The Collings Forum

Many modern producers swear by Collings acoustics for their pristine clarity, yet countless classic recordings were made with vintage Martins and Gibsons that still sound amazing today. In a blind test, does a brand‑new Collings acoustic consistently out‑perform a well‑aged Martin D‑28 when captured with a high‑end condenser mic, or does the “old‑school” character still hold the edge? Share your ears‑tested results and thoughts.

Everyone should listen to Year of the Dog by Grant Gordy and Ross Martin in reference to this question. The entire album is two acoustic guitars, one a vintage Martin and one a modern Collings. They both sound great.

I would really like to hear a controlled blind test between the new Collings and the well‑aged Martin D‑28. The new Collings can offer clarity, balance and note separation. The well‑aged Martin D‑28 may have a more complex character that is hard to reproduce.. The recording setup, mic placement, strings and player can all influence the result just as much as the new Collings or the well‑aged Martin D‑28 itself. I do not think the new Collings would automatically outperform the well‑aged Martin D‑28. For some mixes that crisp modern response of the Collings might work better;, for others the vintage warmth of the well‑aged Martin D‑28 could be exactly what the track needs. In the end my ears would make the call.