I have friends with Collings guitars Brick. The first I played knocked my socks off. I suppose if I had to describe why, I'd say that I'd never heard the articulation of individual notes like that guitar. And then I played others, some owned by friends and several in stores. There used to be a dealer in an old home in Wimberly. Tx, and if I'm not mistaken, at the time (Hill Country Guitars) was the largest Collings dealer in the country, but he didn't just have Collings guitars, he literally had hundreds of guitars from Martin, Santa Cruz, Froggy Bottom, Huss and Dalton, you name it, he had it. On top of that he had a couple of quiet rooms in which one could go play and really listen to a guitar. A former member here and I would go into that store and get lost in those quiet rooms for hours trying this one and that one. I came VERY close to walking out of there one day with a used Martin D28 Custom Adirondack, but the owner and I were off on price about $200, and I made a mistake........I should have left with it.
And that Martin experience left me with yet another life/guitar lesson. If you are truly moved by a guitar, then money (provided one can afford it) is really no object.
But those experiences left an indelible impression of Collings guitars on me that never left my soul. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth it? In my opinion, absolutely. So I bought a CJ (rosewood/German spruce), then a D2 (rosewood/Adirondack) and I was absolutely blown away, and not only by that articulation I discussed earlier, but by how light a touch was required to get tremendous response, and by the fit/finish and build quality. I play a whole lot of golf, so I'll use this analogy...........I'm on about the 16th hole of life. I've worked very hard to pay for a home, provide others with vehicles and put kids through college. I don't owe anyone in this world a dime monetarily, save utility bills and insurance. It might be a tad selfish on my part, but at some point I asked myself if I was going to really do anything for myself...........and I have.
After owning the CJ and the D2 for a few years, both of which I'd purchased used, I began to wonder that if they were that good (to me anyway). what if I ordered precisely what I wanted? My first NEW guitar since 1979. I honestly can not put into words what I felt when I first plucked the strings on my D1A........goosebumps, and it still gives me those chills almost every single time I pick it up. I can't see any possible way to ever regret buying this guitar, regardless of price. No other guitar has ever effected me in this way. I feel it in my spine and in my chest, the incredible vibration this thing put out, with deep deep bass, and crystal clear highs. These guitars entice me to try new things, finger style patterns, tunings and playing technique that no guitar has ever motived me to try before. I truly believe it's because of the incredible response I get out of them. Seemingly so little in to get so very much out.
And no, it doesn't leave the house, and none of my guitars leave the house these days as I've stopped playing out several years ago. So now, they are just for me, here at home, and for my lovely wife and friends to hear and enjoy........and some of those nights playing and singing have been truly priceless.
And that $24,000 Olson guitar I posted earlier in jest, no I'd never buy it personally, but I certainly understand how someone with the means and desire might...........and Lord how I'd love to play it.
West