Collings D-2H

It's a standard Collings dreadnought as described by others - Rosewood,ebony etc. It would not stand out in a crowd - there is nothing that shines or sparkles. All the money goes on the tone.

Ah - here it does stand out. I meant to buy a guitar to finger-pick; I was not thinking of buying a dreadnought. But this dreadnought does it all - it shimmers when picked with bare fingers, it rings with fingerpicks, it's loud when hit with a pick. Always subtle, it makes it very difficult to put down. I've had it a year, and own or have owned Nationals, Martins and Taylor acoustics. The Nationals are different, so comparison is pointless. The Collings outperforms the Taylors (I have a 514CE and T5) on their home-territory of picking. I had a Martin D28, which I got rid of as soon as I bought this - there was no comparison. I've fitted a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup and play it through a 60Watt AER amp - and would recommend this mix to anybody. I've ordered some fossil-ivory bridge pins - yet to arrive. I fitted brass pins to the D28 and improved its projection - difficult to see how the sound of this can be improved, but they will at least look pretty.

The guitar was set up by the shop's resident luthier in Leicester in the UK. Set up was perfect - action easy but high enough to give volume without buzz. To my eye, the guitar looks flawless. It's clean inside and out, joins are perfect - no glue run inside or anything else. It's not flash - but it does exude class.

I've seen one on Ebay with the finish on the headstock bubbled and nasty, which is a bit worrying. I've had it a year and looked after it - it seems neither more nor less durable than any other guitar - perhaps less durable than a National... but they are made out of brass.

No comment. Collings seem to want to maintain the outlook of a small organisation.

I've been playing guitar for 30 years. This is the best guitar I have owned, and plenty of people who hear it say it is the best sounding guitar they have ever heard. The shop said (after I had bought it and my money safely in the till) that it is the best dreadnought they have ever had in - and they are a long-standing firm who sell some lovely guitars. I've tried expensive Martins (??4k plus) and Gibsons and they are beautiful instruments, but I think they lack the subtlety or depth of this Collings or they lack the volume and cut - they do one or the other; the Collings does them all. If it were lost or stolen I would replace it with the same model once I had got over the trauma.

D-2H: East Indian rosewood back and sides,
select spruce top,
grained ivoroid binding,
prewar scalloped bracing,
crosscut grained ivoroid and black/white nitrate strip purfling, herringbone border,
crosscut grained ivoroid and wood strip rosette,
tortoise style pickguard.

Other features include a gloss-finished mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and bridge, rosewood peghead overlay with mother of pearl Collings logo and a traditional diamond and square inlay and nickel Waverly tuners.

Stunning, jaw dropping, and simply remarkable. This instrument resonates with a golden, holy-grail like tone that you rarely hear--even on the best professional sound recordings. That is a bold statement, I know, but when you hear it you will know I am right. It is a fascinating tone.

I have now owned this instrument for seven years. It sounded really good when I bought it, but today it is simply a different guitar. Years of hard strumming and intense picking have "opened up" this guitar to a point I didn't think possible. I can barely put the thing down, it just sounds that good--and I have heard them all, Taylors, old Martins, and a lot of common high-end acoustics. This guitar blows them right out of the water.

The tone itself is hard to describe. It seems to deliver exactly what you want, when you want it. Fingerpicking, flatpicking, jazz and blues, rock and folk, there is just nothing this guitar can't handle. Now that it has aged a little, it is more versatile than ever. There is a range of sounds available here depending on where you strum and how hard.

If you bang on it HARD, it plays really LOUD and just sounds terrific. If you play with subtle finesse it will reward you equally, however.

Just remember that when you play one that is brand new, you are only getting a taste of what this guitar will be when it is broken in. In my opinion, when this guitar was brand new it sounded a little more dry and boxy. When it opens up it just oozes sustain.

Get one, take it home, and bang on it HARD.

Gorgeous in its simplicity. In my seven years of owning this guitar it has recieved only one professional setup, and it plays terrific.

Really terrific binding and appointments.

This guitar will make you a better guitar player. This guitar plays as good as it sounds. Enough said.

I don't gig, but it sounds so terrific that if I did I would rather risk damage and theft than play another guitar. This guitar deserves to be heard. This is a guitar that should be played, not kept in a case. It is as dependable as a guitar can be.

Just be warned, guitar enthusiasts will be asking what it is and where you got it. A lot of guitar enthusiasts think Taylor is the end-all of acoustic guitars and when they hear this they will probably go into shock.

After seven years of ownership, I have never had any problems.

Probably the best sounding steel string acoustic drednaught guitar in the world. The Hanzo Sword of acoustic guitars. Nothing else that I've heard even comes close. After seven years it continues to age like a fine wine.

If I had known how much this guitar breaks in and opens up I would have played it much more and much harder when I first got it to speed up the break-in process. You really need to bang on this guy hard to get the top to open up. You have no idea how good this guitar is until it breaks in.

Don't be affraid to buy one used--in fact, a used one might sound better than a new one.

Note: I like martin marquee medium strings with this guitar, and I use a very heavy pick. This combination is just killer.

Select Spruce top, Indian Rosewood sides, Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge, Mahogany Neck Mother of Pearl inlays, Nickel Waverley Tuners, Tortoiseshell scratchplate. A masterpeice of taste and judgement. Waverleys look a little old fashioned but do the job perferctly. The supplied TKL case was a bit of a let down as the lining was not fitted perfectly and weighs an absolute ton. I have no doubt it is bullet proof but would prefer a Hiscox case as they are a hell of a lot lighter and offer better protection. Sheer weight of construction is no guarantee of protection. Would mark the case at 7 out of 10 but the guitar gets the full 10.

Awesome strummer, great fingerpicker and beautiful balanced tone that makes my Taylor sound like it was barely passable. Makes my 20 year old Ibanez sound like a scratch old biscuit tin...Rich defined bass end with glorious highs and true punch. This is what a real guitar should sound like. Accept no substitute! I mic it up for recording - never found an acoustic pickup that could do the job properly. A touch of reverb and it's 'Acoustic Heaven on Earth'. Great Mahogany nek that plays like a dream.

Guitar - Completely perfect construction and finish. Top quality.
Case - less than perfect with poorly fitted lining at the Headstock Well.

With a guitar like this it would be a crime not to play it live. I am confident that it will hold up well to live use - it feels really solidly made. I have to confess I feel a little sqeamish about doing so as I know what a wounder it will be when I eventually put a ding in it. It's gonna happen sometime so I am mentally building myself up to that sad day. There is no strap button other than at the base and I am reluctant to put another into the heel.

I have experienced very friendly and prompt response to any enquiry from the guys at Collings and their dealer in Manchester. No complaints.

I have played for 28 years and can honestly state that this is the finest Acoustic guitar I have ever played or owned. It made me sound a better player (to me at least!!!) It makes Taylors sound like they lack something (and they are by no means bad guitars). I also tried Santa Cruz, Martins etc and wasn't anything like as impressed.
If stolen or lost I would buy another without question. I tried several other Collings before buying this and was actually looking to buy a OM2H but this Dreadnought just grabbed me by the lapels head-butted me and wouldn't let go. I would recommend it to anyone in a hearbeat. If it's this good now, I can only imagine what it could sound like in a few years time....

2005 Collings D2H full size dreadnought acoustic guitar. I purchased this new from an authorized dealer in Memphis, Tn., "Martin Music". Spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides. Waverly stainless tuners. NO strap button included or electronics which are both fine with me.

Superb craftsmanship. Way beyond anything I had imagined.

The rosewood is perfect for flatpicking or finger picking both.

What insprired me the most was tone of this guitar. I have owned 3 Taylors, played at least 12 more up to and including presentation/limited models, Borgeois, Larrivee, at least 5 Martins old and new, new Gibsons of which i have tremendous respect and admiration for the vintage models, and a host of other acoustics. Not ONE of these guitars could remotely touch the tone and especially the clarity each note that this Collings did. I bought it in less than 5 minutes. I had planned on playing some more high end Borgeois models, but didn't get that far, no need to.

No setups required which is a shocker to me. Never have I bought a guitar that didn't need a setup to my liking. Action is low, no fret buzz, neck is almost like a soft V Fender Strat neck. I primarily play 59' Les Pauls with a huge neck and the Collings was right down the middle of the road. Bookmatching of top, binding, mother of pearl inlays throughout guitar were flawless and i kept trying to find something wrong with it. I failed in that attempt.

This guitar is a session players dream. It inspires and forces me to put my Les Pauls down and really hear AND feel the harmonics, and I'm A/B-y'ing my Pauls through a Bad Cat Cub IIR 15 watt class A amp and a Soldano modified, respeakered Astroverb. That tone is awesome, but the Collings left me speechless.

Just like Soldano, Bogner, Bad cat, or any other boutique made piece of equipment, they stand behind their products 110%.

I've played for 29 years, but smart enough to fly for a living and not struggle as a musician for a living. I'm fortunate enough to be able to buy the best and this Collings is like nothing I've ever played. Why did I wait so long, I have no idea, but it was a huge...... mistake. I'd replace it in a heartbeat and have it heavily insured as we speak. Taylors are nice, but they have ZERO bottom end, entirely too mid-rangey. Old Martins are fabulous but you are looking at potential neck resets, etc.. and too much time at the luthier.

Last thing I want to do is try and sell this guitar. It does that for itself. If you play classic rock, fingerpick, bluesgrass, whatever, this model can and does do it all. Thanks so much Bill Collings, I'm glad I finally joined the crowd. I have bought my LAST acoustic guitar, no more chasing tone for me.

I never give 10's, but other than Bo Derek, this guitar's tone is hard not to give it a 10.

This is a new 2005 Collings D2H made in Austin Texas with a select spruce top, east indian rosewood back and sides, mahogony neck, and it absolutely rocks. It's extremely versitale and ready to do whatever I want it too. I really like the simple features. It's a very smooth ebony neck with beautiful mother of pearl inlay. I like the old fashion waverly tuners. The whole package is perfect.

The Sound is percise, controled, extremely versatile, and just absolutely wonderful. It makes other guitars I play sound like tin cans.

The action rocks. It's like having an electric set up on an acoustic guitar. When I want to do fast rifs or scales it's there. I can easily bend the strings and create instant vibrato and sustain. A big reason I bought the Collings is because of the perfect fit and finish. I like the fact of having a limited production guitar that has a higher standard of quality than that of a bigger mass produced brand name. You can tell that every detail of it was created with precision.

Ya, it does feel solid in every way. I think it will be a heir lunb because it's a guitar I can pass on to my children and generations to come!

Awesome customer service. In the beginning I had a few questions and I called Collings directly and they spent lots of time with me. They really assured me that they wanted COMPLETE customer satisfaction and it was just a wonderful experience. When you buy a $3,000 guitar it is an investment and it really feels good to be treated with great value, support, and encouragement.

I have been playing guitar for 14 years now and I wonder why I waited so long to take it too the next level. This guitar has opened me up to new levels of creativity and ability. Everything just works so well on it that it inspires you to new heights. In my opinion Collings blows away any Martin or Taylor guitar you could show me. It's really the detail they put into them and the quality that sets them apart from any mass producer out there. All in all it is a fantastic value in every way, an investment for the future and an investment in my musical tallent!

This was made in Jan. 1995 in Austin Texas. Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood sides and back. 1 3/4" nut and is a Lefty, It comes with an airtight case.

I play Gospel rock,country, folk and this fits any and all bills, nothing this guitar can't do, I strum it and booms, it sustains so long that when I get it out of the case its still humming!! This guitar scares me it is so responsive, I don't deserve it, it makes me sound good. I'm blessed!

Perfect, not showy just everything in its place and no glue anywhere.
The only flaws are user errors.

This guitar is going on 10 years old and it has aged well, I have no doubt it will continue on. Very dependable, if I were to play live or record this is the one I'd use.

I emailed them with a user problem and they guarantee their products, very friendly and professional.

I've been playing 3 or 4 years. I own a restrung Yamaha FG 110 and a factory lefty Yamaha FG-335II. If this D2H was ever stolen or lost I'd be sad for sure, each Collings guitar is one of a kind so to speak. I would love to have 2 more Lefties. Like the OM or the Sunburst C10.

Rosewood, nickel waverlies, simple and elegant herringbone and light inlay. Perfectly understated.

Ridiculously good sounding acoustic guitar. I have two Taylor's that I love, 814c and 810, but the D2H is a monster. I used to own a D28 as well and this guitar is light years ahead of that Martin, save for some of the really old, juicy ones. Never played a guitar with a more balanced, sustained tone than this.

Clean, simple, and understated. Perfect.

Like my Taylors, this guitar can take a beating. This guitar screams to be played, loudly, softly or whatever else in between. I can't believe the sound will only get better with wear.

Nothing yet.

Been playing for 15 years and have owned,like many guitar lovers, a large number of guitars. The D2H, in addition to my Taylor 810, will be my stage guitars for life. If you play acoustic guitar and can afford this guitar, you must buy it. There are other great insstruments out there to be sure, but this axe is a true gem.

Their version of a Martin D-28H. Improvements: compensated bone saddle (plays in tune all over the neck), bolt-on neck (to make resets easy), Waverly tuners (high grade vintage-style tuners).
Indian rosewood and sitka; beautifully matched woods. The rosewood is not showy, but has nice even grain pattern.

Beautiful, clear, loud, balanced tone. A stunning instrument for flat or fingerpicking.

Absolutely perfect. The only flaws on it, I put there. They are obviously perfectionists.

This guitar is as solid as a rock.

N/A

After 39 years of playing various styles of music professionally and for fun, I believe that I have never owned a finer guitar. I can only imagine what a higher-end Collings must be like. I also own a 1965 Gibson Dove, a 1946 Gibson L-7, a 1947 Epiphone Blackstone, a 1980 Guild Artist Award, several good solid bodied guitars, and a Rigel mandolin. I honestly want to buy every Collings I see--but this one will do. If you own a mediocre flattop, or even a pretty good onw, try a Collings.

I bought my D2H new from the Acoustic Centre in Wapping, London in June 2000 so I guess it was made a little earlier than this.

The specification is as described in other reviews. It doesn't really have any features as it is an acoustic! However everything on it is of the highest quality from the wood to the machine heads.

I have a lot of guitars and I hadn't played it much until fairly recently. I play mainly electric but I'm using it as my main practice guitar at the moment because it strengthens my fingers and slows me down a bit so I play with a bit more taste. I've noticed the sound is improving the more I play it so I am reluctant to put it back in it's case.

Every time I pick it up, the first few notes surprise me with the richness of the tone. It has an excellent balance across the whole register and a really clear ringing tone with a little bit of bite when you dig in a bit.

It is hard to conceive how anyone could make a guitar with a more perfect finish than this. I haven't altered anything yet but I suspect I could lower the action without any problems if I wanted to. It plays fine as it is however.

It is so well made that it would cope with any amount of reasonable wear and tear.

No problems yet so I can't comment

I've been playing 30 years and have a lot of guitars - mainly 50's and early 60's vintage.

This is one of the few guitars I've bought new and I think could be a classic in 30 years time.

I tried every top-end guitar in the shop before this one. The guy behind the counter was playing it and it wasn't easy getting it off him.

It is a 2003 model. It is a standard D2H with the exception of the 1 3/4" nut width option. It is a classic looking Rosewood dreadnaught. The only feature I wish were standard is an ebony strap button on the heel. I ordeded my own from Stew-Mac and will install re: Collings specs.

Can I rate it an 11? I play bluegrass and old-time flatpicking/rythym. What an awesome guitar. I have wanted a D2H for a long time as it is the ultimate in Bluegrass. I have roamed the country floating in and out of every music store and can honestly say the Collings D2H is the finest sounding, most balanced, and most consistent bluegrass guitar I've ever run across.

Perfect. Not a single flaw. I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb, even on the inside. I am an amateur luthier and like to see how instruments are constructed. There is nary a visible drop of glue anywhwere on the inside. Unbelievably perfect.

Their impeccable repuation speaks for itself

Have never dealt with Collings. Steve at Acoustic Music Works in Pittsburgh where I bought it is very helpful. I would trust him and would trust Collings for whatever I needed.

I've been playing nearly 30 years. I currently own 8 other acoustics, some high end. In my mind, there is simply no other bluegrass guitar. The best....what else can be said?