Even before the prototypes were given the "Hill Country" name, we knew these ground-breaking Collings guitars were a great fit for our shop. Relative to the rest of the Collings line, the Hill Country guitars deliver a woodier, more fundamental tonal palette that reminds us of our favorite vintage American flattops. And like everything Collings, the Hill Country Series display a level of precision and attention to detail that is unparalleled and second to none.
The OM2 A Hill Country combines an Adirondack spruce top with East Indian rosewood back and sides. Rather than simply recreating vintage spec sheets, Collings rethought every aspect of the build—from top voicing to neck geometry—to create an instrument with a stronger fundamental note, a drier response, and a fuller low end while retaining the responsiveness and craftsmanship for which Collings is known. The OM2 A Hill Country pairs this different approach with the timeless versatility of the Orchestra Model, and it's topped off with unique appointments such as the matching hand-poured pickguard, rosette ring, wedge, and heel cap—all made by Collings—plus the Collings logo stamped on the back of the peghead instead of a decal on the front.
The familiar OM platform offers exceptional balance and articulation, and the Hill Country treatment shifts the overall tone toward a warmer, woodier voice with remarkable note weight and a powerful, supportive low end. In addition to the bolder sound, the OM2 A Hill Country also has a bigger, barrel-shaped neck profile. Combined with a 1-3/4" nut width and 2-5/16" string spacing, the neck shape feels appropriate for the vintage-inspired tonal palette.
This OM2 A Hill Country (serial #36856) is the first Hill Country Series instrument to arrive at Telluride Music Co., and we think it is a particularly exciting addition to the collection. It may be our favorite Collings OM. The tone feels right at home, and we love the fatter neck carve—the overall playing experience is unmatched. Individual notes bloom with a strong fundamental, chords retain outstanding separation without excessive shimmer, and it responds effortlessly to both a light fingerstyle touch and an aggressive flatpick.
- Top: Adirondack Spruce
- Back & Sides: East Indian Rosewood
- Construction: Hill Country Build & Voicing
- Neck: Honduran Mahogany
- Bracing: Hill Country Scalloped Sitka Spruce X-Bracing
- Scale Length: 25 1/2"
- Nut Width: 1 3/4" Aged Bone
- Saddle: Aged Bone Cutthrough
- Neck Profile: Hill Country
- Neck Joint: Mortise & Tenon Hybrid
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius: 14"–26" Compound
- Fingerboard Inlays: Gold Mother-of-Pearl Short Diamond & Squares
- Bridge: Ebony Belly-Style
- Bridge Spacing: 2 5/16"
- Saddle: Aged Bone Cutthrough
- Tuners: Relic Nickel Waverly
- Bridge Pins: Ebony
- Peghead Veneer: East Indian Rosewood w/ Rear Stamped Collings Logo
- Rosette: Hand-Poured Tortoise
- Pickguard: Hand-Poured Tortoise
- Backstrip: 2-Style (Zipper)
- Finish: High Gloss Ultra-Thin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Case: Deluxe Hardshell