2018 Comins GCS-1ES, Vintage Blond

**Piedaddy** · 02-21-2021, 06:29 PM

Hi folks. I’m moving a 2018 Comins GCS-1ES. This differs from the GCS-1 model because it has a spruce soundboard and ebony fretboard. Bill’s website states that this combination tailors the instrument to warmer, darker jazz tones. You can check out Comins’ website for full details but the quick rundown on specs are:

14-5/8” lower bout; 1-5/8” depth
Top = laminated spruce; back = laminated sapele
Ebony fretboard with 12” radius, 24.75” scale, 1.7” nut width
Custom wound KA humbuckers
Routed wood core to reduce feedback
Push/pull pot to switch to single coil mode
Weight ~7.4lbs

The guitar is basically mint. No issues whatsoever. I’m only moving it because I just got an old Heritage Prospect back and dropped some coin on a PRS JA15 so I need to offset those purchases. I might be sorry about moving this one but the stable has be thinned. There are lots of videos out there but check out Yotam Silberstein playing this exact model,

Purchased from Comins through Lattanze Guitars and set up by Bill. Currently strung with half round 10s. Case is in excellent condition. Looking to get $1300 net to me and I’ll pick up shipping costs in CONUS. Thanks and if you have any questions, just ask.

Joe

**neatomic** · 02-22-2021, 08:33 PM

nice guitar! tho made in asia, bill c himself spends hours of setting up each guitar before it's sold...

jimmy bruno has many vids sounding great on the imported comins

cheers

**Wildcat** · 02-23-2021, 09:39 AM

Korea or China? This doesn't seem to mean as much anymore.

Originally Posted by neatomic

nice guitar! tho made in asia, bill c himself spends hours of setting up each guitar before it's sold...

jimmy bruno has many vids sounding great on the imported comins

cheers

**Wildcat** · 02-23-2021, 09:42 AM

I believe at one time the spruce top model was rather rare and a high demand.

**Wildcat** · 02-23-2021, 09:43 AM

Can you tell me the nut width, radius and neck profile?

**David B** · 02-23-2021, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Can you tell me the nut width, radius and neck profile?

From GCS-1ES | Comins Guitars

Fingerboard: Ebony, 12” radius, 24.75” scale length, 1.70” nut width, dot position markers
Neck: Medium C shape, comfortably contoured

**neatomic** · 02-23-2021, 05:30 PM

made for comins to his spec in korea...my point was that he spends a lot of time personally gettin them perfect!

specs

Body Dimensions: 14 5/8” lower bout width, 1 5/8” depth
Top: Laminated Spruce
Back: Laminated Sapele
Body and Neck Wood: Eastern Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony, 12” radius, 24.75” scale length, 1.70” nut width, dot position markers
Neck: Medium C shape, comfortably contoured
Pickups and electronics: Custom wound Kent Armstrong humbucking pickups, 3 way toggle switch, (2) volume and (2) tone controls. One of the tone controls is a push/pull pot converting both pickups to single coil mode.
Hardware finish: Chrome
Tuners: Wilkinson, smooth 19:1 gear ratio
Binding: Multi-ply ivory/black surround the peghead, neck, and body back with additional plies surrounding the body top
Average Weight: 7.5 lbs. (varies plus or minus 6%)
Available Colors: Vintage Blond, Tangerine Burst, Violin Burst, Autumn Burst, Black

cheers

**Piedaddy** · 02-23-2021, 07:04 PM

For some reason the spruce topped models do seem less available. I know I needed to wait for this one to come in when I got it.

Joe

**Wildcat** · 02-24-2021, 11:01 AM

Looks like there's an ebony fretboard upgrade with spruce top.

**Piedaddy** · 02-24-2021, 02:21 PM

correct. The GCS 1 is maple and rosewood; the GCS-1ES is spruce top and ebony board.

**rpjazzguitar** · 02-24-2021, 04:33 PM

I have the GCS-1, a terrific guitar. I had a hard time finding one (got it at Rudy's) and they didn't even have an ES to try.

I think I'd have liked the Spruce, but I tend to prefer rosewood fingerboards, so it's a trade-off.

That said, the GCS-1 can sound quite dark; that's why I bought it after hearing Jack Wilkins get a gorgeous dark sound (ES and AERCompact60). It has a usable coil split option, though and I sometimes play it that way.

**Wildcat** · 02-24-2021, 04:47 PM

Is this a standard feature for this model?
[QUOTE=rpjazzguitar;1101826It has a usable coil split option, though and I sometimes play it that way.[/QUOTE]

**neatomic** · 02-24-2021, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Is this a standard feature for this model?

it's in specs posted ^

Pickups and electronics: Custom wound Kent Armstrong humbucking pickups, 3 way toggle switch, (2) volume and (2) tone controls. One of the tone controls is a push/pull pot converting both pickups to single coil mode.

cheers

**Piedaddy** · 02-27-2021, 06:43 PM

Back up for a beauty!!

**BlueWolf** · 03-01-2021, 10:10 AM

Nice guitar for a good price. I’ll ask around and see if anybody I know is in the market.

**Piedaddy** · 03-01-2021, 10:55 AM

Thanks Blue!
Joe

**callouscallus** · 03-01-2021, 01:17 PM

I bought a used one long time back. Same es in blonde. I think it is serial 1 or a prototype or something. Anyway the original owner put in some Peter Florence Voodoos, I love it. The guitar is no longer able to do the push pull thing the original could do. These are great guitars.

**BComp61** · 03-01-2021, 01:22 PM

I also have the GCS-1. Super cool guitar and pretty versatile. GLWTS!

**rpjazzguitar** · 03-01-2021, 01:40 PM

The coil split is a stock feature. You pull one of the knobs. I believe it splits both pickups.

**LifeOnJazz** · 03-01-2021, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

The coil split is a stock feature. You pull one of the knobs. I believe it splits both pickups.

Yes it splits both. I've had the GCS-1es for a couple years and love it. I didn't use the split option much at first but I found running it with a low gain boost (J Rockett Blue Note) brought it to life. It brings that clarity when you need it.