Collings D1A VN Varnish Adirondack and Mahogany with Vintage Now Neck and Varnish ID-7435
SKU-7435
Sold Out $6,435.00
Collings D1A VN Varnish Adirondack and Mahogany with Vintage Now Neck and Varnish
The square-shouldered 14-fret dreadnought is the most popular steel-string acoustic guitar body shape in the world. While Collings is certainly not the only company to build them, we bring a new tonal clarity to the depth and warmth usually associated with such a large, deep-bodied guitar. Although its bass response makes the dreadnought ideal for vocal accompaniment, Collings versions are also often employed by bluegrass flatpickers who must compete with inherently louder instruments such as banjos and fiddles. The wide range of woods and neck sizes offered allow dreadnought fans to find a Collings model ideally suited to their playing style and tonal preference. Each and every time we have a Collings D1A in the shop with a hand-rubbed varnish finish, it is time and time again one of our favorite guitars in the shop. This is a highly customized version featuring many of our favorite upgrades along with master grade Adirondack Spruce and Mahogany, brought to life by the masterful builders at Collings!
Thinner than nitrocellulose lacquer, the varnish finish is more flexible and allows the wood to resonate more, significantly smoothing out the mids and highs of the Mahogany and Adirondack, while enhancing the low end and warming the highs considerably. For the die hard rosewood fans here in the shop, this guitar bridges the gap between rosewood and mahogany, projecting incredibly articulate note definition common with mahogany and the power and low end associated with rosewood.
The Adirondack Spruce drives the top of this guitar and provides ample power and headroom for heavy handed flatpickers while the fast response of the varnish provides a much better fingerstyle experience as opposed to lacquer.
The Vintage Now neck is a custom appointment on this instrument and is coupled with a 1 3/4" nut and 2 1/4" string spacing at the saddle. Collings Vintage Now neck is the perfect compromise for many players that think a modern neck is too flat in profile, yet the typical neck on a 40's style instrument is too thick.
Collings' exclusive neck profile is uniquely adapted to players looking for vintage width and girth, with contemporary playability. The slightly wider string spacing at both ends of the guitar also makes fingerstyle playing and chordal accompaniment more enjoyable. With a traditional "cut-through" saddle there should be no doubt as to the inspiration for this beast.
The custom Adirondack Braces are lighter and stiffer than Sitka, therefore they are more responsive and offer a more efficient transfer of energy through the top.
This D1A also was also custom built without a tongue brace. 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. The absence of a tongue brace frees the top to allow enhanced vibration and results in a richer, fuller, tone with more low end resonance.
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.
Check out some of our other Collings Guitars
Specifications:
Shipping Weight: 68
Serial: 21576
Top Wood: Adirondack
Back Wood: Mahogany
Nut Width: 1 3/4"
Scale: 25 1/2"
Bracing: Adirondack Braces
Inlays: Mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays
Rosette: Black/white wood nitrate strip rosette
Neck Wood: Mahogany with Lacquer Finish
Fretboard: Ebony
Nut Material: Bone
Saddle Material: Cutthrough Saddle
Saddle Spacing: 2 1/4"
Bridge: Ebony Vintage Now
Bridge Pins: Ebony
Tuners: Nickel Waverly tuners with 16:1 ratio
Purfling: Black/white wood purfling
Body Binding: Tortoise-style binding
Pickguard: Tortoise Style
Backstrip: 1-style walnut backstrip
Headstock Shape: Square headstock with no volute 15 degree headstock angle
Headstock Overlay: Ebony
Headstock Inlay: Collings Logo
Frets To Body: 14
Neck Profile: Vintage Now Neck
Body Depth: 4 7/8"
Lower Bout Width: 15 5/8"
Body Length: 20"
Total Length: 40 1/4"
Case: Hardshell Case Included
Misc. 1: Varnish Finish
Misc. 2: No Toungue Brace
Misc. 3: Medium 18% nickel-silver fretwire
Misc. 4: Fully adjustable truss rod
Misc. 5: Mortise and tenon hybrid neck joint
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