Collings Custom CJ Guitar SS with Sitka Spruce Top and Walnut Back and Sides ID-11320

Collings CJ SS

The Collings Jumbo, or CJ, is a classic interpretation of the slope-shouldered dreadnought, a size and shape that has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years. From Zach Brown to Lyle Lovett, the list of iconic Collings CJ players is growing. It accommodates those looking for the feel and style of a J45 with the craftsmanship and perfection of a Collings.

This venerable workhorse guitar has all the hallmarks of a pre-war Gibson, like details such as the short 24 7/8" scale length, the haircut peghead shape, the tigerstipe guard and the C-shaped 1 3/4" wide neck. Trim this with a custom "deluxe" style appointments, such as a fully bound tortoise body, and a stunning Collings Torch Inlay on the Peghead.

Sitka is ideal for players who find Adirondack Red Spruce too punchy, bright, and stiff - but do not want to sacrifice on clarity. Sitka Spruce is a versatile topwood that accentuates the warm round aspects of the guitar's tone. The top end is sweet and crisp; with a driving, focused midrange and low-end. It strums with the best of them, but has a neck that flatpicks beautifully across the board.

The custom Walnut back and sides is absolutely gorgeous and sounds phenomenal. Walnut, a first time offering by Collings on this instrument, has a similar density and stiffness to koa, with similar initial tightness. It tends to have a bright top end, but with a more present midrange, somewhere between mahogany and rosewood.

Tonally, Walnut rivals the best Indian Rosewood in terms of overtones but it retains a stronger mid range and a fundamental. It also has fantastic projection, which is within the realms of a mahogany guitar. Walnut also starts off a little deeper on the low end, initially giving it a slightly woodier sound than koa which continues to fill out after being played.

As people search for the mythical tone of old guitars, the tongue brace comes into scrutiny. Martin added the tongue brace in 1940 and it has become standard every since. This is a great feature for players who may be looking for a compromise between the mahogany and rosewood dreadnoughts.

It is speculated that Martin added the brace to prevent top cracking, but the years have proven this to have been unnecessary and actually decreases resonation.

Additional custom appointments includes a Square Peghead, D Neck w/ Mod V Profile, Torch Peghead inlay, No Tounge Brace, Adirondack Bracing, and a 1 Style Backstrip.

This guitar comes equipped with a K&K Pure Mini pickup. The K and K Pure Mini is a passive system for steel string guitar, with three pickup heads and an endpin jack. The Pure Mini is a transducer system only.

It does not include a battery or on-board electronics. Don't be fooled by the sound of some competitors' thin sounding passive systems--the Pure Systems are definitely different. They sound full and rich and have sufficient output to drive most amps and PA systems directly!

Check out some of our other Collings Guitars

Specifications:

Shipping Weight: 20

Serial: 26897

Top Wood: Sitka Spruce

Back Wood: Walnut

Nut Width: 1 3/4"

Scale: 24 7/8" (Short Scale)

Bracing: Adirondack Scalloped with No Tongue Brace

Inlays: Mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays

Rosette: Black/White Wood Rosette

Neck Wood: Mahogany

Fretboard: Ebony 14"-26" Compound fingerboard radius

Nut Material: Bone

Saddle Material: Bone

Saddle Spacing: 2 3/16"

Bridge: Ebony

Bridge Pins: Ebony Pins w/ MOP DOT

Tuners: Nickel Waverly tuners with 16:1 ratio

Purfling: Black/White Wood

Body Binding: Tortoise Style

Fretboard Binding: None

Headstock Binding: None

Pickguard: Tortoise

Backstrip: 1-style walnut backstrip

Headstock Shape: Custom Square

Headstock Overlay: Ebony

Headstock Inlay: Torch Inlay

Frets To Body: 14

Neck Profile: D Neck w/ Mod V Profile

Body Depth: 4 7/8"

Lower Bout Width: 16"

Body Length: 20 1/8"

Total Length: 41"

Pickup(s): Optional

Case: Custom Collings Hardshell Case Included

Misc. 1: Short Scale

Misc. 3: Medium 18% nickel-silver fretwire