The Collings Forum

Dear participants in the Collings Forum.
Hello, I am writing from Japan.
My name is Yusuke.

I was very excited when I found this forum! And I am happy to be able to consult here today.
Well, today I would like to ask your opinion about neck angles.

I have two OMs, OM-2H and OM-2HG koa.
I bought a new OM-1(2024) this time around Christmas!
Of course the sound is great and perfect,
The sound is great and perfect, but the neck angle is noticeably deeper than the other two. But compared to the other two guitars, the neck angle is noticeably deeper, so the fretboard seems to drop toward the body at the 14th fret.
When I put a long ruler on the fingerboard and shake it, I can see that the fingerboard moves around the 14th fret. (This is not the case with the other 2 fretboards. However, the saddle is slightly lower)
Is this a problem? I have no problem playing it, but I am concerned about how it feels.

Since I bought it from a musical instrument store in Kansas during the cold season, imported from Japan by myself, I wonder if the cold and dryness of the body has caused it to drop? I also imagine that it is not a good idea.

I would be very happy to hear your opinions!

Thank you!

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Yusuke- Konnichiwa-

if what you're talking about is fretboard "fall-off" from the body fret toward the bridge - some is not unusual, but slight if it does exist. some builders even build in a very small amount, to ensure the the fretboard end doesn't go the other way (up) causing buzzing.

Hello pto!

Thanks for your reply!
I compared them again.

This time OM-1 (2024) and OM-2H (2022) have the same neck preparation angle, but the fingerboard angle from 14th fret to bridge direction still seems to be different.

The OM-1 seems to drop down more, but the OM-2H is straight. However, looking at it again, it is almost unnoticeable.

I thought that the Collings were so thoroughly made that they were all the same, but I see that they are different from year to year and from individual piece to individual piece.

The only thing that is the same is that all the guitars sound wonderfully good and change very little with time and climate.

I was able to recognize that they are still great guitars.

Thank you!

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you're welcome... as to the variation, perhaps... remember, something the terrific luthier michael hornick told me years and years ago..."it' organic, man!":)
where in Japan? if i may ask...

Thank you!

Michael Hornick, I didn't know that, so I looked him up and found out that he was a famous luthier in Santa Cruz.

Instruments are living things, aren't they? They have their own personality and each one is wonderful!

I have a Koa guitar that, in the winter, I can barely get it to sound the way it should after about 30 minutes of playing. It's interesting.

In Japan, I live in a city called Osaka. It takes less than an hour to Kyoto by car.
It's a small, bustling, nice city!

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