The archtop - the pinnacle challenge in the art of lutherie. How to carve the top and back? How pronounced an arch, how deep a recurve? How and where to work to the proper thicknesses, how to achieve that certain, magical tap-tone? There are a myriad complex and intricate approaches.
Bill Collings devotes untold hours honing his archtop craft. Collings prolific output of amazing mandolins has changed the industry. His archtop guitar output, though, is far more limited, maybe two or three per year, tops. Each is unique in voice while retaining a certain signature Collings archtop character.
This latest arrival is absolutely outstanding in every respect. Percussive, with a paradoxically fat and focused single note. Excellent rhythm guitar, and an even better chord-melody or lead instrument. The design is artful, every line intentional. Master-grade spruce top, ridiculously-figured, curly fiddle-back maple, "Broken glass" pearl inlay, ivoroid-bound f-holes, ebony everywhere: string-through ebony tailpiece, bound ebony fingerboard, bound ebony pickguard, ebony head plate, reverse headstock veneer, and tuner buttons. Gold Schaller tuners. A jewel to look at, a joy to play, and an exceedingly rare, collectible masterwork.
