The Collings Forum

I bought my 1999 Collings D-1 new at Gryphon that year. It came with a slotted bridge and slotted sting pins. The pin slots were positioned with the slots pointing toward the bridge slots.

Does that make sense? I always thought if you had a slotted bridge you should use pins that were not slotted. Or... at least turn the slotted pins around so the slot faced towards the rear of the guitar.

Was it normal for Collings to slot their bridge and pins back in 1999? Is it the same way in 2021? Should I get some new pins that aren't slotted?

Thanks for filling me in on this.

Bill

That’s a beauty, Bill. I’ve had my ‘99 D1A almost as long, and I’m ashamed to say I’ve never paid attention to the pins. I’ll have to go look to see if they’re slotted. But I was under the same impression that either the pins or the bridge would be slotted.

I looked at mine and the pins are slotted. And while the bridge is somewhat slotted, it’s obviously not slotted enough to accommodate the low E string with an unslotted pin.

Before 2002 Collings guitars came with slotted pins. Beginning in 2002 the pins have been unslotted.

Thanks Bob!

Bill

I talked with Mark at HQ.

Using slotted pins on guitars prior to 2002 is required even though the bridge is slotted.

Bill

My first D1A was a late 99, early 2000. I subsequently had the popsicle brace removed and the bridge slotted to take solid pins

Greg, did you have Bryan Kinsey do the work?