I've posted a few pictures of my DS1A and have referred a couple of you to them already. They can be found at the site below:

Collings DS1A

And yes, the mahogany really is that nice.

My asking price is still $3,200. However, I'm considering trades for a comparably valued C10, 0, or Baby (if you're interested, refer to my original post for why that would work well for me).

Thanks

Neck width at the nut, please? thanks tom

Tom, my calipers show right at 1 13/16 and that appears to be standard for the model.

Thanks
Mike

Thanks. the only C10 I have is a deluxe that runs about 1500 higher than your big dog. Bet it bites, though, in a nice way. My main guitar, before the D1A was even a twinkle in bill's eye, was a Martin D18S, and I've always had a soft spot in my head for that model. There's a varnish at Hill Country that has my eye, but not my wallet. Yet. thanks tom

Yeah, I've seen the varnish at Hill Country. If you haven't seen it in person, my advice is to stay away ...

I'm a little intrigued by your C10. You can email me more info at mw0705@gmail.com if you'd like.

Thanks, Mike

Fortunately, I'm a good thousand miles from Hill Country. My C10 deluxe is maple/adirondack, a custom built for Cotten Music. Steve McCreary called Kim to ask who the lucky sucker was that was getting this guitar, which he considered to be a monster. She emailed me. I bought it. That was about a year ago. It's near mint, at least, the pickguard is still in the case, and a K&K pure western pickup has been installed (the least invasive, least visible, clearest sounding pickup I've yet found; it's in all three guitars that I "play out" with. It cost about 5g's new, and I'm not actively trying to sell it. But I've been trying to sell my I-35 deluxe for a month, and no takers. A major tax drubbing requires that I sell something, and it may not much matter what (except for the Alien OM, which is going exactly nowhere). So, in short (too late, I know), I need money, not guitars. Boy, I hate that.

Mike, have you actually played the DS varnish at Hill Country. I have no idea why I'd even consider a 12 fret neck. GAS ain't in the rational world.

Maple ...

Interesting.

Is it 1 11/16?

I am assuming a trade + cash deal would not be sufficient to appease the tax man, but if you are tempted, shoot me an email.

I've bought a CJSB and an OM1GSB from Kevin inside of the last month. So frankly I was afraid to play it (the varnish).

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

You're a wise man. That sucker looks dangerous. My C10 deluxe has a 1 3/4 neck, as do all my acoustic guitars. Just suits me, but the right guitar with 1 11/16's would bother me not in the least. I switch to electrics back and forth during sets, to 1 5/8's and it's no problem. Now mandolins are another issue. Love the sound, but my big fingers just don't like that teeny fretboard. Just as well. I'd be out ten grand.

I think the bar would have to be set rather low to call any of us "wise" ... pretty confident that's not one of the prereqs for GAS. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

Do you have any pics of your C10 Deluxe?

Mike: Since I hadn't really thought about selling it, I haven't had my technical expert, and wife of about 37 years, take photos. If there's serious interest I could arrange for that. And are you the one that bought that used OM1GSB with the firestripe guard? Man, was that a looker. Taking a deep breath, what I need to do is sell at least two guitars- the I-35 deluxe was the first intended sacrifice, and then maybe either the OM1A varnish (first ever made) or the OM1Ass cutaway. The C10 wasn't in the mix, but if someone were avid enough to pay a premium price, I might be induced. It's as good as they come, and spotted by the Collings crew at set-up as being one of "them", the ones that had the stars properly aligned. It cost me five, and I wouldn't take less than 45. It has a killer pickup, and has phenomenal volume and bottom end for a guitar you'd figure to be bright and snappy. The guitars I have are so bleedin' good that it's almost arbitrary which ones I keep. I play in two bands, even at my advanced age, and don't need "living room" guitars, or museum pieces. The drawback to the varnish is that I've been dissuaded from putting a pickup in it and putting it in the rotation. I'm not sure why. Guitars are made to be played and heard. I already have one guitar that won't be played except over a mic in a studio or a radio program; that's the Alien OM, and it's not for sale because it's essentially irreplaceable. There's only one other of its kinds in the US, and four or five in the world. Enough. If you have avid interest in the C10 maple/adi, I'd shoot some pictures and show 'em. It never made it to the Cotten website, since it was essentially sold before it arrived. thanks tom