The Collings Forum

in the golden age guitars '30s....pins were unslotted and bridge was slotted. Bill went back to this model around 2000.
Protecting the bridgeplate doesn't depend on you bending the strings (i do that any way). The problem was the slotted pins deforming and the string balls eating up the bridgeplate.

No change in sound, but an appreciable improvement in protection against the bridgeplate getting chewed up over time

Absolutely, get the bridge slotted and the bridge ramped & use un-slotted pins. It's the acknowledged way to go. Bill did this at Collings in 2000. My '99 D1av came with slotted pins and they were gone in a matter of weeks.

Give Collings a phone call with your serial # and they will give you the specifications off the build sheet.
Beautiful guitar. Style 1 sunburst...... 'amberburst' is Martin lingo.

SillyM, I wouldn't say Collings is " struggling." I was in Austin 2 weeks ago and had a fine visit with Steve & Aaron. I also got to briefly say hello to Joe & Mark. The electrics are in demand. The 470 has been well received. The acoustic production is carrying on. With a smaller ...

The 12 frets have 1 13/16" nuts.
Traditionals do not use hide glue, & i don't know all the details but the steel in the neck is different....a wide bar instead of 2 strips ( @ either side of the truss rod)

Like other acoustic instruments. they're all individual. I was in Austin at the end of last week, and heard Joe play a CJ-45T that had just been strung up. It was very very impressive for a new instrument. A friend of mine bought the CJ-45aT that was at Folkways during Covid. It might have been the ...

Tonequester, although i don't use the SC strings, I've tried a number of approaches. The first thing is that you might get away with medium strings if you lower the action. If you try both light strings and lower action you may get buzzing, particularly if you play with a heavy attack. My go-to stri...

After a number of years, my favourite Collings mug needed a neck re-set

I was at Collings once when Bill fielded a call from Johnny Depp asking about a 12 string. Bill wasn't crazy about the dreadnaught 12 string sound and soon after the Collings 12 came out. Bill always travelled his own path.