D1A Special

wengr
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:08 am

D1A Special

Post: # 2297Post wengr
Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:48 pm

Hello, I have some questions concerning a D1A Special built in 2009.
Do the neck specs and string spacing vary from a typical D1A?
Do they have a tongue brace?
Were the tops torrified or processed somehow?
And with the lighter build would you be more concerned about the geometry going bad over time?

Thanks in advance for any info.

markT
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 3:10 pm
Location: West Palm Beach

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2298Post markT
Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:17 pm

"Special" could mean a number of many things. Special means it was a special order with one or more non-standard features.....like, Adirondack braces, no tongue brace, Vintage Now Neck package, special inlays and or binding, figured mahogany, etc.....
Best to get the serial number and email Collings. They will tell you exactly what you have.

wengr
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:08 am

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2300Post wengr
Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:56 pm

Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that it was a limited run model. The shop that is selling it claims it to have thinner top and back plates, and lighter weight heel and neck blocks.

Hokiebob
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:22 pm
Location: Mint Hill, NC

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2301Post Hokiebob
Sat Mar 28, 2020 10:54 pm

Bill Collings was funny about changing specs on his guitars in ways that might make them less durable. Without confirmation from Austin I'd be skeptical that the top or back were thinner than normal.
I agree with Mark's speculation. Those are things that Bill and the guys often did per dealer orders.

The good thing is that you don't have to speculate. Like Mark suggested, give Collings a call with the serial number and they can pull the build sheet with all the specs on it.

Of course, the only real question is does the guitar really sing to you? If Bill Collings put his name on a guitar it is built to play for many years.
Bob

wengr
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:08 am

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2302Post wengr
Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:54 pm

I wish I could try it but it's 15 hours away. I have a request in for the serial.

wengr
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:08 am

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2307Post wengr
Mon Mar 30, 2020 5:49 pm

Ok so the selling dealer claims this guitar is one of about 35 made for Namm of that year. He says it is basically a Traditional from before that was a model.

JohnB
Posts: 77
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 7:18 pm

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2308Post JohnB
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:01 pm

Considering the time and care taken by Bill and others to develop the Traditional, the seller's claim seems unbelievable. This may be a fine guitar, but I'm betting the "special" is pretty much a creation of the seller. The seller should be able to tell you exactly what it is that makes the guitar special--or custom in standard terminology. There is no way 35 of these guitars were brought to NAMM, so I have no idea what the seller means by "made for" NAMM; and I can't track down what exactly Collings brought in 2009 other than their first ukuleles. I would be very wary purchasing from this seller. In any event, if it's possible these days, you do need to track down the serial number with Collings.

Eric Jones
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:05 am

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2311Post Eric Jones
Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:06 am

I think I’ve seen this D1A Special online and wondered about it. Seems I remember zooming in on the label photo and seeing what might be “Special” printed with the model number. Before the traditional models were developed, Collings built some “light build” guitars, maybe for Mass Street Music. I know there were some light build OMs. My memory’s fuzzy on it but maybe some others here will recall the details. But certainly Collings can give you the exact specs on that S/N, maybe when they get back to work.

wengr
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:08 am

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2312Post wengr
Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:14 am

Thanks guys. I believe I will pass on this and grab a D1A instead. The string spacing on the traditionals is not what I want here. All the info is appreciated.

Koppes
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:50 am
Real Name: Mark

Re: D1A Special

Post: # 2315Post Koppes
Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:35 pm

Are there any other reasons why D1A might be a better option?

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