Product: Collings OM-3 SS
Price Paid: US $4,500.00
Submitted
02/12/2001
at
02:03pm
by
Mike Krieg
Email: krieg3 at earthlink<dot>net
Features
:
10
Custom order 14 fret short scale (24.9") Koa b/s with Cedar top. Tortise style binding all around instead of ivoroid. All woods are as AAAA as you would find anywhere. Beautiful Koa headstock overlay. Built in the Collings 3 style with several other special features, no pickguard, no end pin (or hole) 1 3/4" nut width and a 1 style back strip instead of the standard southwest style.
Sound
:
10
It has the bright, balanced but clear focus that Collings is known for but with a little more warmth due to the Cedar top. I play fingerstyle (with thumbpick) country blues and it works perfectly for this style of music. The cedar top helps make it as responsive an instrument as I have ever played.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I have owned many Collings, this one quite frankly could not have better finish detail, it really is perfect. The wood back and sides and top are perfect bookmatch. There is not one hint of glue, sliver of wood or any imperfection outside or inside. The only change I have made is to have fossilized ivory pins, saddle and nut added. The guitar plays like a dream.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I do not perform in public, only at home for myself and friends and when I am taking my guitar lessons. The cedar top is of course more susceptable to dings but I treat my instruments like new born babies but still play them aggressively.
Customer Support
:
10
Customer service has been terrific. Most of the Collings I have owned have been custom orders and Steve McCreary has always been of great help. For this guitar I sent him two Quicksnap cameras and they took pictures for me during the building process. As with all Collings there is a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser.
Overall Rating
:
10
I started late in life, been playing about 7-8 years. I have owned MANY high end, and some one man shop guitars and have a few more on order. I can't see myself ever selling this guitar. Besides for the Traugott and Dudenbostel I have on order I also have another custom Collings on order. I know that just before I ordered the Koa the price went up dramatically but it is exceptionally tight curl with beautiful streaking and in the long run feel it was certainly worth the money.
