Unboxing Collings Eastside Deluxe

[Philco]

Hi Ross, thanks for your help over the past 10 months or so.
Not my intention to ruin my own party or to embarrass or publicly harass you but I have to 100% agree with Jabberwocky.

When I opened the lid of the box I was shocked to see no other packing.

And believe me Ross, we were lucky that guitar wasn't smashed.

Whilst on tour in Asia I had the misfortune to see my own guitar thrown by an airline baggage handler and smashed as it hit the ground. I was still sitting in the plane and watched as it happened. The baggage handlers were laughing at the time.

So I know how easily it can happen. Just one drop from a busy or careless handler and it's done.

I have had delivered from the USA and Canada 5 guitars and the Collings is the 6th in the last 2 years.
I say this only to help not to hurt. The Collings was the least well packed of the lot.

So please for future orders pack it like it's a living thing.
You definitely need end caps at the very least.

[NSJ]

That Lollar CC is a fantastic pickup. I had one installed to replace the 57 Classic on my ES-339. The clarity and sweetness of tone is fantastic! The guy who put it in for me remarked how GREAT it sounded. Even my teacher was taken by how well that pickup sounded--and he has a DeArmond RC 1100 on his favorite guitar!

I've been struggling what kind of yellow I really love on guitars--now I know. Butterscotch! Contrats on a fantastic guitar.

[Philco]

Thanks NSJ. I am seriously digging this pup. My last couple of guitars have had old P90's and I have really fallen in love with them. I was a little worried about how the Collings would sound because in truth I really love my Gibson 175 and have built my rig around it.
I only needed a few minor tweeks and the Collings is sounding way better. More even across the strings and fatter on the 2 high strings. In fact the Collings is all round "fatter".
.....and this thing just won't buzz......not anywhere. Truly the best set up guitar I've owned. I don't think they have a Plek machine but I imagine that this is what a Plek'd guitar would feel like.

[feet]

Actually, I have a beef with the packing, if you do not mind. First, the Ameritage case should have been bagged before packing foam peanuts around it.

the bag isn't a huge deal, but i like to see them, too. they also give you somewhere to put the peanuts.

Second, why are there no cardboard end-caps to hold the top and bottom ends of the guitar case upright and immobile?

this is the first thing i noticed, too. i think you could rig something reasonable from bits of cardboard, but a manufacturer should have access and spring for this sort of thing.

couldn't quite tell, but i think i'd like to see more stabilization of the neck inside the case.

also, philco is a pal now and we should hang out some time. you got the correct head stock! i'm very curious to see how this sounds. i'm sure we all are. nice to see a guy get something so special, so enjoy it.

[Jazz_175]

Hi Philco,
congratulations for your lovely guitar!!!
Hope you enjoy it.

I recently put D'Addario flatwound strings (11-50 but replaced the high E string with a 12)
on mine and am very happy. The guitar is still very loud acoustically and you don't get that noise coming from
the fingers against the strings.

[AlohaJoe]

I love his design, and the back-over-heel is a really nice touch. Is there a real name for that in luthieranian?

[Philco]

Hi Philco,
congratulations for your lovely guitar!!!
Hope you enjoy it.

I recently put D'Addario flatwound strings (11-50 but replaced the high E string with a 12)
on mine and am very happy. The guitar is still very loud acoustically and you don't get that noise coming from
the fingers against the strings.

Thanks Jazz_175. Yours and Soco's clips got a lot of viewing over the past few months! It really made the anticipation much stronger.

I have put the Thomastik Benson set on now. Although I always use a .014 and .018 first and second instead of the supplied strings. These strings sound great on her.
The guitar is still plenty loud enough.

The biggest downside of this guitar is that it's sitting right next to me and I'm supposed to be mixing and editing. I can't get any work done!!!

[Soco]

Wow, congrats, that is a real beauty!
Just came back from a duo gig where I used mine, it sounded beautiful through a polytone with a tc hall of fame reverb.
In November it will be one year since I got mine, and if anything the guitar keeps on getting better and sound more opened up. I keep on using either this one or my Collings Soco and also a custom shop tele and strat for gigs.
Collings are amazing! I wan to get a third one, either an I-35lc or 290.
Looking forward to clips.

[3625]

Philco - what is it like to play sitting down on your right leg due to the different body design? Is it significantly different to your 175 and more like a 335? Difficult to tell looking at the photos without actually playing one.

[Philco]

Philco - what is it like to play sitting down on your right leg due to the different body design? Is it significantly different to your 175 and more like a 335? Difficult to tell looking at the photos without actually playing one.

Hey 3625, the only difference I notice is that it's a little more comfortable than the 175 and only because it's 1/2 inch thinner.
There is absolutely no difference in the way it sits on the right leg. I use the "lap strap" method though, but I can't imagine there is any difference no matter what way you hold it.

Here are 2 photos showing relative thickness and size.

[fumblefingers]

I love his design, and the back-over-heel is a really nice touch. Is there a real name for that in luthieranian?

I believe that Ted Megas simply referred to it as "Back Through Neck Heel" design.

[oldane]

Very beautiful guitar. It must be in the same ballpark as a Sadowsky or my reduced thickness Painter P-350 with its Biltoft HCC PU.

[2bornot2bop]

Wait! You may NOT play that guitar until you have cleaned up every single styrofoam peanut!

I generally lay a sheet down, pour over half the peanuts out, and then pull the case out by its handle. Rarely do I have a single peanut fall beyond the sheet. Once the case has been removed, it's a snap to bring all 4 corners of the sheet together and then simply return the peanuts to the box. I'm too lazy to clean up peanuts...works 4 me.

I'd have to agree, that with a $6k archtop one would anticipate much better packing material. New Eastman's I've received have come with top and bottom dense foam inserts that as a cocoon and a protective barrier to both the top and bottom of the guitar.

That aside. Gorgeous guitar. Happy NGD!!!

[Philco]

Hi oldane, as you know I have a Painter P16 so I can be quite accurate with the comparison. To be fair to Tom I have to point out the difference in price for the 2 instruments. $3500 as compared to very close to $6000.

I always thought of the TP as a mid priced guitar with the advantage of being custom built. You yourself have commented on the acoustic tone of the Painter and I concur. It's a very stiff top and very bright. I think it's primarily designed as an electric and does well in that context.

In comparison the Collings is virtually an acoustic guitar. Not quite a flat top but extremely loud. But more than that.......it's a great SOUNDING acoustic.
The word that comes to mind is "lush".
The workmanship and finish are flawless. The action is low and there is zero buzzing. It's even better to play than the Wesmo and that's saying something.
The electric tone is fat, fat and fat. This is what I was hoping for. An instrument with so much tonal raw material that it can be sculpted to what I am hearing in my head.
No trips to the repairman with this instrument. No tweaking necessary.

It's a whole other level than anything I've ever owned. I know this is the honeymoon period and I understand if you think I'm gushing.
But this thing has some serious mojo going on.

[Soco]

Hi oldane, as you know I have a Painter P16 so I can be quite accurate with the comparison. To be fair to Tom I have to point out the difference in price for the 2 instruments. $3500 as compared to very close to $6000.

I always thought of the TP as a mid priced guitar with the advantage of being custom built. You yourself have commented on the acoustic tone of the Painter and I concur. It's a very stiff top and very bright. I think it's primarily designed as an electric and does well in that context.

In comparison the Collings is virtually an acoustic guitar. Not quite a flat top but extremely loud. But more than that.......it's a great SOUNDING acoustic.
The word that comes to mind is "lush".
The workmanship and finish are flawless. The action is low and there is zero buzzing. It's even better to play than the Wesmo and that's saying something.
The electric tone is fat, fat and fat. This is what I was hoping for. An instrument with so much tonal raw material that it can be sculpted to what I am hearing in my head.
No trips to the repairman with this instrument. No tweaking necessary.

It's a whole other level than anything I've ever owned. I know this is the honeymoon period and I understand if you think I'm gushing.
But this thing has some serious mojo going on.

It is indeed very acoustic sounding, way more than the Sadowsky Jim Hall, yet it has a great electric sound and works even with overdrive.

[3625]

Hey 3625, the only difference I notice is that it's a little more comfortable than the 175 and only because it's 1/2 inch thinner.
There is absolutely no difference in the way it sits on the right leg. I use the "lap strap" method though, but I can't imagine there is any difference no matter what way you hold it.

Here are 2 photos showing relative thickness and size.

Thanks for the reply and photos - GAS....

I don't know the name for the curve that goes around the right leg as in that photo (wha'd'ya call that?) - but based off that photo it looks the same as the 175, but when I look at the Eastside front profile it looks a little bit higher up, and lower in height like on a 335. The reason I ask is that I find 175's easier to play (sitting-right leg) than 335's, whereas 335's are great when standing up. I'll have to try one to find out... Looks like the one at Gladesville in Sydney has sold so it might be a while.

In comparison the Collings is virtually an acoustic guitar. Not quite a flat top but extremely loud. But more than that.......it's a great SOUNDING acoustic.
The word that comes to mind is "lush".
The workmanship and finish are flawless. The action is low and there is zero buzzing. It's even better to play than the Wesmo and that's saying something.
The electric tone is fat, fat and fat. This is what I was hoping for. An instrument with so much tonal raw material that it can be sculpted to what I am hearing in my head.
No trips to the repairman with this instrument. No tweaking necessary.

It's a whole other level than anything I've ever owned. I know this is the honeymoon period and I understand if you think I'm gushing.
But this thing has some serious mojo going on.

High praise indeed, and you know what you're talking about - I'm probably not the only one reading this thread who's thinking "if I sell this, this and that, I could maybe swing one of these" lol

[AlohaJoe]

I'm probably not the only one reading this thread who's thinking "if I sell this, this and that, I could maybe swing one of these" lol

You're not.

[Soco]

Another thing is how light the eastside is. Maybe around 5lbs? The only lighter guitars I have tried is my Hollowbody spruce and a parker fly. Some 175's, especially newer ones, can be pretty heavy-maybe around 8lbs.
It is a super comfortable guitar both for standing up and sitting.
Would like to try one with the Charlie Christian pickup, mine has a humbucker. That said though, I wouldn't change a thing with my guitar. I am wondering if the maple neck on yours add's some brightness.
I tried on with an ebony fretboard, prefer rosewood. I tried a total of 3 eatsides, including mine. All very nice, although I prefer mine, love the way mine looks too. I got mine unseen.

[Philco]

You know 3625 you're right about thinking "what can I sell".

I don't have anything to sell anymore but somewhere in the future I would like a solid spruce top with a floater.

That's what I don't have now that the Wesmo is gone (even though it didn't have a floater)

My future dream instrument to cover that was a Johnny Smith...........but I'm starting to see that image slowly fade and be replaced by a Collings CL Jazz.....perhaps even in Merlot.

Or should I wait for my Collings fever to break?

[Philco]

Another thing is how light the eastside is. Maybe around 5lbs? The only lighter guitars I have tried is my Hollowbody spruce and a parker fly. Some 175's, especially newer ones, can be pretty heavy-maybe around 8lbs.
It is a super comfortable guitar both for standing up and sitting.
Would like to try one with the Charlie Christian pickup, mine has a humbucker. That said though, I wouldn't change a thing with my guitar. I am wondering if the maple neck on yours add's some brightness.
I tried on with an ebony fretboard, prefer rosewood. I tried a total of 3 eatsides, including mine. All very nice, although I prefer mine, love the way mine looks too. I got mine unseen.

Mine is a little heavier than the 52 175. But that 175 is as light as a feather and also very loud acoustically. The acoustic tone of the Collings is much "nicer". The 175 has a "boxier" sound. Hard to explain.

You know Jostein I'll probably never know if the maple neck made the guitar brighter. I think it's almost a moot point in as much as if I move my plectrum a millimetre in axis then the tone of the guitar brightens as if I had turned everything from 1.5k all the way up. Same on any guitar. So perhaps the maple neck adds brightness but unless I hear one with a mahogany neck next to it I won't really know.

Your Eastside is to die for Jostein! I love the colour and must admit that every time I watched one of your clips I worried that I had ordered the wrong colour!

[Soco]

You know 3625 you're right about thinking "what can I sell".

I don't have anything to sell anymore but somewhere in the future I would like a solid spruce top with a floater.

That's what I don't have now that the Wesmo is gone (even though it didn't have a floater)

My future dream instrument to cover that was a Johnny Smith...........but I'm starting to see that image slowly fade and be replaced by a Collings CL Jazz.....perhaps even in Merlot.

Or should I wait for my Collings fever to break?

I tried a CL jazz in merlot, amazing guitar for sure. It is getting more expensive, I think 8100$ now, and I am not sure if they are accepting new orders at the moment. The eastside, although a bigger guitar, handles feedback better than the CL jazz, also I don't think the CL jazz would work with gain. I'd be afraid taking the CL jazz in a gigbag on the NYC subway during rush hour(It is bad enough with the eastside and soco).
Having said that, I would love to own a CL jazz!

[Patrick2]

I'm a little surprised you let the Wesmo go. But, the new Collings sure does look like a winner.

[Philco]

I'm a little surprised you let the Wesmo go. But, the new Collings sure does look like a winner.

The Wesmo was a stunning guitar. Just beautiful. I had to own one to understand something about arch tops. To put things in perspective. I was learning about size, materials and the history of players.

I think I'm more comfortable with a 16' very light instrument. I can get closer to the sound I love with that style of guitar.
I just couldn't get what I wanted out of the Wesmo. I could get the Wes sound if I used my thumb and sure, that's a beautiful sound but not really for me.

The only guy I've heard getting a "good" sound from an L5 style guitar (electric sound that is) is the Italian player.....from that thread..."is this guy any good" or something like that (yes he is bloody good).
But even so I don't "love" that sound. It's not quite what I'm after.

As soon as I got the old 175 with the P90 I was right in the ball park of what I was chasing. Then the Collings went one step closer.....with the added bonus of being much nicer to play.

So the Wesmo was everything it was meant to be but not what I was looking for. I miss looking at it though!
I didn't lose a cent on it which meant I could buy the Collings and have some money left over.

[Jazz_175]

Philco, which amp are you going to play your Eastside with?
One of these days I want to make a short clip with my Fender Deluxe Reverb
and post it, and have your opinions.
I totally agree on the acoustic loudness of the guitar. It's a pleasure to play it unplugged.
Regarding the action I had to lower it a bit to feel really comfortable.

[Philco]

Philco, which amp are you going to play your Eastside with?
One of these days I want to make a short clip with my Fender Deluxe Reverb
and post it, and have your opinions.
I totally agree on the acoustic loudness of the guitar. It's a pleasure to play it unplugged.
Regarding the action I had to lower it a bit to feel really comfortable.

At the moment I am back on my Deluxe Reverb. The Eastside sounds great through it. Usually I have to eq out that Fender upper mid spike but not so with the Eastside. It could be that the CC pickup is somehow compensating.

I have removed the treble cap from the DR but I'm actually thinking of putting it back.
I'm starting to think that I can use that spike and tame it a bit with a pedal eq.
Easy enough to change.
I have not tried the Mambo yet but I will in the next few days. I picked up a Fender 1x12 cab for it and will put a Cannabis Rex in it. I'm also interested in that pedal that John from Mambo is making.

The tone you got on your original demo (Stella) was beautiful.
I'm sure the Chromes you just put on will sound great but one day if you feel like experimenting you might try Thomastik Swings if you haven't already.

They are bright like Chromes but not as "unsophisticated" or "brutal". They maintain their brightness after fading just a little over a couple of weeks. They are much smoother than Chromes and feel like silk.
They are not so expensive if you buy on line from "Strings and Beyond" they just dropped their international shipping rate as well.

I've noticed that the Thomastik Benson sets are now shipping with a plain tin first and second as opposed to the gold first and second they used to use. Not sure about the Swings though. I never liked those gold strings very much and am glad to see the change. I checked with Strings and Beyond but they still have old stock with the gold.

Strings make such a hugh difference to the tone!