The Collings Soco Deluxe

[maplebaby]

Bill Collings has been known for building acoustic guitars, based on traditional and time proven designs, for a few decades now. He has carved a nitch in the acoustic guitar market as one of the premier builders of steel-string, flat-top guitars, and many would agree that when it comes to fit and finish he has no peers.

During the last decade Mr. Collings, and his small workbench style shop, have taken on building both A and F style mandolins and most recently electric guitars. Collings electric guitars share common themes from popular models although none are 'clones'. Each of Collings electric guitar models demonstrate Collings desire to improve upon already great and time proven designs.

The guitar featured here is totally Collings vision and design, the Soco Deluxe. It features a maple top, back and sides carved out of one piece of mahogany, brazilian rosewood fretboard and headstock overlay. Pickup rings, volume and tone knobs and tunner buttons are all made 'in house' to Collings strict standards. Mr. Collings uses Jason Lollar pickups in all of his electrics with exception of the City Limits Jazz which features a Kent Armstrong floating pickup.

Below you will find specs from Collings Site - a link to the Collings homepage and several pictures and videos of the Soco I received on 12/08.

I do want to mention that Collings Guitars was kind enough to allow me to pick out all the wood from many samples that went into this guitar. What a great thing for such a wonderful company to do, and a whole lot of fun. Thanks for taking time to check out the Soco Deluxe from Collings Guitars!

dale


SoCo Deluxe

Named afer Austin's funky and eclectic South Congress Avenue, the SoCo Dlx is all about attitude. This model brings in elements from both the I-35 and CL models to create a unique hybrid that is all its own. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

Features Include:
-Premium flamed maple
-Fully carved top
-Semi-hollow mahogany body
-Grained ivoroid top binding
-High gloss lacquer finish
-Choice of sunburst or translucent color
-Custom humbucking pickups by Jason Lollar
-Tone-Pro bridge and tailpiece
-Custom-made grained ivoroid knobs and pickup rings
-22-fret ivoroid bound mahogany neck
-Brazilian or Madagascar rosewood fingerboard
-Mother-of-pearl dot fingerboard inlays
-24 7/8"scale length
-Ivoroid bound peghead
-Brazilian rosewood or Ebony peghead veneer
-Mother-of-pearl Collings logo
-Sperzel vintage tuners with ivoroid buttons
-Deluxe hardshell case by TKL

http://www.collingsguitars.com/ (http://www.collingsguitars.com/)

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/kapo1234/Socofullfront.jpg
http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/kapo1234/socobackfull1.jpg
http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/kapo1234/017.jpg
http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/kapo1234/socofrontclose.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-0bOOpuuVA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-0bOOpuuVA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrpoiQ0aWZw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrpoiQ0aWZw)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNC85D6QxVs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNC85D6QxVs)

[pcovers]

Terrific guitar. Collings have great quality assurance practices.

[DavidH]

Yeah! Love the colour too, is it darker/more amber than the normal blonde natural finish they do?

[maplebaby]

thanks guys for taking a look!

David - it does have a bit of yellow in the color, i guess it really a blonde more than 'natural'. I appreciate your feedback.....i like it a bit more than just the totally natural finish as well.

regards,
dale

[trwigg]

I have had mine for about a year now and I am still loving it.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u222/trwigg/SoCo1.jpg
I chose the optional headstock.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u222/trwigg/SoCo2.jpg

Thanks to Stu at Fat Sound for the pics, he takes some nice shots.
This guitar has become my all time favorite and I was glad see somebody else commenting about them on TGP. Congrats on you new guitar it is a beaut!!

[mojocaster.com]

Wow... you guys are not helping my GAS, but it looks like I may be getting an I-35 soon. Keeping fingers crossed right now :)

[maplebaby]

trwigg - ice tea burst?? a beauty!! Does it get a lot of your playing time....i'd love to hear any feedback as a new owner....one last question what string guage have you settled on?

mojocaster - all the best with the i-35 what a GREAT gutiar!!!

thanks again,
dale

[jb70]

i would like to have one of those

[jads57]

I beleive Daves Guitar has a slightly used one for sale still! They are,as all of the Collings that I `ve tried among the very finest Gibson style instruments available at any time or price!

[Bluedawg]

I have lust in my heart for a SOCO Jazz. Maybe someday.


:JAM

[The bear]

Your guitar looks and sounds great!
I still really love my SOCO, a very special guitar.
Everybody should check it out!

[suhr_rodney]

I really like the looks of the SoCo. A while back a forum member posted pics of his P90 loaded SoCo, which still has me drooling.

[Shark Sandwich]

fantastic looking guitar. . .I've thought about getting one of these for a long time.


I LOVE your videos--your tone and touch are amazing! I know this sounds cheesy, but where did you learn play like that? (seriously) I would love to learn to play like that.

[paintguy]

Wow!!!

Really nice.

[maplebaby]

thanks all for taking time to check this out and i appreciate the kind feedback! These are really great guitars from Collings.

Shark Sandwich - you are very kind and i appreciate your comments, i've taken private lesson some over the years, mostly for me it is just continuing to keep working at it and i struggling for every step of the way!!!

dale

[trwigg]

trwigg - ice tea burst?? a beauty!! Does it get a lot of your playing time....i'd love to hear any feedback as a new owner....one last question what string guage have you settled on?

mojocaster - all the best with the i-35 what a GREAT gutiar!!!

thanks again,
dale

Dale,
Yes, it gets alot of my time even though I try to play the others I keep coming back to the SoCo and it is Iced Teaburst. It has so much versatility that it works well for everything I try to play. I have it strung with 10-52 (SOB JTMB) and I like the response.

[maplebaby]

Dale,
Yes, it gets alot of my time even though I try to play the others I keep coming back to the SoCo and it is Iced Teaburst. It has so much versatility that it works well for everything I try to play. I have it strung with 10-52 (SOB JTMB) and I like the response.

Tim, thanks for the info......i'm glad you have such a great guitar and hare happy with it......wish we would play them together.

dale

[mojocaster.com]

well, paid for my I-35 today. Can't wait to receive her now :)

[maplebaby]

well, paid for my I-35 today. Can't wait to receive her now :)


congrats.......that is great! I'd sure love to hear what you think...........what finish did you get? Hope it is all and more of what you want,

dale

[slipbeer]

The 2 finest electric guitars I have ever played were a 1959 Les Paul and a Collings I-35.

The SoCo looks like it would be a great blend. You guys are really lucky.

[mojocaster.com]

congrats.......that is great! I'd sure love to hear what you think...........what finish did you get? Hope it is all and more of what you want,

dale

I hope so too! I bought it off of fellow TGPer Tone Dog.

... as for the finish:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3206128193_e88fb8fa96_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3206129245_da15aba4af_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3206127223_ebd3f5bfdb_b.jpg

Now I need to start saving to get a Swart AST Mk II to go with it :) - oh yeah, and try and figure out how to finish paying for this one ;)

[trwigg]

Tim, thanks for the info......i'm glad you have such a great guitar and hare happy with it......wish we would play them together.

dale

Dale,
That would be cool and then I could "steal" some of your licks! I am going to try to catch some of that stuff from your Youtube clips, every year I say I am going to learn some Christmas songs and never seem to get it done.

[trwigg]

I hope so too! I bought it off of fellow TGPer Tone Dog.

... as for the finish:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3206128193_e88fb8fa96_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3206129245_da15aba4af_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3206127223_ebd3f5bfdb_b.jpg

Now I need to start saving to get a Swart AST Mk II to go with it :) - oh yeah, and try and figure out how to finish paying for this one ;)

Mojocaster,
Congrats! I am trying to get one of those this year but with the flared headstock to match my SoCo. Enjoy!

[mojocaster.com]

Thanks! Do you have pics of the flared headstock in question?

[The bear]

Finally you got one!
Let me know how you like it!

[mep]

Mojocaster, congratulations on your I-35. It is beautiful and I hope that it is a keeper for you.

[mojocaster.com]

Thanks guys, that's very kind of you :)

[trwigg]

Thanks! Do you have pics of the flared headstock in question?

Look back at my original post to this thread. The pic is small but you can see the difference.

[maplebaby]

wow what great posts......i've really enjoyed reading all that has been shared.

mojocaster - killer, killer guitar!! thanks for taking time to share the pics....

dale

[Mister John]

Out of curiosity I tried some at NAMM.One of the best set neck guitars I've ever played.They had a LPish style guitar with mini humbuckers that was to die for.

[maplebaby]

gald you got your hands on them.....wish you hadn't mentioned the mini-bucker...........!!!!!!!

[GuitarNorton]

Anyone ever play one with P-90's?

[dkaplowitz]

Sexy guitar! Enjoy it!

BTW, here's a couple closer shots of the other Collings headstock(s):

http://www.bishopviolins.com/images/guitars/arch_top_headstock.jpg

http://www.12fret.com/new/Collings_I-35_Deluxe_2.jpg

[mojocaster.com]

I like both headstocks... I guess I need one of each now ;)

[mojocaster.com]

wow what great posts......i've really enjoyed reading all that has been shared.

mojocaster - killer, killer guitar!! thanks for taking time to share the pics....

dale


Thanks dale, and sorry for the thread hijack... I guess now I need to get a SoCo to remain on topic :D

[maplebaby]

i enjoyed every post!

i like the bigger headstock, my City Limits Jazz has it, it just went with the smaller on one on the Soco.

GuitarNorton - as of the building of mine (receiving it a month ago) they had not built one with P90 but will if ordered, i seriously considered it.

[mojocaster.com]

Oh man, how hot is that???

[Shark Sandwich]

i bit the bullet. btw, yet another head stock design!

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u34/localplayer/cas.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u34/localplayer/head.jpg


NICE!!! is this a new model for Collings? I want one! tell us more about it!

[mojocaster.com]

Thanks!

Now the hard part: the waiting starts... again.

I received the guitar, but it's 31 degrees out there, so I guess I'll wait and leave her inside the box and case for a little while to let her come to room temp.

How long do you guys reckon I should wait? :)

[maplebaby]

a big CONGRATS on that baby! love to hear from you after you get your hands and ears on it. Do you mind sharing what dealer you bought from?

hope you love it,
dale

[mojocaster.com]

Actually, I was going to go with one from Morgan Music, but stumbled upon a used one in the emporium right here, and somehow bought it without quite realizing what I was doing :)

Before I knew it, I had committed to buying it... not a bad commitment ;)

Can't wait to open the darn box, though. It's wicked hard to wait!

[The bear]

So?
You opened it?

[mojocaster.com]

not yet! I am trying to do the right thing :D

[pstarr]

You're a better man than I, Mojo. Funny story from when I got my I-35. I'd had shoulder surgery two days before and was still in pain. I opened the box, pulled out the guitar and promptly lost my balance, smacking the guitar against the floor down by the input jack. I was convinced I'd just toasted a $4500 guitar. But the rug saved the finish and the way the back and sides are carved out of a single piece of mahogany saved the rest. Not a scratch on her! Enjoy yours!

[mojocaster.com]

Wow, man, that was too close for comfort I am sure!

I am trying to be good. I have been wanting one of these for so long, I don't even worry about what a couple of hours more will do to my psyche :D

[maplebaby]

man i feel like i'm waiting with you!

[The bear]

I take my Soco in and out in a gig bag in NYC, and it is really cold here, all the time! No problems.
You should be fine!
Btw. The new Collings with minihumbuckers looks sweet!
I am sure it is a terrible guitar.

[maplebaby]

I take my Soco in and out in a gig bag in NYC, and it is really cold here, all the time! No problems.
You should be fine!
Btw. The new Collings with minihumbuckers looks sweet!
I am sure it is a terrible guitar.


Bill do build em tough!