Well I'm back home the 2004 Collings Tour and what a great time it was. Last year's tour was a little over five hours long, this year's only 3 1/2 or 4 hours. I think I could take that tour every week! It is extremely impresssive to see the care and attention to detail that goes into each and every Collings guitar, that coupled with my urge to build my own guitar makes for a very interesting and informative afternoon. Bryan led the tour this year but we hooked up with Bill Collings in the mandolin room and getting to pick the mind of the master is always worth the while. Bill was also gratious enough to take us along with his employees Bryan, Steve, and Bruce to the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood for a tastey lunch of BBQ'd beef, sausage, ribs, and chicken with all the trimmings.
During our lunch a good friend of mine and Collings owner praised Bill Collings for hiring the handicapped. Bill was a bit confused and asked who he was talking about. It seems while we were in the neck setting area my friend looked over at Kevin Jones, who looks like a cross between a 60's hippie and a South Texas surfer type who might have smoked his lunch, while Kevin was dressing frets on a new Collings neck. Kevin had decided to see if he could pull one over on the visiting forumites. Kevin was wearing dark glasses and working very methodically, stopping every once in awhile to feel around his workbench for a tool. When my friend approached Kevin to thank him for the great job he'd done on his guitar, Kevin tilted his head back a bit and rocked it from side to side in a great Ray Charles impression and continued to feel a round for his tools. My friend was welled up with compassion and completely missed the joke. When Bill Collings was told who was beinspeaking of he replied, "He's BLIND?" and Bryan, Bruce ,and Steve burst out laughing and clued everyone in to the joke. A good time was had by!

Steve James and Del Rey gave us an enjoyable set on Collings guitars, Collings mandolin, and on ukulele. Both are talented guitarists and Del Rey was fantastic on ukulele.

I was most pleased to finally see in person and finally get to hear one of the finest archtop guitars being made today. There was a finished one about to be shipped to a very lucky customer. Bryan took it out and strummed a bit for us and my wife made my day by saying we needed one of those. You have to love a woman who encourages you to add an almost $18K guitar to the collection. I even offered to sell my Super 400 but she said she liked it too much and we'd just need to get a Collings.

We had a tremendous thunderstorm Friday night at least 2" of rain where I was staying. It was still raining as we headed for Kevin Davis' Hill Country Guitars to meet Jamie Kinscherff. In the downpour I turned down the least efficient road to Wimberley, scenic but filled with 20 MPH curves and undulating surface. As a result of my misdirection we arrived 10 minutes after Len, David, Allen , and Jamie had left. We decided to stay and visit with Kevin and all those wonderful guitars before heading home to our animals and work. Kevin quoted me a great price on a Collings SJ German/EIR that I feel I need before the archtop, it sure is a beautiful guitar.

Due to work constraints we'll have to catch the Tommy Emmanuel show here Monday night, by then I'm sure you'll hear all about Jamie Kinscherffs, Roy Nobles ,and Tommy Emmanuel in Austin.

For all of you who have not visited the Collings factory, I highly recommend it. It's entertaining, informative, and will give you a greater appreciation for your Collings guitar and the man behind them. Cheers, Will

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

THE dream archtop is on e-bay,GO GET EM!