http://www.hussanddalton.com/images/IMG_3342a.JPG

Honest opinions, please.

Do you mean looks? Tone? Comparison to Collings guitars? FWIW, I have liked every H&D I have played (12-15 total?) The sound like very good Martins to me, often a really sweet, balanced tone. But they don't approach Collings for presence and punch. Cheers!

B

I meant opinions on the sunburst.

I agree with your characterization of the H&D tone, btw. They sound like sweet, balanced 50's era Martins. I am also a big fan of Collings' guitars. Slightly different animals. Both great, IMHO.

Personally, I don't like sunbursts that get so dark. I like a lighter shading, but that's just me.

This guitar is a custom Huss & Dalton TDM was I recently took delivery of. It has a really nice straight-grained red spruce top, darkly-stained mahogany back and sides, and the vintage-style sunburst. When I was shopping for an adi/mahogany dred, I chose the TDM over the D1A and the D18ge, but honestly, it was extremely close. All three were great and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. I am a big fan of Collings and I'll likely own one someday.

I was curious of the opinions of this sunburst from Collings afficianados, since the Collings' sunbursts pretty much set the standard, IMO. I really am not a big fan of the lighter "style 1" sunbursts I have seen on some guitars, but thats just personal preference. I prefer the more vintage-style bursts. This one came out a tad darker than I had envisioned. I guess I was expecting a more open shoulder burst. This guitar kind of reminds me of a vintage Gibson J45 tobacco burst, except its on a square-shouldered drednought. Its unique, in that I have never seen a sunburst like this on another dred. That in and of itself is kind of cool.

Like I said, I was just curious as to what Collings owners thought of it.

guitarpath, the picture is too dark/soft to judge.

I have just uploaded a Collings Sunburst Photo Gallery, accessible from the home page, check it out!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ed,

This may not be the best picture.



Its from the H&D web site. I'll take some of my own and try to post them.

Looks like the sunburst on cheap korean guitars from the 70s. I would be disappointed. I recently turned down a nice sounding Gibson J-45 because it had been re-done in that awful cream colored sunburst.
I'm bein honest like you wanted. Maybe the photo is just bad.

I prefer a natural top but that is a matter of personal taste. However, the bridge seems to be small or does it appear that way due to the photo angle?

That could be the angle of the photo. The bridge is of standard (normal) size.

I suspect the photo doesn't do the guitar justice. It almost looks like a muted black and white shot, save for the headstock, and even that color looks muted. Anyway, you've got an audience here with a very high bar standard for sunbursts. Bill be best IMHO, and that's no put down of H&D.

That picture is indeed a tad muted. The burst part isn't quite that cream/peach colored. Its really more of a tobacco-brown hue. I am chuckling at the cheap Korean sunburst comment. Thats a valid opinion and I appreciate your honesty. I think its a bit hyperbolic, but thats cool. We all have our own personal notions of whats visually appealing in a sunburst. All opinions are valid, IMO. This burst is a bit darker and more vintage Gibson-like than your typical Collings dred burst.

btw, thank you for posting the Collings sunburst gallery. Very enjoyable. My personal favorite is the burst on that D3. I like some of those bursts alot more than some of the others on that gallery, but they are all of very high quality. One thing thats interesting is the difficulty of photographing sunbursts. Different light/shading can really alter their appearance.

I will take some pictures of my guitar and try to post them later.

Thank you all again for your opinions. I like this forum alot. Very knowledgable folks around here. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.