My '01 DS1, after over three years of sounding loud and bright, has sort of died. It started with a little buzz on the G srting when fretted ( I need a fret job for sure), then the high E started buzzing and sounding sort of dead. I cleaned out all the nut slots, but now the E,B, G and A buzz OPEN and when fretted and the overall sound is muffled and sort od dead sounding. This was a great sounding guitar, so I'm really at wits end. I checked all machine gears and changed strings, but no help. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but other Collings I've owned ( a D2H and the DS1 ) both have had very loose bridge pins. Is this a normal thing? I'm pretty well stumped on this one.

A loose brace maybe? You should have it looked at by a competent luthier. Or send it back to Collings for a checkup.

It could also need a truss rod adjustment. Haven't heard of loose bridge pins on Collings. I'm with Mr. White here. Take it to someone who works on acoustic guitars for a check up and possibly a setup job. Don't take it to your nearest neighborhood guitar tech! I drive 65 miles to Gryphon when I need anything done to any of my Collings, even though there's a few "techs" in my immediate area. It's worth the time and effort to take it to someone who really knows what he's doing. (no offense meant to techs out there!) Good luck.

I'll bet it's the neck relief that needs adjusting (i.e., the truss rod). I usually find that I have to do it twice a year, when the weather changes drastically. It's alarming how detrimental it can be to sound and playability.

Musicologydoc is probably right, especially if you've had a period of dry weather. The deadness may be due to loss of snap associated with too-low action due to dryness, which would also account for the buzzing.
Good luck.

Okay folks, first thing I checked was the truss rod. IT WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE! It was just flopping around in there. I know that's not right. I turned it four of five turns to get it snug again. That would cause buzzing for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to be like that. How would you loosen the thing to add relief. I guess I really need to have it looked at. I'll probably take to Snuffy Smith in King, NC. Any Carolina folks out there who know someone who may be better ( Danny Bishop, maybe)? Any ideas?

If Snuffy Smith is the same SS who worked on Tony Rice's '35 CW herringbone, i'd sure trust him with my Collings..\

Doc

Danny Bishop would also be an great choice! He does work for several great players. I would give him a call for sure!

Edward

Canu:
any word on your sick Collings? I'd like to hear more--this one is really intriguing. Sounds as if something caused the threads to strip or let go for some reason. Let us know when you find out, please.
Thanks
Beech

Actually I don't think the threads were stripped or it wouldn't have snugged up again. Sounds like a case of backbow to me. Not all that serious really but I'd take it to a good shop too.

UPDATE: Well, I took the DS1 to Snuffy Smith in King, NC and yes, he's the one who works on Tony Rice's stuff and Doyle Lawson's , etc., but I've known him for years and would have taken it there anyway. I needed a fretjob and had some neck relief problems. Since the rod was backed off as far as it would go, he just snugged it then took the neck down a little at the hump. It sounded great when I picked it up, but after a jam or two it started buzzing again. I actually think it's worse this time. Worse part is, it seems to come and go. One minute ALL the strings buzz from the 1st fret to about the 7th. Then it's just a couple of strings, then none. Then it starts again. I'm at the point I'm looking around the house to see what I can sell to raise some cash so I can trade it in on something else. I really like the guitar even though the older I get, the more of a problem the wide neck becomes. But I'm just stumped on this and I really hate that.
Note to Beech: You in Charlotte huh? I'm in Lincoln county and attend an oldtime jam most Saturdays in CLT. Got some BG buddies there too.

I've been following this thread and I just wanted to throw in the suggestion of giving the guys in Austin a call. I'm thinking that if you're willing to pay the shipping, they might be willing to take a look at it...might be worth a call.