Collings I35 LC Vintage Walnut

After several years in development and numerous prototype iterations, Collings is excited to introduce an I-35 like you've never experienced before — the new I-35 LC Vintage.

Drawing inspiration from the best instruments of the 1960s, Collings' newest offering in the I-35 lineup provides an exceptionally loose and organic feel, achieved through a ground up reworking of everything from its laminate and center block recipes to its neck construction. Custom Throbak pickups and Bumblebee capacitors bring its open, acoustic response to life, expanding its versatility and proving that, although it looks every bit the part of a time-tested instrument, its appeal is more than just skin deep.

When you think of a 335, in your mind's eye you probably imagine one that's either a sunburst or cherry red. When I do, I think of Hugh McCracken's walnut 335. For those of you not familiar with Hugh, he is one of the greatest unheralded guitarists, having had a prolific career as an A-list session player. He played on virtually everyone's albums, from Roberta Flack to John Lennon. (He even turned down an invitation from Paul McCartney to be his guitar player after the Beatles broke up - but that's another story.) You can get a sense of his pure musicianship & heart from a single note. The tone, the articulation, the note itself are all perfect. You'll recognize that note of course, as the opening of Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen." That note has Hugh and his walnut 335 written all over it.

Collings has upped their game with their new I35 LC Vintage model guitar. That's not an easy task when the company already has some of the finest ES style semi-hollows on the market. Immersed in the culture of quality and inspiration that drove Bill Collings, they strive to draw from the very best in every Collings guitar. If there is magic to be found, they leave no stone unturned in their search. So it's no real surprise to me that after playing this new model, I can honestly say that I'm impressed. And I mean truly impressed. Besides being a joy to play (impeccable workmanship) and hold (ergonomic and light weight), the sound captures the tone of a fine vintage guitar. The builders found a way to capture that throaty, dry, woody, articulate vintage sonic palette right out of the box. No years of waiting. To top off the experience they tweaked their neck profile, warmly aged the finish and hardware to elevate the whole "vintage" vibe. Sporting this "one off" custom walnut finish, the I35LC Vintage is a guitar destined to be just like my friend Hugh McCracken; a classic.

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.