The Collings Forum

Mwyates wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:02 pm Just when I decided I didn’t need any more guitars.

My thought exactly! I was never satisfied with the Gibson offerings of the past 20 years...
Buck

Sweet looking guitar and case.

Buck

I would like to know how these new guitar models from Collings Compare to the varnish guitars.

I have both a varnish finish Collings Standard model (non Traditional) and a Collings Traditional model with the "thinner finish" lacquer. IMO the "thinness" of those two are similar, but the varnish ...

nice looking guitar!

Nice looking headstock!

Glad you looked close. Many can be hard to read. You have to know what to look for too! I read somewhere a few years ago that the ink in the pens Bill used to sign the labels ages differently than the logo ink printed onto the labels. I dunno if that is true but it sounds logical...

Buck

I have an OM2 MRAT (madagascar rosewood adirondack traditional) that the dealer received from the factory the week of Bill's death. It does not have his signature. My sense (guess) is he likely stopped signing labels within a month prior to his death...just a guess. I too have heard that from time ...

My sense of it:

The T box is not as "tight". It is built just a bit "looser". Just like tuning a drum head so it is not tuned as tight and rigid as possible, the resulting fundamental tone is a bit lower. In the T series, the looser box translates to a very slightly darker / deeper sound, but most ...

Slgis wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:15 am If you like the guitar, don't let the varnish finish deter you. I would see it as a good alternative.

I quite agree and ante up... The varnish is a superb alternative!

IMG_3789.JPG

This is the letter that Collings sent with my D42. While I could tell the finish was slightly more delicate than their standard (pre Traditional model) finish, it really was not any additional challenge to care for IMO. And today, 5 years later, it seems to require no extra attention ...