I can't comment on Collings, but from a Boutique guitar, or quality-standpoint, one that is often compared to it is Bourgeois. I had for my standards, a pretty decent time /or- run (5 + years!) a Vintage D. That was a 2007 model when I purchased it in used EX(plus) at that time - condition. So the Adirondack top, while stiff "initially," really began to blossom & come into it's own over the time in which I'd owned it. By the end--the last year or two, everybody who picked it up & played it, were pretty well "astonished!" Needless to say, it's looks were stunning. Don't know if they're designed for bluegrass (which would be kind of the opposite of my playing style). But once I adapted to the profile & shape of the neck (& mine was the smaller of the two nut widths: 1 23/32 "); I'm told it was kind of Dana's take on a prewar instrument (in my case, minus the Brazilian~)! But the single, "note" you could play, just sort of felt like it was dipped in sweet butter or something, and seemed to 'sing,' to my ear, in a way that I have never heard before. Keep in mind, 99.9% of my experience is with Guilds, and not builds like this, or the vintage variety or kind. . . Again, interesting thing about the neck: it kind of almost had about 3 different shapes, for each "position," maybe (I honestly don't even know exactly-for sure where these all are; 1st / 2nd & such...). But basically in the cowboy chords was one shape. And then another flatter in the middle of the neck. Then down by the area closer to the higher notes it actually got really thick and fat. But what I found is that if you wrapped your whole hand around it you had tremendous access to those notes for playing and it actually made it quite easy, once you figured it out. If I could, again, one day be in a position to afford/acquire one - I probably would. It's a true "desert-island," or "Lifetime," guitar! No doubt; so if I were in your position, and it wouldn't cripple you financially or set you back in an instantly regrettable way -- I would not hesitate (here again, I'm not familiar with Collings, and I know they look a lot alike from a distance, or in photos) but from what I understand they do have a different voicing. I think that Bourgeois may even be a smaller, "small bench" (in terms of sheer force of numbers in employees) than is Collings. Which is in and of itself quite small, when compared to the big boys, or mass produced guitars. The attention to detail on mine - was "stunning." Like a Stradivarius; or other fine work of Art!