Hi everyone!
I am new to the collings forum and am very happy to discover this forum for these amazing guitars which we all play and love. I have a 1999 D2H and it has brought me joy for years. I do have one problem that I thought someone could shed light on. Here it is: The rosewood back and sides have developed these tiny bubbles in the finish. I mean hundreds of tiny sand-size bubbles have popped up, hard to see except when tilted to the light, then they are very obvious, almost like a bumpy texture, and it is bothering me. How did they get there? I have always kept my collings in the case, used a humidifier in the winter, and air-conditioning in the summer. It has never been left in the car to be overheated, or never left in the cold (there is no cold here in Austin, Tx)-- so I am sort of dumfounded. I noticed them about two years ago.
Any ideas/news of similiar bubbling?
Thanks!
Matt

Hey Matt,

I've seen what you are describing on a 2000 and 2001 D1A. I was told it had something to do with the way Collings was finishing guitars at that time (whatever that means). That said, both guitars sounded excellent!!

Howard

NOt in 16 years of Collings owenership covering about 20 guitars have I heard of such. to me, it's a warranty question, and I'd ask Alex Rueb via the Collings website. I was gonna make some wise ass remark about channeling Don Ho, but if my guitar were developing psoriasis I doubt if I'd be in much humor for that. Ask Alex. That's not right. bubbles are for beverages, not finishes. tom

Tom's right. Talk to Collings about it. Bubbles in the finish, particularly a mass quantity of bubbles, isn't normal. I'm assuming from your description that these weren't apparent at the time of purchase, and developed over time. Collings will give you a straight answer on this one.

BTW, note that using air-conditioning in the summer isn't a guarantee of a guitar friendly enviornment, and can actually be the source of trouble (I'm not saying this trouble, but trouble if your not watching the humidity). Did you use a hygrometer during the summer? That will let you know if the climate, air-conditioning assisted, is a problem.

As someone who lives about 100 miles from Austin, I can say that regardless of where my A/C is set during the summer, my hygrometer reads between 44% and 52% at all times. Your mileage may vary, of course.

I have to run a humidifier most of the time for 3-4 months in the winter and a dehumidifier a lot of the time for a couple of months in the spring. But from May through November things are basically perfect.

The Toms are correct, though. Talk to the folks on Hwy 290.

Thanks guys, for the input so far. I just emailed Collings repairs and referenced Alex Rueb, thanks Tom! Also, no, I do not use a hygrometer. I do have several other guitars, a 2000 Taylor (recently sold), a 1951 Epihone, a 1948 Gibson l-48, a 1956 gretsch new yorker, and a d-35. I have never experienced any problem like this, even remotely. I keep all guitars in their cases and even tuck them in at night. The spruce top of the D2H is perfect. Only the sides and back have this weird bubbling. I know I feel like the bad mother who has done something terribly wrong, but all the other kids are still ok. Thank-you for the feedback and a hygrometer is a great idea. Any other news ideas?
By the way, the Don Ho reference was funny. Yes, I'd rather see bubbles in my beer than on my guitar!
-Matt

Absolve yourself, matt. none of the Muchausen by proxy nonsense. And about the Don Ho reference, we lived in Hawaii our first year and a half of marriage when Don was the big deal. we avoided him like the plague; that Honolulu schitck was not Hawaiian music. We lived on the north shore and knew some actual Hawaiians. And Samoans. Those Samoan folk are BIG people. Stay on their good side. We did. I heard Collings took a week off and should be back Monday. Alex will tell you straight up what's going on. Bubbles is a fifties stripper name, not an acceptable guitar condition. tom

I did see a warranty repair at the factory once that had a similar "bubbling" issue. When they tried to sand and buff it out, they kept noticing a strong smell. They finally figured out it was the owner's Old Spice that, mixed with his sweat, reacted with the lacquer and caused the problem. Crazy, but true.

kdd

You live in Austin? Tres cool. I'd set up an appointment to take your guitar to it's birthplace and let the doctors there give it a physical!

Gary
Albany, Ga.

My 1999 D3 shows what I've been told is "lacquer sinking into the pores" of the rosewood B/S. It is not evident on the top. It started appearing a couple of years ago. I'm not sure I'd call it bubbles but it may appear that way or be described that way for lack of a better term.

Collings, I believe, started using a different finish method in late 1999 or 2000 or so, which involves a UV light catalyzed finish. This process has apparently eliminated this phenomenon. I observed the same thing on the guitar of someone who is a Collings dealer - a 1999 OM2H, I recall. He mentioned that the sinking was characteristic of the finish process being used at that time.

Not sure how long the affected finish period was or if it extended to all instruments of that time, or just rosewood B/S ones.

I am indeed curious to hear how your inquiry proceeds.

As for my D3, although it is not my most played Collings (I play fingerstyle mostly), it is a great guitar. Having spoken to a few people about it, including Pat S. at Quincy's (since you're in Austin you might want to talk to him too. He did not comment directly but referred me to Collings, which I agree is the correct advice).

I've decided to leave it alone. My mistake? Maybe. Or maybe it'll just become one of those idiosyncracies of an era of production. A cosmetic effect rather than sonic or functional.

Please keep the forum posted on your findings!

Regards, Mark.

I have a 2002 OM3G with the same "lacquer sinking into the pores" of the rosewood B/S. Doesn't affect the sound or playability so I'll just live with it.

DJ

Haven't seen a picture of it yet (and haven't seen it in person), but the more posts we get the more it sounds like a natural response of the finish settling over time. So in the end, it may be one of those things ya just learn to live with. But again, the folks at Collings will give you the straight scoop. Just another reason I'm glad my Collings is a Varnish