Collings Acoustics and Old Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:48 pm
Ok, maybe this should be a more general topic, but I am talking specifically about my three acoustic guitars which are all Collings.
And the two older guitars haven't had the strings changed on them in years. I am not kidding, years.
I got a new Collings a couple months ago, so I got to play a guitar with new strings--it was/is glorious. One might think hearing that lovely sound of new strings on a Collings would get me to change strings on the two older guitars. But it hasn't. And to be certain, both of them sound mighty fine just the way they are.
If it matters to you, the new Collings is an 001A 14 fret, and it is a spectacular guitar. The Adirondack was warm and nice on the first strum.
The older two are also small bodied, both also short scale (obviously my preference).
The two year old is an 01AVN SB (western shade, rope, long dots) and I have never changed the strings. Its Adirondack top was harsh to my ear when brand new, and I did not really like that guitar. I Tone-Rited it for weeks on a couple of occasions to get it loosened up a bit, to get some better volume. I even took it back to my dealer and asked for his opinion. He said it was just fine (and, really, I've known this guy for over ten years and he shoots straight with me). So I kept it, and it has the same strings as what came with it. But over the last year or so, it has "opened up" to use the phrase we pass around that has more meaning for some of us than others. But it is a whole lot better and I am glad I still have it. It is dreamy. Single 0s can be rather amazing.
Number three is often considered my number one guitar, I have had it the longest (I think seven years) and it was custom ordered (pretty much like the others--I know what I want usually with guitars). I know that it has strings that are, I am embarrassed to say, going on seven years old. I know that because I changed them for my son's wedding which was seven years ago come September. This wonder of a Collings is a C-10 (mahogany with a German top), SSSB, with the darker burst, MOMs, flourish on the peghead, rope. It has a K&K mini in it. It is a keeper. I have had at least two other C-10s, one a varnish, and this one I have is a splendid example of Collings engineering. I almost sold it once, but grabbed some insight and did not let it go.
So, I have the new 00 with (still) new (sounding) strings. I have the two older guitars (the 01A and the C-10) with old (and even older strings). They are all three killer sounding just as they are, whatever their string condition. And they are killer looking. What a blessing to have three stellar looking and sounding Collings small bodies.
But let's get to the discussion issue: those two with old strings sound fantastic.
Perhaps there is something wrong with me (too lazy? happy with the current sound?) that I don't change those strings?
Heck, if I want to hear new strings, I just pull out the 00!
Thoughts?
And the two older guitars haven't had the strings changed on them in years. I am not kidding, years.
I got a new Collings a couple months ago, so I got to play a guitar with new strings--it was/is glorious. One might think hearing that lovely sound of new strings on a Collings would get me to change strings on the two older guitars. But it hasn't. And to be certain, both of them sound mighty fine just the way they are.
If it matters to you, the new Collings is an 001A 14 fret, and it is a spectacular guitar. The Adirondack was warm and nice on the first strum.
The older two are also small bodied, both also short scale (obviously my preference).
The two year old is an 01AVN SB (western shade, rope, long dots) and I have never changed the strings. Its Adirondack top was harsh to my ear when brand new, and I did not really like that guitar. I Tone-Rited it for weeks on a couple of occasions to get it loosened up a bit, to get some better volume. I even took it back to my dealer and asked for his opinion. He said it was just fine (and, really, I've known this guy for over ten years and he shoots straight with me). So I kept it, and it has the same strings as what came with it. But over the last year or so, it has "opened up" to use the phrase we pass around that has more meaning for some of us than others. But it is a whole lot better and I am glad I still have it. It is dreamy. Single 0s can be rather amazing.
Number three is often considered my number one guitar, I have had it the longest (I think seven years) and it was custom ordered (pretty much like the others--I know what I want usually with guitars). I know that it has strings that are, I am embarrassed to say, going on seven years old. I know that because I changed them for my son's wedding which was seven years ago come September. This wonder of a Collings is a C-10 (mahogany with a German top), SSSB, with the darker burst, MOMs, flourish on the peghead, rope. It has a K&K mini in it. It is a keeper. I have had at least two other C-10s, one a varnish, and this one I have is a splendid example of Collings engineering. I almost sold it once, but grabbed some insight and did not let it go.
So, I have the new 00 with (still) new (sounding) strings. I have the two older guitars (the 01A and the C-10) with old (and even older strings). They are all three killer sounding just as they are, whatever their string condition. And they are killer looking. What a blessing to have three stellar looking and sounding Collings small bodies.
But let's get to the discussion issue: those two with old strings sound fantastic.
Perhaps there is something wrong with me (too lazy? happy with the current sound?) that I don't change those strings?
Heck, if I want to hear new strings, I just pull out the 00!
Thoughts?