Doug Brown
Member
- Messages
- 17
I have been looking to buy a high end acoustic for some time. My first exposure was to Collings guitars was seeing Lyle Lovett play the Step inside this house album. I then bought the double CD and I was hooked. My friend and electronics wizard David Barber told me 1. not to go and play one unless I was ready to buy and 2. under no circumstances was I to take the credit card with me.
Well, I ignored part 1 but followed part 2 while on vacation with my wife in Nashville. We stopped at Gruhns and well, Nashville being Nashville, I had to play them. It was late in the day so I only had a few minutes. I grabbed a IRW/Sikta CJ, played the opening to Angie and fell to my knees!
I was hooked. The next day we went back to Gruhns and I played a IRW/Adir CW. Again I was stunned, but by a very different sound. Thus the search for MY Collings began.
To the fortune of my ears but the unfortunate of my wallet, we live near a guitar shop that specialises in Collings guitars. What is currently in stock that has a large body and a wide enough nut is a IRW/Sitka D3, an IRW/Adir CW, and a Mahog/Adir CJ. They all sounded beautiful but all were very different in tone.
It was interesting to hear the differences in top wood. The Sitka seemed more focused in the mids compared to the broader frequency palette of the Adirondack spruce. When comparing the body woods, hearing the forward fundamentals of the mahogany compared to the rich overtones and stronger bass of the Indian Rosewood confirmed which combination of woods I want in a Collings.
What I need to hear now is a CJ with an Adirondack top and an IRW body. However, this time I will bring the check book!
What model Collings do you play and how did you make the decision which model to buy?
Thanks,
Doug Brown
dbrown66@mac.com
Well, I ignored part 1 but followed part 2 while on vacation with my wife in Nashville. We stopped at Gruhns and well, Nashville being Nashville, I had to play them. It was late in the day so I only had a few minutes. I grabbed a IRW/Sikta CJ, played the opening to Angie and fell to my knees!
I was hooked. The next day we went back to Gruhns and I played a IRW/Adir CW. Again I was stunned, but by a very different sound. Thus the search for MY Collings began.
To the fortune of my ears but the unfortunate of my wallet, we live near a guitar shop that specialises in Collings guitars. What is currently in stock that has a large body and a wide enough nut is a IRW/Sitka D3, an IRW/Adir CW, and a Mahog/Adir CJ. They all sounded beautiful but all were very different in tone.
It was interesting to hear the differences in top wood. The Sitka seemed more focused in the mids compared to the broader frequency palette of the Adirondack spruce. When comparing the body woods, hearing the forward fundamentals of the mahogany compared to the rich overtones and stronger bass of the Indian Rosewood confirmed which combination of woods I want in a Collings.
What I need to hear now is a CJ with an Adirondack top and an IRW body. However, this time I will bring the check book!
What model Collings do you play and how did you make the decision which model to buy?
Thanks,
Doug Brown
dbrown66@mac.com