Change the channel.... A solid body 50's inspired electric guitar in TV Yellow, that has two TV Jones pickups in it? Well, why not? This is the "TV" edition of the Collings 290!
Bill Collings is admittedly building some of the finest acoustic guitars that have ever been built. When he decided to take on the challenge of building electric guitars, this may have seemed an easier task. Electric guitars have no bracing, no acoustic waves to study, and acoustic players are known to be a finicky bunch when compared to our electric brethren. Well, 70 prototypes and a year later, he finally felt that he had built the electric guitar that he wanted to build. Redesigning electric guitars in the process and setting the new standard for fit, finish, innovation, and most importantly tone!
The Collings 290 is named after the highway that runs through the Austin hill country and takes you to Collings workshop. Although it may look like a traditional model with it's one "Spanish" cutaway and two humbuckers, look a little deeper and appreciate the features this guitar brings to the table.
The Body is a select piece of mahogany that has two ergonomic cuts on the back of the guitar, one for the area where the guitar rests against your ribcage and "forms" against it, and one on the lower bout to accommodate sitting down and playing the guitar. The leg cutout makes practicing or doing a session easy as it molds to your leg, and the other, makes standing and playing a gig a pleasure as the guitar fits comfortably against your body.
The Neck joint has been redesigned to join the body on an angle allowing for easy access to the upper frets. The neck joins at the 17th fret on the bass side but on the treble side it joins at the 19th fret. The wood used is select Mahogany that was typically used on the great instruments of the 50's and 60's. This select wood has more mass, and therefore it is more rigid, but responds better than any guitar you have played, and is not in any way "neck heavy."
This custom Collings has a "TV" Yellow finish on the body, and the neck as well. A back story for your consideration: This special yellow color was designed in the 1950s to solve the problem of the color white, under the glare of bright television lights, overpowering the black and white television cameras. Get ready for your close up Mr. Deville, because this guitar belongs on TV!
The TV Edition Collings features twin Tom "TV" Jones Filter-tron Classic pickups, instead of the standard two humbuckers. TV Jones has been building such fine quality reproductions of Gretsch type pickups that they started using his creations in all of their high end guitars. These pickups reproduce the look, feel, and tone of the classic 50's Gretsch guitars heard on many a Nashville session recording.
We couldn't wait to plug this guitar into a Carr Mercury amp, (that just happens to look like an old TV). This guitar has one of the best neck pickups we've ever heard! Adam didn't want to put the guitar down when those luscious slightly overdriven tones came falling out of the amp. The bridge has "the" twang tone to put all others to shame. Rock-a-billy, country, swing, jazz, and the list can go on and on, this guitar just sounds as good as it feels & looks! We don't guarantee an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, but you will more than "look the part!"
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This instrument has been spoken for. Please call 866-265-5993 or email info@artisanguitars.com to inquire about a similar instrument.
Tags: 290, collings, electric, filtertron, mahogany, tv edition, tv jones, tv yellow