Just wondering if anyone here owns a Collings CL or CL Deluxe yet. I see alot of the Dealers are showing that they've sold some but I'm waiting to hear from somebody here who actually owns one. I find them to be very interesting guitars but I would like to hear other opinions before taking the big tumble.

I would also be open to do some horse trading for one if anyone knows a dealer interested in some limited edition PRS guitars or a Tom Anderson Classic. Any information would be appreciated.

Curious,
Papple

There has been a lot of discussion over on The Gear Page. Overall the response has been very positive, but there are some naysayers (as always). Here are a few links

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=184741&highlight=collings
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=194788&highlight=collings
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=198199&highlight=collings

Thanks MEP. I'm kind of strange as I believe in having a guitar in my hands playing, feeling and hearing it before I make the plunge. I've tried lots of high end guitars in both acoustic and electric and it's surprizing the big variation there is even among the same brand. Certain guitars just jump out at you and you know you are holding something special. Having said that IMHO Collings Acoustics are one of the best in consistantcy bar none.

I have only had the oppurtunity to play a couple of the new electrics and I wish that I could try more before jumping on the band wagon. I thought I would like to try a CL after playing one but now all the hype on the 290 has me rethinking that. I have not tried them yet and hopefully I'll run into one soon. Thanks again for those leads to the Gear Page Forum.

Best,
Papple

Papple, I understand your reluctance to buy a guitar that you haven't played or gotten to spend much time with. It definitely is a large comittment of cash for a CL but they are very nice guitars. I have only played one and I was impressed by it.

The 290 really caught my attention by both how it sounded and played plus it is considerably cheaper. I went to Mass Street just to check out the 290 without the intention of buying because I had my eye on another instrument. However, after playing the 290, I was hooked like a big fish. For me it was a comfortable playing guitar with tons of tone. The pickups are pretty hot. They have a spank to them but also a creamy smooth sound of a humbucker.

I have a Grosh setneck and it sounds great. For me it is the LP style guitar that I had been looking for. In contrast the the 290 sounds like its rock and roll cousin, more edge and not as refined but still great sounding.

I really like my 29O!

I went down to the Music Emporuim yesterday to check out the Collings electrics they had in stock, primarily the City Limits Deluxe (as well as a few other tid bits I might add.... ) Anyway, I made the trip because I have a CL-Deluxe on order with them in jet black and wanted to justify my impulse buy. Well, after about 2 - 3 minutes with the CL-Deluxe they had in stock (tobacco burst), I knew I made the right decision and was relieved to realized that.

But, now here's were it gets 'interesting'. Joe asked if I wanted to see the I-35 they had as well, and I refused saying that it was most likely NOT my style of guitar and that based on the pictures, I found them to be less than attractive. I guess I never considered the option of a hollow body electric, or maybe it was the whole double-cutaway round body look, or maybe something else... I don't really know, all I know is I had a preconveived notion of what this guitar would look, feel and sound like before ever laying eyes on one and playing one. Well, after a few minutes of discussion back and forth, he took the initiative and brought it out to me when I was playing the CL, plopped it in front of me and opened up the case. My first impression was, 'Wow, this thing is BEAUTIFUL!'. Once I picked it up, my second impression was, 'Wow, this thing is LIGHT!' So, Joe plugged it in and let me play it. Again I was wowed! I was expecting something totally different from what it actually was. It's safe to say that I was pleasantly surprised, or better yet to say I was totally blown away. It played as easy, if not easier, than the CL-Deluxe, but because of the design and the weight, it was very comfortable to play and felt very alive and robust. Well, I think you know the rest of the story, or can probably figure it out... I now have a City Limits Deluxe AND an I-35 on order. Looks like it's time to sell the PRS and the Peavy. I've never really been impressed with an electric until my visit yesterday. I'm just glad they didn't have any of the 290's in stock, because one of those probably would have followed me home!

Never did get to play a 290 yet but I think I'm about to get the chance. Sooner then Later.........Real Soon........Mighty Soon.......Soon.....Any Day Soon........
Best
Papple

I bought my first Collings in '93 when we lived in the Wyoming mountains, and no one within 500 miles had even heard of one. But Dan Lashbrook spoke about them with reverence when he was workiing on my Taylor, and I found the only shop in the country that had more than one (Mass Street), and Jim sent me what he thought was the best one. The rest is history, and so is all of my disposable income. I bought the I-35 I got two months ago the same way, having placed a right of first refusal based on hearing about prototypes, many months before the first ones were built. In the interim, the cost increased by a couple grand, and I was not a happy man, until I played the blasted thing. It's still here, and I'm still broke. It's the best humbucking guitar I've ever played, and I've played Gibsons and almost everything else since the mid sixties. And looks? Fuggitaboudit!

Papple, let us know what you think of this new Collings electric. You are somewhat of an expert at ele. guitars and would know a really good one if you played it.

A friend and I went to Gryphon the other day to pick up a case for his new Martin, that came w/ a damaged case, compliments of UPS. They had 3 Collings CL's hanging on the wall. My friend wanted to play one, so he asked to see the Amber-Bursted one, and plugged into a small Koch(sp)amp. His intial thoughts were: WOW, does this play nice! Bends were no problem and it was incredibly light. It did sound pretty good as he rattled off some Joe Walsh and other stuff. I didn't get a chance to give it a go myself, cause I was too busy playing their acoustics...

However, I too like Jet Black...and they just happen have one. Reminded me of a LP Custom I 'used to have'. <<>> Sort of!

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

Yup, that's the guitar that got me all psyched for a black one. It just looks so elegant and simple. I'm getting the double paralellogram inlays instead of the dots for something a little different.

It's here and pretty cool, a new 290 in TV Yellow. No surprizes here upon close inspection it is a beautiful guitar, excellent workmanship and that famous Collings eye for detail. I've got to spend some more time with it plugged in to see how it sounds with the volume cranked up. Down low it seems nice and I'll update my report when I'm done.
Later,
Papple

Papple as part of your review could you comment on the comfort and stability of the 290 in a sitting position. I have heard comments about the lower cutout on the back of the guitar having some sliding off your lap issues. I have not yet played one.

Thanks Paul