Go to the Collings website and you'll find a link to a pdf file in which Bill is interviewed on his quest for the best in electrics. Great read, makes me wanna pick up the electric again.

Very interesting interview -- makes me want to try a few of those . . . There was an amusing typo where Ed Reynolds was identified as a "guitar insultant" (should have been "consultant") -- sounds like someone who gets paid a nice fee to insult your guitars.

I don't think that was a typo... just a attempt at humor which doesn't always come off in print. They should have put it in quotes. He is paid to criticize and that is something Bill found very helpful and important in their designs. I thought it interesting that they still think the 58-59 Les Paul PAFs are the holy grail in pickups. I find it sad to think that we haven't done any better than 1958 pickups in 50 years of technology and making pickups.

Sometimes I'm a little slow . . .

Great article. That said -- I wonder how good a judge Bill Collings is of electric guitar tone (though he did seem to solicit other's feedback). I played an early CL that a Collings employee told me that Bill had proclaimed the best CL they had made yet -- that nailed the tone Bill was looking for. Frankly, that particular guitar, which is still on their website, was pretty underwhelming. I passed on it -- and I know that neither of the two guys that have subsequently owned the guitar have kept it very long. I'm not saying aren't great CLs out there -- but I thought that early CL was very far from a great guitar.

I owned a wonderful I-35, but strangely, it was the only guitar that I have ever owned that hurt my shoulder when I played it. I couldn't figure out what the problem was -- but my right shoulder ached every time I played it -- and it wasn't from the weight -- the guitar was very lightweight. But, man, did I love that neck. It was the best neck I ever played on an electric.

Oh well.

Ed Reynolds, the "guitar insultant," is a wonderful curmudgeon with incredible ears and is one of the best technical luthiers on the planet (frets, set up, electronics). If its guitar related and Ed says its "good" well...it doesn't get much better.

My 290 is a GREAT guitar.

Well, then it's a good thing Ed is around if that CL I played is any indication of Bill's preferences...

quote:

Originally posted by Guitarhak:
Great article. That said -- I wonder how good a judge Bill Collings is of electric guitar tone (though he did seem to solicit other's feedback). I played an early CL that a Collings employee told me that Bill had proclaimed the best CL they had made yet -- that nailed the tone Bill was looking for. Frankly, that particular guitar, which is still on their website, was pretty underwhelming. I passed on it --

Oh well.

Let me get this straight....because you and a couple of your buddies didnt like a guitar, now your saying Bill Collings isn't a good judge of tone? You are kidding right? Bill Collings builds a guitar that almost all of the cool cats out there own just because of tone and has made a reputation for "tone" among these world class musicians who pay full price, because Bill doesn't do Endorsements, and yet you, who know one has ever heard of, or ever will hear of, has a better ear for tone? If it's your opinion, thats cool, but to say Bill Collings can't judge tone because you didn't like a guitars pickups is ridiculous.
No offense, but hey man.

I've played 3-4 CLs and they all left me flat. Completely flat. The I-35s, however, are tremendous. Just my opinion, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by Dredpicker:

quote:

Originally posted by Guitarhak:
Great article. That said -- I wonder how good a judge Bill Collings is of electric guitar tone (though he did seem to solicit other's feedback). I played an early CL that a Collings employee told me that Bill had proclaimed the best CL they had made yet -- that nailed the tone Bill was looking for. Frankly, that particular guitar, which is still on their website, was pretty underwhelming. I passed on it --

Oh well.

Let me get this straight....because you and a couple of your buddies didnt like a guitar, now your saying Bill Collings isn't a good judge of tone? You are kidding right? Bill Collings builds a guitar that almost all of the cool cats out there own just because of tone and has made a reputation for "tone" among these world class musicians who pay full price, because Bill doesn't do Endorsements, and yet you, who know one has ever heard of, or ever will hear of, has a better ear for tone? If it's your opinion, thats cool, but to say Bill Collings can't judge tone because you didn't like a guitars pickups is ridiculous.
No offense, but hey man.

I never said Bill Collings can't judge tone, which would be a ridiculous statement. I said, quote: "I WONDER how good a judge Bill Collings is of an electric guitar's tone..." That refers strictly to CLs, I do still wonder.

In the process of shooting from the hip and putting words in my mouth, you ignored my praise of the I-35 and my other 150 posts praising Collings guitars (including my own D2HBA) -- but, hey man...

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

Ok, fair enough. I have to be honest....I didn't lean toward the CL's either, buts that just personal preferance. I guess Bill has a sound he was shooting for, but that can not be an indictment of his ear for tone....but anyway, no hard feelings, I will focus on my aim a little more, I am amazed that you, me, and everyone else can get so fired up about wooden tools....lol...
so hey man....no hard feelings, gotta keep things interesting on here....have a great day

No, problem, Dredpicker. I am a dreadnought guy at heart -- so your cool by me.