Collings CJ-45 T Old Growth Sitka

Inspired by the slope-shouldered dreadnoughts of the 1940s, the CJ-45 T blends classic American style with Collings’ renowned precision and refinement. With this model, Collings introduces a slope-shoulder guitar built with the same approach and focus of the Traditional Series, reflecting Bill Collings’ desire to revisit the voicing and responsiveness of vintage American flat-tops. We ordered this CJ-45 T (serial #36474) with an upgraded Old Growth Sitka Spruce top, which looks stunning with the sunburst finish and Honduran Mahogany back and sides. Old Growth Sitka possesses a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, providing exceptional warmth, headroom, and resonance. We've liked the "Baked" torrefied tops from Collings, but torrefaction is an unnatural process. In this case, decades of natural aging—combined with the high quality of the wood itself—result in a soundboard with more "character" and richness than new Sitka tops. Similar to the goal with Torrefied tops, the concept is to build a new guitar that already sounds broken-in and captures more of the tonal potential that develops over time. We think this fits the Traditional Series intention perfectly. This Collings delivers the bold, rounded low end and dry, woody midrange that define the slope-shoulder sound. With its own unique "CJ45 Wartime" scalloped bracing, this guitar feels open and quick to attack with a big dynamic range. The lighter build and careful hand-voicing create a tonal profile that feels like an old guitar—warm, full, and resonant—but it still has the signature Collings clarity. With its a comfortable short scale (24-7/8") and full-feeling neck profile (rounded with a hint of a V), the CJ 45 T offers a similar feel to guitars of the '40s, but this is a modern-day boutique guitar built with 21st-Century precision. The Rosewood fingerboard has a smooth 12" radius, and the fretwork is absolutely flawless. Fit and finish are immaculate. This Collings suits both flatpicking and fingerstyle playing, and in many ways it feels like a blank canvas. Plenty of articulation for intricate, detailed passages, but a fundamental sound that is fantastic as an open-chord strummer. Because of the focused midrange, this guitar accompanies voice nicely as well. Whatever you need, it can deliver. Top: Old Growth Sitka Spruce Back & Sides: Honduran Mahogany Construction: Traditional Series Build and Voicing Neck: Honduran Mahogany with CJ-45 Carve Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood, 12" Radius, 19 Frets with MOP Long Dots Bridge: Ebony Straight-Style with 2 5/16" Spacing Nut & Saddle: Bone, 1 3/4" Nut Width with Cutthrough Saddle Scale Length: 24-7/8" Bracing: Sitka Spruce CJ-45 Wartime Scalloped X-Brace Body Binding: Ivoroid with No Purfling Rosette: Single-Ring Multiple Black/White Purflings Peghead Veneer: Ebony with MOP Collings Logo Peghead Profile: Haircut Tuners: Nickel Waverly with Ivoroid Buttons Bridge Pins & End Pin: Ivoroid with No Dot Frets: Medium 18% Nickel-Silver Neck Joint: Mortise & Tenon Hybrid Truss Rod: Fully Adjustable Backstrip: None Pickguard: Tortoise Body Finish: High Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer Neck Finish: High Gloss Polyester Resin