Collings 470 JL

Hi guys. I got mine last week and just wanted to share how truly amazing it is. Incredibly resonant and dynamic. Very light and comfortable. As an intermediate enthusiast I’m getting so much out of it. I’m a violinist originally and this feels like a similar instrument built to resonate without amplification and then you get the ellisonics working their magic when you plug it in. I put some 50/60s in my CS Strat and I must say his pickups are brilliant. Anyway, when I get some more time I’ll do a more in depth review of the Collings. But yes, away from all the hype and JL marketing (anything will sound wonderful in his hands), it really is a special guitar. 

Wow. Gorgeous trio...

Nice Novo. I've got black one like that.

DIBS - on the Collings.  I really like the look of them - not played one yet but hope to soon.  Not bothered about the JL branding (tho I love his playing) but think it’s just a very interesting guitar. I have an I-35 and a city limits and find their build to be some of the best. 

In terms of build quality it’s superb. I have an i35 too and that’s similar. City Limits is on order. They make superb guitars! Really a joy to play. :) 

Is the neck smaller .85 1st fret?   My CL is normal 0.865 and 0’835 on the i35.  Actually like both a lot 

Looks stunning !  (albeit a righty)

and you definitely like violin burst  !!

Dream guitar, enjoy

I managed to play one this weekend and I am totally in love. I was planning to buy a new guitar aroudn 3-4k but 470 JL killed my plans. I know that anything else won't make me happy after playing it. 

Now I am seriously considering it but it is really expesive and being scared to take it to gigs also a negative aspect of the pricey guitar.

I need some encoruagement :).  

Question, you guys recommend this or a vintage ES330/335 from late 60s?

100% the JL. Unless you are speculating, this will be a keeper for many many years and bring you huge pleasure. It’s that good. Just suck it up and go for it (if you are able to - I appreciate not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to). It will likely appreciate, but don’t do it for that, buy it because you fell in love. 

@AndersonCouncil1967 , wow!! Thank you very much for the reply and the really effective pep talk.

This was push I was looking for :). Yes, I totally agree about following th eheart on this kind of a subject. I did only very few time and I never regretted. 

I also really liked your recommendation about I35. I will check the web before giving a decision. Cheers again, very helpful indeed.

I picked up a used one in black on Wednesday (I’ve made it my profile pic). I’d been watching and waiting for some time, even saw the one I now own come through my local guitar shop last year and be sold almost immediately. I was hoping to get in to try it when it arrived last year as I wasn’t sure on the neck carve, but it didn’t stay around long enough. 

@aldridgeg - how do you like the flats on it? Or did you swap them out? 

joeW said:

@aldridgeg - how do you like the flats on it? Or did you swap them out? 

The flats are fine. I think they’re Chromes so not as mellow as some, and they’re a very light gauge for flats. 

aldridgeg said:

I picked up a used one in black on Wednesday (I’ve made it my profile pic). I’d been watching and waiting for some time, even saw the one I now own come through my local guitar shop last year and be sold almost immediately. I was hoping to get in to try it when it arrived last year as I wasn’t sure on the neck carve, but it didn’t stay around long enough. 

Then last weekend the guy that bought it put it up for sale - and he’s only 3 miles from me. I went to try it on Monday and it was everything I’d hoped for. A truly stunning instrument. 

A little juggling and 2 days later I was back to pick it up. It’s early days with it, but I absolutely love it. To make this surprise addition I even better, Coda have just got 3 new ones in at a price that (a) I couldn’t stretch to and (b) makes me feel that I picked this one up at about the right price point. 

I am a very happy man. 

In other news, does anyone want to buy a very clean Black 87 LP Custom?

Good score! Worth coming out of a 9 year lurk to post ;)

Josh_Cosku said:

I managed to play one this weekend and I am totally in love. I was planning to buy a new guitar aroudn 3-4k but 470 JL killed my plans. I know that anything else won't make me happy after playing it. 

Now I am seriously considering it but it is really expesive and being scared to take it to gigs also a negative aspect of the pricey guitar.

I need some encoruagement :).  

Question, you guys recommend this or a vintage ES330/335 from late 60s?

Have you considered getting a Guild M-75 Aristocrat for a lot less?

Of course it's on a different league but I think it should compare quite decently with the resonance of the Collings being fully hollow, and the Franz P90s should bring in a very similar area to the Ellisonics. 

Another guitar that comes to mind is the Grez Mendocino, but of course that would get into closer prices to the real one, so not sure if worth it.

 

Josh_Cosku said:

I managed to play one this weekend and I am totally in love. I was planning to buy a new guitar aroudn 3-4k but 470 JL killed my plans. I know that anything else won't make me happy after playing it. 

Now I am seriously considering it but it is really expesive and being scared to take it to gigs also a negative aspect of the pricey guitar.

I need some encoruagement .  

Question, you guys recommend this or a vintage ES330/335 from late 60s?

You only live once and the build quality on Collings guitars is second to none.

One for sale on reverb : https://reverb.com/uk/item/78874828-collings-470-jl-julian-lage-signature-antiquated-sunburst

If anybody wants one in black, drop me a message.