Collings Custom I35LC Aged

Having had great success with our Custom Clapton Inspired Faded Cherry I35LC, I decided to up the ante a bit this year with some new "Inspired Guitars" from Collings.

The result is just a fantastic guitar.

Just for the record, I do quite a bit of research into what makes some iconic guitars touch our soul, beyond their color and model. Of course it is the player who brings the music out of them. But with some guitars and players, once you put them together, another dimension seems to be added. Clapton and Blackie, Hendrix and his Stratocaster, Scofield and his Ibanez, Metheny and his ES175. They’re all examples of what I’m pointing to. What I’m presenting here is one of the most famous pairings of all: a Custom Collings I35 LC, inspired by Mr 335 himself, Larry Carlton. This is a truly wonderful guitar, and leads me once again to believe that Collings is making some of the very finest semi-hollow electric guitars on the market at any price.

To start with, I had Collings use their Style I nitro finish and shade it that wonderful warm faded burst of Carlton's instrument. Then I did my guitar sleuth thing and matched the neck profile dimensions to a '60s Gibson I owned and had Collings carve it with the proper amount of taper reminiscent of that time period. The shoulders and the edges of the fingerboard are rounded over to accent that played in feel. In addition, the laminates used were carefully chosen for weight and beauty. The bound Indian rosewood fingerboard was selected for its rich dark hue and grain. It reminds me of a nice piece of Brazilian. To top off the esthetic vibe, the I35 went through the Collings aging process that warms up the entire playing experience.

Sound wise, this guitar gives up nothing to anyone. It's rich and articulate with the bloom and harmonic quality that you would expect from a guitar that is a nod to Larry Carlton.

I'm a huge fan of Throbak pickups and the PG-102 MXV model brings out all of the sonic possibilities inherent in the design and build.

Honestly, this stunning guitar would hold its own against any of the vintage 335s I’ve played.

I have to thank the folks at Collings for their dedication and enthusiasm in building this amazing guitar. It's just an outstanding, remarkable playing and sounding guitar with plenty of '60s vibe to bond with any vintage enthusiast.

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.