2001 Collings SJ
The Collings SJ was inspired by Gibson’s J-185, a 16-inch flattop that was introduced in 1951. Because it was smaller than the 17-inch J-200, players at the time considered it to be a lesser guitar and it didn’t sell very well. Gibson dropped the J-185 from their catalog in 1958, and for the next few years it was pretty much a forgotten guitar. Then, in the early 1970s, individual luthiers began to experiment with the 16-inch flattop design and players slowly realized the Small Jumbo, as people started calling the style, had all of the volume and power of a dreadnought but with a more balanced, less bass heavy tone.
Katie Lee’s 1957 LP Songs of Couch and Consultation was one of the few records in the 1950s to feature a J-185 on the cover.
Bill Collings started building his SJ model in the 1980s. Like the J-185, the SJ featured maple sides and back, although Collings will also make them from rosewood or mahogany if you want. This particular SJ was custom ordered with the “broken glass” inlays, an angular, asymmetrical pattern that is similar to a design D’Angelico used briefly on his Excel model in the 1930s. To my ear, the maple sides and back give the guitar a smooth, mellow tone. The bass is not too bassy and the treble is not too bright. Flattop maple guitars sound really good for jazz and they work well as rhythm guitars, as well. Personally, with it’s more pinched-in waist, I find this guitar very comfortable to play sitting down. This particular Collings SJ was made in 2001 and it looks like it is in excellent condition. It is priced at $4025 and it is currently at Dusty Strings in Seattle.
The maple is just lovely on this SJ.
The broken glass inlays.
