Collings SoCo Deluxe ID-5893

Collings SoCo Deluxe

Collings’ website has this to say about the Soco Deluxe: Named after Austin’s funky and eclectic South Congress Avenue, the Collings SoCo Deluxe is all about attitude. This model brings in elements from both the I-35 and CL models to create a unique hybrid that is all its own. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? They couldn’t have said it better. The SoCo Deluxe is slightly larger than the I-35, featuring the same Maple/Mahogany combination. There are no laminate woods here; the top is all solid and meticulously carved by hand. Bill Collings has experience in maximizing the peak resonance of each piece of Maple. The fullness and vibratory resonance, even when unplugged, is, well, incredible. Notes are effortlessly articulated, responding to your ever command. The unique hand set mortise and tenon neck joint reflects Bill Collings philosophy – ingenuity and functionality. The angled shape of the joint fits perfectly in your palm. Reaching for the 21st fret is effortless; unlike any electric we’ve played before.

This Collings Soco Deluxe has a beautiful Premium Flamed Maple top with a rich Tobacco Sunburst Finish. Combine such a beautiful finish with special appointments such as a Rosewood Fretboard, grained ivoroid bindings, dot inlays, and custom ivoroid knobs and pickup rings and you truly have one of the finest looking guitars being made.

Collings collaborated with Jason Lollar for all their pickup designs. While the particular pickups they use are specially wound to Collings specifications, they are very near in design to the Lollar standard Imperial Humbucking models. Lollar manages to capture the airy top end, tight lows, balanced midrange, and complex overtones of the best original PAF pickups.

In reviews, they are consistently given high marks for their balanced frequency response. Unbalanced coils keep the bottom end tight for the intense richness the pickups provide, as overtones build after each note is played. Alnico 5 magnets are de-gaussed to specific levels, unique to the neck and bridge positions.

The sound Collings has developed with these pickups can certainly be described as mature. The neck position pushes out a lovely warmth and depth - ideal for jazz chording or chunky blues. None of the pesky midrange honkiness that can be found with other bridge humbuckers is present. The bridge pickup is certainly hotter and more aggressive, but maintains full-bodied presence without any harshness.

Specifications:

• Shipping Weight: 68
• Serial: 11268
• Back Wood: Mahogany
• Nut Width: 1 11/16"
• Scale: 24 7/8"
• Year: 2011
• Inlays: Dots
• Neck Wood: Gloss-Finished Mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Bridge: Tone Pros
• Purfling: Black/White
• Body Binding: Grained Ivoroid bindings
• Fretboard Binding: Grained Ivoroid
• Headstock Shape: Solid Peghead
• Headstock Overlay: Ebony
• Headstock Inlay: M.O.P. Collings Logo
• Pickup(s): Jason Lollar Humbuckers
• Case: Hardshell Case Included
• Misc. 1: Wiring: 50s Style
• Misc. 2: Hand Set Mortise and Tenon Neck Joint
• Misc. 3: Custom Ivoroid Knobs and Pickup Rings