Collings CJ-MH ASB Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2009), made in Austin, TX, serial # 14111, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, Adirondack spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This mahogany "CJ" is one of Collings' most familiar models, the Austin, Texas builder's take on the ever popular Gibson slope-shoulder jumbo design, with a touch of Martin (the optional 25 1/2" scale and bridge design) and some original Collings magic. The "CJ-MH ASB" designation means "Collings Jumbo, Mahogany, Adirondack spruce top, Sunburst finish". The model has the same basic combination of mahogany body, spruce top and mahogany neck as its inspiration with Collings' trademark neck joint, proprietary headstock design, extremely clean build quality and crisp attention to detail. This one was built in 2009 and has Bill Collings signature on the label. This is an excellent example of one of his company's modern classics, adapted for stage use with a 3-point contact pickup under the bridgeplate wired to an endpin jack.
Collings describes the model thus: "The Collings Jumbo, or CJ, is our version of the classic slope-shouldered dreadnought, a shape that has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years. While the CJ is similar in width and depth to the traditional dreadnought, it has a distinctly different tone. Of all the Collings body shapes, this is the one most often requested with an optional sunburst top finish. Our CJ MH is a standard build featuring Honduran mahogany back and sides with a belly bridge".
Overall length is 41 1/4 in. (104.8 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 25/32 in. (12.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows mostly light wear overall, with no really heavy finish loss. The top has some minor pick scuffing, most heavily, minor finish loss on the lower lip of the soundhole and a few dents to the spruce behind the bridge. The back has some belt buckle scuffing into the finish but not through the wood, the back of the neck has some shallow dinks and there is a bit of wear to the back edge of the headstock. There are no visible repairs and the guitar plays very well with a powerful still-maturing sound, riding in the original somewhat road-worn and heavily stickered HSC. Excellent - Condition.
