Two new Collings guitars compared - ladder and x

[John Link]

I found just one place that was selling them, and that was on pre-order based on the two pre-production samples they had (the two that were used in the video). I thought you could order them with either a T-bar OR a truss rod. But it was confusing.

[Herman]

Strange, I find the Ladder braced one more pleasing. I hear there a smoother tone, and a more "harder" tone in the x-braced one. YA, How subjective can it be.
But what a difference in sound, compared to the Somogyi guitars.
So difficult to judge on the computer.
But somehow I like the soundbites of guitars. It would be a shame we all would not make them anymore because it would be meaningless. For me the forum is mainly about having fun and friends. (ok, and for info)

Herman

[John Link]

John P, I don't think the sound of the "Waterloo" ladder braced guitar (what a strangely loaded name to choose for a brand!) is intrinsic to the ladder brace scheme.

John How follows the Italian tradition of just 3 braces. That is how Italian immigrants built the early Oscar Schmidt Stellas. Even Leadbelly's jumbo 12-string had just 3 braces. When Harmony built their instruments, they expanded the 3 to 5, with subsequent damping of bass and, I think, general responsiveness - but nothing like I hear in these Waterloos.

Here is Michael Wong playing "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" on a How ladder braced instrument. It is capoed up to the 5th fret, so bass is deliberately raised, but you can get a much better sense of how ladder bracing can work to free up large areas of the soundboard.





Here is another John How LB instrument, playing the blues, no capo:

[Dave Bagwill]

Wow, very nice.

[John Parchem]

Well I do like the sound of the John How guitar. It had a nicely balanced bass and trebles and the guitar seemed to follow the dynamics of the playing nicely. It is also a gorgeous instrument. I heard some other you tube clips of the waterloo ladder being played by others (demo videos), as I did find that slappy style of playing distracting. I still did not come away from the listening impressed with that guitar.

[Kevin in California]

Those guitars sound great, and the first guy really has a nice touch, was beautiful.
Makes me want to learn to play the blues for sure.

[Dave Bagwill]

Not to get too far off-thread, but here's a pic of John How's top bracing scheme as John Link mentioned.