#16
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They are nice, but I think there are builders with a better value, mostly guys who cut out the middle man.
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#17
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First, being able to try guitars from some small builders is a challenge but sometimes one you can address with super dealers near. I happen to be a reasonable road trip from Dave's, and 15 min from a local Collings dealer. Unfortunately the value from many small builders disappears if you try to sell what you bought. My Collings purchase was the end of a few years wanting a super humbucker and ES-type guitar. It included an acquaintance with a resale shop letting me try his real 1958 and early 60s Gibsons with new ones next to them, and a few trips to Dave's. One might only comprehend Dave's with an actual visit. In that shopping time I saw used Collings electrics generally sold fast and kept value like top Gibsons. It made me think a purchase could be a safe bet. Visiting Dave's with 26 Collings electrics in stock and 30+ ES-335s made it pretty clear Collings was making a better vintage Gibson style than Gibson! The Lollar pickups in mine are not as hot or high output as the historic type and several Gibsons I tried with it, and more like the vintage ES-335 my acquaintance has. FYI on the Collings semi-hollows. The 15 in I-35 and smaller Socos handle very nicely, but playing back to back with ES-335s I found that 1 inch larger body does something to the low notes to make it sound more like the big Gibsons. It's subtle but there. Sure it was a premium over a Gibson, but for the OP, a TV yellow 290 I played at Dave's was just WOW! Have fun shopping.
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ƃuoɹʍ llɐ ʇno əɯɐɔ ʇɐɥʇ |
#18
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Depends. With a normally spec'd T-style, S-style, LP-Styled, or 335-styled instrument by other builders are somewhat popular. One thing about value and resale is that at certain times something like Collings or other small builder will both probably lose about $2k when driven off the lot. Is it better to lose ~$2k on a $5k Collings or lose ~$2k on a small luthier's $4k guitar?
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#19
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I took that to the guitar tech who set it up a treat. It plays and sounds fantastic. I thought it might be a bit of test bed for a Pigtail wrap around (or a TonePro) and maybe for the Lollars but, as it is, right now, I love it. Sounds great, plays well and cost me two grand less than the 290. Is the 290 a 'better' guitar? Probably. Is it two grand better? I don't think so.
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Martin BC, Canada |
#20
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It was tangential, but I also caught the leaders of Collings and Gibson in news and some public demonstrations of personality after my purchase. I know it was in retrospect, but one came off as an interesting and class act guy, while the other not. I think it would have been even harder to spend big money on a Gibson if I knew more or saw that guy some more before my purchase.
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ƃuoɹʍ llɐ ʇno əɯɐɔ ʇɐɥʇ |
#21
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Martin BC, Canada |