The Traditional Series (or "T-Series”) blends modern craftsmanship with vintage inspiration to deliver a unique tonal experience. Reflecting Bill Collings' return to his guitar-making roots, these models offer variations on the distinctive Collings sound. Each T-Series guitar is built with a very thin, all-nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and the bracing design is more true to iconic '30s guitars than the regular Collings approach. The goal is strong fundamental response and an open, resonant feel, with rounder highs and less overtone complexity compared to the signature Collings sound.
This 12-fret 00 (#32033) is labeled "001 A T S," so it features an Adirondack top, the Traditional package, and the gorgeous Satin finish option. It was built in 2021, and it is an absolute joy to play. In your hands, the 12-fret 00 body feels so comfortable and manageable, and it produces a bigger sound than you might expect. It's a stylish guitar, too—there's a refined elegance to understated details, and the satin finish is sets it off.
This 2021 001 A T Satin produces a warm, woody sound that is nicely balanced. The 12-fret design helps it capture more bass than you typically get from a Mahogany 00. With the upgraded Adirondack Spruce top, the overall sound is rich and steeped in Mahogany subtlety. The current setup is very low, so it is an excellent fingerpicker. But it can still hand a pick! This Collings can go in a lot of different directions, and with such nuanced, vintage-inspired tone, it will push you in new directions, too.
Cosmetically, this 2021 001 A T S shows some superficial signs of play and use, but it is free of any severe dings, scuffs, scatches, or cosmetic blemishes (see photos). The tone just is starting to sound broken-in, and this guitar feels like there is immense tonal potential. Someone needs to put it to work and let us know how it sounds in 20 years—if it sounds this good 3 years into it, just imagine when it's a vintage relic! It includes its original hardshell case.
- Body Size: 12-fret 00
- Top: Adirondack Spruce
- Back & Sides: Honduran Mahogany
- Construction: Traditional Series Build and Voicing
- Brace Pattern: Custom Traditional Series Pre-War Scalloped X (No Tongue Brace)
- Scale Length: 24-7/8"
- Neck: Honduran Mahogany
- Neck Profile: Traditional
- Neck Joint: Mortoise & Tenon Hybrid
- Truss Rod: Fully adjustable
- Body Binding: Tortoise with custom wood purflings
- Bridge: Ebony Pyramid w/ 2-5/16" spacing
- Bridge pins: Tortoise
- Saddle: Bone, Drop-In
- Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" Compound
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fingerboard Inlay: Mother-of-pearl Dots
- Fets: Medium 18% nickel-silver
- Nut: Bone, 1-3/4"
- Peghead: Taper Slotted Square w/ Volute
- Peghead Veneer: Stained Exotic Ebony
- Peghead Inlay: Gold Mother-of-Pearl Collings Logo
- Finish: Satin ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer
- Tuners: Aged Nickel Waverly (16:1 ratio)