Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $4,763

High-end/Boutique

$200

$601+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The Collings D1 is a remarkable blend of tradition and innovation, designed for musicians who value both craftsmanship and sound quality in a steel-string acoustic guitar. With its roots in the classic dreadnought style, the D1 offers a rich, full-bodied sound that's perfect for everything from intricate fingerstyle playing to robust strumming. Its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides deliver a balanced tonal palette, making it a versatile choice for a range of musical styles.

Each Collings D1 is meticulously handcrafted, ensuring not only exceptional playability but also a visually stunning finish. The attention to detail is evident in the hand-scalloped bracing, which enhances resonance and projection, allowing the guitar to sing with clarity and depth. Guitarists will appreciate the slim neck profile, making long sessions comfortable and effortless.

For those who value tradition but demand modern precision, the Collings D1 is a compelling choice. Its timeless aesthetic is complemented by a high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish and a simple yet elegant tortoiseshell binding. Whether on stage or in the studio, the D1 is ready to deliver a performance that stands out.

Key Features:

  • Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for a balanced tonal range
  • Hand-scalloped bracing for enhanced resonance and projection
  • Slim neck profile for comfortable playability
  • High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
  • Tortoiseshell binding for a classic look
  • Handcrafted attention to detail for superior quality

Product specs

Brand Collings
Model D1
Made In United States
Categories Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars
Active Preamp No
Body Shape Dreadnought
Fretboard Material Ebony
Number of Frets 20
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup None
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
String Type Steel

FAQs

What kind of sound can I expect from the Collings D1?

The Collings D1 offers a rich, balanced tone with excellent projection, characteristic of its dreadnought body shape. It's particularly well-suited for bluegrass, folk, and other styles that benefit from a powerful acoustic presence.

Is the Collings D1 suitable for fingerstyle playing?

While the Collings D1 is versatile, its dreadnought body shape is primarily designed for strumming and flatpicking. Fingerstyle players might find the string spacing and neck profile less accommodating compared to models designed specifically for fingerstyle.

Does the Collings D1 come with any electronics or pickups?

The Collings D1 does not come with built-in electronics or pickups. It is a purely acoustic guitar, which maintains its traditional sound quality and resonance.

What materials are used in the construction of the Collings D1?

The Collings D1 features a solid Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides, combined with an ebony fretboard. These materials contribute to its robust tone and durability.

How does the neck profile of the Collings D1 affect playability?

The Collings D1 has a Modified V neck profile, which provides a comfortable grip for most players, particularly those who prefer a vintage-style neck feel. This profile supports both complex chord shapes and aggressive strumming.

Guitar Gallery

Guitar Gallery

Martin D-18 versus Collings D1

Video thumbnail for Martin D-18 versus Collings D1 by Guitar Gallery

Martin D-18 versus Collings D1

Guitar Gallery

Guitar Gallery

Video thumbnail for Martin D 18 vs Collings D1 by Kimsey Lutherie

Martin D 18 vs Collings D1

Kimsey Lutherie

Kimsey Lutherie

Video thumbnail for Collings D1 at The Music Emporium by The Music Emporium

Collings D1 at The Music Emporium

The Music Emporium

The Music Emporium

Video thumbnail for Collings D1, Sitka Spruce & Mahogany demo by Carter Vintage Backstage

Collings D1, Sitka Spruce & Mahogany demo

Carter Vintage Backstage

Carter Vintage Backstage

Video thumbnail for Collings D1 Comparison by Artisan Guitars

Collings D1 Comparison

Artisan Guitars

Artisan Guitars

Video thumbnail for The Collings D1 vs The Martin D18! | Erwin & Adrian by The Fellowship of Acoustics

The Collings D1 vs The Martin D18! | Erwin & Adrian

The Fellowship of Acoustics

The Fellowship of Acoustics

Video thumbnail for Collings D1 Dreadnought Showdown by Artisan Guitars

Collings D1 Dreadnought Showdown

Artisan Guitars

Artisan Guitars

Reviews

PROS

  • Unique, magical voice across different models

  • Outperforms guitars like Bourgeois Country Boy and Martin Custom

  • Loudest and most musical sounding guitar in its range

  • Exceptional tone and sustain, especially when played with a pick

  • Bright, warm, vintage sound reminiscent of rural church bells

CONS

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Collings D1.

Build quality

  • The soft v neck of the Collings D1 is praised for its comfortable feel and ergonomic design.

    Source
  • The D1's lack of a tongue brace lets the top vibrate more freely, enhancing responsiveness, a design choice similar to pre-1939 Golden Era Martins.

    Source
  • Collings' consistent quality in wood selection and build was noted, regardless of the guitar's decorative features, ensuring a reliable sound profile across models.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The D1 is frequently chosen over other high-end dreadnoughts for its tonal range and expressiveness.

    Source
  • A user noted the D1's top vibrates more noticeably than a Martin HD-28 due to its bracing design.

    Source
  • The D1 was preferred in a blind test over multiple other brands and wood combinations, confirming its unique sound appeal.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners describe the D1 as a "forever guitar," indicating a long-term investment in both quality and sentimental value.

    Source
  • Owners describe the fretboard binding as subtle yet enhancing the playability, contributing to the guitar's overall comfort.

    Source
  • One player described a transformative experience, where the D1 made everything sound exactly right, highlighting the guitar's ability to enhance player confidence and performance.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar is noted for being sensitive to string and pick combinations, enhancing its tonal versatility.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Adirondack Spruce bracing provides a stiffer, springier top, balancing stability with enhanced vibration for a lively sound.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Considered excellent value for premium guitars, particularly if found used, offering significant savings over new models.

    Source
  • A used Collings can often provide superior tone compared to new models, as evidenced by a player's choice of a used CJ over new Collings models.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
yonghwankim

Vintage and contemporary sound

After buying this guitar as a second hand, I no longer look at the guitar anymore. The sound is very straight and bright, warm and vintage like the bells of a rural church.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jeff Tweedy uses Collings D1

Jeff Tweedy

Singer, Guitarist

Wilco

...
Verified via reverb.com

We have a ton of love for the Collings Guitar company. Jeff Tweedy now owns at least nine or ten Collings guitars that he uses both for recording and touring (you may have seen his Kel Kroydon-ish Collings Waterloo with rocketship artwork or his two Waterloo WL14s on tour). These guitars are made in Austin Texas and are the read deal. They are warm and even and project well and have rich tone and super nice response. But a lot of guitars have tall hat. These have more. I'm not sure if it's something you can name like pleasant overtones or vintage "recordings" tone. It may be something unnamable but when you know it when you hear it. In every case, when Jeff has received one of these Collings guitars, they get tuned up and are being used on an album track moments later. In many cases, they beat out a large portion of his prewar vintage acoustics worth four or five times what these go for. That is rare for a new guitar over here at the Loft!

See how Robbie McIntosh uses Collings D1

Robbie McIntosh

Guitarist

Pretenders

...
Verified via YouTube

Robbie McIntosh on guitars for studio recording

See how Sarah Jarosz uses Collings D1

Sarah Jarosz

Guitarist, Singer

I’m With Her

...
Verified via Photo

"When it comes to guitar Jarosz concentrates mostly on rhythm and arpeggios of her not-so-traditional chord progressions to back up her acclaimed vocal abilities, and is studying guitar in Boston. Her guitar is a Collings D1A dreadnought with an Adirondack spruce top, as opposed to the company’s D1 with its top of Sitka spruce. The D1A has a Honduran mahogany back and sides, flamed mahogany neck, 15 5/8-inch lower bout, and 25 1/2-inch scale length with an ebony fingerboard and bridge. “When I started getting more into guitar,” she says, “I got my D1A from Collings, in ‘05. They had made two guitars for (multi-instrumentalist) David Bromberg to choose from for his birthday, and I wound up playing the one he didn’t keep. I love that guitar so much, it’s great! I don’t have the biggest hands, so I really like it because it fits my hands but still has a big sound. It doesn’t have a tiny body, and it just fits me really well.'"

From the article "Sarah Jarosz String Garden" for Americansongwriter.com (https://americansongwriter.com/2012/04/sarah-jaroszs-string-garden/2/)

See how Andy Falco uses Collings D1

Andy Falco

Guitarist

Infamous Stringdusters

...
Verified via andy falco

"My #1, the guitar I use the most."

See how Yūya Komoguchi uses Collings D1

Yūya Komoguchi

Guitarist, Music Producer

...
Verified via 菰口雄矢 | YUYA KOMOGUCHI Official Website

Yūya Komoguchi uses the Collings D1, as confirmed by his official website, 菰口雄矢 | YUYA KOMOGUCHI Official Website.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Collings D1, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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