I'm so glad to have the opportunity of this forum - I really didn't want to post this on AG forum and become guilty of spreading a rumor, even though I'm dying for clarification.

I'm saving hard for a D2H. A friend said that his favorite shop in town had talked to Collings about displaying a few models. Evidently, Collings wasn't interested. But my friend relates to me that Bill is too demanding and hard to work for - he dan't keep good luthiers on staff, and they are having trouble meeting production schedules, and may even be looking at bankruptcy.

Here's my take - it's sour grapes. Is Collings just selling all the guitars they can currently build, and it doesn't make business sense to send a couple of guitars to a fairly obscure shop in San Antonio? I'd also guess that If Mr. C hass been building and marketing his own guitars for, what, 20 some years, that he likely knows what he's doing (Dana Bourgeois makes a nice guitar, but can't seem to keep his own shop open! Let's all wish him luck with Pantheon).

We've all heard of his fanatic perfectionism. And I can imagine that could be tough to work for. Do any of y'all know of his turnover? Is he really running off good people?

Please set my mind at ease. Thanks,
Dave

Nonsense. It's sour grapes. The dealer couldn't get Collings to sell him their guitars and he's mad so he's trying to hurt Collings' reputation. He's also hoping he can sell you one of the brands he DOES carry. If Collings was in such bad shape why would he want to BUY their guitars? If Collings were near bankruptcy would the dealer really want to invest all that money in a minimum order, knowing that he might lose it and not get it back? What a crock.

A month ago I received a custom 000-2H Brazilian/German with koa body binding. I bought my first Collings in 1997, and have bought another one just about every year (and sold a couple too). This new guitar is the best Collings I've ever played. (I have three others from previous years.) I can assure you that there's no quality control slippage there whatsoever.

Re: difficulty in meeting production schedules -- my 000-2H has a cutaway with a herringbone border and wood binding. These particular features take a lot of extra time. I received my guitar last month -- within 5 months of the day I ordered it. So much for that claim.

As for Collings employees, I don't know who all of them are. However, one of the key guys there is Bruce, who voices the tops. He's been there for years and he's still there.

Bill Collings is a totally uncompromising perfectionist. I wouldn't be surprised if he were hard to work for. However, there is just no evidence that he has hired a bunch of inferior workers. The current quality of the guitars is all the evidence you need that the instruments Collings makes are as fine as they ever were. Go examine the evidence directly and play some. It should be all the evidence you need.

[This message was edited by Phoenix on May 11, 2002 at 05:17 PM.]

Dave,

I agree. The folks at the local shop were feeding your horse manure.

The folks at Collings are doing well. Bill and Steve are demanding folks to work for. We should all be happy about since their commitment to making the best guitars is unwavering.

For the record, I'm not professionally/financially associated with them other than I coulnt Steve as a friend.

David
Atlanta, GA
www.daviddugas.com

I would also think that even if employees find it hard to reach the high standard, that's exactly the kind of place a serious luthier would want to earn his chops.

Thanks guys - you've helped me shake that nagging little doubt.

David

Pick up your Collings, any Collings, and play it for 5 minutes. Look it over carefully. Do you see even an inkling of compromise anywhere on the instrument? Bill Collings sets extremely high standards. I wouldn't be surprised if more than one employee couldn't quite keep up to his demands. Collings quality and reputation wasn't derived from shoulder-shrugging and settling for "okay". If you can thrive at Bill Collings' shop as a luthier, you can probably build anywhere in the world. I think your shop curator was griping and tossing sour grapes. Collings is very selective about their dealer network. He's a meticulous perfectionist, and it shows. I hope he never backs down from his level of committment.

peace,

jb