Members Michael Martin Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 ...and wow. It was a dread. Really rich tone. Slightly wider neck than I am used to, but I adjusted readily enough. It belongs to a friend to is a multi-instrumentalist. He plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, piano, etc. etc. In fact, he makes his living tuning pianos for all the concert halls around here and by rebuilding/repairing pianos. I'm hoping we can develop some things together for public playing. My perfect counterpart/opposite: skillful and versatile!
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 One of the finest guitars I've ever played was a simple little mahogany Collings OM - absolutely stunning little fingerpicker. Interesting tidbit about Collings - they are one of the Martin "copies" that uses a bolt on neck rather that the classic dovetail. Seems to work just fine, eh?
Members zb0430 Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 After seeing Chris Tomlin in concert, I've been dying to play a Collings OM-3 with a sunburst top. With a K&K Pure Western in there, you probably can't get any better sound live... And man is it beautiful. He pulled out a Collings dread of some sort, as well.
Members DonK Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 I've played a couple in a store and have been really impressed.
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 If you want to be really impressed, look at some of Collings' F style mandolins. They easily get into five figures.
Members 61gibson335 Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 i have to admit collings are amazing guitars. they are built in the martin pre war style for the most part except for the neck. the collings necks bolt on which i believe gives them a slightly tin like tone. don't get me wrong collings are built very well but i just wish they would use dovetail neck joints. a pre war matin is far better than a collings.
Members DonK Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 If you want to be really impressed, look at some of Collings' F style mandolins. They easily get into five figures. Point taken. When I was shopping for a mandolin last year I was pretty surprised at the difference in cost between a high-end mandolin vs. a high-end guitar. I also discovered that entry level mando's go for a good bit more than a good entry-level guitar. I'd never taken notice of mandolin prices. Wonder what a good banjo costs?
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 Wonder what a good banjo costs? contradiction in terms. After building one, I understand why the price of a mando can be so high - each one is hand voiced - top, back and both tone bars - to different notes. Lloyd Loar did it by ear, modern builders have some pretty neat tools, but it is still tap and shave. btw - mine didn't come out all that great - I won't charge $15K when I sell it.
Members BlackCustom Posted April 10, 2007 Members Posted April 10, 2007 I played a couple Collings when I was shopping for a guitar last year. I was looking at a Martin Marquis, and the Collings were some of the most comparable guitars in the shop. They are very nice guitars - I love their bursts. I ended up buying the Martin though - it had the sound I was looking for and was significantly cheaper.
Members MBWendel Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 Collings builds a really nice guitar. I do sometimes feel that they are held up as the new "Holy Grail", which is unfair to a few other brands/luthiers. But, I have played a bunch and they are all good. I also had no idea they are bolt ons.
Members 61gibson335 Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 I was surprised myself when I discovered they were bolt ons. They would be perfect guitars if not for the bolt ons.
Members Kap'n Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 Interesting tidbit about Collings - they are one of the Martin "copies" that uses a bolt on neck rather that the classic dovetail. Seems to work just fine, eh? As is Bourgeois. I see both brands as higher end instruments for players. On an instrument I'm playing, I'd want the extra time and care put into voicing the bracing rather than fitting a dovetail. If you can afford an Olsen or a Dudenbostel, you'll get over the price of an eventual neck reset.
Members knockwood Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 little fingerpicker. What did you just call me?
Members bjorn-fjord Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 i have to admit collings are amazing guitars. they are built in the martin pre war style for the most part except for the neck. the collings necks bolt on which i believe gives them a slightly tin like tone. don't get me wrong collings are built very well but i just wish they would use dovetail neck joints. a pre war matin is far better than a collings. As someone who has built many guitars with dovetails and bolt-ons I would respectfully suggest that in the vast majority of cases a bolt-on neck is more functionally integral to the body than a dovetail. I have installed many a veneer shim into a dovetail joint to fine-tune the neck angle and I can assure you that there is very little wood to wood contact in the dovetail joints of most factory instruments. As for pre-war Martins being far better than Collings, I'd say we owe it to Bill Collings to wait until his instruments are 70 years old before we make that judgement.
Members riffmeister Posted April 11, 2007 Members Posted April 11, 2007 I have an OM and a dread from Collings, both in Adirondack/mahogany. Great materials and construction, killer sound (IMO), excellent playability, and understated looks. Works for me..... .
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