Collings DS1 Old Growth Sitka w/ 1-3/4" Nut & Dalmation Pickguard

The Collings DS1 is an impressive modern recreation of the earliest dreadnought guitars produced nearly a century ago. With its slotted headstock and graceful sloped shoulders, the DS1 stands apart from other Collings dreadnoughts. Its 12-fret design also produces a different tone from its 14-fret counterparts. The longer body and 12-fret neck joint push the bridge closer to the center of the lower bout, so the DS1 delivers an open, airy sound that is smooth and warm. Whether flatpicked or played fingerstyle, these guitars have lots of headroom, and the wide dynamic range invites everything from mellow accompaniment to biting leads. We ordered this Collings DS1 (serial #35272) with an Old Growth Sitka top, a slimmer 1-3/4" nut width, classy fingerboard binding, and an eye-catching Dalmation pickguard. A relatively new upgrade from Collings, each Old Growth Sitka top possesses a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, which provides exceptional warmth, headroom, and resonance. A great fit for a DS1! Decades of natural aging—combined with the high quality of the wood—results in soundboards with a bit more "character" than new Sitka tops. They are definitely an upgrade sound wise, but there are also visual features that set this difficult-to-find wood apart from new Sitka spruce. Due to the natural aging process, the color of the wood has a bit of patina and a darker hue, and there are variances found in the growth rings that develop over time as well. This DS1 is big, bold dreadnought with woody mahogany character that cuts through the mix. Although it is brand new, the Old Growth top helps the guitar have an openness and responsive feel similar to an old guitar. But what's nice is that it's not artificial aging like a torrefied top. From there, the 1-3/4" nut with makes this 12-fret more approachable to flat pickers, and the elegant fingerboard and peghead binding provide just the right accents to make the Dalmation pickguard flash.  Top: Old Growth Sitka Spruce Back & Sides: Honduran Mahogany Braces: Sitka Spruce Brace Pattern: Prewar Scalloped X-Brace Neck: Honduran Mahogany Neck Profile: Modified V Scale Length: 25-1/2" Nut: Bone, 1-3/4" Bridge: Ebony Belly Saddle: Drop-In Bone, 2-1/4" string spacing Fingerboard: Ebony Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" Compound Fingerboard Binding:Tortoise w/ White Purfling Peghead Binding: Tortoise w/ White Purfling Pickguard: Dalmation Case: Deluxe Hardshell by TKL