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.
Go ahead and check out some of our other Collings Guitars
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