The Acoustic Guitar Forum - My new McCollums + a few questions

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)

- Custom Shop (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=38)

- - My new McCollums + a few questions (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460436)

My new McCollums + a few questions

A friend of mine recently acquired these from his brother's estate, he offered me the chance to own these so they happily followed me home. Being stored for the last 5 months they both needed a thorough cleaning/conditioning. They are both Grand Auditorium models, I've recently found out via the forum here that one is Spruce/The Tree, and the other me and friend assumed to be Spruce & Stump Brazilian. I tried to figure out what year these were built from the information online but haven't had much luck. In hopes of finding out more about these 2 guitars I'm posting here. Such as what year these were built and what spruce (I know this can be tough to identify). Also the bridge/head plate/fingerboard on "The Tree" guitar appears to be either Brazilian or Madagascar rosewood?

"The Tree"
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps1otyws98.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps8fjajd2e.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps16didjbx.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psqssohs3r.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...pskeaohm3b.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psshmqchbd.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...pskab7esey.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psf8lvm8jg.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psorpx8wrd.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psx1lwza8e.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps27mmgbbf.jpg

Very nice. Lance made some seriously great guitars.

Congratulations! You can find their birth dates by getting a dental mirror and a light and checking under the hood. He signed and dated his tops somewhere near the bridge plate.

Mine is from March 1996, an early one of mahogany and spruce. I just had the neck reset and it plays and sounds like dream.

Svea

Wow! You are going to have many happy hours playing these and when you stop playing you can just admire the guitars themselves!

Lance made some fantastic guitars; I hope these two give you a lot of enjoyment.

Col

Wow, I can't believe these guitars found their way to you. They are amazing, a Tree and this beautiful BRW, that just does not happen in the real world.

WOW!

Hey, Tom, I've been up to my neck in guitar work, getting ready to move, back and forth looking for a rental house, etc., and haven't checked in here on the Forum in awhile. Amazing, what happens when you look away for a little while!

You are accruing a world-class collection of fine guitars, Tom. And you are living proof that good things should always come to good people.

Two legendary Lance McCollum guitars- with such extraordinary woods... WOW. I bet they sound as good as they look.
I met Lance at the first Healdsburg Guitar Festival I attended, in 1999, and found him to be a really nice guy. He was surrounded by fans and friends, enjoying a frosty pint with them at the Bear Republic Brewing Co., the day before the show started. He was like a superstar luminary to me- one of the true greats, a person I aspired to emulate. He was at the top of his game then, and seemed to be set for life as one of the world's top builders.
How tragic it is that he left this world far too soon. Just imagine what he would be doing today, if he was still with us.
These new guitars are treasures. I'm sure you know that. I'm glad you have them now, because you are truly worthy, and a great steward of the state of the art in fine guitars. I hope you get many years of musical pleasure with these guitars.

BTW, my guess is that both guitars have Sitka tops.

Lance's favorite woods to build with were Brazilian and Italian

Quote:

Originally Posted by donh (Post 5240767)

Lance's favorite woods to build with were Brazilian and Italian

I have a McCollum GA in those woods and it's hands down the best guitar I've ever put my hands on in 40+ years of playing guitar.

I didn't know they were his favorites. Thanks!

I can’t answer your questions, but I can say YOWZAH!!

This is quite an old thread...I know that the first guitar has been sold once if not twice and showed up here just recently in the custom forum on one of Marcus Wong's threads about Woodstock I believe via a picture of the same guitar in the new owners home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB'sox (Post 5888758)

This is quite an old thread...I know that the first guitar has been sold once if not twice.

It lived here for a while;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB'sox (Post 5888758)

Yep, Todd acquired it from Vy and I from Todd. It had been in storage from some time (because of the estate?) when Todd got it. He cleaned it up nicely and had some work done on the frets, but the voice was still somewhat dormant when I received it. Regular playing has done wonders for it and it's now much better than when I first received it.

I have the guitar with the Italian Spruce top and Brazilian back and sides. After some unexpected work, it's a great guitar.