Collings D1A VN Varnish Adirondack and Mahogany with Vintage Now Neck and Varnish ID-7435

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