Description

"Every day we try to make a better guitar, every day. You're trying to reach for more, trying to do better, not trying to do the same. A lot of companies are trying to do the same, and that's okay - that's their deal. We're trying to stretch that. Our goal is a little more." - Bill Collings

Collings has simply nailed everything that makes the vintage ES-330s so great. These I-30LC's are light as air and perfectly balanced, with killer acoustic tones and plugged in tones. Want to sound like Grant Green? Use the neck pickup, roll back the tone knob a touch, done. Les Paul snarl and bite? Bridge pickup, crank your amp, smile. Done. You can access everything in-between those two extremes with ease. The Throbak P90s just have the sound - great midrange bite, balanced bass and treble, medium-ish output...late 50s P90 tones for days. (Be sure to check out the attached video clip of Josh Smith taking another of a previously sold I-30 LC w/Throbaks for a spin.)

So....60s carve? What's the story here?  

If you're a fan of thinner neck carves, the 60s carve might be for you. The standard Collings C shape measures .86" @ the 1st fret, .98" @ the 12th. The 60s carve that's on this guitar comes in at .83" @ the 1st fret, and .92" @ the 12th fret. Not a huge difference on paper, but you do notice the difference in hand. The biggest difference between the standard carve and the 60s can be felt as you go up the neck - the taper is less noticeable on the 60s neck. It feels a bit more even across the length of the neck. It's a really comfortable carve that still feels appropriate for this style of guitar - meaning, it's what you'd expect on a ES-330 style guitar. 

Like all Collings guitars, the build, fit-finish, setup, playability, and tones are perfect.

In truth, we're not sure what else you could possibly want from a guitar of this style. Collings has gotten incredibly close to that vintage ES-330 magic. Priced with hardshell case. 

**Video clip is for tonal reference only and is not this actual guitar

Specs

  • Fully hollow w/parallel trestle braces
  • Maple laminate body/top
  • Honduran mahogany neck w/rosewood fingerboard
  • 60s neck carve, .83" @ the 1st fret, and .92" @ the 12th fret
  • Mother of pearl fretboard dots
  • Non-grained ivoroid body/fingerboard binding (no peghead binding)
  • Kluson ABR-1 bridge
  • Collings original tailpiece
  • Throbak '55/'56 P90s w/custom phenolic covers 
  • CTS 500K/Jupiter Vintage Yellow
  • Amber top hat knobs
  • 1 11/16" nut
  • 24 7/8" Scale Length
  • Extra long mortise & tenon neck joint 
  • Medium 18% nickel-silver frets
  • Ebony headstock veneer w/MOP Collings Logo
  • Nickel Gotoh tuners (w/Collings logo)
  • 50s style wiring 
  • 12" radius
  • D'Addario NYXL .011-.049" strings 
  • Ameritage Deluxe hardshell case 
  • I30LC20339

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