|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
Like many on this forum, esp. those who aren't enchanted with the I-35, I wonder about the sound of the Soco. Since I sold my I-35, I've been even more curious, so I talked to guys at Elderly, Buffalo Bros., Martin, Westwood Music, and Acoustic Music Works who have played a Soco. The impressions are all over the map, as follows ("votes" are in parentheses):
Woodiness: Much more "wood/hollow-bodiness" in the sound compared to an I-35, but nothing close to the woodiness of a CS-336 (3). A little more wood in the sound vs. I-35; very different from CS-336 (1). No different from the I-35 sound, just a single-cutaway version of the I-35 (1). Playability: Same as I-35 (5). Fit and Finish: Same as I-35, but visual impression is better than I-35, esp. A-burst and T-burst (5) [!!!] The "No different from the I-35 sound, just a single-cutaway version of the I-35" comment ended my flirtation with the idea of buying a Soco on 48 hour approval. I'll wait to play one. |
|||
|
Let me back up a bit, you had an I-35 and it wasn't your cup of tea? I was trying to hunt one down locally to sample myself. Trying politely not to hijack your topic, could you expand on your I-35 experience?
|
||||
|
See http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8021042224/m/8071015625/p/1
where I posted a few thoughts. When I bought my I-35 without ever trying one, I was banking on my experience with my CL Dlx, which is "somewhere between LPC and Strat in tone" ... a very different tone, lacks the midrange honk the LPC has, which makes it a better tool for jazz (IMO). The CLD tone comes from the body, the board, and the JL pups. It's a unique palette. I was hoping for a new dimension like the CLD delivers (for me), but in a woody/shb space, from the I-35. I was very disappointed. I-35 Playability: perfect. I-35 Fit and finish: perfect. I-35 Tone: problem. No woodiness, not even as much as a ES-335, and nowhere near a CS-336. The CS-336 is my point of reference for woodiness. What is woodiness? Very personal definition, but to me, it's the difference between the LPC and the -336... same pups on both. The I-35 tone was "vanilla", lacked personality, to me. YMMV. I was looking for woodiness, and better action than the -336, and the tone wasn't there. Action was much better, easier to play, on the I-35, but the -336 is smaller and easier to wear. I really like the JL pups used on the CLD, which are different winds from those on the I-35 and Soco. JL and BC really nailed the pups for the CLD. Can't say the same about the I-35. The pups on the -35 and the Soco are the same, IIRC. |
||||
|
Wow, I am kind of dumfounded. I guess different strokes for different folks or maybe you got a dog I-35?, but everyone who has played my I-35 has loved it. I recently let a local, highly regarded and accomplished musician borrow it for a couple of weeks while I was gone. He has been playing guitar for 20-25 years owns a ES 335, etc. and he said it was the best electric he has ever played. The problem is I haven't gotten it back yet... Just to show how different preferences can be, I had ordered a CS 336 from Gibson a couple years ago and learned about the I-35 while I was waiting on it. The day it came in I took it to local Collings dealer and a/b'd vs the I-35. The CS 336 never made it to my house... |
||||
|
Gibson, even in its higher end guitars, is dogged by QC problems that Collings doesn't have. There are many mediocre -336s, and even more -335s. I have an extraordinary -336, but my CLD is even better than the -336 (apart from tone, which is too different to compare).
I don't doubt that other -35s could be better than the one I owned. I would welcome the chance to play more -35s. I esp. want to spend some time with a Soco. There are NO user reviews, or sound samples, anywhere on the Soco. I tried to talk each person I spoke with at the dealers listed in my OP into writing a review, or uploading a sound sample. Sound samples sell guitars. I bought my D-3 based on a sound sample on The Podium's site. Maybe I expected a "thinline D-3" with pickups. I admit to having very high expectations for the I-35, based on my D-3 and the CLD, and the price of the -35. I read somewhere "is an I-35 worth three times the price of a CS-336?" Maybe the right -35 is, but mine wasn't. |
||||
|
The Soco Deluxe arrived, was played, and was returned. The "single cut-away I-35" thumbnail description is very accurate. I would say the Soco has slightly more sustain than an I-35, slightly more low-end on the neck pup, and felt a few ounces lighter, but otherwise, it's an I-35. Perfect fit and finish. I was hoping for a unique sound like my CLD, and even contacted Collings about putting CLD Lollars in (Collings will, just ask), and may order a custom Soco with the CLD Lollars. Given a choice of having either a CLD or an SD, I would take the CLD. I wasn't that restricted, but the SD and I-35 were not distinct enough for me, whereas the CLD is. YMMV.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: maunakea, |
||||
|
| Previous Topic | Next Topic | powered by eve community |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
|||
| Site | Collingsforum.com | ||
| Servlet | eve2da013 | ||
| Version | 1.2.22 build 9062 | ||
| Module | Forums 4.0.3 | ||
| Stylesheet | "Collings" | ||
| Wordlet Set | "Default Wordlet Set" | ||
|
This is an independent website created by a group of Collings Guitar owners, and not part of Collings Guitars. The statements and opinions expressed in the Collings Guitar Forum are solely those of the individuals posting the same and are not those of Collings Guitars, the forum's administrators, moderators and its supporters, financial or otherwise, or its members, guests or other contributors.