Trade Collings for Bourgeois

[bluesman62]

Trying to get some input on a trade i might do.A Collings CJ35 German spruce top .MH back and sides.For a Bourgeois SJ vintage Adirondack top rosewood B&S.Both in great shape.

[dneal]

You already own an example of each brand, so you should have an idea of the tonal profile each brand works toward. Collings is generally more crisp, and Bourgeois is generally more woody / mellow. Your taste is the only thing that matters.

The other thing is ergonomics, and which one feels better in hand to you; but that’s again completely subjective and it doesn’t matter what we think.

Lastly is monetary value, which I think is comparable.

I tend to lean toward Bourgeois, FWIW.

[Goodallboy]

I'd have to play them to make an intelligent comment about the trade.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by bluesman62

Trying to get some input on a trade i might do.

I like Bourgeois better than Collings, so of course you should do the trade.

But seriously, both are fine guitars, and you own examples of both, so I'd be curious about what kind of input from others would sway you.

Objectively, you're losing diversity of tone if you trade off the Collings and end up with a couple of Bourgeois'. To me, they're almost polar opposites in tone.

Edit: I was recently considering selling my Lowden because I didn't play it much, but decided not to. It's so different compared to my other guitars that when I want the Lowden experience, I still have it. But nobody else could have helped me with that decision,

[BrunoBlack]

I’ve owned both models and I think you have a decent idea about the difference in tonal personality by playing your OM and CJ35. The biggest difference in my opinion is the Collings CJ35 will be more articulate, louder, crisper, dryer, and have less warmth and lushness. I think they are both terrific and agree that you will give up some diversity if you trade, but then again, that might be just what you might prefer. Only you will know.

[bluemoon]

I’m a big fan of Bourgeois in the few months I’ve had one example. The warmth they bring is important to my desire to play.

It’s a good decision to be making!

[musicman1951]

Since you already own both brands you already know you want to do this trade. It sounds like a good trade to me.

[ManyMartinMan]

I would only make a trade for a guitar I know I love. If you like Bourgeois more than the Collings, make the trade.

[jrb715]

If you were asking about trading a Collings dread for the Bourgeois I'd have less hesitation to say go ahead. I generally prefer Collings guitars to Bourgeois--but not by a bunch and that depends on the model, and I've traded a Collings dread for an H&D and would have traded it for a Bourgeois I once auditioned if that had been possible at the time.

But it's not a trade I would make. I've had a CJ35G for the last six or seven years. I think the Collings CJ35G is a unique animal that is as good as I've heard for what it does--crisp, dry, loud but also tonally complex. However, because it is in some ways its own type, I can see that it might not serve all of the music you play and the style you play as well as a Bourgeois. I've come to use it more and more over the years for more and more material, but I do play it differently than I play my H&D slope and dreadnought.

[bluesman62]

I am going to stick with my Collings

[hairpuller]

Originally Posted by bluesman62

I am going to stick with my Collings

But that's not what I want you to do.
scott