Which tone do you like better? Collings vs Gibson
 

Hey guys,

Here is a quick video of me playing my two acoustics back to back. First one is a Collings D2H Traditional, Sitka top, non torrefied. The second one is a Gibson Historic Banner J-45 re-issue. Adirondack top and torrefied. I’m trying to decide which one to keep. I think I’m a one acoustic type of guy. Let me know what you think.

https://vimeo.com/437653513

I also own Collings & Gibsons. The one I like better depends on which one I'm playing...

I like sound of both of your guitars. But if I had to take one over the other it would be the Collings. To my ears the Collings seems to have a more crisp and clearer tone with better note separation.

See my response to your other thread about the very same clip.

Collings. I like guitars with a crisp sound.

I’d like to hear those two guitars played with a pick. I think they both sound great finger style, but playing them with a pick would bring out their true sound for me. My opinion means nothing, but I don’t think a dread or slope shoulder dread is the Instrument of choice for fingerstyle and are more suitable as rhythm or flatpicking instruments.

For solo guitar the Collings.

For accompaniment for vocals the Gibson.

I’m on board with this.

Are you palm muting at the bridge? I can't see your entire right hand and it sounds like you are. Both guitars sound very subdued.

You asked for opinions:

Keep the Collings and get rid of the Gibson. The Collings has a complex and subtle tonal profile. The Gibson... does not, and it is a sound that gets boring quick.

However - it's only my opinion, based on what I like and need for the styles and techniques I enjoy.

I encourage anyone in this situation to think about who you emulate and are inspired by, and research what those guitarists use. You may find a consensus of sorts. Most likely this consensus will be driven by practical concerns. Let THEIR hard work help you save time and money.

For instance, if you play bluegrass, it seems that dreadnoughts are (almost) a required form factor. There will be some brand and history biases for sure, but there is also a long track record of that tonal profile just WORKING better than others.

One last data point: I thought YOUR PLAYING was more fluid on the Collings than the Gibson. To me that is significant.

Gibson, but to be fair, I never have been a fan of the Collings sound.

Which tone do you like better? Collings vs Gibson
 

Both are beautiful guitars but I think that the tone of the Gibson has a tad more character. Are both equally comfortable to play? That might tip the scales one way or the other.
Best,
Jayne

Not a fan of either one, but Collings all day for me. No offense, but Gibson guitars nowadays sound dull to my ears for their prices. But one should buy a Gibson if they play country music though. Their guitars are best for it imo. I have heard some old Gibson guitars that are really powerful. There's a Gibson J50 in the AGF buy and sale that impressed me.

Sounded to me like the Collings had a more balanced sound - bass, midrange and treble all sounded good. I thought the Gibson’s midrange stood out (similar midrange sound as the Collings). With that said, I liked both. I tend to like small Collings guitars for their strong midrange.

I didn't like the sound of this particular Gibson at all. It sounded very tight and has quite a bit of opening up still to do. The Collings sounded very nice, and you seemed to play it better as well, which is also something to consider.

For the record, I'm not really into the Collings sound anymore. But I liked this one.

Like Tnfiddler, I would love to lay into both of these with a flatpick. That would likely decide it for me really quick!