Well, I pulled the trigger on a Collings - a Clarence White model with rosewood back and sides and an adi top. It's an incredible guitar - an absolute cannon with stunning, clear tone. Not at all the same guitar I thought I was after, but it just blew me away.

I now know what people mean when they talk about a cure for G.A.S. I literally can't imagine wanting another dread (which is a good thing since I'll probably never be able to afford one after this). I'll try to post a pictures when I get a chance.

Congrats Joe, on a great guitar!

Cool !!!!!!! Way to go Joe. Can't wait to hear it. Congrats,

Bill

Hey Bill! I knew I was in trouble when you let me play your D2. I'm hoping to keep my weekend relatively clear for some picking. Cross you fingers - I'll shoot you an e-mail if it looks good.

Here's a couple of pictures.

Joe,

Congrats on the CW!!! I couldn't agree with you more.

Hi Joe,

Do you mind if I ask, did you buy an earlier Clarence White or a new Collings Winfield?

I have a Winfield and you are right, they are very substantial instruments and push a lot of sound. I am happy to stay with it after all my years of looking.

Yet...ummmmm, there is this varnish thing.

Would love to compare two CW's with the different finishes...you know...ummm...er... just for fun? :-/

Later Gater,
Greg

I also have a CWIA that I have had for about 2 months. Great guitars for sure. I personally am impressed with the volume and power and yet how responsive mine seems to be. I can strum it hard and yet play fingerstyle very well with it. Congrats and enjoy.
Nate

Congratulations! If it is a Clarence White Model, it will be more collectible, but a CW will be just as nice a guitar! I always wonder how the CW version differ from the standard Dreadnought. Brighter? Louder?

Is this your first Rosewood guitar?

Ed,

If I may mention, it's a little hard to explain the properties of the CWIA in particular because we know how wonderful all Collings dreads are, and as a CW owner I want to be respectful of that.

Yet, still...there is something about the CW that seems to be a bit different and is hard to identify.

It has the forward shifted scalloped bracing common to other Collings dreads, but it does lack the popsicle brace.

Other Collings dreads can be ordered without the popsicle brace but perhaps the larger sound hole adds the little difference?

I don’t know.

What I know is only what inspired my purchase, and I spent a lot of time A/B’ing some exquisite Collings dreads, and the CWIA just won.

It seemed to posses more of everything. More oomph, volume, power, more growl, and more perfectly balanced great tone all over the neck. The 1 23/32” nut width is very comfortable. I’ve heard similar things from other CWIA and CWMhA owners, but I really don’t why it seems to be that way.

TTYL,
Mac

quote:

Originally posted by Mac:

It seemed to posses more of everything. More oomph, volume, power, more growl, and more perfectly balanced great tone all over the neck. The 1 23/32” nut width is very comfortable. I’ve heard similar things from other CWIA and CWMhA owners, but I really don’t why it seems to be that way.

TTYL,
Mac

Exactly. Not sure what else to add. I just remember when I picked up the one I currently own to try out my first thought was this is the best sounding dred I have ever played. I immediatly got on the phone to call my wife and then walked out with the guitar. I have since played some other Collings dreds (DS1A, DS1, D2HA Bra, CW mahog)and while they were all great none of them seemed to grab me the way my CWIA does. There's just something about it that sounds and feels right. Doubt that helps but hey it my experience.

Nate

quote:

Originally posted by Mac:
Hi Joe,

Do you mind if I ask, did you buy an earlier Clarence White or a new Collings Winfield?

It's the Collings Winfield - a 2005 model. Thanks for setting me straight on the nomenclature. This is my first rosewood and actually the first true high-end guitar I've owned. I tried mostly mahogany Martins and Collings before settling on this one, and in fact had just about decided on a straight D1 (but moved too slow on it). None of the D2s I saw for sale grabbed me like the CW did.

I'm probably not familiar enough with the rest of the Collings line to try to contrast it with other models, but what hooked me was the crystal clear sound, huge consistent volume across the strings, responsiveness, and great sustain. The sustain almost seems more like a piano than a guitar. I also loved that it fingerpicks so well in addition to being a natural flatpicker. I'm a happy camper. This should be a lifetime guitar for me.