When Bill Collings launched the Waterloo line in 2014, his intention was to build guitars looking back in time to when there was a genuine need for soulful tone that could be coaxed from simple instruments. The blues, country, and folk music played on these instruments was made in heartfelt response to the hard times of the depression era. Proudly made by Collings in Austin, the Waterloo line captures the sound and vibe of yesteryear—but with modern precision and attention to detail.
The WL-14 is the flagship model of the Waterloo brand. With the Ladder Bracing option, the WL-14L produces woody, open tone and mid-range honk that remind us of dust-bowl era guitars. This WL-14L (#3706) was made in 2021, and it features the Jet Black finish with "Tuxedo" Ivoroid trim and pickguard. Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. It has the standard, vintage-inspired prominent "V" neck shape, which provides an authentic feel to match the tone. While authentic '30s examples are often finicky and hard to set up, the Waterloos are made with 21st-Century precision. For ease of adjustment, this WL-14L has an adjustable truss rod and a modern drop-in saddle.
This WL-14L shows some signs of play and use. The worst is a scuff along the top edge, and the satin finish also looks a shinier/buffed out where your arm rests across the lower bout. There is pickwear all around the general playing area (see photos), and there is some buckle rash on the back worth mentioning. The previous owner installed an Ivoroid strap button on the heel. The current setup is low and inviting, and the nut measures 1.756".
Bill Collings was really onto something when he launched the Waterloo brand. There's a sincere vibe to the lower-end depression-era guitars, but most have their quirks and aren't usable by today's standards. The Waterloos capture that vibe, but in a package made with modern-day precision. They play and function 100% as you could want them to. These days, it's hard for Collings to produce sufficient numbers of Waterloos, so used examples rarely last long. This 2021 WL-14L includes its original case!