#1
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Collings Ukes
Did Collings really stop building ukes?
If so, why? I have two and they are some of the best available. Thanks |
#2
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The stop was discussed on the Collings forum last fall with no restart date given. That's hardly official notice, but that's all I know.
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#3
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Those that I tried were quite nice - exceptional instruments. I suspect that the market for $7K ukulele was probably pretty small...... once all three people who wanted one actually bought one, sales dried up.
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#4
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What Earl said. Limited number of customers in the high end ukulele market. A secondary reason was the amount of labor it took to build a ukulele was almost the same as guitars. But they can charge more for a guitar than a ukulele, so from a business point of view it was a no brainer to temporarily discontinue the uke line, and focus their limited resources on guitar building.
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#5
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With all due respect, one buys a Collings Uke because one desires a Uke built by Collings. Not because one wants the best Uke one can get. It may turn out to be just that, but that's not why it was bought.
And there's nothing at all wrong with that. I'm still on the hunt for a Larrivee Ukulele. Because I love all things Larrivee, and the two I've played rank up there with some of the best of I've played. But I know Kamaka's 100 years of experience would be a smarter buy than the Larrivee. That being said, I've only seen one Collings. It was gorgeous. It sounded amazing. At around $2500 it didn't seem unreasonable in the least knowing the attention to detail it received and the quality of materials that were used. But they don't compete for the "best Uke" crown when serious players go shopping. Because they are built by a guitar maker in Texas. Not fair, but true. And that's probably why they are being shelved.
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#6
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I have a Collings, it was around 800 bucks. Of course it doesn't have all that stuff that makes it a true super pro's uke, like a haircut headstock or figured Zambibioni wood with gold binding, but it certainly is a competent player.
I think, from blue's post, that one purchases a Collings to get an instrument that's quality, in sound, build. There is no "best" of anything, only competent. |
#7
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If I ran across a plain Jane Collings for that price I'd be all
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#8
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That's what a used UC1 sells for. Sure, rare, but they DO come up.
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#9
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I don't think they have any plans to restart building ukes anytime soon.
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#10
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Thanks! I'll legitimately keep an eye out!
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |