Named for the scenic 290 highway that winds past the Collings shop though the Texas Hill Country, the 290 is a modern-day tribute to the original working man's rock 'n roll guitar.
The Collings 290 features a solid Honduran Mahogany body with a set neck, and each one always has impressive acoustic resonance which translates into deeply expressive electric tone. For pickups, the standard Lollar P90s give you wide-open single coil bite and clarity in the bridge, but also warmth a smooth subtlety in the neck position. The Collings wiring harness lends a ton of versatility, too—highly usable in every setting. We ordered this 290 (serial #231803) in a full-body Tobacco Sunburst finish, and Collings delivered in a way only they can. It's an elegant guitar that is high end without being ostentatious. Dig the sunburst on the back of the neck—stunning!
But we thought we would go a step further and ask Collings to add a Bigsby B5 tailpiece, as well. The vibrato adds an additional range of expression, which makes this 290 even more versatile. On paper, this guitar might seem straightforward, but in your hands it's an inspiring, reliable machine that will take you wherever you need to go.
- Body - Honduran Mahogany
- Neck - Honduran Mahogany
- Fingerboard - Dark Rosewood w/ Ivoroid long dots (5mm non-tapered)
- Bridge - Kluson ABR-1 (Nickel-plated Zinc)
- Tailpiece - Bigsby B5 Vibrato
- Bridge Pickup - Lollar P-90 Soapbar
- Neck Pickup - Lollar P-90 Sooapbar
- Pots / Caps - DiMarzio 500K / Jupiter Vintage Yellow
- Knobs - Black Bell
- Pickguard - 3-Ply Black
- Truss Rod Cover - Black/White/Black w/ Highway 290 logo
- Nut - Bone 1-11/16"
- Scale Length - 24-7/8"
- Neck Joint - Extra long mortise & tenon
- Frets - Medium 18% nickel-silver
- Peghead Veneer - Ebony w/ Mother of Pearl Collings logo
- Tuners - Nickel Gotoh w/ Ivoroid Buttons
- Wiring - '50s style
- Fingerboard Radius - 12"
- Finish - Tobacco Sunburst (Full Body)
This Collings 290 includes a deluxe, form-fitting case from Ameritage. As we've come to expect from Collings, every detail is executed with a high level of precision. It is highly resonant and expressive, and it shows substantial build quality. This 290 is an impressive instrument from an impressive builder at the top of their game.