The Collings Forum

What do you love about them? Is getting the adi top worth the upgrade? What strings do you find brings out the guitar's best? Thanks y'all

Since no one has answered your question, i'll share my experience. Although I don't own one, I've sat across from a couple for more than a few hours. In the pre-T days, I never owned a sitka Collings; all adirondack with the exception of one german spruce top. I have owned a OM1aJL....which is essentially a type of T guitar. The T is the only Collings i'd personally buy with a sitka top. If possible.....go and play some. They do have a more fundamental tone, which i personally like. They're drier sounding. This Kenny & Amanda Smith video highlights that dry sound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYSNnZ3GvXE, as does this Matt Read video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBDJmecjC48&t=38s. Anthony DaCosta on an OM1JL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGOiENiP4M4. This video of a sitka topped OM1JL displays the same crispness to my ear as the adirondack versions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS7p-GaA1Nw . D1T https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltlt-D2X9-0 . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NszatCLRCk4If you can, play a sitka or torrified sitka model....see what your ear gravitates to. You might find you save $1k.... (adirondack top cost). In the T series, i hear much less difference between adirondack and sitka than i do in the regular series.

I have a D1T. I bought it, new, last may. Mine has a baked Sitka top. I searched for several months for a great mahogany dread before I found it. I also played one with red spruce and one with a regular Sitka top. Mine has an airy, dry tone...sort of buttery. It's one of the best two guitars I have ever owned and one of the best I have ever played from any era. (I have had Martin D18GEs, D Mahogany 09s, D18VS-Ad, SCGC D'03, D12, and VJ, a Collings D1A,a H&D TDM, and several J45 iterations.) It also has a neck that is absolute perfection. I just got a Collings DS1 with baked Sitka top a couple months ago. It's an equally fantastic guitar, with a quite different tone.

I have tried D'Addario EJ17, GHS Vintage Bronze 13-56, and Martin Monel Retro 13-56. I like the Monels best, but the GHS VBs are good too.

My D1 is a D1 custom with some features like baked top. I played a lot of Collings when looking to buy a dread, the D1 Baked Top without popsicle brace was the finest I could find. I think the D1 (whether Std., Custom or Trad.) are some of the finest dreads being made today. I have other dreads like Martin D-41 and D-28 Authentic and my D1 is a go-to instrument when I want that Mahogany/Sitka tone. Additionally, it's a pleasure to play as it is buttery smooth and perfectly set up from the factory.

I love the D-1T and D-1A T.

While I own neither, I have had to chance to play them at Gryphon on numerous occasions.

In my current stash is a '99 Collings D-1 I bought new at Gryphon. As much as I like all things Collings, this one is my favorite I've ever played.

Bill

Fidalgo wrote: ↑Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:48 am I have a D1T. I bought it, new, last may. Mine has a baked Sitka top. I searched for several months for a great mahogany dread before I found it. I also played one with red spruce and one with a regular Sitka top. Mine has an airy, dry tone...sort of buttery. It's one of the best two guitars I have ever owned and one of the best I have ever played from any era. (I have had Martin D18GEs, D Mahogany 09s, D18VS-Ad, SCGC D'03, D12, and VJ, a Collings D1A,a H&D TDM, and several J45 iterations.) It also has a neck that is absolute perfection. I just got a Collings DS1 with baked Sitka top a couple months ago. It's an equally fantastic guitar, with a quite different tone.

I have tried D'Addario EJ17, GHS Vintage Bronze 13-56, and Martin Monel Retro 13-56. I like the Monels best, but the GHS VBs are good too.

This is good to hear.
I have a D1AT that I really like. I also have a D2HA T that I love too. Even though they have the normal rosewood vs mahogany differences, they are almost too similar to have both.
That said, I have a D1 SB T S (Sunburst, Traditional, Satin finish) with a tortified Sitka top on the way. Looking forward to hearing the differences.

ps....I really like the Monels too.

Mark, I'll be very curious to find out what you hear when you A/B the D1AT and your new D1T S. I am dreaming about a D2HA T S, but sadly, it's not going to happen soon.