Collings 0003 - German or Sitka over mahogany back & sides?

[elkabong]

Hi gang!
So with all other things being equal; what difference would I notice between a 2010 sitka /mahogany 0003 & a 2005 German/ mahogany 0003?
Thanks for your input...
Kabong!

[JohnB]

Waiting hoping someone else might respond first, partly because I've come to prefer German on most Collings guitars--so not a very balanced response. Generally, Sitka has sounded rounder and warmer to me than German; German sounds, subjectively, faster, clearer with more definition and a simultaneous sweetness and a seductive shimmer up high. It works for me on both mahogany and EIR: though particularly well on various rosewoods. When selecting an OM2, I chose German over Sitka and Adi. However, when selecting an OM1, I chose Adi, regretted it for over a year as it broke in, but am extraordinarily happy with it now. Broken in, the Adirondack now has, again subjectively, a clear, fast voice capable of great delicacy (but not the seductive stuff up high that I find with German.)

Hope you have a chance to play both the Sitka and German. I can certainly see how someone can prefer the rounder, fuller, warmer sitka.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi, I have a stock 0002h from 2003 (sitka/EIR).

It is a fine guitar, but very "delicate" and almost too responsive. I almost always flat pick, and use the recommended EJ16s with a BC TAD40 (1 m/m) pick and I find that I can overplay it a little too easily. It is also very sensitive to humidity changes.

This is hw it sounded five years ago https://youtu.be/lL0ujisD4Qs

and more recently : https://youtu.be/icsM0SoK45s

FWIW - For a guitar of this size I wouldn't personally want a more sensitive top.


Incimidentaly - I also own two DS1s, a 2008 with sitka and a well played 2003 adi top. The sitka top is a brute - the loudest Collings I own, and a pleasure to play. The DS1a does have that subtlety that adi adds, but .... well maybe this might help : https://youtu.be/wLyJQrO2VKg

I don't know if this helps but hope it does.

Ol' Andy

[elkabong]

Thanks John B & O'l Andy;

I also own both Sitka & German topped Collings 000's. Just none yet with mahogany back & sides. Like you as well Andy, I own a KILLER sounding Collings DS-1HSB. Also with a plain sitka top, but I couldn't ask for a better sounding "Banjo Killer" ( as Martin likes to call them I think ???

Cheers;
Rudy

[Silly Moustache]

Thanks John B & O'l Andy;

I also own both Sitka & German topped Collings 000's. Just none yet with mahogany back & sides. Like you as well Andy, I own a KILLER sounding Collings DS-1HSB. Also with a plain sitka top, but I couldn't ask for a better sounding "Banjo Killer" ( as Martin likes to call them I think ???

Cheers;
Rudy

Hi, I think "banjo killer" is a Bourgeois term which seems odd for me as they use it for a jumbo style rather than a dreadnought design.

[JohnB]

Rudy,

Just a video, if you haven't seen it, of an OM1 deep body German/Mahogany. The video catches fairly well what I think is the characteristic German top end. Sounds pretty good to me on Mahogany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keSDuOwWhs0

[elkabong]

Thanks JohnB