2011 Collings CJ MrG SS SB Varnish, German Spruce, Madagascar Rosewood – USED – SOLD Collings

SOLD – 

ON CONSIGNMENT, NO TRADE OFFERS PLEASE!

(USED) Wow, wow, wow… this is not our first encounter with this lovely CJ, it was spec’d and sold by our shop back in 2010 and delivered in 2011.  With the passing of time and thousands of guitars in between, its striking beauty took its place somewhere in our memory banks…

In recent years, a few of the options that made this one of the most expansive Jumbos that we’ve ever known (both visually and tonally) have been taken off the menu.  Collings went through the last of their Madagascar rosewood a few years ago (and even then, were down to just a handful of small-body sets) and the labor-intensive varnish finish is no longer being offered.  So, now that we once again get to present this CJMrGSSSB Varnish (We’ll break down all those letters momentarily) it is with the knowledge that this guitar is impossible to reproduce today.  Stand up and take note, because this is the definition of a lifetime guitar!

The CJ of “Collings Jumbo” is Collings’ interpretation on the slope shoulder dreadnoughts first introduced by Gibson in the ’30s.  While Collings conceived the model as a long scale (a la Advanced Jumbo) guitar, it has been very popular to build it with the familiar short scale, and that is done on this guitar.

It starts with the top wood, a tight-grained and stiff German spruce, enhanced by a dark Style 2 sunburst.  As we said, the back and sides are Madagascar Rosewood, beloved for its complex tone, its visual beauty and the sheer power/volume.  It’s hard to argue with the figuring on this wood!  At the time, the most expensive option was the varnish finish, a tonal “secret weapon” that predated things like the Traditional series and even torrefaction.  Varnish is a thinner, softer finish, and it allows the top to vibrate more freely, producing a louder and more “open” sounding instrument.  While some people can’t quite perceive the tonal differences between like guitars built in Traditional/non-Traditional or in torrefied/non-torrefied, pretty much everyone can hear the difference that varnish makes.  It’s not a good thing, it’s a GREAT thing.  

The guitar has a 1 3/4″ nut and 2 3/16″ saddle spacing with Collings’ “C” shape on a  mahogany neck.  Scalloped, forward-shifted Adirondack spruce braces.  The fingerboard, bridge, peghead veneer and pins are all ebony.  Appointment-wise, the guitar is mostly a Style 3 with abalone rosette, full body/neck/peghead ivoroid binding and a marquetry back strip.  The fingerboard inlay is the Collings “Mom” pattern, and a flourish has been added to the peghead.  Tuners are upgraded to gold Waverly.  Includes original TKL case. 

Though you technically can’t re-order this guitar today, most recent price structure would put such a guitar at about $14K from Collings.  This one is in excellent condition with one small ding on the bass side of the lower bout and no appreciable fret wear.  It is a prize!

Serial #18739 (2011)
AMW Price: $9,875 (SOLD)

For more information, email info@acousticmusicworks or call (412) 422-0710