Opinions on Collings guitars?

[690MBCOMMANDO]

For me, I think their guitars are good overall. That being said, not every guitar is jaw dropping for what I look for. The two that impressed me the most are: I-35LC and OM2HG Deep Body, ironically I ended up buying both.

[good_hillbilly]

Originally Posted by rmyAddison

I'm a Martin guy but I've also owned Collings and Bourgeois, and have nothing but respect for Santa Cruz and H&D too.

Honestly, but just my personal opinion, I like Collings a little less than the others, but their fit and finish are outstanding, and if you like the voicing they're wonderful guitars.

Lots of great choices with these brands, no one right brand for everybody, follow your ears.........

I agree with that totally. I've only owned one Collings, but it was pretty and kinda wimpy instead of tough and ballsy like a Martin dread. The Bourgeois ones I have played are okay except there's not nearly enough treble. The Santa Cruz guys are the ones I would say make better Martins than Martin -- they sound very similar, only better. I think they use almost exactly the traditional construction techniques; maybe that's it. That being said, I'll probably always just own a Martin because a basic D-18 is pretty low key and sounds like what I have in my head.

[catdaddy]

If you get the idea from the posts in this thread that Collings makes superb instruments that don't sound like Martins you'd be on track. They do make guitars in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit a lot of different styles and tastes and I've yet to hear the comment that anyone has found a Collings that was less than near perfect in its construction or finish.

Some folks like myself find that Collings tone is what pleases my ear more than any other. Others will mention Huss and Dalton, Santa Cruz, Goodall, Bourgeois or another builder as their favorite. At this level of instrument quality there are no bad ones. Check out all of the builders mentioned and let your eyes, ears and hands determine which is your favorite.

[Silly Moustache]

Ok, here I am ! Who summoned up the spirit of the Silly Moustache?

I have owned Harmony's, Levins, Yamahas, Guilds, Gibsons, Epiphones, and Martins, and more Martins - honestly don't know how many as I progressed though the model lines since about 1973. One of my most memorable was a '73 D35, which I sold to a pal after owning it fr 20yeats - it is still a very special guitar.

I even had a wondrous adi/EIR Bourgeois DS260 once - it was truly fine.

In 1999 I was invited to a sadly defunct specialist guitar store in London whom I had told I was seeking a good 12 fret dread.

I did as they suggested and drove up early on a Saturday morning to find that they had assembled a Martin HD28VS,a Santa Cruz D12, and the second Collings DS2h for me to compare with my Bourgeois.

Together with a rather talented guitarist from a relatively famous English band who just happened to be browsing, we played and played and A/B'd those guitars.

I was looking for a "keeper". The prices were VERY high for me at that time esp after just about recovering from 3 years of unemployment.

I was seeking good clear bass,clean trebles,balance, and playing comfort.

After over four hours of playing and analysis (and five sets of strings) we agreed which guitar was by far the best.

I came home with the Collings. After having the headstock splintered shortly after purchase, and two refrets, it is still a perfect, if battered guitar.

I've bought one or two more since then.

Now we all know that there is no such thing as perfection. Every guitar (like people) has something idiosyncratic or mildly irritating about it................................................ .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................. except for a Collings guitar.

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by Pheof

By the end of this year I hope to have a Martin D-18, and then I'll be done with the Martins and Gibsons I wanted to collect. Next year I'll be looking into Collings, which seems to be very popular among Bluegrassers. I'm only interested in dreadnoughts (D2H and D3) at this time.
Anyone care to go off the chain with some proud and loving comments/stories about their Collings guitars? I'd love to read them. I'll read 'em all, long or short.

The guitars you're interested in are definitely suited to BG. They have snappy responses with strong fundamentals. I do not own any because of that but if I needed that tonal response I'd certainly consider one.

[Allen Shadd]

If it is of any interest, the National Flatpicking championship held each September in Winfield KS offers 3 guitars as the prizes in the contest. For the past 20 or so years, Collings had offered one (always a dreadnaught), and the other two guitars vary from year to year but have or will include Martin, Santa Cruz, Taylor, Gallagher, and I'm sure there may have been another but it escapes my memory as to what it might have been right now. First place gets the first choice of the guitars, second place chooses between the remaining two, and third place gets whatever is left. These are all nice guitars, by the way and in fact the only year I got 3rd place I took home a Martin D-42, just to give you an idea. Of all those years there have only been two occasions that the winner didn't choose the Collings. I would like to think that there is a reason pickers of that caliber have consistently chosen the Collings for 20 years. I either do own or have owned every brand mentioned thus far, and all have been nice guitars in different ways. The Collings are the highest quality among them, tone preferences not withstanding. As for the tone, not every one likes them I guess. I don't see the point in trying to compare them to a Martin, and neither does Bill Collings. He told me once that in his experience it wasn't a competition because he felt that if someone wanted a Martin, they would never be happy until they got a martin and if they wanted a Collings, only a Collings would make them happy. And that really does sum it up. Play as many as you can. They hold their value well, actually better than most imo. And decide for yourself. I have some clips on youtube playing a few tunes on my Collings guitars. The first clip is one I have currently entered in the 2014 Flatpick Challenge (folks can vote online), playing my Winfield model that was the prize last year for the contest it is named after. The second clip is my D2h that was the prize guitar in the contest in 1997. You can read and hear a lot online, but nothing beats going out and playing as many as you can.

[jdinco]

As a new Collings OM2H owner, I'm glad to be able to reply to this thread. The local dealer has a great selection of Collings guitars, so I have played them often. There are 2 they have that are just killer, one is a D2hG, the best dread that I have played or heard. And a 002 that is Koa with an Engleman top. I was shocked how good this smaller guitar sounded. I've owned a SC OMPW and a Bourgeouis Dread, great guitars, but not in the same league as the OM2. It's one of those guitars that you don't want to stop playing. When someone in a previous post said his OM2HG was the best acoustic he has heard....I believe him!!

My HD28 now sounds like all bass notes! A great guitar, but VERY different.

[wcap]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

I've played quite a few Collings guitars and I've owned a few that I've gotten in trade over the years. I've always vastly preferred Santa Cruz guitars or Goodall guitars over Collings. I just like the sound of them better on a whole. I've compared a lot of the same models and sizes.

This has been my exact experience as well (though I would add high end Martins to the list along with Goodalls and Santa Cruz).

Lots of people really like Collings guitars though, and I won't fault anyone for their preferences. And Collings guitars seem to be really nicely built. Based on the ones I have played I personally don't understand the appeal of Collings guitars, but this is a personal preference thing. Most I have tried out have not really spoken to me (and a few I really didn't like at all). You need to play them yourself and see whether they speak to you - if they do (or even if they don't), then my opinion will be totally irrelevant. The Goodalls I love don't speak to everyone either, and that's perfectly fine.

A very experienced, respected, long-term employee at a very well known and respected guitar store told me a story once a few years ago about a customer who had a nice Collings guitar that he performed with, but then switched to some different brand of guitar that he liked to play better. This customer said he used to routinely get compliments from folks in the audience about the sound of his guitar when he was playing his Collings, but with the new guitar that he liked to play better the comments stopped. The guitar store guy went on to say that he thought Collings guitars tend to project their sound particularly well, such that they might sometimes sound better to someone way out in front than to the player. I don't have enough experience with Collings guitars to have heard this myself, but I really respect the knowledge and experience of the person who told me this story.

[aussiechiz]

Rich,you say you have owned both Collings &Bourgeois guitars,how long did you own them before selling?Did you give yourself time to learn the nuances of them?

[Cypress Knee]

I went to Pete Huttlinger's Guitar and Fly Fishing Camp in Montana earlier this year. I would say that Collings was a bit over-represented:


Collings at camp. See the trees on the other side of the field? That's where the Yellowstone River flows, filled with hungry trout.


Camp guitars all brands

They are going to do it again next July. Not sure how many Collings will be there though!

CK

[boombox]

All I'll say is once you've played one, you will always want a Collings in your collection. My C10 doesn't do everything, but beats every Martin I've ever played and is definitely a keeper. Every additional Collings I play reminds me why for a dread size guitar, I want a Collings CJ and not a Martin D18 or Gibson J45 - my only quandrary is R/W or hog, because Bill does both so well. (And if they didn't have a V-neck, I'd probably already have a Waterloo too.)

[love the guitar]

I've owned 2 dreadnoughts and an OM/c Collings. Each guitar is individual in
character and all are built to the highest standards with quality wood and craftsmanship. I don't care what it says on the headstock when I buy a guitar.
I choose for the neck and the sound, only then do I look at how it was built etc.
Every Collings I have ever picked up was of very high quality but there is a lot
of variation between "identical" models so use your ears and hands.

[egldriver]

I have a couple of Martins and bought a Collings OM mostly because of their reputation. My impression of the guitar was perfect fit and finish but the tone was good but not amazing. A little brash but the bass was very nice. Having said that this guitar has convinced me that the process of a guitar opening up does exist. It has really mellowed yet maintained it's volume and complexity. One of the features that I really appreciate is it doesn't take a lot of effort to play it fingerstyle and get good volume out of it. Also excellent under a pick. It is coming up on 5 ears old and I am really liking it now. Same results out of my 000-28EC its has opened up spectacularly. I am lucky to own two guitars that are really pleasing. I just wish I could play up to their potential.

[brencat]

Originally Posted by jdinco

As a new Collings OM2H owner, I'm glad to be able to reply to this thread.

My HD28 now sounds like all bass notes! A great guitar, but VERY different.

Haha...as a former HD-28 owner, I certainly understand your inference. Bass dominance is a key tonal characteristic of Martins. The funny thing is, the HD-28 also has excellent clarity. Nothing like Collings, however.

[muzz76]

They build great instruments with perfect fit and finish. Also if you like their tone, they're one of the best and delivering it strongly and consistently so ordering unseen/played isn't a gamble.

They're also in a fairly unique position....bigger than the small shops but still way smaller than the large factories.

I've got a shaded top 01 and one of their concert ukes, both are fantastic.