Tuned down low B to B, the Collings Baritone 2H is a powerful, thunderous beast of a guitar. Playing one is practically a religious experience. Although the baritone acoustic guitar concept can be extremely difficult to pull off, the Collings Baritone utilizes their DS body dimensions to communicate the deeper harmonic range beautifully. With deep yet articulate bass, the Collings Baritone makes for an inspiring tool in any songwriter or recording artist's arsenal, and it opens up new musical voicings and arrangements to explore. As soon as you pick it, new songs, melodies, licks, and ideas fall right out of thin air.
Like most Collings instruments, the genius of the Baritone 2H is all in the design. At 20-3/4" inches long, the DS body meets the baritone's 27.5" scale at the 13th fret. This positions the bridge closer to the widest part of the lower bout, which opens up the deeper register of the sound. At the same time, the slope shoulders diffuse the dreadnought's sometimes overwhelming bass response, which adds clarity and balance and also subtly increases the dynamic range. The result is well-voiced definition to the low end and power that isn't overpowering and woofy.
This Collings Baritone 2H (serial #34864) features a solid Sitka Spruce top and solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides. We wanted it to look as good as it sounds, so we ordered it with a Western Shaded sunburst and Cowboy Rope. Ivoroid body binding for , beautifully against the rope purling and the deep reddish brown of the rosewood sides. It's a stunner for sure, but this Baritone 2H packs rich, inspiring tone to back it up. Despite the low tuning and thick string gauges, it doesn't feel massive in your hands. In fact, it feels and plays like a regular guitar, just giving you a lower vocabulary to explore.
- Body size: DS
- Scale Length: 27.5"
- Overall Length: 42"
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back & Sides: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- Bracing Pattern: Un-scalloped X-brace w/ three tone bars
- Body Binding: Ivoroid
- Top Purfling: Cowboy Rope
- Top Finish: Western Shaded Sunburst
- Neck: Solid Honduran Mahogany
- Nut: 1-3/4" Bone
- Neck Profile: Modified V
- Bridge & Fingerboard: Solid Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" compound
- Saddle: Bone w/ 2-5/16" string spacing
- Frets: Medium 18% Nickel-Silver
- Tuners: Nickel Waverly (16:1 ratio)
- Case: Deluxe hardshell by TKL