SF since I'm so used to it.
 

dreadnut

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I've had the privilege of playing several acoustic Collins at Elderly over the years. Would love to put one in the stable.

My favorite Collings at Elderly was a $15,000 F-5 Mandolin. It was hanging there so I played it!
 

twocorgis

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I've owned two, a 2004 D2H, and a 1998 DS2H (12 fret slothead). I admired their workmanship, but ultimately didn't bond with either of them and sold them. In all fairness, both of them were rosewood and I'm really a mahogany guy, and both had repaired top cracks, which possibly didn't help. That being said, I have a 1997 Bourgeois Slope D with a repaired top crack, and it's probably my best all around guitar.
 

Brad Little

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I've played one, don't know the model and can't remember if it was RW or HOG, but was a dread. Nice guitar, played well, but my D-55 plays as well and sounds at least as good.
Brad
 

Quantum Strummer

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I have a Collings-made Waterloo WL-K, their take on the Kel Kroydon brand guitars Gibson briefly made c. 1930. It's very lightly built and as a result very responsive, with a crisp & dry sound. I also have a Collings I-30 LC (Laminate Construction), their take on a Gibson ES-330/Epi Casino. It uses trestle bracing to cut down on feedback and also has a slightly smaller body than a 330, which I find makes for better playing comfort. Low-ish wind Lollar P90s with a really good blend of clarity and warmth. Makes a nice pair with my Ibanez AS-50, an ES-335 variant that also has a smaller body. The WL-K and I-30 are both extremely well made.

-Dave-
 

Rayk

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Played one orchestra model that’s all I know about it . It sounded like heaven :) if I had the cash I would of bought it .
 

F312

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I've owned two, a 2004 D2H, and a 1998 DS2H (12 fret slothead). I admired their workmanship, but ultimately didn't bond with either of them and sold them. In all fairness, both of them were rosewood and I'm really a mahogany guy, and both had repaired top cracks, which possibly didn't help. That being said, I have a 1997 Bourgeois Slope D with a repaired top crack, and it's probably my best all around guitar.

Top crack question; Did you buy these guitars with the cracks in them, or did they happen while you had them? Just curious.

Ralph
 

Quantum Strummer

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+1
and this



What a singer too! The arrangement of Joanna Newsom's "Good Intentions Paving Company" Aoife does with Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage is amazing. There are two or three different performances of it on YouTube. The Fretboard Journal version is the best IMO.

-Dave-
 

twocorgis

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Top crack question; Did you buy these guitars with the cracks in them, or did they happen while you had them? Just curious.

Ralph

I bought them all that way, the Bourgeois for a stupid cheap price form a completely clueless eBay seller who obviously knew nothing about guitars (I had to ship him a box, and walk him through how to pack it over the phone). It arrived with the crack unrepaired, but both the others had been cleated. The D2H I think was just a dud, as it had changed hands a bunch of times before I got it, and changed hands a bunch of times after me. The DS2H was a good one, to the point where the seller wanted to buy it back from me, but I had already sold it.
 

F312

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I bought them all that way, the Bourgeois for a stupid cheap price form a completely clueless eBay seller who obviously knew nothing about guitars (I had to ship him a box, and walk him through how to pack it over the phone). It arrived with the crack unrepaired, but both the others had been cleated. The D2H I think was just a dud, as it had changed hands a bunch of times before I got it, and changed hands a bunch of times after me. The DS2H was a good one, to the point where the seller wanted to buy it back from me, but I had already sold it.

Thanks Sandy, I'm going to start a thread on this topic, but do some searches first.
 

mavuser

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What a singer too! The arrangement of Joanna Newsom's "Good Intentions Paving Company" Aoife does with Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage is amazing. There are two or three different performances of it on YouTube. The Fretboard Journal version is the best IMO.

-Dave-

very cool bro, i been seeing her play for a long time, captured many recordings around 2011-2013. one of the nicest people i’ve ever known. amazing voice, among the very best i have heard.
 
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