Collings factory tour

[antichef]

I finally got the chance to take the weekly tour of the Collings Guitar factory on the outskirts of Austin yesterday. To anyone with a passing interest in instrument making or a fondness for these instruments, I recommend the tour - 3:30 on Fridays - lasts for about an hour and a half.

At the same time, it was kind of torture -- one day, after I've put the kids through college, etc., I hope to get one of these, but they're a little too spendy in the meantime. Every time I've played one, I was really impressed, but now I'm even more impressed. If anyone's interested, I'll try and post some pics -- I only got cell phone pics, and they're not that great.

[true-eurt]

Do you still have those pics to post Antichef? I obviously missed this thread of yours...and Zaph's thread has me all axe excited now..

[Zaphod B]

I'm with True - post 'em if you've got 'em!

[true-eurt]

So..I wonder where the Chef is ...and if he still has those pics?

[castlerock]

yeah really, it's been almost a year. teh chief needs a big, badass spanking!


true?

[antichef]

[emerges from shed, limping and flushed, but inexplicably smiling]

OK - lemme dig around on the phone. I've got a pretty big SD card, and so I just keep accumulating pictures... ... .... OK.

Since I just got crosswise with the wood inspector, here's my first picture - stacks of nice maple:


and here it is from the top -- this is unfinished, of course - niceness!


here's a shaper thingy


and a press of some sort


here's a, um, top?


and a body


and some bodies...


here are some nearly completed hanging guitars


here's one that's pretty much finished


and here's a back - nice Brazilian (or, as I like to say, Brazillion) mahogany - note the irregularness of the grain:



There was a lot more to the tour than I got (usable) pictures of - they use autolathe type devices to do the rough cutting, then finish off by hand with a whole series of custom tools that I didn't photograph. We also got to see wood drying (exciting! ) and other things. I was more interested in the acoustic guitars than the electric ones, but I think I remember that they didn't make their own pickups, but can't remember where they get them.

[castlerock]

cool! thnx for posting, man.

[true-eurt]

Originally Posted by castlerock

yeah really, it's been almost a year. teh chief needs a big, badass spanking!


true?

See what a firm hand and a little coaxing can produce...?




Hey Chef..Thank you so very much for the pics!....oh, and sorry about the heavy hand, got a little carried away...

I wanna go thru one of those myself!!

[Zaphod B]

Thanks, antichef - cool pics!