Collings Playability

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Haasome
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1280Post Haasome
Sun May 26, 2019 2:53 am

I see what you’re saying.
Paul

armdog
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1282Post armdog
Sun May 26, 2019 12:55 pm

Never joining AGF and never having a notion to join... keeps the loones away once again.

Greg Y
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1284Post Greg Y
Sun May 26, 2019 3:06 pm

Another element i'm not sure has been mentioned is scale length. Collings are 25.5" and Martins (and some others) are 25.4" I know it doesn't sound like much, but affecting the feel of a guitar just takes a few little things.
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elambo
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1285Post elambo
Sun May 26, 2019 5:21 pm

I'm certain that there are Collings guitars which would be considered more difficult to play (I've just not run across one), but I don't think it's the norm for Collings as a whole, which appeared to be the implication. Of course they're not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

My guess is that, if there were a scale of Easy-to-Difficult, established by all players and including all guitars, Collings would live somewhere close to the Easy end. That's been my experience, and based upon what I've read over the years. Mileage does vary.

Greg Y
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1286Post Greg Y
Sun May 26, 2019 7:04 pm

Eric, It's interesting that you would mention your original D2H. I had an '02 Brazilian CW clone (John Holman still held the name, so this was a D2H labelled guitar with all the CW specs, but a vintage neck rather than 1 23/32") that came from Collings with the most perfect geometry. Full saddle, but remarkably low action up the neck & the usual huge volume but never buzzed. I never succeeded in getting that kind of set-up on my D1a.
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elambo
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1287Post elambo
Sun May 26, 2019 9:14 pm

Mine was also an '02. 👍

pjkesq
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1288Post pjkesq
Sun May 26, 2019 10:04 pm

Haasome wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 10:58 pm There is a thread on AGF about — do you find Collings Guitars to be overly tight? This seems to be a recurring comment among some players. It strikes me oddly because I’ve always found Collings guitars to feel more comfortable and easier to play than any brand I’ve played. Sure new guitars can feel a bit stiff until they get played in, but I certainly don’t find Collings any different in that regard. And I think the necks are terrific. Then I wondered — am I an oddball? What has your experience been regarding playability?
I think they are a little tight for the first few months and then, they are perfect. I love the neck on my D2H and I REALLY love the Vintage Now neck on my OM2 SS VN. The neck allows for the perfect spacing, but is not too chunk and is very comfortable.

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Fidalgo
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1303Post Fidalgo
Tue May 28, 2019 12:30 am

I have played a lot of Collings guitars and never felt the playability was anything less than easy. The new Traditional neck is about the perfect profile for me. I like the Vintage Now and ModV necks too.

nocaster
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1317Post nocaster
Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:41 am

Of the small sample of Collings I've owned one was stiffer, feel-wise, than others. It was an OM2HT and was stiff even with 12s. All others play like butter.

Buck, you have way more experience with guitars than I do but one of the easiest playing guitars I had was Pre-War Guitars Co. which had a super tall saddle and very low action. It's one of the few guitars I could handle with mediums.

I've always wondered what makes a guitar play stiffer than others.

JohnB
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Re: Collings Playability

Post: # 1320Post JohnB
Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:22 pm

MB: As I posted on the other forum, I also had one outlier: an OM1A that played stiffer than my other three Collings. After contacting Collings, I got a call asking if I'd like them to walk my local tech through a set up--this after I had it set up a second time already. After the Collings coached set-up, the guitar came back playing beautifully and sounding terrific.

My overall experience is that Collings are as easy to play as any guitar I've auditioned, played or owned: and most of the time--compared, for instance, to Martins--easier.

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