17-in. Collings Archtop Priced to Sell

[Bluemonk]

http://www.gbase.com/gear/collings-at-17-2007#

[RobertForman]

yes indeed, I have a 16" Collings archtop and I love it. I have played a 17" on a few occasions too. they are both great. that is a good price especially considering you probably can't order a new one. nobody, and I mean nobody builds a better archtop than Bill Collings.

[jersey]

Priced to sell? I could buy a new car for that money!

[Spook]

Given availability and cost new it seems like a reasonable price. Wish I had loaded up on Collings guitars back when.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by jersey

Priced to sell? I could buy a new car for that money!

True - and how much would that car be worth in ten year's time?

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Bluemonk

http://www.gbase.com/gear/collings-at-17-2007#

I was at Matt's shop the day he got it in, and I spent a half hour playing it. I can say, unconditionally, that it's worth double of what he's asking.

HE

[Maryc-k]

that is tempting.

[RobertForman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x_hnvgkUxw

[Spook]

Wonder how much it would be to buy the 18" from the shop in Japan. Umm.. wait.. maybe I don't want to know.

[rpguitar]

Originally Posted by RobertForman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x_hnvgkUxw

This is a perfect example of a very good, clearly capable guitarist who has no clue how to coax tone from an acoustic archtop. A disservice to the store, the builder, and even the type of instrument.

In the right hands I'll bet that 18" Collings is a dream.

[RobertForman]

I think you are being a little hard on him Roger. it's not what I would play, musically, and he's kind of pounding on it, but it's also kind of cool.

[rpguitar]

Okay. I hadn't had my coffee yet. I've had it now.

He's obviously a good player in general; I just think he's better off playing those licks on a Tele or a small-bodied flattop. If I was demo'ing that big old archtop, I'd be trying to show how sweet and full it almost certainly is capable of sounding.

Anyway, there are tons of that kind of archtop hacking on the internet... part of the reason why these guitars continue to be misjudged by many players.

[Archtop Guy]

Originally Posted by rpguitar

He's obviously a good player in general; I just think he's better off playing those licks on a Tele or a small-bodied flattop. If I was demo'ing that big old archtop, I'd be trying to show how sweet and full it almost certainly is capable of sounding.

Anyway, there are tons of that kind of archtop hacking on the internet... part of the reason why these guitars continue to be misjudged by many players.

+1

If anything you are being too kind. That demo shows the guitar in pretty much it's worst light.

[Bluemonk]

Originally Posted by Archtop Guy

+1

If anything you are being too kind. That demo shows the guitar in pretty much it's worst light.

I dunno. I've heard LOTS worse.

It's not a style I would have chosen to illustrate the best properties of an archtop. And the sound is quite thin, though I suspect that has as much to do with mic placement as with the player's technique. So yes, the warmth is lacking, but there's also an appealing crispness there.

You guys are harsh

[RobertForman]

you guys are making me sorry I posted the link. I think it's not so much the genre of music he is playing, but rather he's attacking the guitar way too hard. he's definitely a fluid blues player, and while a guitar like that is not designed for playing blues, his style is fluid and complex enough that it could work on that guitar if he maybe didn't hit the strings so hard.