Just FYI, I played this thing and it's a total beast. Very, very nice if not radical difference from the standard D2HA. Rounder, clearer, and louder.

Not enough better to make me go through the gymnastics of selling my D1A and getting it, but an amazing guitar. That probably has to do more with the fact that I'm looking for something with a thicker, smoother tone to compliment the D1A. It is however, probably the best Collings I've ever played.

I don't like how yellow they get (it's yellower in person), but I wouldn't care if I didn't already have a great one. Crazy good guitar. Varnish seems to be the real deal.

http://www.gryphonstrings.com/instpix/30597/30597.html

Sounds great! Funny about the yellowing effect of the Varnish line. Every pic I see makes it looks as if they've got nicotine stains! Must be the reason for that 'smokin'' tone...

I saw it in the case. The color of the top is very strong. Wouldn't give it a second thought if it was the guitar I wanted. Unique.

Alan

Odd. so many extol the virtues of guitars with "vibe" (see: relic models, so you can pretend you've played for 20 years in biker bars). one of those elements is "UV patina", the yellowing or ambering of the top that comes with age. with varnish, it's there, to some extent, from the beginning. it's not like the bogus Martin "mellow yellow" crap from years back. it's what varnish looks like. pretty easy call: don't buy it. tom

Wow. I'm quite surprised by such a defensive response to a glowing review of a tremendous guitar.

I sure didn't want this thread to be about the color, I wanted to tell everyone there is a phenomenal guitar available. In passing, I mention that I don't particularly like the color, but it wouldn't even come close to stopping me from buying it.

I'll repeat, it's a phenomenal guitar, one I'd unreservedly be thrilled to own.

I don't much care for the implication that if I have even the slightest negative comment, that I should confine my actions to just not buying it. I would hope that I could be free to comment about aspects I don't find appealing, and offer a reasonable, balanced set of impressions about a guitar. I'd personally find that useful if I hadn't played it.

I don't care for vintage toner on any guitar. I don't think varnish is in the same league, as this finish has a point other than to try and fake age. If the color doesn't bother you, why not just say that? I'm not a big "love it or leave it" kind of guy.

Back to the guitar, it's loud, full, focused and the tone all the way up the neck is tremendous. Again, probably the finest Collings I've ever played.

I believe a lot of the beautiful collings guitars with certain topwoods(ie Adi) were tinted in earlier years, kinda bring out that yellow color. Don't know about now or how that varnish finish works

Never underestimate the added-value given to a guitar by precocious "UV patina" -- whatever the cause of the premature yellowing is, a lot of people are willing to spend a lot of money to have it. Imagine if varnish delayed the onset of yellowing and instead made a guitar top look new for years and years -- would varnish be as extolled as it is???

My one and only experience with Gryphon sucked. I called to ask a couple of questions about a new Collings 290 they had in stock and the guy who answered the phone couldn't have been more arrogant and rude. I don't know if the guy was having a bad day or what -- but I would have a hard time ever calling that place again...

quote:

Originally posted by Guitarhak:
My one and only experience with Gryphon sucked. I called to ask a couple of questions about a new Collings 290 they had in stock and the guy who answered the phone couldn't have been more arrogant and rude. I don't know if the guy was having a bad day or what -- but I would have a hard time ever calling that place again...

That's a real shame. My experiences there have been overwhelmingly positive, in fact I can't think of a guitar store I've enjoyed a better experience in.

Just goes to show you've got to be on your best game all the time in retail.

If you do call in the future, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, as there are a million great guitar stores, ask for Derek. Nice guy, honest, straightforward, helpful...great service all 'round.

My contacts with Gryphon, although infrequent and casual, have been unfailingly positive. A band mate of mine buys most of his (almost all collings) instruments there even though he pays the California "premium" for doing do.
sorry if I seemed "defensive" or, worse, offensive in my remarks about varnish. Color is an aesthetic quality, like tone, and thus inherently subjective. I'd never buy a green guitar, for example. One man's too yellow is another man's incipient pale amber. but the tone, for me, is undeniable, nor is the cost. tom

I need to chime in for Gryphon as well - I recently purchased an OM-2HA Varnish they had and dealt with Matt and Grant. Both were extremely professional, helpful and timely. I'd definately shop there again.

I'm not defending poor customer service - there's a couple of places I've worked with that will never see any of my money again...

quote:

Imagine if varnish delayed the onset of yellowing and instead made a guitar top look new for years and years -- would varnish be as extolled as it is???

Brilliant Redavide!