Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

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Yusuke
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2025 2:48 pm
Real Name: Yusuke Fujioka

Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

Post: # 6970Post Yusuke
Sat Feb 01, 2025 1:07 pm

Dear participants in the Collings Forum.
Hello, I am writing from Japan.
My name is Yusuke.

I was very excited when I found this forum! And I am happy to be able to consult here today.
Well, today I would like to ask your opinion about neck angles.

I have two OMs, OM-2H and OM-2HG koa.
I bought a new OM-1(2024) this time around Christmas!
Of course the sound is great and perfect,
The sound is great and perfect, but the neck angle is noticeably deeper than the other two. But compared to the other two guitars, the neck angle is noticeably deeper, so the fretboard seems to drop toward the body at the 14th fret.
When I put a long ruler on the fingerboard and shake it, I can see that the fingerboard moves around the 14th fret. (This is not the case with the other 2 fretboards. However, the saddle is slightly lower)
Is this a problem? I have no problem playing it, but I am concerned about how it feels.

Since I bought it from a musical instrument store in Kansas during the cold season, imported from Japan by myself, I wonder if the cold and dryness of the body has caused it to drop? I also imagine that it is not a good idea.

I would be very happy to hear your opinions!

Thank you!

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pto
Posts: 180
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2018 3:40 am

Re: Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

Post: # 6972Post pto
Mon Feb 03, 2025 2:15 am

Yusuke- Konnichiwa-

if what you're talking about is fretboard "fall-off" from the body fret toward the bridge - some is not unusual, but slight if it does exist. some builders even build in a very small amount, to ensure the the fretboard end doesn't go the other way (up) causing buzzing.

Yusuke
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2025 2:48 pm
Real Name: Yusuke Fujioka

Re: Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

Post: # 6974Post Yusuke
Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:23 pm

Hello pto!

Thanks for your reply!
I compared them again.

This time OM-1 (2024) and OM-2H (2022) have the same neck preparation angle, but the fingerboard angle from 14th fret to bridge direction still seems to be different.

The OM-1 seems to drop down more, but the OM-2H is straight. However, looking at it again, it is almost unnoticeable.

I thought that the Collings were so thoroughly made that they were all the same, but I see that they are different from year to year and from individual piece to individual piece.

The only thing that is the same is that all the guitars sound wonderfully good and change very little with time and climate.

I was able to recognize that they are still great guitars.

Thank you!

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pto
Posts: 180
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2018 3:40 am

Re: Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

Post: # 6977Post pto
Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:45 pm

you're welcome... as to the variation, perhaps... remember, something the terrific luthier michael hornick told me years and years ago..."it' organic, man!":)
where in Japan? if i may ask...

Yusuke
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2025 2:48 pm
Real Name: Yusuke Fujioka

Re: Is there a problem with the high fret of the new (2024) OM-1 being depressed?

Post: # 6978Post Yusuke
Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:01 am

Thank you!

Michael Hornick, I didn't know that, so I looked him up and found out that he was a famous luthier in Santa Cruz.

Instruments are living things, aren't they? They have their own personality and each one is wonderful!

I have a Koa guitar that, in the winter, I can barely get it to sound the way it should after about 30 minutes of playing. It's interesting.

In Japan, I live in a city called Osaka. It takes less than an hour to Kyoto by car.
It's a small, bustling, nice city!

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