Someone once said “Don’t be sad that it’s ending. Instead: smile that is happened” Rather than being bummed that guitar has sold, take solace in the fact you helped spread the word about an incredible instrument and the fact that you got your hands on a Collings at all (most of us will never be so lucky). Plus, now that they’re on your radar, there might be a guitar they build that’s even better suited for your particular style and you’ll for sure have fun hunting for your own Collings.
I bought a PRS Modern Eagle 1 Singlecut and paid full price because it spoke to me in a way no other has ever done. 4 years later I bought another one and it too was just as meaningful.
Remember it like it was yesterday. Walked into a music store with my newly wed wife. Picked up a mid 1950s Gibson acoustic. It was unbelievable. I didn’t buy it. 6 months later the store burned to the ground and the guitar was lost to the fire. It still haunts me. Thankfully I have pictures with it. ♥️
This livestream is RAW. It’s like a live therapy session and I can feel your pain and sorrow. It sounded beautiful but it’s the one that got away. But rest assured you will find the one.
I play guitar but I’m mainly a bass trombonist. I had the exact same experience with my main bass trombone. Outrageously over my budget… I litteraly got myself on a 4 year loan… never looked back on that decision because that horn follows me in all my music endeavors. Few years later, did the same with a custom mouthpiece that is very expensive but it made my sound wider, clearer , better, focused… I now have my set-up… no regrets. Man, go at Collings and have them build yours…
Rhett, I'm pretty confident in saying that Collings is SO consistent in their build quality, I'd bet the next one you play will be just as good. Maybe not exactly the same, but it will fill the same space, do the same job, literally be as good (if not better) as the one you passed on. I've played a lot of Collings', and I currently own three Collings (acoustics), two of which I bought online, sight unseen! I would usually NEVER buy an acoustic sight unseen, but I think with Collings, they are all so good (unless it had been damaged somehow) that you won't be disappointed. Just a thought... Don't beat yourself up, $8k is a lot of dough and the time will be right. You can always order one from Collings, working directly with them (they are lovely to work with on the phone) and get one that may even mean more to you than that one would have.
As someone who said that he doesn’t like PRS, “Because they’re too consistent,” I don’t think Rhett would be interested. Rhett just likes to have to tune his Gibsons halfway through each song so that he can keep his ear training as good as possible, I guess?
I feel this, Rhett. The Les Paul story especially. I pulled the trigger on a 2014 custom shop ‘52 Tele that spoke to me last month. Wasn’t looking for a new guitar, but it’s exceptional. Currently eating Ramen noodles for the month!
Yeh. Side theme in your post is if you have a trusting relationship with your guitar shop crew and ask them about which guitar you should look at, they will point you to something special even though it may be different than what your walked in intending to play. Your Novo, your SG…. The Telecaster I just got last month. Same story -Was in my local guitar shop and asked James who I have known for a few years if he had anything interesting. Without hesitation he pointed to of all things a Fender Tele Pro 2 pine and basically said this is one of the best guitars he ever played. Played it and was like wow. Reasonably priced but hesitated. Similar rule plus corollary of don’t make the wife upset…. Went home and proceeded to think about it day and night for another week. Got lucky and was still there a week later. Wife still happy. Long story short - if it was meant to be, the guitar would be in your hands. You made some dude in California totally happy. No worries, be patient. Another one will find you and if it is meant to be, it will happen, just like your Novo and SG.
When I watched the video of you playing it you sounded so good. The moment you said you left the store without it the first thing I thought was... he's going to regret it. But I know how that feels, I had a mortgage, 2 car payments, and 3 kids to feed, so I had to pass on many great guitars in the past. 😒
Man, this hits hard. A month and change ago I was at a lovely little shop (where the guitar tech mangled my Casino, but that’s another story) here in town, where I saw a gorgeous roasted-pine looking “partscaster” Tele w a filtertron neck pickup, and the most perfect satin-backed roasted neck I’ve ever had in my hands. Fell in love instantly. Broke my heart to leave it there, especially for the song they were asking for it. Haven’t stopped thinking about it since. 😕
I just saw that video today, and right when you said you were going to take a pass on it, I knew you were going to regret it. I will add: Someday, down the road, you're going to find another one, and it's going to speak to you much the same way this one did, and you're not going to pass on that one, and all will be well. Patience will be a reward.
This is 100% why I only play Godin electrics and Breedlove acoustics. I bounced around Les Pauls,Martins, Taylor’s but found that Godin and Breedloves just sounded and fit perfectly. Go with what sounds and feels right to you!
I have an Art & Lutherie (Godin subsidiary) Cherrywood Dreadnought that I bought in Spetember 2021. Last summer, I found a serial number site, and worked out that she was built on Saturday 10 August 2001. She's still pristine, and sounds gorgeous. And she stays in tune for days.
@@emilyadams3228 Yup, Godin make great instruments. They kind of fly below the radar but a great many session players have adopted them ... both acoustic and electric. I've been playing a Godin LG as my "go to" for ever. I have a Strat but it just collects dust. My LG has been my main gig axe since I bought it in 2003. Recently acquired a Gretsch 5236 which I really like but my LG... still the best.
I remember when I bought my Les Paul. I was 18, working a summer job, and I had gone to my local guitar store. I picked up a Gibson Les Paul with a faded finish and started playing it. I plugged it in, and there was just something about the way it resonated. It was sitting on my hip bone, and I just felt the vibrations through my whole body. There were a couple of them on stands on the store, and I played them all, but there was just something about mine. I had a really low daily limit on my credit card at the time, so I ran down the street to the bank, so I could make it back to the guitar store before they closed. Made it with minutes to spare, and put down every dollar I had to finance it. I've had it ever since, and I'll never sell it.
I was browsing through my favorite shop a couple years ago and on whim picked up a les paul tribute. I liked the honey burst, but never considered buying one, until I played it... then bought it. there's something special about how it sounds, and the 50s neck is perfect for my hand. it's the best feeling and sounding guitar I have. the tribute is one of the least expensive in my collection, but it's my favorite to play and will probably never leave me!
There is something fascinating about that feeling when you start playing " the guitar" as in an instrument that just speaks to you in a way the others don't. It will inspire you to play in a way that you didn't know was possible. It feels like a magical ability to just make you better. An instrument like that really does make you sound better, but it also makes you come up with better parts.
Completely agree. It's like everything suddenly clicks. Other guitars feel cheap or wrong in comparison. It's like you and the guitar are both trying to say the same thing and the two of you add to eachother.
An alternative to that beautiful Collins is the Gretsch G6130T, Limited Edition 'Sidewinder'. I bought one about a month ago and it's now my number 1. I think it sounds and feels like the Collins when you take in to consideration that it's about a quarter to a third of the price. These were a couple of great episodes Rhett, we love this kind of stuff from you!
So I know it won't help with the sting of missing that guitar, but your saga with the Collings helped me to pull the trigger on a Murphy Lab J-45 that I played ~10 days ago and couldn't stop thinking about. Now that I got over the hump of making the purchase today, I'm very happy with it.
I recently went to a guitar shop here in Glasgow to check out an American Original 50s Strat which is discontinued now as I’d previously played one and really liked it , shell pink in colour . After trying it I then played a 90s Strat which had lace sensors fitted and it played even better than than the first one but was a bit too worn . There was a great looking 2019 Les Paul Standard 60s in unburst finish so even although I was more interested in Strats I thought “ this is a good price “ so gave it a go . It was a sensation after the two Strats , playing through an old Peavey valve combo it was so full and big tone . Went home and scratched my head … could I trade in my PRS and another guitar but by the time I’d hatched a plan it was sold . Phoned the shop “ oh yeah I remember you being in its sitting here waiting to be shipped out “ The difference of Strats to the Les Paul had totally thrown me, love my Strats but now I need to track down another 60s Les Paul Standard and hope it’s as good .
Ouch! and you sold it out from under yourself with the video. That video was the first time I could ever honestly hear how great an electric guitar sounded on UA-cam, no kidding. $8000 is serious money for any electric guitar. You can definitely live with yourself; you can do a lot of things with 8K. Keep up the great work!
I’ve missed out on a few over the years too, but I played my favourite ever bass in 1992. Was playing a ‘76 Ric at the time, which I really liked. This other was a ‘72. Crushed pearl inlays, checkered binding etc., pre-skunk stripe. At the time it was the oldest one I’d played so I was intrigued. Played one note and my jaw dropped. It was incredible. Played it for a while and it blew my mind. Bear in mind by this point I’d played thousands of basses over many years, but it was EASILY the best bass I’d ever played. Unfortunately I had no money, so I had to leave it, resigned to the fact that I’d played my favourite bass ever but would never own it, which was a bit crushing. A year later I’d saved up to buy a new amp from the same store and took my ‘76 with me to try it. There on the wall was the ‘72, reduced in a sale! I a/b’d with the ‘76 (it was leagues better) and put a deposit on it, going back the next week to collect it. It’s still the best bass I’ve ever played, and what’s more has gone up in value 10 times since then. Not that I’ll ever sell it. It’s my Excalibur. 😉
I'll bet good money that sold before the end of the original stream. Don't sweat it Rhett, the Novo is your thing. I have a trestle-braced Gretch 6120 from Fugijen, Japan, very similar construction, awesome guitar.
I loved the story about your Novo and what it took for you to buy it. Having watched your channel a couple years and admiring the quantity and quality of your gear, I was starting to think you’ve got an unlimited gear budget! This video made you more relatable to me. I hope find yourself another Collings that has the same mojo!
A guitar that is still being produced can’t get away, so simply have Maple Street Guitars hook you up when the next one comes in, or go online like I just did and buy either the burst from Eddies Guitars in MO, or the blonde from Music Emporium in MA. There are probably more available, so make it happen! 👍
2012- was broke as all get out and I think I was at a Guitar Center to see about a job and they had a pretty standard MIM Telecaster that was just- so beautifully worn in. White, maple neck. Nothing special, but I played it and loved it. Just had no money- I think about it twice a week.
As a GAS sufferer I came to realise that, sometimes you can get an average guitar and make it a great guitar without having to sell a kidney. Just get to know the elements/parts that are not the best options, replace, adjust and addapt them. Having said so that Collings looks like a dream guitar (damn GAS.....) . In any case, there will probably be more to came from where that model came from. Great video, your sincere passion for guitars is a milestone
Don't worry about it, or allow yourself to elevate this guitar in your mind. Had you bought it, the magic would fade, and there would just be ANOTHER "magic" guitar that would come along. It's how our minds/desires work. Learn to recognize and ride the wave of infatuation; it will crest, crash, and dissipate. Earned wisdom.
Nice to see Rhett’s true yearning for that “one special guitar”. I think a lot of us know that feeling and it’s a big reason we like these videos- we can relate!
I don't know if you ever met Wallace Reed. He owned a music shop up in Norcross back when I was still living in the ATL area, and was my go-to shop to buy strings or get minor adjustments made to my guitar. About 15-20 years ago (give or take), I came into his shop to get a setup done before going on aq trip where I was going to be playing, and I spotted this gorgeous on the wall that hadn't been there before. It was a Morgan acoustic 12-string, and i can't swear there was a halo of light around it when I saw it, but I cannot swear there wasn't, either. I took down off the wall and sat on a nearby stool, thought of a chord and gestured vaguely at the fretboard, and there was the sound, shimmering crystal and perfect. It was the most supple and responsive instrument I've ever had my hands on; only one other has even been close,. I played it for a few minutes, then looked at the price tag, considered my finances, and reluctantly hung it back up. Every time I'd stop by, over the nexst few weeks, Wallace would see me staring longingly at it, stopping to play it from time to time, and each time he'd offer me a slightly lower price. Finally, after several rounds of this, he pulled out an enormous 3-ring binder, flipped through it, and showed me the factory invoice for the guitar. "That's what I paid for it. I can let it go for $100 over that, but that's the absolutely best I can ever do. Alas, at that time, i was in a really tight place, and I still couldn't do it. I dream about that guitar from time to time, to this day.
Had similar experience with a Fender Esprit Robben Ford. It just was "the one" when i picked it up. Couldn't buy it because shop owner was buying it for himself. Asked shop owner for right of first purchase if he ever sold it. I had bought many from his shop already so good repoire established. About 8 months later he calls me out of the blue and offered it to me. I now own one of my "the one" guitars. When it's right, it's right.
Mine was a Vaccarro in the early 2000s, with the p90s and aluminum neck. Very rare. Most inspiring electric I have ever played. The owner thought it was some sort of Teisco thing and priced it $250. Like a fool I didn't buy it on the spot. Came back the next day and the owner had figured it out and raised it to over $1k.
I am LIVING this right now over a vintage AC30 that got away the day I was going to make the 5 hour drive to get it. It's been over a week of mourning and the pain is real.
Just throwing this out there: check out one of those Japan-made Gretsch Duo Jet's with dynasonics (the Pro version, I think they're called...). They're not Collings - and they're not vintage Gretsch - but they're extremely well made and do that "piano clarity" really well. Great guitars; you might be surprised. Edit: I kept listening and this was brought up))
I had a moment like this with a guitar back in 2001. There was a music festival, and Gibson had a trailer with a bunch of guitars people could play. The closest thing to a Gibson I'd ever played was an Epiphone Les Paul, which I wasn't too impressed with so I wasn't expecting much. But I ended up trying an SG that was plugged into a POD with headphones. To this day, I remember how it felt the first time I fretted some chords on that guitar. That fretboard and neck felt so fast. I've never had an experience like that since, and still think about it to this day.
Hearing your story, I felt as if it happened to me. As I was a vintage collector, I actually happened a few times in my life. Missing to buy one of Wes Montgomery's first '53 Gibson L5 CES that sounded so right; and that marvelous '59 natural ES-335 owned by Luther Allison, that the poor fellow couldn't afford to keep anymore. And that 59' LesPaul (no stripes, plain table, 5/5 sound) that Marcel Dadi was pushing me to buy (10 grands, so cheap compared with today). All these losses are only in our minds. A few years later, all this becomes good old stories, because you finally got a few exceptional guitars (not many). Some of them I discovered because internet influencers like you tried them, and said they'll die, or at least they won't sleep anymore for weeks if they don't find the money to buy them. You just take your phone in the next ten minutes after video publication, call the shop, reserve the beast, PayPal, and wait for the monster to be delivered.
Years ago there was a Collings 290 in surf green/sea foam green floating around on Reverb. It changed hands at least 3 times, and every time my heart sank. Except that one time I smashed the buy button! 🐸
Powerful video. Bonding. An alternate way that worked for me. Found luthier Chris “Tatalias” collaborated on every spec I always wanted. Hand built including selecting woods, carving neck shape, spec’d and signed pickups by Lindy Fralin etc. Took a while to get into cue, but the playability and bond is unmatched to anything I have. Something about knowing the person who built it. Luckily was close enough so I could be there at milestones in person.
My late father, Felix Bolli who was Swiss as I am partially, gave me some very good advice early in my life which was "always buy the best quality that you can afford to buy" which is something that I still try to adhere to all these decades later 👍 I hope you'll get the chance to buy another Collings very soon, Rhett. I think you would find owning and playing one very inspirational 👍👍👍🥰
I saw the previous video of the guitar, one of the nicest sounding I ever heard. As for it getting away... though that it did. I live by and old saying from a sign in a guitar shop that said. "I should have bought it when i saw it.". I've had too many instruments and other things get sold out from under me while I was trying to justify buying it. I don't wait anymore. I grab them as soon as I see them.
I’ve played guitar for 30 years, and I’ve only had the “oh shit/ one that got away” feeling twice. Those guitars haunt me. I promised myself that if I ever had that feeling again, I would buy the guitar. I don’t have any faith that even the best manufacturers are capable of making every one of their guitars equally amazing. I had a Collings i35 that was pedestrian.
The moment you said you weren’t buying that guitar I thought you were a mad lad. Good luck finding another! The one I missed out on was a 1937 Martin 00-17. The best acoustic I’ve ever played. I should have gotten it
I was on a cross country motorcycle trip and stopped in a small music shop in Nashville, IN. and saw an early Gibson Hummingbird for sale on consignment. It belonged to an older gentleman that could no longer play and wanted it to go to a good home. The guitar was in great shape with beautiful natural wear and sounded great! Since I was on my bike and couldn’t take it with me I left it and moved on. Once home from my trip I kept thinking of it so I called the shop. The guitar was still there but cost more than I thought was originally quoted so I continued to wait. A couple months later the shop owner called and said the guitar’s owner offered to let it go for the price I offered. It was a bit of a financial stretch for me but I grabbed my credit card and bought it. It was another two months before I could pick it up and when I entered the shop the owner said there were about six other folks that called after I bought the guitar and were heartbroken they missed it. This has been one of the best guitar acquisitions I have made.
Everyone knew this video was coming, we just didn't think it would be this soon. Sometimes, you encounter a guitar or an amp that you know needs to be yours, but you just don't have the resources to make it happen. For me, on that list are a Taylor SHSM Susanna Hoffs Signature Model, a Parker Fly Concert, an original 1990s PRS bass guitar, and a Groove Tubes Soul-45 combo amp. I would also add to that a Rickenbacker 325V59 MapleGlo. Lucky for you, the guitar you passed up is still in production, so you can still get one.
I've had 3 Collings, sold 2 and really regretted them. Not many guitars have done that to me. Collings builds really good guitars indeed! Next time Rhett...
I feel your pain. I missed a beautiful Eastman T59V after going in to my local and checking it was still there for a whole week. It got purchased and I was distraught. My wife let me order one and Its my favourite guitar in my collection.
I had this with a bike. Went in to buy a R1250RS. And fell in love with a CCM Spitfire FT. Went away and all I could think about was having it. Had sleepless nights…had to fly early the next day, as soon as I landed I was on the phone…actually did the deal half way between Italy and Slovenia. Sometimes you just have to do it…
Collings guitar are very nice. But $5k-$10k 😢 id have to let it go, too. Was at guitar center and someone had an $8k R9 Murphy Lab Les Paul pulled out of the glass case and left it sitting there. Just happened to be in the right room at the right time. Plugged that baby in a fender deluxe reverb. Lol security watching me like a hawk. It sounded awesome. Like a firm fender guy but guitar opened my eyes a little bit.
I had your same exact feelings last week. I met a local guitar collector because I wanted to test and buy one of his acoustic guitars, a Guild D50. I played it but it didn't satisfy me at all. Then he offered me to test three other guitars: a Martin OM28, a Taylor 710 and a Martin J40. The J40 was the last one I tried and it definitely captured all my feelings and all my expectations for a guitar in that price range. It exceed my budget a lot, so I went back home without buying anything; but my brain was constantly thinking about that J40...for days and days. So I finally decided to buy it, and now I am so happy and proud of it! My idea is: if it's possible, don't let this kind of guitars to let go. If they capture our heart and our stomach, then it's time to buy!
Yes... Mine was a '71 Tele that was totally unassuming. One of the only guitars that I connected with at a visceral level. I had not even plugged it in yet. That was when these things were just shy of 2K. Oh well.
I had this feeling once. 1991, walked into a small music store in Rutherford NJ and spotted a Gibson Gold Top Les Paul high up on the wall over a register. It was used and on consignment with a price tag of $500. I asked why it was so cheap, and the store employee said it was an older LP that suffered a broken neck, but was professionally repaired. Plus, the owner needed the money quickly as it was just brought in a few days earlier. As soon as I strummed it acoustically, I knew how great this guitar was. And then when I plugged it in...it was ALIVE. I knew I just had to have it, especially at that price, which was more than I could even afford back then. It was a 1969 Les Paul Deluxe. I ran to the ATM and put down $200 for them to hold it for me until I could get the rest of the cash a week later. Greatest guitar I ever owned.
The good news is, when you re ready (or have another chance) that guitar from Collings is very consistently good so when another one comes along you’ll also dig it.
You Learned a valuable Lesson with this and that is = don’t release the Episode until you’ve sure your not going to buy the Guitar 😉👍🏻 Keep it under your Hat as we say across the pond 👍🏻❤️🌞
Still can't forget the 00028 a pal offered me many years ago. Had the most wild Brazilian rosewood back and sides (the grain had a fabulous zig zag pattern) and the tightest grained top I'd ever seen. Sounded astonishing. He left it with me for a few days. My partner, who was not a musician, immediately said "You must get it" when I played it. I would have had to sell a very nice old D28 to afford it, so decided against and returned it to him. My pal later told me my partner had called him enthusing about the sound of it. That was unheard of for her. She could take or leave guitars. Still regret not buying it.
Yeh, the ‘Collings’ vid was memorable in a couple of ways - 1) the remarkable articulation that was palpable even on this side of UA-cam, and how it inspired you to play to engage the guitar’s strengths, and 2) your angst over to buy or not to buy. The $ was big. I’m wonder how much Bill would ask to make one for you?
"The Experience" ... well, luck was on my side in this particular case : 3 Years ago (!!!) I played this 1957 Gibson L5C in a shop in Hamburg and it ticked all the boxes, I sat there and played it for an hour non-stop, with my heart racing. Couldn't afford it of course but kept an eye on it through the years and it didn't sell ! This summer I sold some gear and looked for this L5 again and the listing was gone, major bummer. Called the store and learned that the owner (it was a commission deal) gave up after trying to sell it for 5 years, took it home. I put in my offer anyway and now it's mine. Don't give up and catch your dreams ! OTOH , it's only gear and don't let that ruin an otherwise perfect day.
When I went shopping for a new acoustic I played every higher end guitar in the shop. Only a Martin (forget the model) spoke to me but I wasn't blown away. Then the sales person asked me if I had heard of Godin and of course, I have an LG that has been my go to electric for ever. So he pulled a Simon&Patrick Woodland cedar off the wall and I fell in love! I played that thing until closing time and I bought it.
Walked into my local shop, they don't carry Gibson, buddy knew I was looking for one, pulled out a 2008 LP classic 1960 in ebony. Strummed it once, traded two guitars and $$$$ to get it. Magical.
Man I get it, Rhett! The sound and appearance are both stunning...! You should find another one and give it a try to see how it stacks up against this one! Fingers crossed you'll get your hands on another one!
Here's mine. In 1983, some friends and I went to California for the US Festival. While there, we visited some guitar shops, including one called Voltage Guitars. Lots of cool pieces (I bought an original Thomas organ Cry Baby for $35.00) but the most interesting was a... wait for it... 1959 Les Paul Burst in amazing condition. You have to remember this was the early 80's, and everyone was unloading their "boring old guitars" to build hot-rodded Superstrats to copy Van Halen. So at this time, the Paul was only 24 years old, and the whole vintage guitar thing hadn't happened yet. But I was only 17 at the time, and so I didn't have the asking price, which was an astronomical $1,100.00. Yes, you read that right- one thousand and one hundred dollars. Eleven hundred bucks for an original '59.
I feel your pain. I’m a *very* amateur guitarist, but I’m a professional orchestral musician. I play the oboe for a living, and I recently tried a very rare vintage instrument (mid 70s) and fell in love with it. When I tried to buy it, the shop owner told me “oh, oops, that instrument actually is NOT for sale. The owner brought it in for a tune-up and I thought they meant to sell it.” Oof
There was a hollow or semi-hollow Mosrite I ran across back when I was a teenager. It wasn't ridiculously expensive but, it was still out of reach. It's not really "regret" that I feel about not ever getting it. But, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have it. The guy at the shop that had it told me it was unusual to find a Mosrite like that one especially without "Mosrite" on the headstock. It wasn't my dream guitar by any stretch. There's just a part of me that always wonders "what if?"
My wife promised me a guitar for my birthday. I played a few until I tried one outside our price range. As soon as I played it I knew it was 'the one' ... I thank goodness my wife and I bent the budget to have it. I love it and cannot imagine living without Hunny its yellow and sounds sweet thick and just resonates forever.
All things happen for a reason. Some day one will fall in your lap. I love the story with Tilly saying you needed to buy that guitar. I like to have my wife go with me to shop for a guitar when I need it to do a particular job. Such was the case with a Martin I/we bought. Jude went with me to look at lots of guitars as I needed a 6-string acoustic electric guitar. She would never look at any I was playing as to not be swayed by the bling. After one E chord on the Martin she said, "That's it!" She then picked out the strap. She still says that guitar makes me sound better. I was never a big fan of Martins. This on works really well for what I do with it. My keyboard player really likes this guitar.
Dude, from a rehabbed GAS addict, thank you for baring your heart and soul to all of us for the one that got away. Let's wait for six months and if in your own words, it still "haunts you to this day", then that was a love truly lost. But as a rehabbed GAS guy, present husband and father, time will always heal all wounds. And if I spent as much time practicing as I have watching videos like these, I'd be as good as Jimi effin Hendrix. Just sayin.
Mine is a Martin D42K, limited edition from 1998 with the most gorgeous Koa back and sides. Played it and immediately knew it was a special acoustic. Bought it used from a guy and it was more money than I've ever spent on a guitar. Since then a couple of times i had the stupid impulse to sell but thankfully never did. It's probably worth twice what I paid for it and to date it's still the best acoustic I've ever played. If you can find the money, even it's tough at the time, that will soon be forgotten and you will have a special guitar. I consider it likr parking my money in beautiful instruments rather than the bank. Can always sell them if needed and more often than not the return is many times better than a bank. If you can swing it, make it happen. If not, move on and know the next one will come along at some stage. There's an awful lot of amazing guitars out there.
I'm an old GASser. I been playing for 60 years daily. My first 35 years I could barely afford any nice guitar. Yet the last 25 years I have been overcompensating with GAS. Don't worry about the ones that get away. Let their memory inspire you. After 125 transactions I always have 8 acoustics and 8 electrics. The Acoustics are the higher financial outlay. Just keep playing your great guitars. I would also recommend a Tom Anderson Semi hollows with a Bigsby. Say a 15 year old Atom, Angel or Bobcat. The 1 11/16" nut width. 12-14" compound radius - easy to play. Nice wide, flatter radius. Like the chord melodies you were playing on the $7k Collings.
My "one that got away" is a Fender American Elite Telecaster Thinline. It was at our local guitar shop. I instantly fell in love with it. I was playing it for TWO HOURS. It made me late to work, but was SO WORTH being late. No regrets. I did take a photo of the serial number, so I could ask the shop for THAT guitar, that specific one. Alas, after days of fighting the urge to buy it, I came to the realization that dumping $2000 on that guitar would have made me homeless. A couple months later, that guitar was sold. That was in 2018. A few months ago, I went into a pawn shop, and there was a Fender American Elite Telecaster Thinline. It looked oddly familiar. It felt oddly familiar. Then, I looked at the serial number. It was oddly familiar. Somehow, I STILL have that photo in my phone. I pulled up the photo. The serial number matches. This guitar is THE ONE I was playing, THE ONE which made me late to work, THE ONE I fought the urge to buy. Now, here is is again. Second chance? The price tag says $1500. My financial situation is actually worse now than in 1018, so I don't even HAVE the money to dump on that guitar. As of a few days ago, that guitar is still at that pawn shop. Of course, I have no choice but to let it go, for a second time.
Saw the previous video. Just from the initial video sound, I could tell the guitar was incredible. One of the most balanced sounding instruments I have heard.
Hi Rhette, your video is spot on ..some one pass me a (Teye) guitar to try out. When i saw the guitar it looks awesome & mystic in design. Not only it is beautiful but it sounds great and its action was low. I done a quick check on the internet about its origin review and conclude it is an expensive guitar (somewhere around usd3-4K) juz like you, i do not have that kind of budget to buy it. Now my mind is in a tug of war the pros & cons whether to add it onto my collection. I understand when you said chances of a good guitar comes along may not happen everyday, another buyer could buy it the next day if I don't...thanks for you video.
i let a mystic seafoam jazzmaster get away in 2017....changed my mind and went back to Guitar Center that afternoon and it was gone. but i found another one and the timing was right. Now I am a happy man, but searching for some better pickups!
Id be curious for you to try the Gretsch duo jet 6128TDS model. Got mine for ~ $2500, and obv a modern version of what inspired the Collings…. Take the treble bleed out and it’s fantastic.
Ive had a couple similar experiences- my thinline franken fender( just a fender/ gibson kind of combo . Not nearly as expensive as yours, but just the same . I had a couple friends play it so i could stand back and hear it after i played it and was struck by it. I couldn’t believe myself . Whipped out the card for that one- never have regretted it, still have it. I was acoustic hunting and after comparing some great guitars this fay settled on my Taylor 814 ce- and yup I loves it
My big regret is a different situation. I did buy the guitar in 2018. It was a 64 1/5 es 335 sunburst with factory Bigsby and the “Custom Made” cover over the stop bar holes. Patent sticker pickups. Nylon saddles. No fret wear. Closet queen. It was almost $10k and on the wall used in a little shop called Island guitars on Oahu, HI. It had the original Lifton case and hand written carbon copy of music store receipt from April 1965. It played, felt, and sounded so good. I sold it when a friend and ex-romantic interest asked for financial help and I have regretted it ever since. Guitar Center professionals took it apart and their experts dated and made the offer, but they told me they had a collector on the line who wanted it once they checked it out so it was never on the market for even a second. These are very hard to find, but when you do, people are asking $16k for these.
I almost had that happen last week. I’d gone into a local shop and fell in love with a Gibson LP Special. Left without it and thought for a week. Decided to do it. I called the shop in the morning and asked them to hold it for me. They said they could hold it until 430. But would sell it if they have someone else want to buy it any later than that. When I walked back in at 435 a customer was handing it back to the manager. He honored the agreement and sold it to me. The other guy was really cool and asked if I minded if he played it for a few minutes before I took it. I said sure. He sounded amazing playing it. Way better than I probably ever will be. He told me to enjoy and asked me to let him know if I ever want to sell it.
Never go to the guitar store and play a guitar you can't afford to buy, and never leave the store if you find a great guitar that you love playing and can afford. Because it will be gone before you go back to buy it.
Ugh. I know that feeling all too well. I played an Atkins at CME a few weeks ago while I was in Chicago for work. The second I strummed a chord, I knew this guitar was going to haunt me. I hate being a responsible adult. 😭
Sax and gutair player here this is how i felt a few weeks ago after i tried a 1959 5 digit Selmer Mark 6 Tenor sax from a private seller it might have been my only chance at owning one for 5k when they go for 22k depending on serial and i walked away… almost teared up after i saw it sold it had a singing quality regardless of the mouthpiece instantly hit me in its mid range that some of these vintage horns have that is hard to explain almost like a time machine back to 52nd street
I’ve had the oh shit moment. I gig with a Martin OM28. Went into the local guitar store to pick up my clip on tuner I had left before I went on a trip. Came into the shop and this Martin OM42 (2003) was on a stand in the middle of the acoustic room. Guy in the store says “have a go, you’ll love it.” I think to myself “yeah, I’ll have a bash on this just to see if they are different. I’ll not buy it, I already have an OM.” Picked it up, strummed a chord and knew my bank account was gonna hate me. Best acoustic i have ever played and so happy I made the sacrifice to get it 🤟🏻
I think you should buy the pickups from that guitar and try to recreate it with another guitar with those pickups and match the videos and let us see if you can get close to the same sound
That happened with a Les Paul Classic and now every single time i try another guitar i compare it to that because it had so much of a sound that i just loved about it.
Hey, Rhett - in case you see this, I would like to offer you a little bit of reassurance. ALL of the 470 JL‘s are this good, so you don’t have to worry about it being one that “got away“. I’m not sure how it is at the moment, but last time I checked the wait time for one if you pre-buy it is less than six months. I have the blonde version of this guitar and had the fortune of having Julian Lage himself (and his wife Margaret). check it out. Julian remarked how beautiful it was, and how great it played. I pointed out that it was exactly like the one that he has, and he said, “yeah, but they’re all like this. They’re all perfect.“
Call Collings, they will tell you which colors are in the build queue and where they are heading. You can put down a deposit...this also gives you time to build the funds as opposed to scrambling. I bought mine sight unseen from Music Emporium and they were SUPER cool about it. I was freaking out about spending that much without playing and the shipped it to me without running my credit card until I played it. Needless to say I kept it. All this to say to you that unlike vintage or CS guitars where the quality and feel can vary a lot, a new 470 goes through a gigillion QC checks before it's released into the wild. You won't regret getting in line for one. I promise.
Really nice guitar,I was surprised when you said you walked out without it. Rhett by chance have you ever had the opportunity to play one of the Harmony Jupiter thinlines ? Seems like a....kinda similar thing, I've been hoping I'd find one to put my hands on. Really starting to get interested in a hollow/ heavily chambered solid top.
The first guitar I ever played that I had that, "Oh" moment with was a 2002 SG Faded with the ebony fretboard and crescent moon inlays. I was a broke college student and went to the local guitar shop and played it. I just couldn't afford it. I didn't have anything or any money to my name and $800 was unattainable. Well I followed SG faded on reverb and a lot of them are in rough condition, but every once in a while, one in decent condition was posted. One day I just happened to see one listed and noticed the location of the seller was the same town. I asked them when/where they got it. It was the same guitar. I bought it no questions asked and it's no longer haunting me. It took like 8 years, but I got really lucky on that one.
I think you helped me decide on my next build! Was aiming to do a 335, but researching the trestle bracing and construction on the Collings/vintage Duo Jets swayed me.
I have lost out on a few guitars a Heritage 535 and a Gibson's ES 335. Should of bought both! A few weeks ago my wife and I were at the Music Go Round in Colorado springs. I was just looking not going to buy. She went into the acoustic room and strummed a couple guitars. She came across this mid-level Alvarez that just sounds awesome! I played every acoustic in that room that day and only the very expensive Martin sounded better. My wife said you need to buy this. Took it out of my hands and paid for it! My wife and the guitar are both awesome!
We all knew this video was coming. LOL! Everyone wanted Rhett to get that guitar!
Someone once said “Don’t be sad that it’s ending. Instead: smile that is happened”
Rather than being bummed that guitar has sold, take solace in the fact you helped spread the word about an incredible instrument and the fact that you got your hands on a Collings at all (most of us will never be so lucky).
Plus, now that they’re on your radar, there might be a guitar they build that’s even better suited for your particular style and you’ll for sure have fun hunting for your own Collings.
When you find a guitar that makes you want to never stop playing it then you should buy it.
I bought a PRS Modern Eagle 1 Singlecut and paid full price because it spoke to me in a way no other has ever done. 4 years later I bought another one and it too was just as meaningful.
I was frustrated when he walked away.
Not me!!!
Remember it like it was yesterday. Walked into a music store with my newly wed wife. Picked up a mid 1950s Gibson acoustic. It was unbelievable. I didn’t buy it. 6 months later the store burned to the ground and the guitar was lost to the fire. It still haunts me. Thankfully I have pictures with it. ♥️
Oh man, that’s the most tragic 😭😭😭
I feel bad for you, bro
That absolutely sucks!!!!
🤦♂️ Tragic, and you can’t play a picture 😫😫🤦♂️🤦♂️😞
Oh mate, beats my story!!
What are the odds.. feel for ya fella
That's even worse than someone else buying it. At least someone out there is enjoying the Collings.
That's...that's actually so much worse.
This livestream is RAW. It’s like a live therapy session and I can feel your pain and sorrow. It sounded beautiful but it’s the one that got away. But rest assured you will find the one.
I play guitar but I’m mainly a bass trombonist. I had the exact same experience with my main bass trombone. Outrageously over my budget… I litteraly got myself on a 4 year loan… never looked back on that decision because that horn follows me in all my music endeavors. Few years later, did the same with a custom mouthpiece that is very expensive but it made my sound wider, clearer , better, focused… I now have my set-up… no regrets. Man, go at Collings and have them build yours…
Rhett, I'm pretty confident in saying that Collings is SO consistent in their build quality, I'd bet the next one you play will be just as good. Maybe not exactly the same, but it will fill the same space, do the same job, literally be as good (if not better) as the one you passed on. I've played a lot of Collings', and I currently own three Collings (acoustics), two of which I bought online, sight unseen! I would usually NEVER buy an acoustic sight unseen, but I think with Collings, they are all so good (unless it had been damaged somehow) that you won't be disappointed. Just a thought...
Don't beat yourself up, $8k is a lot of dough and the time will be right. You can always order one from Collings, working directly with them (they are lovely to work with on the phone) and get one that may even mean more to you than that one would have.
As someone who said that he doesn’t like PRS, “Because they’re too consistent,” I don’t think Rhett would be interested. Rhett just likes to have to tune his Gibsons halfway through each song so that he can keep his ear training as good as possible, I guess?
Agreed. Order one through your favorite Collings dealer, and if it ends up *not* being magic, just refuse it - they'll have no trouble selling it.
@@damienalvarez2957My April 1983 Les Paul Studio has held tune for two months, but hey ho.
I feel this, Rhett. The Les Paul story especially. I pulled the trigger on a 2014 custom shop ‘52 Tele that spoke to me last month. Wasn’t looking for a new guitar, but it’s exceptional. Currently eating Ramen noodles for the month!
Yeh. Side theme in your post is if you have a trusting relationship with your guitar shop crew and ask them about which guitar you should look at, they will point you to something special even though it may be different than what your walked in intending to play. Your Novo, your SG…. The Telecaster I just got last month. Same story -Was in my local guitar shop and asked James who I have known for a few years if he had anything interesting. Without hesitation he pointed to of all things a Fender Tele Pro 2 pine and basically said this is one of the best guitars he ever played. Played it and was like wow. Reasonably priced but hesitated. Similar rule plus corollary of don’t make the wife upset…. Went home and proceeded to think about it day and night for another week. Got lucky and was still there a week later. Wife still happy. Long story short - if it was meant to be, the guitar would be in your hands. You made some dude in California totally happy. No worries, be patient. Another one will find you and if it is meant to be, it will happen, just like your Novo and SG.
When I watched the video of you playing it you sounded so good. The moment you said you left the store without it the first thing I thought was... he's going to regret it. But I know how that feels, I had a mortgage, 2 car payments, and 3 kids to feed, so I had to pass on many great guitars in the past. 😒
Man, this hits hard. A month and change ago I was at a lovely little shop (where the guitar tech mangled my Casino, but that’s another story) here in town, where I saw a gorgeous roasted-pine looking “partscaster” Tele w a filtertron neck pickup, and the most perfect satin-backed roasted neck I’ve ever had in my hands. Fell in love instantly. Broke my heart to leave it there, especially for the song they were asking for it. Haven’t stopped thinking about it since. 😕
I just saw that video today, and right when you said you were going to take a pass on it, I knew you were going to regret it.
I will add: Someday, down the road, you're going to find another one, and it's going to speak to you much the same way this one did, and you're not going to pass on that one, and all will be well. Patience will be a reward.
This is 100% why I only play Godin electrics and Breedlove acoustics. I bounced around Les Pauls,Martins, Taylor’s but found that Godin and Breedloves just sounded and fit perfectly. Go with what sounds and feels right to you!
Simon & Patrick Woodland cedar is no slouch either
I have an Art & Lutherie (Godin subsidiary) Cherrywood Dreadnought that I bought in Spetember 2021. Last summer, I found a serial number site, and worked out that she was built on Saturday 10 August 2001.
She's still pristine, and sounds gorgeous. And she stays in tune for days.
@@emilyadams3228 Yup, Godin make great instruments. They kind of fly below the radar but a great many session players have adopted them ... both acoustic and electric. I've been playing a Godin LG as my "go to" for ever. I have a Strat but it just collects dust. My LG has been my main gig axe since I bought it in 2003. Recently acquired a Gretsch 5236 which I really like but my LG... still the best.
I remember when I bought my Les Paul. I was 18, working a summer job, and I had gone to my local guitar store. I picked up a Gibson Les Paul with a faded finish and started playing it. I plugged it in, and there was just something about the way it resonated. It was sitting on my hip bone, and I just felt the vibrations through my whole body.
There were a couple of them on stands on the store, and I played them all, but there was just something about mine.
I had a really low daily limit on my credit card at the time, so I ran down the street to the bank, so I could make it back to the guitar store before they closed. Made it with minutes to spare, and put down every dollar I had to finance it. I've had it ever since, and I'll never sell it.
I was browsing through my favorite shop a couple years ago and on whim picked up a les paul tribute. I liked the honey burst, but never considered buying one, until I played it... then bought it. there's something special about how it sounds, and the 50s neck is perfect for my hand. it's the best feeling and sounding guitar I have. the tribute is one of the least expensive in my collection, but it's my favorite to play and will probably never leave me!
There is something fascinating about that feeling when you start playing " the guitar" as in an instrument that just speaks to you in a way the others don't.
It will inspire you to play in a way that you didn't know was possible. It feels like a magical ability to just make you better. An instrument like that really does make you sound better, but it also makes you come up with better parts.
Completely agree. It's like everything suddenly clicks. Other guitars feel cheap or wrong in comparison. It's like you and the guitar are both trying to say the same thing and the two of you add to eachother.
An alternative to that beautiful Collins is the Gretsch G6130T, Limited Edition 'Sidewinder'. I bought one about a month ago and it's now my number 1. I think it sounds and feels like the Collins when you take in to consideration that it's about a quarter to a third of the price. These were a couple of great episodes Rhett, we love this kind of stuff from you!
So I know it won't help with the sting of missing that guitar, but your saga with the Collings helped me to pull the trigger on a Murphy Lab J-45 that I played ~10 days ago and couldn't stop thinking about. Now that I got over the hump of making the purchase today, I'm very happy with it.
Dangerous job ya got there...this'll happen again, Rhett!
I recently went to a guitar shop here in Glasgow to check out an American Original 50s Strat which is discontinued now as I’d previously played one and really liked it , shell pink in colour . After trying it I then played a 90s Strat which had lace sensors fitted and it played even better than than the first one but was a bit too worn . There was a great looking 2019 Les Paul Standard 60s in unburst finish so even although I was more interested in Strats I thought “ this is a good price “ so gave it a go . It was a sensation after the two Strats , playing through an old Peavey valve combo it was so full and big tone . Went home and scratched my head … could I trade in my PRS and another guitar but by the time I’d hatched a plan it was sold . Phoned the shop “ oh yeah I remember you being in its sitting here waiting to be shipped out “ The difference of Strats to the Les Paul had totally thrown me, love my Strats but now I need to track down another 60s Les Paul Standard and hope it’s as good .
Ouch! and you sold it out from under yourself with the video. That video was the first time I could ever honestly hear how great an electric guitar sounded on UA-cam, no kidding.
$8000 is serious money for any electric guitar. You can definitely live with yourself; you can do a lot of things with 8K. Keep up the great work!
I’ve missed out on a few over the years too, but I played my favourite ever bass in 1992. Was playing a ‘76 Ric at the time, which I really liked. This other was a ‘72. Crushed pearl inlays, checkered binding etc., pre-skunk stripe. At the time it was the oldest one I’d played so I was intrigued. Played one note and my jaw dropped. It was incredible. Played it for a while and it blew my mind. Bear in mind by this point I’d played thousands of basses over many years, but it was EASILY the best bass I’d ever played. Unfortunately I had no money, so I had to leave it, resigned to the fact that I’d played my favourite bass ever but would never own it, which was a bit crushing. A year later I’d saved up to buy a new amp from the same store and took my ‘76 with me to try it. There on the wall was the ‘72, reduced in a sale! I a/b’d with the ‘76 (it was leagues better) and put a deposit on it, going back the next week to collect it. It’s still the best bass I’ve ever played, and what’s more has gone up in value 10 times since then. Not that I’ll ever sell it. It’s my Excalibur. 😉
I listen to Julien Lage basically everyday. He's oozing with Brilliance.
“Someone in California got it”
In a dark room somewhere in LA, Tim Pierce is cackling over Rhett’s tears.
*shhhh* 🤫 Tim's got it for Rhett as a Xmas gift.
I'll bet good money that sold before the end of the original stream. Don't sweat it Rhett, the Novo is your thing. I have a trestle-braced Gretch 6120 from Fugijen, Japan, very similar construction, awesome guitar.
I loved the story about your Novo and what it took for you to buy it. Having watched your channel a couple years and admiring the quantity and quality of your gear, I was starting to think you’ve got an unlimited gear budget! This video made you more relatable to me. I hope find yourself another Collings that has the same mojo!
A guitar that is still being produced can’t get away, so simply have Maple Street Guitars hook you up when the next one comes in, or go online like I just did and buy either the burst from Eddies Guitars in MO, or the blonde from Music Emporium in MA. There are probably more available, so make it happen! 👍
You are messing up his play to get artist pricing directly from Collings!
@@surfrduedeid be there with a compass and ruler trying to invent angles to get a deal.😂
2012- was broke as all get out and I think I was at a Guitar Center to see about a job and they had a pretty standard MIM Telecaster that was just- so beautifully worn in. White, maple neck. Nothing special, but I played it and loved it. Just had no money- I think about it twice a week.
I got a classic vibe tele this way. Didn't think much of it, but picked it up and had to get it.
Yes. You should have. It sounded gorgeous.
As a GAS sufferer I came to realise that, sometimes you can get an average guitar and make it a great guitar without having to sell a kidney. Just get to know the elements/parts that are not the best options, replace, adjust and addapt them. Having said so that Collings looks like a dream guitar (damn GAS.....) . In any case, there will probably be more to came from where that model came from. Great video, your sincere passion for guitars is a milestone
Every Collings I’ve played has floored me. My 290 with lollars is #1.
I watched your video with headphones on & it sounded really good thru UA-cam.I can’t imagine it in person.I thought you were gonna buy it for sure
Don't worry about it, or allow yourself to elevate this guitar in your mind. Had you bought it, the magic would fade, and there would just be ANOTHER "magic" guitar that would come along. It's how our minds/desires work. Learn to recognize and ride the wave of infatuation; it will crest, crash, and dissipate. Earned wisdom.
Nice to see Rhett’s true yearning for that “one special guitar”. I think a lot of us know that feeling and it’s a big reason we like these videos- we can relate!
I don't know if you ever met Wallace Reed. He owned a music shop up in Norcross back when I was still living in the ATL area, and was my go-to shop to buy strings or get minor adjustments made to my guitar.
About 15-20 years ago (give or take), I came into his shop to get a setup done before going on aq trip where I was going to be playing, and I spotted this gorgeous on the wall that hadn't been there before. It was a Morgan acoustic 12-string, and i can't swear there was a halo of light around it when I saw it, but I cannot swear there wasn't, either.
I took down off the wall and sat on a nearby stool, thought of a chord and gestured vaguely at the fretboard, and there was the sound, shimmering crystal and perfect. It was the most supple and responsive instrument I've ever had my hands on; only one other has even been close,. I played it for a few minutes, then looked at the price tag, considered my finances, and reluctantly hung it back up.
Every time I'd stop by, over the nexst few weeks, Wallace would see me staring longingly at it, stopping to play it from time to time, and each time he'd offer me a slightly lower price. Finally, after several rounds of this, he pulled out an enormous 3-ring binder, flipped through it, and showed me the factory invoice for the guitar. "That's what I paid for it. I can let it go for $100 over that, but that's the absolutely best I can ever do.
Alas, at that time, i was in a really tight place, and I still couldn't do it. I dream about that guitar from time to time, to this day.
Had similar experience with a Fender Esprit Robben Ford. It just was "the one" when i picked it up. Couldn't buy it because shop owner was buying it for himself. Asked shop owner for right of first purchase if he ever sold it. I had bought many from his shop already so good repoire established. About 8 months later he calls me out of the blue and offered it to me. I now own one of my "the one" guitars.
When it's right, it's right.
Mine was a Vaccarro in the early 2000s, with the p90s and aluminum neck. Very rare. Most inspiring electric I have ever played. The owner thought it was some sort of Teisco thing and priced it $250. Like a fool I didn't buy it on the spot. Came back the next day and the owner had figured it out and raised it to over $1k.
I am LIVING this right now over a vintage AC30 that got away the day I was going to make the 5 hour drive to get it. It's been over a week of mourning and the pain is real.
It definitely is a bucket list guitar for me. I haven't seen or played one, yet, but if Julian had a hand in making this guitar happen, I want it!
Just throwing this out there: check out one of those Japan-made Gretsch Duo Jet's with dynasonics (the Pro version, I think they're called...). They're not Collings - and they're not vintage Gretsch - but they're extremely well made and do that "piano clarity" really well. Great guitars; you might be surprised.
Edit: I kept listening and this was brought up))
I had a moment like this with a guitar back in 2001. There was a music festival, and Gibson had a trailer with a bunch of guitars people could play. The closest thing to a Gibson I'd ever played was an Epiphone Les Paul, which I wasn't too impressed with so I wasn't expecting much. But I ended up trying an SG that was plugged into a POD with headphones. To this day, I remember how it felt the first time I fretted some chords on that guitar. That fretboard and neck felt so fast. I've never had an experience like that since, and still think about it to this day.
Hearing your story, I felt as if it happened to me. As I was a vintage collector, I actually happened a few times in my life. Missing to buy one of Wes Montgomery's first '53 Gibson L5 CES that sounded so right; and that marvelous '59 natural ES-335 owned by Luther Allison, that the poor fellow couldn't afford to keep anymore. And that 59' LesPaul (no stripes, plain table, 5/5 sound) that Marcel Dadi was pushing me to buy (10 grands, so cheap compared with today). All these losses are only in our minds. A few years later, all this becomes good old stories, because you finally got a few exceptional guitars (not many). Some of them I discovered because internet influencers like you tried them, and said they'll die, or at least they won't sleep anymore for weeks if they don't find the money to buy them. You just take your phone in the next ten minutes after video publication, call the shop, reserve the beast, PayPal, and wait for the monster to be delivered.
Man, I was thinking, “you should buy it!!”
Years ago there was a Collings 290 in surf green/sea foam green floating around on Reverb. It changed hands at least 3 times, and every time my heart sank. Except that one time I smashed the buy button! 🐸
Powerful video. Bonding. An alternate way that worked for me. Found luthier Chris “Tatalias” collaborated on every spec I always wanted. Hand built including selecting woods, carving neck shape, spec’d and signed pickups by Lindy Fralin etc. Took a while to get into cue, but the playability and bond is unmatched to anything I have. Something about knowing the person who built it. Luckily was close enough so I could be there at milestones in person.
My late father, Felix Bolli who was Swiss as I am partially, gave me some very good advice early in my life which was "always buy the best quality that you can afford to buy" which is something that I still try to adhere to all these decades later 👍 I hope you'll get the chance to buy another Collings very soon, Rhett. I think you would find owning and playing one very inspirational 👍👍👍🥰
I saw the previous video of the guitar, one of the nicest sounding I ever heard. As for it getting away... though that it did. I live by and old saying from a sign in a guitar shop that said. "I should have bought it when i saw it.". I've had too many instruments and other things get sold out from under me while I was trying to justify buying it. I don't wait anymore. I grab them as soon as I see them.
I’ve played guitar for 30 years, and I’ve only had the “oh shit/ one that got away” feeling twice. Those guitars haunt me. I promised myself that if I ever had that feeling again, I would buy the guitar.
I don’t have any faith that even the best manufacturers are capable of making every one of their guitars equally amazing. I had a Collings i35 that was pedestrian.
The moment you said you weren’t buying that guitar I thought you were a mad lad. Good luck finding another! The one I missed out on was a 1937 Martin 00-17. The best acoustic I’ve ever played. I should have gotten it
I was on a cross country motorcycle trip and stopped in a small music shop in Nashville, IN. and saw an early Gibson Hummingbird for sale on consignment. It belonged to an older gentleman that could no longer play and wanted it to go to a good home. The guitar was in great shape with beautiful natural wear and sounded great! Since I was on my bike and couldn’t take it with me I left it and moved on. Once home from my trip I kept thinking of it so I called the shop. The guitar was still there but cost more than I thought was originally quoted so I continued to wait. A couple months later the shop owner called and said the guitar’s owner offered to let it go for the price I offered. It was a bit of a financial stretch for me but I grabbed my credit card and bought it. It was another two months before I could pick it up and when I entered the shop the owner said there were about six other folks that called after I bought the guitar and were heartbroken they missed it. This has been one of the best guitar acquisitions I have made.
Everyone knew this video was coming, we just didn't think it would be this soon. Sometimes, you encounter a guitar or an amp that you know needs to be yours, but you just don't have the resources to make it happen. For me, on that list are a Taylor SHSM Susanna Hoffs Signature Model, a Parker Fly Concert, an original 1990s PRS bass guitar, and a Groove Tubes Soul-45 combo amp. I would also add to that a Rickenbacker 325V59 MapleGlo. Lucky for you, the guitar you passed up is still in production, so you can still get one.
I've had 3 Collings, sold 2 and really regretted them. Not many guitars have done that to me. Collings builds really good guitars indeed! Next time Rhett...
Don't. Ever. Sell. Guitars. Unless you really don't want them anymore.
I feel your pain. I missed a beautiful Eastman T59V after going in to my local and checking it was still there for a whole week. It got purchased and I was distraught. My wife let me order one and Its my favourite guitar in my collection.
I had this with a bike. Went in to buy a R1250RS. And fell in love with a CCM Spitfire FT. Went away and all I could think about was having it. Had sleepless nights…had to fly early the next day, as soon as I landed I was on the phone…actually did the deal half way between Italy and Slovenia. Sometimes you just have to do it…
Collings guitar are very nice. But $5k-$10k 😢 id have to let it go, too. Was at guitar center and someone had an $8k R9 Murphy Lab Les Paul pulled out of the glass case and left it sitting there. Just happened to be in the right room at the right time. Plugged that baby in a fender deluxe reverb. Lol security watching me like a hawk. It sounded awesome. Like a firm fender guy but guitar opened my eyes a little bit.
I had your same exact feelings last week. I met a local guitar collector because I wanted to test and buy one of his acoustic guitars, a Guild D50. I played it but it didn't satisfy me at all. Then he offered me to test three other guitars: a Martin OM28, a Taylor 710 and a Martin J40. The J40 was the last one I tried and it definitely captured all my feelings and all my expectations for a guitar in that price range. It exceed my budget a lot, so I went back home without buying anything; but my brain was constantly thinking about that J40...for days and days. So I finally decided to buy it, and now I am so happy and proud of it!
My idea is: if it's possible, don't let this kind of guitars to let go. If they capture our heart and our stomach, then it's time to buy!
Yes... Mine was a '71 Tele that was totally unassuming. One of the only guitars that I connected with at a visceral level. I had not even plugged it in yet. That was when these things were just shy of 2K. Oh well.
Remember it’s about the journey and learning- not just the destination. Keep pushing brother.⚡️
I had this feeling once. 1991, walked into a small music store in Rutherford NJ and spotted a Gibson Gold Top Les Paul high up on the wall over a register. It was used and on consignment with a price tag of $500. I asked why it was so cheap, and the store employee said it was an older LP that suffered a broken neck, but was professionally repaired. Plus, the owner needed the money quickly as it was just brought in a few days earlier.
As soon as I strummed it acoustically, I knew how great this guitar was. And then when I plugged it in...it was ALIVE. I knew I just had to have it, especially at that price, which was more than I could even afford back then. It was a 1969 Les Paul Deluxe. I ran to the ATM and put down $200 for them to hold it for me until I could get the rest of the cash a week later. Greatest guitar I ever owned.
The good news is, when you re ready (or have another chance) that guitar from Collings is very consistently good so when another one comes along you’ll also dig it.
You Learned a valuable Lesson with this and that is = don’t release the Episode until you’ve sure your not going to buy the Guitar 😉👍🏻 Keep it under your Hat as we say across the pond 👍🏻❤️🌞
Still can't forget the 00028 a pal offered me many years ago. Had the most wild Brazilian rosewood back and sides (the grain had a fabulous zig zag pattern) and the tightest grained top I'd ever seen. Sounded astonishing. He left it with me for a few days. My partner, who was not a musician, immediately said "You must get it" when I played it. I would have had to sell a very nice old D28 to afford it, so decided against and returned it to him. My pal later told me my partner had called him enthusing about the sound of it. That was unheard of for her. She could take or leave guitars. Still regret not buying it.
Yeh, the ‘Collings’ vid was memorable in a couple of ways - 1) the remarkable articulation that was palpable even on this side of UA-cam, and how it inspired you to play to engage the guitar’s strengths, and 2) your angst over to buy or not to buy. The $ was big. I’m wonder how much Bill would ask to make one for you?
"The Experience" ... well, luck was on my side in this particular case : 3 Years ago (!!!) I played this 1957 Gibson L5C in a shop in Hamburg and it ticked all the boxes, I sat there and played it for an hour non-stop, with my heart racing. Couldn't afford it of course but kept an eye on it through the years and it didn't sell ! This summer I sold some gear and looked for this L5 again and the listing was gone, major bummer. Called the store and learned that the owner (it was a commission deal) gave up after trying to sell it for 5 years, took it home. I put in my offer anyway and now it's mine. Don't give up and catch your dreams ! OTOH , it's only gear and don't let that ruin an otherwise perfect day.
A supporting partner is a vital aspect. You are blessed, man!
When I went shopping for a new acoustic I played every higher end guitar in the shop. Only a Martin (forget the model) spoke to me but I wasn't blown away. Then the sales person asked me if I had heard of Godin and of course, I have an LG that has been my go to electric for ever. So he pulled a Simon&Patrick Woodland cedar off the wall and I fell in love! I played that thing until closing time and I bought it.
Watched that video, absolutely floored that you didn't buy it after the way it made you play. Hope you find another soon.
Walked into my local shop, they don't carry Gibson, buddy knew I was looking for one, pulled out a 2008 LP classic 1960 in ebony. Strummed it once, traded two guitars and $$$$ to get it. Magical.
Man I get it, Rhett! The sound and appearance are both stunning...! You should find another one and give it a try to see how it stacks up against this one! Fingers crossed you'll get your hands on another one!
can't take that moment or the music you made with that beauty away, it lives on in that video
Here's mine. In 1983, some friends and I went to California for the US Festival. While there, we visited some guitar shops, including one called Voltage Guitars. Lots of cool pieces (I bought an original Thomas organ Cry Baby for $35.00) but the most interesting was a... wait for it... 1959 Les Paul Burst in amazing condition. You have to remember this was the early 80's, and everyone was unloading their "boring old guitars" to build hot-rodded Superstrats to copy Van Halen. So at this time, the Paul was only 24 years old, and the whole vintage guitar thing hadn't happened yet. But I was only 17 at the time, and so I didn't have the asking price, which was an astronomical $1,100.00. Yes, you read that right- one thousand and one hundred dollars. Eleven hundred bucks for an original '59.
I feel your pain. I’m a *very* amateur guitarist, but I’m a professional orchestral musician. I play the oboe for a living, and I recently tried a very rare vintage instrument (mid 70s) and fell in love with it. When I tried to buy it, the shop owner told me “oh, oops, that instrument actually is NOT for sale. The owner brought it in for a tune-up and I thought they meant to sell it.”
Oof
There was a hollow or semi-hollow Mosrite I ran across back when I was a teenager. It wasn't ridiculously expensive but, it was still out of reach. It's not really "regret" that I feel about not ever getting it. But, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have it. The guy at the shop that had it told me it was unusual to find a Mosrite like that one especially without "Mosrite" on the headstock. It wasn't my dream guitar by any stretch. There's just a part of me that always wonders "what if?"
There's a Collings 470 JL Julian Lage Signature on Reverb right now out of North Carolina.
My wife promised me a guitar for my birthday. I played a few until I tried one outside our price range. As soon as I played it I knew it was 'the one' ... I thank goodness my wife and I bent the budget to have it. I love it and cannot imagine living without Hunny its yellow and sounds sweet thick and just resonates forever.
All things happen for a reason. Some day one will fall in your lap.
I love the story with Tilly saying you needed to buy that guitar. I like to have my wife go with me to shop for a guitar when I need it to do a particular job. Such was the case with a Martin I/we bought. Jude went with me to look at lots of guitars as I needed a 6-string acoustic electric guitar. She would never look at any I was playing as to not be swayed by the bling. After one E chord on the Martin she said, "That's it!" She then picked out the strap. She still says that guitar makes me sound better. I was never a big fan of Martins. This on works really well for what I do with it. My keyboard player really likes this guitar.
Dude, from a rehabbed GAS addict, thank you for baring your heart and soul to all of us for the one that got away. Let's wait for six months and if in your own words, it still "haunts you to this day", then that was a love truly lost.
But as a rehabbed GAS guy, present husband and father, time will always heal all wounds.
And if I spent as much time practicing as I have watching videos like these, I'd be as good as Jimi effin Hendrix. Just sayin.
Mine is a Martin D42K, limited edition from 1998 with the most gorgeous Koa back and sides. Played it and immediately knew it was a special acoustic. Bought it used from a guy and it was more money than I've ever spent on a guitar. Since then a couple of times i had the stupid impulse to sell but thankfully never did. It's probably worth twice what I paid for it and to date it's still the best acoustic I've ever played. If you can find the money, even it's tough at the time, that will soon be forgotten and you will have a special guitar. I consider it likr parking my money in beautiful instruments rather than the bank. Can always sell them if needed and more often than not the return is many times better than a bank. If you can swing it, make it happen. If not, move on and know the next one will come along at some stage. There's an awful lot of amazing guitars out there.
I'm an old GASser. I been playing for 60 years daily. My first 35 years I could barely afford any nice guitar. Yet the last 25 years I have been overcompensating with GAS. Don't worry about the ones that get away. Let their memory inspire you. After 125 transactions I always have 8 acoustics and 8 electrics. The Acoustics are the higher financial outlay. Just keep playing your great guitars. I would also recommend a Tom Anderson Semi hollows with a Bigsby. Say a 15 year old Atom, Angel or Bobcat. The 1 11/16" nut width. 12-14" compound radius - easy to play. Nice wide, flatter radius. Like the chord melodies you were playing on the $7k Collings.
My "one that got away" is a Fender American Elite Telecaster Thinline. It was at our local guitar shop. I instantly fell in love with it. I was playing it for TWO HOURS. It made me late to work, but was SO WORTH being late. No regrets. I did take a photo of the serial number, so I could ask the shop for THAT guitar, that specific one.
Alas, after days of fighting the urge to buy it, I came to the realization that dumping $2000 on that guitar would have made me homeless. A couple months later, that guitar was sold. That was in 2018.
A few months ago, I went into a pawn shop, and there was a Fender American Elite Telecaster Thinline. It looked oddly familiar. It felt oddly familiar. Then, I looked at the serial number. It was oddly familiar. Somehow, I STILL have that photo in my phone. I pulled up the photo. The serial number matches. This guitar is THE ONE I was playing, THE ONE which made me late to work, THE ONE I fought the urge to buy. Now, here is is again. Second chance? The price tag says $1500.
My financial situation is actually worse now than in 1018, so I don't even HAVE the money to dump on that guitar.
As of a few days ago, that guitar is still at that pawn shop. Of course, I have no choice but to let it go, for a second time.
Saw the previous video. Just from the initial video sound, I could tell the guitar was incredible. One of the most balanced sounding instruments I have heard.
Hi Rhette, your video is spot on ..some one pass me a (Teye) guitar to try out. When i saw the guitar it looks awesome & mystic in design. Not only it is beautiful but it sounds great and its action was low. I done a quick check on the internet about its origin review and conclude it is an expensive guitar (somewhere around usd3-4K) juz like you, i do not have that kind of budget to buy it. Now my mind is in a tug of war the pros & cons whether to add it onto my collection. I understand when you said chances of a good guitar comes along may not happen everyday, another buyer could buy it the next day if I don't...thanks for you video.
i let a mystic seafoam jazzmaster get away in 2017....changed my mind and went back to Guitar Center that afternoon and it was gone.
but i found another one and the timing was right. Now I am a happy man, but searching for some better pickups!
Id be curious for you to try the Gretsch duo jet 6128TDS model. Got mine for ~ $2500, and obv a modern version of what inspired the Collings…. Take the treble bleed out and it’s fantastic.
Hello TJ , what is this treble bleed you are talking about , what does it change ? I’got the same guitar
Ive had a couple similar experiences- my thinline franken fender( just a fender/ gibson kind of combo . Not nearly as expensive as yours, but just the same . I had a couple friends play it so i could stand back and hear it after i played it and was struck by it. I couldn’t believe myself . Whipped out the card for that one- never have regretted it, still have it. I was acoustic hunting and after comparing some great guitars this fay settled on my Taylor 814 ce- and yup I loves it
My big regret is a different situation. I did buy the guitar in 2018. It was a 64 1/5 es 335 sunburst with factory Bigsby and the “Custom Made” cover over the stop bar holes. Patent sticker pickups. Nylon saddles. No fret wear. Closet queen. It was almost $10k and on the wall used in a little shop called Island guitars on Oahu, HI. It had the original Lifton case and hand written carbon copy of music store receipt from April 1965. It played, felt, and sounded so good. I sold it when a friend and ex-romantic interest asked for financial help and I have regretted it ever since. Guitar Center professionals took it apart and their experts dated and made the offer, but they told me they had a collector on the line who wanted it once they checked it out so it was never on the market for even a second. These are very hard to find, but when you do, people are asking $16k for these.
I had the same experience with a 7lb Duesenberg. Still haunts me that I let that one go.
Moral of the story: you need to bring Tilly with you when you go guitar shopping.
I almost had that happen last week. I’d gone into a local shop and fell in love with a Gibson LP Special. Left without it and thought for a week. Decided to do it. I called the shop in the morning and asked them to hold it for me. They said they could hold it until 430. But would sell it if they have someone else want to buy it any later than that. When I walked back in at 435 a customer was handing it back to the manager. He honored the agreement and sold it to me. The other guy was really cool and asked if I minded if he played it for a few minutes before I took it. I said sure. He sounded amazing playing it. Way better than I probably ever will be. He told me to enjoy and asked me to let him know if I ever want to sell it.
Never go to the guitar store and play a guitar you can't afford to buy, and never leave the store if you find a great guitar that you love playing and can afford. Because it will be gone before you go back to buy it.
Couldn't agree more. I think you could see this coming a country mile away...
Ugh. I know that feeling all too well. I played an Atkins at CME a few weeks ago while I was in Chicago for work. The second I strummed a chord, I knew this guitar was going to haunt me. I hate being a responsible adult. 😭
Sax and gutair player here this is how i felt a few weeks ago after i tried a 1959 5 digit Selmer Mark 6 Tenor sax from a private seller it might have been my only chance at owning one for 5k when they go for 22k depending on serial and i walked away… almost teared up after i saw it sold it had a singing quality regardless of the mouthpiece instantly hit me in its mid range that some of these vintage horns have that is hard to explain almost like a time machine back to 52nd street
I'm still dreaming of the neck of the Mule Mavis I played a bit over a year ago.
I’ve had the oh shit moment. I gig with a Martin OM28. Went into the local guitar store to pick up my clip on tuner I had left before I went on a trip. Came into the shop and this Martin OM42 (2003) was on a stand in the middle of the acoustic room.
Guy in the store says “have a go, you’ll love it.” I think to myself “yeah, I’ll have a bash on this just to see if they are different. I’ll not buy it, I already have an OM.” Picked it up, strummed a chord and knew my bank account was gonna hate me. Best acoustic i have ever played and so happy I made the sacrifice to get it 🤟🏻
I think you should buy the pickups from that guitar and try to recreate it with another guitar with those pickups and match the videos and let us see if you can get close to the same sound
That happened with a Les Paul Classic and now every single time i try another guitar i compare it to that because it had so much of a sound that i just loved about it.
Hey, Rhett - in case you see this, I would like to offer you a little bit of reassurance. ALL of the 470 JL‘s are this good, so you don’t have to worry about it being one that “got away“. I’m not sure how it is at the moment, but last time I checked the wait time for one if you pre-buy it is less than six months. I have the blonde version of this guitar and had the fortune of having Julian Lage himself (and his wife Margaret). check it out. Julian remarked how beautiful it was, and how great it played. I pointed out that it was exactly like the one that he has, and he said, “yeah, but they’re all like this. They’re all perfect.“
Call Collings, they will tell you which colors are in the build queue and where they are heading. You can put down a deposit...this also gives you time to build the funds as opposed to scrambling. I bought mine sight unseen from Music Emporium and they were SUPER cool about it. I was freaking out about spending that much without playing and the shipped it to me without running my credit card until I played it. Needless to say I kept it. All this to say to you that unlike vintage or CS guitars where the quality and feel can vary a lot, a new 470 goes through a gigillion QC checks before it's released into the wild. You won't regret getting in line for one. I promise.
Really nice guitar,I was surprised when you said you walked out without it.
Rhett by chance have you ever had the opportunity to play one of the Harmony Jupiter thinlines ? Seems like a....kinda similar thing, I've been hoping I'd find one to put my hands on. Really starting to get interested in a hollow/ heavily chambered solid top.
The first guitar I ever played that I had that, "Oh" moment with was a 2002 SG Faded with the ebony fretboard and crescent moon inlays. I was a broke college student and went to the local guitar shop and played it. I just couldn't afford it. I didn't have anything or any money to my name and $800 was unattainable. Well I followed SG faded on reverb and a lot of them are in rough condition, but every once in a while, one in decent condition was posted. One day I just happened to see one listed and noticed the location of the seller was the same town. I asked them when/where they got it. It was the same guitar. I bought it no questions asked and it's no longer haunting me. It took like 8 years, but I got really lucky on that one.
I think you helped me decide on my next build! Was aiming to do a 335, but researching the trestle bracing and construction on the Collings/vintage Duo Jets swayed me.
I have lost out on a few guitars a Heritage 535 and a Gibson's ES 335. Should of bought both! A few weeks ago my wife and I were at the Music Go Round in Colorado springs. I was just looking not going to buy. She went into the acoustic room and strummed a couple guitars. She came across this mid-level Alvarez that just sounds awesome! I played every acoustic in that room that day and only the very expensive Martin sounded better. My wife said you need to buy this. Took it out of my hands and paid for it! My wife and the guitar are both awesome!