Collings Guitars
Collings Guitars is an Austin, Texas based stringed instrument manufacturer. Founded by Bill Collings in 1973, Collings today produces acoustic guitars, electric guitars, archtop guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles.
History
Bill Collings dropped out of medical school and moved from Ohio to Texas in the mid 1970’s with the intention of pursuing his lifelong interest in guitars. He later moved to Austin, the city that is home to Collings Guitars to this day, where he shared shops with fellow luthiers Tom Ellis and Mike Stevens. From there, he set up his own small shop in a wooden one car garage. In 1989, he rented a 1,000-square-foot (93 m2) space and hired two helpers.[1]
That same year, an order for 24 custom Gruhn style acoustics helped to establish Bill in the national market.[2] In late 1991, a 3,200-square-foot (300 m2) feed store was purchased, on the outskirts of Austin, and was occupied in the spring of 1992. In 2005, Collings broke ground on the current shop, which is 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2) and houses approximately 70 employees.[3]
Notable Users
Musicians who play Collings Guitars include: Lyle Lovett,[4] Conan O'Brien, Zac Brown, Ellis, Robert Earl Keen, Christopher Guest (see also Nigel Tufnel), Ryan Montbleau, and Cheryl Wheeler.
Models
Many of Collings models are named after major roadways in Austin, TX, where Collings is located.
14 Fret Acoustic Guitars
Collings acoustic guitars reflect the founder's profound love of and appreciation for the wonderful acoustic instruments of the 1930s and 40's.
- D Series: The square-shouldered 14-fret dreadnought is the most popular steel-string acoustic guitar body shape in the world. Collings D Series guitars are often employed by bluegrass flatpickers who must compete with inherently louder instruments such as banjos and fiddles.[5] Collings guitars come in a wide range of woods and neck sizes.
- OM Series: The 'OM' (for Orchestra Model)is a 14-fret model that is popular with fingerstyle guitar soloists who choose to play on steel strings. Also used in Flatpicking. May or may not have a cutaway.
- 0 Series: With the exception of the Baby, the 0 is Collings' smallest guitar and is offered with the same shorter scale found on the 12-fret 00.
- Baby Series: Collings' smallest guitar, approximately a 3/4 size version of their OM. 12 1/2 inches wide in the lower bout with a 24 1/8 inch scale.
- CJ Series: The Collings Jumbo is their version of the classic slope-shouldered dreadnought.
- SJ Series: The SJ is Collings' version of what is commonly called a small Jumbo. Although the 16 inch lower bout is slightly wider than a dreadnought, and the sides almost as deep, the tight curve at the waist creates in a very different sound chamber. SJs, especially examples in maple, typically have a more pronounced midrange response when compared to a dreadnought.
- C10 Series: Based on parlor guitars first introduced around the same time as the OM, the Collings C10 is a leaner alternative, with the narrow waist and small upper bout.
12 Fret Acoustic Guitars
- DS Series: The original 12-fret dreadnought shape.
- 00 Series: Collings offers the 00 in its original, 12-fret configuration. This guitar shape was first designed around the time of the Civil War. Its dimensions are similar to a typical classical guitar, with a slotted headstock and small pyramid bridge.
- 000 Series: The 12-fret 000 has the same general appearance as the Collings 00, but in a larger size with longer string scale. Although it's the same width and depth as the OM, the longer body typically produces more bass and overall volume.
Mandolins
Collings began producing Mandolins in 1999, and offers A-style and F-style mandolins as well as mandolas.
Electric Guitars
After thirty two years of building acoustic instruments, Collings began producing electric guitars.
- Collings 290: Named after the highway where the Collings factory is located and fit with two hand-wound P90 pickups from Jason Lollar, the 290 is a modern day tribute to the original working man's rock'n roll guitar.[6]
- Collings 360: Collings' standard hard body electric. Similar in shape to a Les Paul, the 360 is slightly thinner and lighter.[7]
- Collings CL/Delux: the City Limits is crafted from seasoned maple and Honduran mahogany. It is light weight, contoured for comfort and style, and features a hand-set mortise and tenon neck joint.[8]
- Collings I-35: Named for Austin's infamous traffic artery, the I-35 is aesthetically reminiscent of a Gibson ES-335. The body is pared down slightly at 15" wide, and it has a slightly more angular shape that comparatively reduces its size and weight.[9]
- SoCo Delux: Named afer Austin's funky and eclectic South Congress Avenue, the SoCo Delux brings in elements from both the I-35 and CL models to create a unique hybrid.[10]
Archtop Guitars
Built in very limited numbers, Collings archtops have great warmth, bass clarity and responsiveness.
- Standard: Collings Archtops come with a lower bout width of 16", 17", and 18". Based on the earliest American f-hole archtops of the 1920s, the 16" archtops are a rarity among modern archtop models in that they are designed to be played as acoustic guitars.
- CL Jazz: Thin, light, and exquisite, the City Limits Jazz commands attention. Built with a fully hollow one-piece Honduran mahogany body, carved European spruce top, and modern stylings, this sleek thin-bodied archtop is made for jazz.[11]
Ukuleles
Collings began producing ukuleles in 2010, and offers a variety of models in both concert and tenor sizes.
References
External links