❌SOLD❌ Collings DS1 12 Fret Slope Shoulder Dreadnought, 2011

The Collings DS1 12-fret slope shoulder dreadnought draws from the well of the earliest large body steel string guitars, the dreadnoughts built for the Ditson company by C F Martin from 1916 to 1930.

Martin made over 500 guitars for Ditson, but the dreadnought was not popular at the time, and from 1916 to 1921, only 14 were dreadnoughts. That changed completely in the early 1930s, with banjo players migrating to guitars; these players needed both volume and more frets, so the Dreadnought design was revived and given a 14 fret neck. Since then, the dreadnought has been the most popular guitar design, delivering power and bottom end.

Featuring a Sitka Spruce top paired with Mahogany for the sides, back and neck, with Ebony for the bridge and tailpiece, the Collings DS1 also uses a 12-fret neck and slotted peghead. The tuners are by Waverly, and the dot position markers and Collings logo are Mother of Pearl. The pickguard and binding are faux tortoise.

This Collings DS1 example was built during 2011 at the Collings shop in Austin, Texas. It’s in very good clean condition, and like every Collings I’ve seen has an extremely well done nitrocellulose lacquer finish, here in clear gloss. It plays very well, and has the sparkling high end of a Sitka-Mahogany pairing, with all the bottom end of a Dreadnought. Fret wear is light to moderate, and is mostly in the first positions.

The original Collings arched top hard shell case is included.

More From The Builder On The Collings DS1 12 Fret, Slope Shoulder Dreadnought:

“This is the original 12-fret dreadnought shape, first designed as an oversized Hawaiian guitar almost a century ago. We’ve retained the shape and wide neck with slotted headstock from that bygone era, but our DS models are thoroughly modern guitars with a unique sound all their own.

The longer body, with the bridge closer to the center of the lower bout, delivers an open, airy tone with smoothness and warmth not typically found in modern, 14-fret dreadnoughts. Whether flatpicked or played fingerstyle, these guitars have lots of headroom and the wide dynamic range invites everything from mellow accompaniment to biting leads.”