This Guitar Costs More Than My Car - Collings Julian Lage 470

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00:00 intro
2:00 playing it DI with no amp, no effects, just a hall reverb
6:19 looks like a Gretsch?
7:20 not the most jazzy thing?
8:06 into Helix Native
9:20 Half way between acoustic and electric?
12:17 My thoughts
13:17 Outro playing with my usual tones and licks
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[@Newnodrogbob]

As a guy who primarily plays guitar alone in his basement; I definitely need one of these.

[@shanetx81]

I think you might want two. They come in black also, right? Definitely need both.

[@Chiller11]

That’s funny but I think that’s where most guitars get played.

[@misterknightowlandco]

@@Chiller1190% of electric guitars get played in the basements of married men and plugged into something that has a headphone output 😂 but you know it’s all about tone and playing authentic and tuuuuubes 😂

[@Newnodrogbob]

@@misterknightowlandco hey man; I play in the basement so I don’t have to use headphones…

[@misterknightowlandco]

@@Newnodrogbob congrats on being happily married!

[@stuartdennis8506]

Probably the best sounding guitar on your channel so far, beautiful playing as well

[@picksalot1]

Many great Jazz guitarists have played a Tele. In an interview last year, Lage concluded by stating, “I’m relatively sparse in terms of equipment or effects and I like an instrument that kinda doesn’t do anything unless you do something. It’s a very true instrument, all Teles possess that, I think.”

[@mattrenoufmusic]

I cannot believe that DI sound. Most of us would be happy to get an amp or modeller sounding that good, that's wild.

[@NILOCOgov]

I was like "wow this sounds good, what amp is it?" and it's a fucking di with reverb. Crazy.

[@adamgray8009]

I think you should reconsider owning one of those, John. It suits you perfectly. Absolutely the best tone I've ever heard of yours. The unique tonal character and sustain are unreal. Couple that with clarity your unbelievable playing... Jealous!!

[@MrSonicAlchemy]

About ten or so years ago I had the good fortune to meet Bill and get a tour of the Collings factory. I also got to play many of their guitars at a great little shop called Hill Country Guitars in the Austin Texas area. Fantastic guitars made by some highly skilled and very dedicated craftsmen (and craftswomen).

[@40WattPodcast]

I've played two of these - both were in the Collings booth/room at Fretboard Summit in Chicago and it still freakin' haunts me. Both of them are in the three best guitars I've ever played - and honestly I don't know what the third spot would go to.

[@pcar928fan]

I met Bill Collings at the race track back in ‘97 or ‘98, then saw his Blue arch top at the Smithsonian and then toured his facility in late ‘98 and then again in ‘05 at the newest facility. Great craftsmen and women and amazing guitars. So sad we lost him a few years back. Glad I still have one of his guitars at least.

[@sashguitars_com]

The autumn leaves...❤❤❤

[@fronkthetooonk]

Ron Ellis really is making the best pickups on the market right now. I ended up trading some gear in the last year to put his humbuckers in my 335 and his 50s style single coils in my tele and it is an entire world of difference. Expensive, but my god they just make you want to play, so much life in them

[@Kevin-the-Just]

I have two Collings, both acquired second-hand, and they are indeed the best guitars I have. The build quality is true custom shop hand made - not one flaw or short cut. But the best part is the evenness of response anywhere on the neck. It's almost magical and very rewarding to play.

[@f33fifofum]

That clarity and sustain is unbelievable

[@DavidHendersonMusicChannel]

I am waiting for the SE version. 😉😜😉😜

[@grahamaldridge]

Will watch this later with interest. Picked one up used last year. It was a “you can’t take it with you” moment. I went and played it and didn’t want to give it back, so after a couple of conversations at home I pushed on with it. Absolutely love it. Hoping you don’t rip it to pieces. 😂 (actually doesn’t matter as it’s certainly one of the best guitar I’ve ever played - I hesitant to say THE best as there’s been a lot over a 40 year period. 🤷🏻‍♂️) Edit - I have a parts Tele that I love just as much. Neither is going anywhere before I keel over as far as I’m concerned. It’s a case of whatever works and whether you can justify it to yourself. I say fill your boots. I’m glad I went for it. I’d also agree with other comments - that DI section is absolutely wonderful. Nuances in there are outstanding.

[@TheTylerNCC]

I have 3 Collings and this one and the acoustic JL are absolutely two of the best guitars I've ever played. This is top of my list, but I think I might be so intimidated by how good it really is I'd never play it. Your playing is fantastic, this might be the best demo video I've seen for the 470JL

[@musiccreation1198]

Thank you JNC. My dream guitar. I'd rather own / play it than a LP 59 Burst, 57 or 61 Strat, etc....so price wise, it's a steal. ;)

[@agungm1855]

As someone who usually doesn't care about tone, I just have to say that is the best sounding guitar I've ever heard, I mean holy shit.

[@tylergorham7301]

Great idea to record direct! What an incredible sounding instrument and beautifully played.

[@guitargust]

its based on a vintage Gretsch of Julian Lage that he owns, Collings created his signature JL model based on that one. great sounding masterpiece...

[@stickman55100]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the vision of a “Jazz Guitar” is in the listening of the musician playing the guitar. The 470JL is a phenomenal guitar and sounds awesome. It’s one of my favorite instruments. It’s also very versatile. It especially sounds good with you playing it. It may be similar to the Gretsch, but the comparison stops there. It is of so much better quality that a comparison isn’t possible.

[@JonNewquist]

The comparison is possible, but hardly fair to the Gretsch.

[@stickman55100]

@@JonNewquist 🤣🤣🤣I’ve owned several Gretsch guitars. Maybe I just had bad ones, but their vintage guitars came apart (especially the bindings) and always sounded dead to my ear. The Collings guitars that I’ve played and owned are exquisite and masterfully crafted. You should demo one.

[@hovikmekhjian2464]

This is the best tone I’ve heard on your channel to date

[@JimmyGallowayGuitar]

I haven't played one of these, but owned a 290T for a while. I recently bought a Terada made Duo Jet 57 select [what this is based off of] and I couldn't be happier. It's a fine instrument and used was $2300. You could buy 4 Gretsch or one of these.

[@chrisquinn9104]

I have quite a few Terada made guitars, a few Duo Jets, and Epiphone John Lee Hooker and Riviera. Incredible guitars and used prices on Gretsch’s are quite good as well.

[@matthewcasey892]

Sounds gorgeous

[@ericjenks9596]

One of the best sounds on your channel. Definitely worth trying a duojet to see if it hits the same buttons at less than half the price

[@wolfgangcordsen3430]

Sounds beautiful.

[@alguitarchristie]

Just like my Guild DeArmond I bought when Fender bought them. But cost 400 pounds in 1996. I love DeArmond style pickups. Great rock n roll guitar.

[@ub59]

Clear as a bell. Love it!

[@trevv5886]

That sounds heavenly and angelic

[@JonNewquist]

As I've sold off my less played guitars in my older age, my Collings acoustic guitars will never leave. They're that good. All 3 were made while Bill was still with us.

[@iaddedthischannel]

I don't understand what I'm watching. Your playing is just too beautiful, man.

[@JosephCompton66]

You are a great player, and this is the best tone I have heard from you ever. Steal that thing from your friend lol.

[@Chiller11]

The fit and finish of Collings guitars are exceptional. They are a relatively small to midsized shop and put more hand finishing and quality control into their products than most. It’s certainly the equivalent of a Murphy shop R9 in quality. I own a SoCo LC and a CL Jazz, both second hand, and they are exceptional guitars. If this is worth the $ I don’t know. Guitar prices across the board seem to be rising faster than groceries.

[@fenixfp40]

Wonderful tone. I purchased my Gretch 6128t tvp purely on its clean tone.

[@jasonkucharski7411]

You seem inspired by this axe in a different way👍

[@nicholsjon9472]

That guitar sounds amazing.

[@ListenHereOldMan]

oh man i've wanted one of these for so long

[@mikemorgan4774]

Any guitar that forces you to create such beautiful lines is priceless. Thank you JNC.

[@edlib02169]

The last couple of times I’ve seen Lage, he was playing custom Teles exclusively. I think I saw him once with one of these.

[@AJHillis]

I think he travels with the Nachocaster when flies out to gigs because he takes it apart and brings it carry on - he had a good IG post about it awhile ago. He uses the Collings when he is on a proper string of tour dates though. And obviously in the studio.

[@DrMattWalton]

He still uses those Ron Ellis pickups in the neck. He makes them with Tele or P90 covers

[@Grant_Ferstat]

@@DrMattWalton Yep. Julian pretty much never goes to the bridge pickup. Uses the Ellisonic in the P90 mount in his teles. Ron has actually been prototyping tele bridge pickups to see if he can get something Julian might switch to every now and then.

[@musicplaylists59]

Very nice playing! Slow and melancholy is my favourite style for Autumn Leaves, my favourite version is by Eva Cassidy (anyone who hasn't heard than one should check it out).

[@danholabaugh6299]

You kept mentioning it in comparison to the 335 (center block typically with humbuckers). I think it would be better to compare it to a 330 (trellis braced typically with single coils). For sure Collings guitars are an investment, and my journey to owning one was very much like Keith from 5 Watt. I got sick of buying and selling all the time, and sick of having 3 guitars that do the same job. I decided to take those multiple guitars and get one Collings to replace them. I've never been happier. Collings isn't the only one in this category. Find the maker that best fits you. There are plenty that charge this much and more for a guitar. If someone is worried about taking an expensive guitar out to play, just get some good insurance. They should probably have it anyway. All that said, I still have a beat up partscaster with Lollar pickups in it that I love dearly, and I will keep that one as well. Good times and good music. Get out there and enjoy life :)

[@89digits59]

I think I heard in an interview somewhere - Julian Lage said the tremolo was put there for weight distribution, to prevent neck dive (as the body is hollow inside). I don't think it's worth 8k, but that's just me, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder - so there will always be people who think it's worth the 8k - I for one don't fall in that category.

[@keithschubert]

Agreed, sounds good but not $8k worth good. Tone/build quality would have to be absolutely next level.

[@baohuynh9529]

@@keithschubert Tone is obviously subjective, but Collings are pretty well-known to have impeccable fit and finish. There's a lot to love about how they build their instruments.

[@scottlowe8657]

@@keithschubert John said £8k, so the US price would be over $10k 😀

[@rfpho1456]

@@scottlowe8657 we seem to by same in £ as you pay in $ 😕

[@monahantp3767]

It's a beautiful guitar-- love the fact it does not have "F-holes" in the top. Personally it's not my cup of tea. However, if I was going to own AND play only one or two guitars, spending that kind of money is not out of the question so long as it does what I need/want it to. Regarding the potential of it becoming a classic someday, at my age I don't have enough years ahead to see it reach "classic" status LOL!

[@collinshephard9255]

Killer Playing

[@rfpho1456]

I think these are probably worth it more than a Murphy Lab is worth what they charge. A hand built Gretch is same. So I guess it’s not expensive for what it is. Your playing justifies a great instrument like that. Sounds fabulous when you play it. Suits you. Part Strat but smoother

[@millichips1]

nice guitar and amazing playing - I simply could not justify the price or be happy gigging it in some of the places I play.

[@Dreadpicker]

Such beautifully digestible tone...

[@compucorder64]

If you like it, it does have broadly the same family tone as my affordable Gretsch Electromatic Jet. Even though this is a much more refined take, clearer, cleaner with more definition and sustain, and I'm sure plays so much better, with more reliable tuning, nicer neck/wood (Electromatic is not my favourite wood fingerboards: Indian Laurel). But especially with a careful setup, you could upgrade the pickups to get closer in approximate sound quality. Because the USA made Gretsch Professionals do sound much closer to this, though they do cost around 2k, which is still relatively expensive, at least for me. Gretsch are beautiful guitars too, with better hardware than most, and are relatively lightweight as well. They might not have the sustain that this has, though, they're a bit pluckier, more like an ES-335 - where this has more of a Les Paul singing long sustain quality to it.

[@musicafteroldage]

Well, I just have an AZ and that costs more than my car, so, in my case, that's not saying much

[@martoneill]

Honda Jazz - it was meant to be :) Guitar sounds very clean and clear. It’s obviously great; but I miss your strat!!

[@jlines590]

so strange you post this and Paul Davids also posts a Julian Lage video on the same day 😂

[@rescd4]

WOW... incredible tone, a little more complete and complex than the usual. I wonder how much is the Ron Ellis pickups

[@shiftd_1114]

Best tone on your channel so far , go figure. lol

[@coryburns13]

I’d buy one…if I won the lottery. I’d love to play one sometime, they sound amazing!

[@malcolmevans2437]

I am a violinist. I have a lovely violin worth several thousand GBP which is perfect for me. When I was studying in 1982 I borrowed an old Italian violinowned by my college. It was then worth almost £25k then and recently sold for almost £500k . It was a very fine instrument but I didn’t know what to do with it - it was too good for me. The greatest violin maker was Stradivarius. His violins are worth million. Modern luthiers can make instruments that in blind testing sound just as good, but put the original in the hands of a virtuoso and it will always sound better.

[@JonNewquist]

A friend of mine who studied under Paul Cantor and played Aspen for many years laughed at me when I told her how much I paid for each of my Collings acoustics ($4000 - $5200 at the timel). Her concert bow was more than one of my guitars. Perspective, eh?

[@joemiller9856]

Luscious ❤🎸💥👍

[@robertnopickle]

I want one of these so bad

[@tchen6740]

Dang that di tone is ridiculous

[@timelwell7002]

What a lovely sounding guitar. I would only ever be able to afford it if I were to win the lottery.

[@Wingman52]

To me it sounds a bit like a 335 and a good used vintage 335 could easily be in the same general area price wise. I wonder how it would compare with one of higher end contemporary Duo Jets... very similar, chambered body etc.

[@BeachJazzMusic]

Many years ago I had a Collings parlor acoustic and it was great but I had it at a shop to get it worked on and someone came in and stole it and two other guitars off the wall and ran out and they never caught the guy. Fast forward to last week, I went to a friends music store and they had a Collings I-35LC that they just got in a week prior. It took them 2 years to get it. I always wanted to play one because I remember how good my original ES335 was that I bought in 1968 brand new (the guitar was a mid 60s with the trapezoid tailpiece that they had put away because nobody wanted them then.) Anyway, the Collings had a stud tail piece and was absolutely beautiful. Much better built than any Gibson I ever played or owned. The workmanship was astounding and it sounded great. The guitar was $7,650.00 USD. I think it was worth the price but I didn't have the money to buy it and not only that but I hated the neck. It was really deep. From the fingerboard to the back of the neck. For someone that liked that style of neck it would be an instant buy if you had the money. I think if I were rich I'd have them custom make me an I-35 Deluxe (which has solid wood instead of laminate and have them make me one with the trapezoid tail piece. Their I-30 series has a trapezoid tail piece but it uses P-90 Pickups.

[@JonNewquist]

Nooooooo! Sorry. I know they're just things but if one of my Collings was stolen, It'd feel like losing my dog.

[@BeachJazzMusic]

@@JonNewquist Thanks, I couldn't believe it. The store gave me the value for it, fortunately they had insurance but still. At the time the place I bought it from went out of business and they were the only Collings dealer so I never got another one.

[@TheWelhaven]

There was a used black one for sale in Norway for $11k. Don’t think it ever sold. I’ve a Collings 290 that is my favourite guitar, luckily that model cost a lot less.

[@droliver]

Not the most flattering finish. Sounds great, but it's essentially a gussed up copy of Lage's Gretsch he's had forever. I don't see the value proposition here when the Japanese or Korean inspirations are 1/4 or 1/8 the Collins price respectively and are very high quality instruments themselves. I don't forsee this particular model ever catching on as some collectible model either

[@misterknightowlandco]

You’re 100% correct

[@user-my4bq2mh4j]

It definitely has his tone

[@trickfall8752]

Stunning guitar and it seemed to bring out something different in your playing. I have no doubt it's worth the money, but I'll probably only ever be in a position to spend that kind of money on a guitar maybe once in my life and if I was spending that much it would be vintage or custom shop and say Fender on the headstock.

[@TheRealCAPerry]

There can’t be too many of those being demoed quite like that outro out there - Collings gonna be beating down your door after that.

[@quantumvox8424]

It sounds indeed glorious. One can tell that it is an inspiring instrument. I felt it made you play somehow different. more conscious of every note id say. Beautiful

[@Gerhard468]

Wow that guitar sings.

[@timchalmers1700]

Wow!!!

[@aaroncurry279]

Great playing! Why no “F” holes if semihollow? Honestly, I dig the case more than the guitar. The contrast stitching really looks great!

[@Fastvoice]

I guess these holes would only make a difference when you play without amplification.

[@mr.bluenotedoobop]

It'll sound beautiful through my rig consisting of my boss katana and my bedroom stage

[@pauljohnston1560]

Wow … that all I got … just wow😳

[@BeachJazzMusic]

Tim Lerch is a great player. He's probably the closest to Ted Greene that you're going to find. I know, I studied with Ted for over ten years.

[@stevenbeecheymusic]

Dream axe

[@raimondwamelink5208]

It sounds brilliant though.

[@frankcarter6427]

looks and sounds like a very guitar to me, But 8 grand?? I played a collings D28 copy last Paddy's day - it was a really nice guitar but not worth the extortionate price

[@kengoodman7719]

Is that a Maple or Spruce top? Playing sounds great and the guitar sounds great. God Bless!

[@joebastura]

Solid carved mahogany body with maple laminate top and a trestle block inside.

[@Nako6009]

comparison with the herb ellis would be cool

[@freq18hz]

What piece are you playing? Sounds incredible.

[@freq18hz]

Starting at 2:00?

[@popsicleB]

There's a pretty long extended intro but it turns into autumn leaves

[@mr.bluenotedoobop]

Mr. Cordy can you review the new Standberg guitars? I've never been interested, but the algorithmn has me having GAS.

[@willgoodfellow3144]

Hot dang. I'd spaff £8k on a guitar if it made me play like you on that outro!!

[@distrustfulmonkey2832]

My brain says no guitar is worth 8k and my ears say that opening jam is the best tone I've ever heard from you. With no amp and no effects. There's obviously something there but short of a lottery win, not something I'll be trying to seek out!

[@cautiousoptimist1926]

He may not havre used an amp, but that sound was processed. The delay was obvious . His playing in the opening was exceptional.

[@jakollee]

I wonder why no sound hole(s)? Beautiful playing on the intro, and man you played the sh*t out of it on the outro!

[@Fastvoice]

I guess these holes would only make a difference when you play unplugged.

[@jakollee]

@@Fastvoice For some reason, I'm under the impression that they increase sustain, but I'm not sure if that's true.

[@Fastvoice]

@@jakollee Nope - maybe a tiny bit of the opposite (less wood to resonate) bot that's more like a theory.

[@jakollee]

@@Fastvoice Well, they do look kinda nice!

[@vladaspetrauskas2800]

Have it noise?

[@GetEspo]

Autumn Leaves.

[@cautiousoptimist1926]

Collings makes very good guitars. But, frequently, what they make are copies of guitars made by other major manufacturers which they then sale for 2x, 3x or 4x the price of the originals. These guitars are for people who don't understand the law of diminishing returns. Repeatedly on guitar sites I find people who think they are always getting more no matter how much they pay. No, they're not. After a certain point you're just throwing money away, and that point is well beneath $8000. The designs, electronics and woodworking were all common knowledge a long time ago.

[@vicrichard3250]

So like how old is your car?

[@vladaspetrauskas2800]

As i hear its impressive right?

[@vladaspetrauskas2800]

Is it worth?

[@daveponte1497]

I took delivery of a brand new one of these about 3 weeks ago with the exact same finish after hearing someone using it live and he was nice enough to let me play it in between sets. I was blown away !! I own and play a Gibson Lee Roy Parnell L.P, a Lentz SSL, Gibson Alvin Lee Festival, a PRS Robben Ford etc… NOTHING is in the league of the Julian Lage !!’ I am 61 years young and have played for years and have played them all and this guitar is on another level AND she is beautiful as well … Once you play one you will understand, you can’t appreciate it from a video believe me it’s THAT good… Worth every penny !!!

[@j.schaefer5622]

Its the price of an 1970 Gibson ES-335. Id rather would have the Collings, but my playing doesnt justify playing such an expensive guitar.

[@rinkydinky-ob9pe]

the relicing on gibsons is usually just bad QC

[@ksharpe10]

This is the 1st sunburst one I have seen, usually natural or black. Very expensive guitar.

[@musicplaylists59]

glad you didn't open this one with Billy's machete lol

[@methatswho8304]

It sounds great, but it's tgdh!

[@sammyrothrock6981]

I have heard just as nice guitars honestly... I dont buy into the hype or price tag . Once you get to a certain threshold its all a matter of personal taste that can get quite subjective.

[@frankcarter6427]

utterly agree, after 46 yrs of playing, I know pretty much everything I ever 'knew' aout guitars in BS

[@sammyrothrock6981]

@@frankcarter6427 exactly I been playing 50 years

[@misterknightowlandco]

Completely agree.

[@JohnMalcolm-or4co]

Looks too much like a gretsch for my liking. I prefer their Les pauls and 335’s not that I’ve been near one 😊

[@misterknightowlandco]

Sooooooo 8 grand for a chambered gretsch jet with someone else’s version of tv jones pickups? Yeah solid pass at that price. I’ll just go play my actual gretsch jet. Julian is a once in a generation talent and this guitar is nice, but 8k? Yeah no thank you.

[@mortonwilson795]

Your comment in passing that it feels a bit like halfway between and electric and acoustic is telling for me and sort of frustratingly obvious because when it comes down to it the original electrics were basically made to allow acoustic guitarists a chance to 'compete' within a band context - i.e. allow them to play louder! I really think a lot of reviewers tend to forget that a lot of musicians do actually play 'clean', not just jazz players - the legions of supposed guitar reviewers who just crank up the amps and kick in OD / Distortion / Fuzz pedals or what have you and then proclaim 'this guitar is a beast' strike me as ridiculous - wankers basically. I have seen several quite good reviews of this Collings (in most it's a mustard yellow) which looks pretty much like a boutique take on a Gretsch, and it's clearly a beautiful instrument and unlikely to mean much to the headbangers and shredders and whatevers out there. Seems like a solid body (albeit hollow) solution for players who might be at home on a quality arch-top but maybe want something less fragile for live work? I would love to own one of these but I really don't have the jazz chops and TBH for UKP 8K (HKD 80K) I could grab a couple of Eastmans, an Am Pro II Strat I have my eye on, a nice discounted Gibson LP Special, a few Monty's & Bare Knuckle pick-up sets to mod my 3 Epis AND still have some serious change . . . my needs are clearly different from the player who would benefit from of these! Absolutely gorgeous instrument and I envy those who have one . . . if I were you I'd consider one, you clearly know how to make it work!

[@Taylort3b]

Ed Bickert could milk sweet tones out of his modified 65 blond Telecaster. The player makes the guitar. The guitar doesn’t make the player. I’m sure the Collings is a lovely instrument, but I believe Lage’s main guitar is a Tele knock-off. Perhaps Bickert had some influence. They have that same casual elegance in their playing.

[@tomcaron9113]

Could never bond with a Collings 335. Thin sound, too much money for the sound. Playability, great.

[@erniecf]

Guitars > cars