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How Bill Collings got this slimline, mahogany back and sides, solid spruce cross braced top, floating pup guitar to sound louder than a normal 16" wide, 3' deep jazz box I fail to understand. It's kind of like the "Tardis"…but replace dimension with sound.
It's a very focused sound and that focus is what interested me. It has a very loud lower midrange. It really "barks" with a warm and round lower mid. I have never heard that in an arch top before.
On another thread we were talking about how the Gibson Johnny Smith had a certain "plum" sound to the notes. (a term coined by RPGuitar). It's like a depth behind the note. Well the reason I opted for the Collings was that I could hear that "plum" sound on one or two of the demos on line.
It was a risk but because I was absolutely blown away with the quality and sound of my Collings Eastside Deluxe I was willing to take the chance.
Louder than my 1952 175? Not in the bottoms but definitely everywhere else. Louder than my Eastside Deluxe? Yes. Louder than the Gibson Wesmo I owned. Yes (by a big margin). How can that be? I don't know.
But it has "that sound"…..it's an old bebop tone that I love. Think early Benson and Martino.
For now some rather bad photos of mine and one pro shot will have to suffice until I get some time (and something better than an iPad to film and record on) to make a demo.
Many many thanks go to list member Jabberwocky who not only alerted me to this sale but went to great lengths to help me get it shipped to Australia at a reasonable price.
For those of you who have problems with sellers who refuse to ship internationally there is now an easy way to do this……and clear all your customs and Duties in one payment. Let me know if you would like more info on how to go about it.
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04-15-2014 09:15 AM
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Hi Philco,
congratulations on your new guitar!
You got it eventually.
You now have two wonderful guitars.
I am planning to buy a City limits Jazz.....maybe in 10 years.
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You're just a mad man with a (jazz)box.
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Heh, heh, Phil. I know that you'd do a Reveal in your own good time. Good to know that it is everything you wanted it to be and more. It took quite a great leap o'faith to buy it sight unseen, sound unheard. Some plaudits must go to the seller, jazzgtr14, for being a stand-up guy, I guess.
What a beauty! Now, where to find the dosh for one to call my own?Last edited by Jabberwocky; 04-15-2014 at 05:36 PM.
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Anyone who references archtops and the Tardis in the same sentence is a win in my book
Originally Posted by Philco
Time
And
Relative
Dimension
In
Sound
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Very sweet! I hope you plan to post some sound-bites.
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Indeed jazzgtr14 was very patient and went to more than one PO to try and send it……and of course DHL and Fed Ex. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
I think he was as frustrated as I was at the hoops he had to jump through to send a parcel that size and value. This actually made me realise why many US senders won't bother with international sales.
It seems every State in the US has differing postal rules. No post office would accept the parcel as it was over sized for them.
Yet I have had a Gibson Wesmo and a Gibson 775 and a Gibson 125 and a Collings Eastside Deluxe all sent by post from other States with no problem.
The DHL and FedEx quotes were very high from jazzgtr14's State as well.
In the end I used a company called Borderlinx who specialise in sending on parcels to international buyers. They use DHL as a carrier. This is where Jabberwocky really assisted me.
You are basically given a US or UK address and the seller sends your item to this address. In my case Borderlinx have an Ohio address.
When Borderlinx receive the package they alert you and give you the option of a re pack. You then pay your countries Customs and duties based on a price you declare and the freight charge to Borderlinx online (they have a PayPal option) You can also opt for insurance.
The parcel is sent to you and does not physically go through your countries Customs area. The Customs is cleared while the item is still in the air and if cleared goes straight to the DHL facility and will be with you the next day.
Worked a treat in that regard.
I did have some problems with the Borderlinx PayPal system which cost me a week of extra waiting. They are a company that outsource their help staff to the Philippines and India…….that wasn't much fun…….but they eventually sorted it.
The delivery itself….when it finally left……ran smoothly and quickly and without any interaction from local Customs and Duty officials.
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Far Out - that's the epitome of contemporary archtop luthiery right there. It's like they've combined the best elements of Gibson and D'Aquisto along with modern features resulting in genuine innovation. I'm somewhat in awe of the vibe I get from these guitars. Originally Posted by Philco
I think the inlay and finish on the City Limits looks absolutely fantastic.
Congrats on what is most likely one of the finest archtops in the world!
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In other words, that's a nice pair of the dog's danglies. Bow Wow.
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I played the Eastside Deluxe this morning….because I was kind of missing it. I truly love that instrument and it feels like it belongs in my hands.
After spending an hour or so on it I changed over to the CLJ.
Bloody hell….it's freakish.
It sounds like I'm playing a very big jazz box. So much bigger sounding than the Eastside.
No doubt it will suffer the same feedback issues that a large spruce top box would. It's lighter than the 175 and I reckon the 175 is around 5lb.
This is really a whole new concept. I'm really looking forward to recording with this guitar.
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..and we're all looking forward to hearing the results. Congrats, Mr Collings has definitely got it right on pretty much every level. Originally Posted by Philco
A guitar for life I think...oh hang on, you''ve got two so guitars for life...
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Looking forward to your recordings with tingling anticipation. There are precious videos out there. Tonedr's (maplebaby aka Dale) videos are rather dated although I appreciate them a lot. Hope to hear the CLJ in new hands.
Maple Street Guitars had one for sale, in Merlot, not too long ago: $8400. And it was gone in a matter of weeks. As was the one over at CR Guitars.
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There is also one available right now at Guitar Guitar, a music store in the UK. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
It's one with black top, never seen one like that before.
It costs 7299 pounds!
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Congrats! That is a beautiful guitar and I've had my sights on an Eastside with the Charlie Christian pickup. My wife's spruce top I35 DLX is an amazing playing and sounding guitar.
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Hi Philco!
Since it has now been about a year since you first posted, I was wondering what you now feel about the City Limits Jazz. Still loving it?
Any chance of a YouTube clip of you playing it? Would love to hear.
Thanks in advance.
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Hi kkfan, I am currently living in the UK and without my beloved guitars. I will return to Australia sometime in July.
I have already waxed poetical about the instrument and should really post a sound bite when I get back.
I certainly am still in love with the instrument and look forward to getting back to it.
I still have thoughts about a Johnny Smith or even the right type of Legrand but I am just one of those guys with permanent GAS. Although it should be noted that I have not bought another guitar since the CLJ. A whole year for me......wow.
Just to prove that I still have GAS. This picture makes me weak in the knees.
But this still does as well...!
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Oh yes!
GAS diagnosis confirmed.
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Absolutely beautiful. I'd echo 3625's comments on the finish and the inlay. I think we can all feel your exuberance . . even those of us who are oceans away from you.
That LeGrand ain't to bad looking either! Too many guitars . . . to little time.
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All I can say is my word. Such Beautiful guitar's!
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Phil whats up!..man i just stumbled upon this thread. I see you have some nice guitars! So glad it made it down to Oz safe and sound..Both of those Collings look killer next to each other.
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Wow...gorgeous instrument! Congrats!
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I love the inlays - that really is a modern looking instrument (in a good way). Congrats!
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Originally Posted by Philco
Excellent couple, congrats!
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This seems to be the only CL Jazz thread here so I thought I’d bump it up. A while ago I was able to get one. Most money I’ve ever spent (and ever will spend) on a guitar. It’s not like “Oh, I happened on this Collings somewhere and thought I’d might as well buy it.” This is probably a once in a lifetime buy.
It’s from 2007 and the wonderful people at Collings informed me that it’s only the 5th CL Jazz ever made and was shown at the 2007 NAMM. Nice anecdote.
As Philco noted at the beginning of this thread, the acoustic volume, richness and projection is remarkable for its size. It really responds to me, like having a dialogue. Plugged in, that mutual feeling is even stronger. That’s what sold the guitar to me basically. The quality of workmanship and super-luxurious feel of the neck and fingerboard, not to belittle that (it really is heirloom grade workmanship) but I’d expect that on a guitar at this price point. It had better be good. Its unique selling point is what it does to my playing.
Niggles? Yes. Some caused by 14 years of aging, some by design.
1) All six wooden tuning buttons came loose from their pegs during my first week with the guitar. The ridges on the shaft that grip the wood are much too shallow. It was an easy fix, but sort of unreal to tune up a guitar like this and then there’s this pop and suddenly the button’s dancing around on the post.
2) For some reason Collings kept the string holes in the tailpiece real narrow. Many common types of strings just will not fit, including Thomastik. Didn’t see that one coming. Weird. Apparently this is also the case on other Collings guitars with this ebony tailpiece.
3) Even with he bridge all the way down the strings are not exactly flat on the deck, especially the bass strings. And it has a 25.5” scale length so comping can be hard work. All the more reason to use (for example) a set of TI .012s instead of D’A .012s. The TIs sound much better to my ears but also feel much less stiff. But the TI’s won’t fit the tailpiece
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4) There’s a subtle rattle somewhere when I play certain notes. Am trying to track it down.
Kudos to Collings for coming up with this design. It really speaks to me. Makes me play better. Spending this much was a big decision, what remains is not regret but daily joy.
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I have the same issue with my Eastman 810CE7. I just put a set of JS113s on it, and it took a lot of twisting and pulling to get both E6 and A into their tailpiece slots. And after thinking they were in place, tuning to tension fully seated each with an audible clunk. I had similar difficulty with the 0.076” low A (a John Pearse nickel RW), but that one was a bit quicker and easier than the nominally smaller TIs. Originally Posted by Oscar67
Next time I restring, I’ll take off the tailpiece and see where the constriction is. I don’t know if the constraint is the actual slots in the metal framework or how far around its curved front goes.
Your Collings is beautiful!
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