Collings 12 String Guitar

Collings Guitars builds fine handcrafted acoustic and electric guitars in Austin Texas. These instruments appeal to anyone looking for one of the very best guitars built in the USA today. Collings guitars have developed a sterling reputation for producing some of the finest acoustic guitars available today. Until recently the company has focused exclusively on six string guitars. Before the introduction of the current 12-string guitar production model Collings had previously only produced a 12-string twice before as a one-off custom guitar. And, with those two guitars one was a SJ model and the other was a 000. With their new 12-string Collings decided to use their very popular 12-fret 0 (single-oh) body size. This decision helps reduce string tension, which is always an issue with any 12-string guitar.
The Collings 12-string is available in various appointment levels. The 01 features a Mahogany back and sides, Sitka top and tortoise binding. The O2H features East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka top and grained ivoroid binding with herringbone trim. The 03 model also features East Indian Rosewood back and sides and Sitka top but adds Grained ivoroid top/back/neck/peghead binding, and an abalone rosette. Also, the guitar can also be constructed with a Maple back, sides and neck.
All appointment levels feature a slotted peghead outfitted with Golden Age Restoration tuners with a 15:1 ratio, 1 7/8" nut width, and a easy-to- play 24 7/8" scale length.
All of these various configurations are stellar in their own way. However, the most interesting combination would be the 01 Maple. Most acoustic guitars built with Maple bodies and necks tend to live on the verge of being "too bright". Not the case with this guitar. Although the maple does add a focused high-end and clarity the Collings 01 Maple produces a very balanced tone with plenty of warm mids that work well with the brightness produced by the maple. The Sitka Spruce top, which isn't as stiff as Adirondack and has a lower stiffness-to-weight ratio, helps produce a more flexible soundboard that in turn adds warmth as well.
Also, aesthetically the Flamed Maple chosen for the back and sides of this guitar is stunning and is well set off by the tortoise bindings.