Collings 290 DC Tobacco Sunburst

CONDITION: brand new

Some things are simply better in pairs. With a double-cutaway mahogany body and dual hand-wound P90 pickups from Jason Lollar, the 290 DC offers unhindered access to the upper frets and a wide range of tonal possibilities. From pristine clean tones with rich harmonic complexity to hard-hitting classic rock sounds, there are few bases the 290 DC cannot cover. This one is set up with a tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece, which brings precise intonation up the neck and that familiar, solidly anchored feel under the strings.

For me, there are very few truly iconic guitar shapes, and in the solid body electric world the double cut "special" is one of them. Just looking at one brings up so many images of great players ripping solos on specials: Leslie West, Steve Hunter on Lou Reed's live version of "Sweet Jane," and on and on. You know that killer sound of a cranked mahogany and P90 monster. This one has all of that, and a good deal more.

This is one of my favorite Collings guitars, period. It's got the look, the feel and the vibe, and this time it comes wearing a tobacco sunburst that is simply classic and gorgeous. I don't know of anyone doing a better job with finish work than the folks in Austin, and this one is a knockout.

This one is fitted with a tune-o-matic and stop bar. It puts the strings right where you expect them, gives you exact intonation across the board, and the stop bar sinks that energy straight into the mahogany.

I've been a professional guitarist for a lot of years, and while this guitar will scream when you want it to scream, I'd take it on any gig anywhere. It's that versatile. The P90s bleed a big bluesy sound, but a few turns of the volume and tone knobs and you're playing a jazz standard.

The neck here is the Collings '60s carve, which is a departure from the '50s profile I usually spec on these. It's slimmer through the shoulders and closer to what you'd find on a Gibson from around 1962 to 1964, but make no mistake, there is still real wood in your hand. It's fast without being thin, and the rolled fingerboard edges and fretwork are as good as it gets. If the fatter '50s carve has ever been a sticking point for you, this is the one to play.

The body has a beautifully executed tummy cut and is carved at the bottom as well (see the photos), which makes it a supremely comfortable guitar to hold whether you're standing or sitting. The double cut gives you real access up top. It's just an eminently playable instrument.

Plenty of makers, large and small, build a special style guitar with mahogany and P90s. I think this is the best of them, bespoke builders included.

Most of all, and this is something you'll recognize the moment you pick it up, it's a blast to play. Fun from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece, every part of it. It begs for a long rainy afternoon so you can skip the chores and play away to your heart's content. A great example of a great model. You'll love it.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT COLLINGS GUITARS
Bill Collings moved from Ohio to Texas in the mid 1970’s. Spurred by a lack of interest in medical school, this move enabled him to combine lifelong interests in both guitars and tools into the challenge of stringed instrument building and repair. After a couple of years in Houston, several guitars and a few banjos later, he headed west to southern California. Making it only as far as Austin, where he shared shops with fellow luthiers Tom Ellis and Mike Stevens. From there, he set up his own small shop in a wooden "one car" garage. His reputation for outstanding quality and meticulous attention to detail quickly spread. In 1989, he rented a 1000 square foot space and hired two helpers. Fast forward to present day where Collings craftsmanship is respected by professional and amateur musicians alike…anyone on the quest for quality. Some of these include artists; Keith Richards, Lyle Lovett, Pete Townshend, Emmylou Harris, Andy Summers, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Joni Mitchell, Don Felder, John Sebastian, Lou Reed, John Fogerty, Tim O'Brien, Pete Huttlinger, Kenny Smith, Brian May, Joan Baez, John Prine, Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap, and Steven Spielberg to name a few. You owe it to yourself to try one.