SmashMouth

Close to perfect: Collings Guitars makes some of the most coveted musical instruments in the world

He was supposed to go to medical school. He was supposed to go to California. But Bill Collings only got as far as Austin, and what he does, with roughly 70 highly skilled employees in a shop past the Y in Oak Hill, is build guitars. Really, really great guitars. You don't need to ask him how great they are; he'll tell you: "There's no better guitar made."

The Michigan native is not the only one who feels that way. Order a Collings and you'll pay anywhere from $3,500 to $6,000 or more, a lot more for super-custom models — and, with the current load of orders, you could be waiting months. Acoustic guitars are currently back-ordered until October, electrics until July. The company this year is on track to build roughly 1,400 acoustics, 900 electrics, 500 mandolins and 350 ukuleles. Acoustics take about three months from the time workers make a card detailing the guitar's specifications and custom features to the time it heads to one of Collings' networks of dealers, including Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley.

"The quality is beyond all that I know of," says that shop's co-owner, Dwain Cornelius. "They're powerful, powerful guitars. Their projection is just unreal."

And like every fine instrument, their character and tone develop over time.

"It's a guitar made to grow," says Collings. "You have to play it out."

They're played and treasured by the likes of Pete Townshend, Keith Richards, Conan O'Brien, Lyle Lovett, Steep Canyon Rangers, the Eagles, Zac Brown, Robert Earl Keen, Jim Lauderdale, String Cheese Incident, Little Feat, Brian May of Queen, Joni Mitchell, Moody Blues, Rodney Crowell, Robert Plant, Joe Walsh, Aerosmith and John Sebastian. Local devotees include Bruce Robison, Alejandro Escovedo, Ray Benson, Jerry Jeff Walker, the South Austin Jug Band, Sarah Jarosz and Redd Volkaert.

"Even their cheapest thing is heads, hands and feet above anything else," Volkaert says. "It's world-class, kick-ass , does exactly what it's supposed to — or more. The Collings guys are trying to make a better wheel. I'm sure it costs them more money, but I kind of think they don't care."

SmashMouth

You mean you've never heard of them? lol....

SmashMouth

cool .. nice to see acoustics ...

They got electrics there too ...

saintfan

I play acoustic and I've never heard of 'em...of course I'm just a hack really, but still...

Thanks for the post. I'm gonna check 'em out.

saintfan

SmashMouth

Sweet ...... good sound!

alldat

Cool! My little cuz Mason is a luthier for Collings.

SmashMouth

Collings SoCo Dlx | Handmade Instruments from Austin, TX

Hill Country Guitars



You can afford those prices, Strato ... yikes!!!!

Does your cousin live in Austin, Alldat? Collings' factory is in Dripping Springs ... that's southwest Austin area for those in Rio Linda! He must be a true artisan.

alldat

Here is one of his projects, you can see his initials MM.

alldat

Yep he was born and raised in the Austin area, went to luthier school in Minnesota and came back to Texas...cool kid.