My Romance with Collings Guitars - Part 1
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- Опубліковано 30 лис 2023
- Apart from many guitars in my home, I also have a "library" of books ABOUT guitars, and most of them are about Martin guitars. I'm something of a history buff, and I love the designs that Martin developed especially those around the turn of the century and up until 1929-34 when they went to 14 fret £OM or "rhythm" versions.
When I realised that my (perfectly normal) medium sized paws worked better on wider fretboards , I found that 12 fretters met my needs better, not because of the 12/14 fret thing but because of the fretboard width ... and this is part one, of my story, and why I have been a Collings buyer and player since 1999! Read on!
excellent video with just the right amount of cliffhangin'! ;)
Hi, didn't try to use "cliff hanging", probably my hesitant way of talking .... or maybe you mean waiting for part 2, well, it IS coming. Thanks for watching.
Nice to see you again!! Darn UA-cam...
Hi Jim, nice to see you back! Yes Y/T is seemingly attacking its viewers and creators.
Love your experience's , I too over here in NZ, & always on a budget ( 6 children, 'n' beautiful Wife ) paying the Rent etc. 1st tried an Italian Eko, ( too overbuilt ) then settled with a Yamaha FG 300, what a lovely instrument, 45 years ago now, & now I just enjoy playing, singing, with my Family, and updating my knowledge on Acoustic Guitar's 😊😊😊
Hi, lovely to learn that this old Limey has been seen in New Zealand! I still see the occasional Eko in clubs, not much sound but virtually indestructible! Glad to hear that you are still serenading your family with the Yamaha. I'd be interested to hear of any ideas that you might have for future videos. Thanks for watching!
@@SillyMoustache Hi again, I can't think of any suggestions for your future videos, but just keep on what you're doing, I always love guitar comparison's of course, & just a wee note I brought myself a 'Bristol ' acoustic the other day, it had nothing wrong with it except 1 bridge pin missing so 4 match sticks was doing the 'trick' and made an offer ( 2nd hand store ) and done, not S/Top but their made by 'BLUERIDGE' so I knew it had to be good, probably a 000 size and by the time I reset the action 'n' new strings Wow, sounded great, regds Don
Real achievement! Nice to have those guitars which gorgeously sound.
Myself I regret I started late (I was 54). But playing for 8 years with the few I have is more a sort of a miracle to me. It took me a whole to get my Martin. Collings are unreachable to me.
It's a pleasure to hear from you! 🎶
And it's a pleasure to receive kind comments! I was also a bit late, as I was a drummer for many years, before starting on Acoustic guitars, but it isn't when/where you start, it's the joy we can derive, and hopefully share by playing. Thanks for watching! Andy .
@@SillyMoustache Thanks Andy! It's very true. Sharing.✌
You are so right about finding the right neck size/profile. My challenge has been that newer guitars within most price ranges have tiny necks for my giant hands.
Many good sounding guitars I try have hefty necks that I am unable to play very long. Both Iris and Showalter guitars come with thick necks. My fretting hand has injuries, including being run over. I prefer a soft V or C, something narrower than 1.75 inch nut, and 25 inch or shorter neck. I have a Collings custom 00-18 12-fret and an OM-41, both with Collings standard (?) necks.
Hi, keep looking, it's easier to find, if you know what you;re looking for. Thanks for watching, Andy
Thanks, Andy. I have 2 Collings (a 12-fret 00 and an OM-41) but more Music Villa Martin Custom Shop Martin guitars, including a D-28 VTS 12-fret with solid headstock. I cannot see to restring the slotted headstock. I use toothpicks to find the holes in solid headstock. They don't stay with slotted headstocks. Thanks
I'll admit that when changing strings I have very bright lights on my work bench, and some supermarket reading specs to hand.
The one I have (1978, signed) is a fabulous instrument that I play almost every day. Some of the Collings Dreads I have seen and played tend to be more Bluegrassy than I like (strong bass and bright trebles). The smaller ones tend to be less responsive for fingerstyle (I am a finger style player) when played acoustically, but respond quite nicely when used with a pickup. The latest ones have improved considerably on this from what I have experienced. However, they are pricey, worth every penny, but pricey...
Hi Joel, I guess they have, as Bill told me he'd look for ways to improved things every day. I've just bought a 002h built in 1998, and the finish is not what you'd expect from a newer Collings, (I have 2003, 2007 and a 2008, and the finish on them all are perfect. The Collings tone is individual as aer Martins, but I think that Bill wanted to keep the "balanced sound across the strings" that Martin dropped with the first dreads. Of course we all her things differently.
All the best, Andy
I have owned several Martin D S Martins mostly D-18S and derivatives.
My all time favorite was my 1969 D-35S. It was East Indian with the
exception of the center back piece which was Brazilian Rosewood.
I have no problem string up a slot head.
I have not played a Collings D 12 fret slotted but curious.
I am a bit bored with Martins after 15 actually 17 .. 2 back to back customs one a D-18s special...
both were improperly built and returned to Martin and were destroyed as not repairable.
I never played either of them.
Hi Jeff, Back in the day, I searched for the Martin D18/28/35-S . After I'd got my first Collings I did get a D35-S (1974) which needed a reset. Luthier who did it found the dove tail "padded out" with bits of a Nazareth newspaper!
@@SillyMoustache " Luthier who did it found the dove tail "padded out" with bits of a Nazareth newspaper!"
The secret of Martin tone : )
I wonder whether you even feel the need for a 14-fret guitar?
I have three - all archtops. I'm working on some "American Songbook" material (which is not my style) with a friend where up the neck chords might be useful - but for my style... no. Thanks for your question.
Slotted headstock looks terrible. Wish they made solid headstocks like Martin. Do they?
Martin made a few dreadnoughts way back for the Ditson company. They had slotted headstock like most of their other models. When Ditson went broke during the great depression, Martin decided to try introduce a dreadnought - for themselves in 1931. The 12 fret slothead was the original dreadnought. The "OM" and the 14 fret dread that you are probably familiar with are the later "rhythm" versions with thin necks and solid headstocks which are cheaper to make but less ergonomic. Collings make the rhythm versions as well but as I prefer the more ergonomic original versions.
I have trouble restringing slotted headstock (I cannot see the hole to put the string in the barrel). I worked with Music Villa (Bozeman MT) to make a solid headstock 12-fret D-28. Fantastic guitar. They ordered 4 more, and all sold out in a week. They now offer both style Custom Shop 12-fret Martin's.
Music Villa used to carry Collings. MV figured out how to order Martin Custom Shop to sound like the old Martin's and current Collings, for less $$ than Collings. I have 2 Collings, a few more Martin's.
@@texhaines9957 Then, might I suggest : ua-cam.com/video/6tU3OkoBMkE/v-deo.html
PS Huss and Dalton also make nice sounding guitars, but I will never buy another. Bought one new from a reputable dealer, it arrived with a cracked nut on the G string. The dealer would not fix it because it would be covered by the manufacturer. H&D told me ro use super glue and bone dust on this new guitar. When I took the strings off, I found the bone nut cracked all the way through. Huss and Dalton wouldn't cover it under warranty, and neither would the seller. Not buying anything from either of them. Couldn't send it back because it took too long to deliver. Andy must have more challenges in England.
Absolutely ridiculous. They could've spent 30$ maximum to fix this.
Or give you a discount.
@@LegsON cost 120 here to get a new nut put in with setup and strings. My first, last, and never again Huss and Dalton.
@@texhaines9957 Absolutely ridiculous price. Someone Kind of stolen your money.😥
My custom DS12 was he most expensive guitar buy to date, and the financial loss was considerable. The "custom" aspect was just a 1 &13/16" nut width. When it arrived, kinda looked like they'd ripped a standard neck off and glued another on. It simply could not be played with a normal action for mediums, and rattled and buzzed. Customer service was insulting, and whilst the matter could not be resolved by the hard working dealer, it was the worst experience I've had when buying a guitar, and I've handsome! A trusted luthier checked it out and said that the top was too thin and under strutted.
The after sales interfaces I've had with Collings set the bar very high I guess.
Praying for them now.
May look like a Martin, but Collings are bright and don't have that beautiful Martin sound.
Hi Billy, that is a popular misconception. Martins are bass biased, they used to have an ethos of balance across the strings but abandoned that with the 14 fret dreadnought. Collings retain that ethos - they are perceived as bright in comparison with the Martin bassy sound, but are actually better balanced. Collings are neither bass nor treble biased. I hope that helps.