2014 Collings CJ35 SB – £3599

SOLD  Drawing inspiration from the famous Gibson J-35 of the 1930’s, the Collings CJ (Collings Jumbo) designed by master luthier Bill Collings, is a kind of mixture of the jumbo and dreadnought body types. It features the classic slope shoulder dreadnought combination of Sitka Spruce top with Honduras Mahogany back and sides. But there the similarities end – Imagine a really good modern J45, then feed it some steroids, and that gives you an idea of the tone that this guitar can produce….. The lows are huge and warm, the midrange is supremely balanced, and the trebles makes this guitar so satisfying to dig into with a flatpick, as well as harmonically exciting and lively enough to be equally as engaging when played fingerstyle. The Ebony topped Mahogany neck plays magnificently all the way through and coupled with low action and Collings notoriously brilliant fretwork, it really is effortless to play and coax out lush tones for hours on end. This is seriously one of the most impressive modern dreadnoughts I’ve played. As always with Collings, it comes in a luxurious deluxe hardcase.