This is STUPID - £8000 guitar vs £130 - Collings JL470 vs Squier Debut

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00:00 intro
00:30 through the same helix native stuff
3:42 a sure fire way to make your guitar look cheap
4:10 how is it even possible to build a guitar for £129
5:38 the amount of hands on work a Collings takes
6:00 fretwork?
7:00 how they sound unplugged
7:32 how they sound DI
10:05 the biggest "cost" of building a guitar
11:50 cheaper guitar giveaways
12:20 conclusions of this very important video
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[@10sassafras]

I LOVE that not owning the Collings makes me £8000 richer.

[@peppersfunk]

imo, pricey guitars aren't getting worse. But budget guitars are getting better (than before)

[@frankcarter6427]

a CNC neck made by collings or an asian factory will. if the program is the same, be exactly the same - a pickup made in the same way will sound the same as a boutique pickup

[@hakarl_]

Pickups are interesting, because price can only really be justified by materials, and beyond a certain point, pickups don't need massively high-end build quality to work perfectly well and last virtually forever. A virtual PAF clone can sound like a virtual PAF clone regardless of whether it costs 70€ or 300€. Some people even pay premium money for a sound that can be replicated with cheap ceramic magnets and overwound coils (cough, Bare Knuckle).

[@frankcarter6427]

The BS is incredible isn't it - people believe in magic - if you wrap the same wire around the same magnet the same number of times they will be the same and sound the same - we AB'd a vastly expensive Gibson es 175 with P90s and a Harley Benton P90 335 - they sound basically the same (of course they have to)

[@revolead]

@@hakarl_ $150 pickups tend to sound better (or more accurate might be a better term) than the $75 ones, but like anything, you run into massive diminishing returns on anything above $150. I have no idea how Seymour Duncan can make an Antiquity humbucker for $150 but the Ron Ellises and ThroBaks of the world charge $400 per pickup for the same materials, same technologies, same techniques. What's even more annoying are all the KZbinrs I otherwise think highly of hawking $800 sets of pickups like that's sane and affordable. Do those guys sound amazing? Yes. But that's because they're professionals who spent 30+ years sculpting their sound not because some capitalizing pickup geek sprinkled stardust into the bobbins.

[@michael1]

@@frankcarter6427 Perhaps the best method of fretwork now is plek and that requires a skilled person to operate the machine and hand finish the frets. Perhaps one day a machine will exist that will create a 'level playing field' so to speak - and then it's a level playing field (ho hum) for every one, but at the moment that isn't true. Certainly the precision of a machine is a key aspect of getting the frets level but it's not a machine a buffoon like myself can put a guitar in, press a button, and take something out that's brilliant. It requires a skilled operator for the machine and a skilled person to finish the job the machine started. It seems highly unlikely a sub £200 guitar will have been treated to a plek. Of course, given that a plek costs ~£150-200 at retail depending on where you go and what material your frets are, it's certainly not an explanation for a guitar costing £8000. If you found a £500 guitar you liked you could have probably as good frets as any other guitar you can buy for ~£700.

[@lancenunez8252]

I have a squire and it sounds / plays really good. Seriously, in that aspect, it’s as good as any of my more expensive guitars. The difference is when one pickup mysteriously stopped working, the authorized Fender repair shop couldn’t order a new pickup. It wasn’t possible. They just gave me a whole new guitar as a full replacement.

[@jltrem]

He plays the Collings, he sounds like Cordy. He plays the Squier Debut, he sounds like Cordy.

[@Sammywhat]

Have a tech put about $200 upgrades in the Squier (Pickups mainly, Fretwork, Setup) and you'll have a fantastic guitar you won't be afraid to play anywhere.

[@anxiousmindmusic]

after too many years and too many guitars I realised this. You don't need a better guitar, you need a better fret job and setup

[@Sammywhat]

​@@anxiousmindmusic This is so true. Being left-handed, and never getting my pick of the litter when it comes to fine guitars, I've learned from guys like Jack Pearson, who uses a Squier extensively and sounds phenomenal, it's all about the player. Check out Jack on a vid... Jack Pearson - Blue Sky - 2/7/17 Keeping The Blues Alive Cruise That's one of the finest Squier endorsements anyone could ever ask for! Enjoy!!

[@joemiller9856]

Hearing both in the hands of an exceptional guitarist reminds me of the impact of the artist - musician playing the instrument. The master of the instrument can get both to sound great. To qualify that.. the skilled guitarist will probably be more inspired by the better quality instrument for sure not having to be distracted continuously by its relative imperfections. On the other end of the spectrum having a beginner play a high quality instrument won’t go too far..

[@suedeface]

Sometimes I wish I could send Cordy my guitars. So I can watch him play them and get GAS for what I already have.

[@ScottsGuitar]

Agreed. A beginner would never be able to quantify the value of a higher-end guitar outside of appearance. Many people also conflate what gets the “job done” with what inspires someone to be creative. They Can be, but are not always the same. In some situations you just want the guitar to get out of its own way.

[@shanetx81]

@@suedefacethat would be an awesome service and video series.

[@joemiller9856]

@@suedeface - I’ve thought of that too

[@michael1]

That might be true now Joe because I'd suggest 95% of the guitars you can buy, whatever price point, are reasonably playable give or take a few QC issues. I pick up guitars nephews have been given by their parents and I'm usually impressed by their playability - but none of them feel great, they just don't feel really bad like the guitars I got as a kid in the 1980s that were more or less unplayable - and that served only to stymie progress. I'd have been far better off with a high quality instrument even if my playing sucked and it wouldn't have sounded much better with me playing. Make no mistake, if you have the opportunity to learn piano on a steinway then you shouldn't think "Nah I'm only a beginner, I should get a cheap piano" - the converse is, don't think you need to buy a steinway to learn, or that it'll make you better. No, get the yamaha upright and practise. But don't get a junk piano. In the past cheap instruments were really poor, and undoubtedly many beginners have been marred by poor instruments that no one could play. The idea guitarists exist that can make any instrument sound great really isn't true - and indeed this whole "tone is in the fingers" is ridiculous. Famous guitar players spend inordinate amounts of time working on their tone and their gear is as important to that as the time they spend listening and practising. Perhaps 2 of the most famous more or less invented new genres of guitars to aid both their playability and tone. EVH wasn't butchering guitars and amps because he could make anything sound good was he? Ibanez didn't make the Jem and RG series they did with the design decisions they have because it didn't matter. Quite the reverse. Vai is very specific about what he wanted - and that's why he rejected the manufacturers who just sent him one of their expensive guitars. Albeit, we might learn from Eddie's work that it's not about paying thousands for fancy painted and polished wood.

[@KozmykJ]

I'm bookmarking this as an "Autumn Leaves" tips and tricks 😉

[@playthechanges]

Same! 🤘

[@JackStolz]

I too own a guitar worth more than my car. It is by far the dumbest thing I own in regards to actual build quality. I have never taken it on the road, nor will I ever. It’s in the Goldilocks zone of “too nice to break and doesn’t even play that great”

[@user-lh3si8sl8o]

I would never ever pay £8000 for that Collings. I have no idea how they justify the price.

[@shanetx81]

They’re back ordered constantly. They justify the price by selling them as fast as they make em, I reckon. I wouldn’t ever pay that either but it makes sense to me that they would. The price is a bit part of the value creation.

[@revolead]

Phil McKnight talks frequently about not your price limit but your comfort zone. Lots of variables that go into that concept, but one of them has to be: "Will this ever leave my house or will it be the Ferrari in my garage I show all my friends but my daily driver is a Honda because I'm terrified of the Ferrari being scratched?"

[@TheWelhaven]

@@revoleadMy Collings is probably never gonna leave the house and my friends doesn’t care 😅

[@Jay-fp4ii]

I swear, anything in your hands, sound amazing!!!

[@markworkman317]

That Squire would be a great guitar to take to a gig in a dodgy local. I don’t think I would want to be scratching my head, during load-out, and asking my band mates , “Hey guys, where is my Collings? I hope one of you already locked it in your car.” In comparison, the Squire doesn’t have the warmth of the Collings, but in your hands, the Squire would do in a pinch.

[@crazywisdom2]

Agreed. AND you can always upgrade the pickups, and action. A decent amp ... your cooking.

[@alejandroangeles8587]

A great player it's going to sound good in a cheap guitar. And "cheap" doesn't mean "bad". I recently bought 2 Jet guitars (the blue tele and the HSS Strat) and even when I upgraded the pickups, without modification was a steal. I wish guitars like that existed when I was a kid.

[@bluwng]

If I was having a beer at a pub and you were playing either would sound pleasing to my ear. Only other guitarist obsess your actual intended audience wouldn’t know or care as long as it sounds good.

[@strumminronin]

I would be more impressed if it was the Squier Strat than the Collings!

[@nitbot]

I'm not a guitar snob, but the Collings sounds amazing. I love the full sounding lower mids

[@Lomoholga2]

It’s all copper wire around magnets. No secret magic involved

[@user-zx5gg8od6l]

It’s all just green paper and time management skills No secret magic involved You could also not be broke

[@Lomoholga2]

@@user-zx5gg8od6l ?

[@sacredgeometry]

Surprise surprise, both sound like a guitar.

[@frankcarter6427]

yep - after 46 yrs of playing, I've come to know this - guitars and watches can never be 'worth' 1000s of £s

[@sacredgeometry]

@@frankcarter6427 Exactly. There is only so much you can do before the return is not just negligible but non-existent. Yet there will always be people that have more money than imagination.

[@frankcarter6427]

@@sacredgeometry they buy vastly expensive status symbols that rarely get played, taken from their cases bu white gloved hands whilst we plug our guitars in , turn em up and play the crap out of them - know which I prefer

[@sacredgeometry]

@@frankcarter6427 Thats the only part that irritates me, it drives up the cost of instruments and gear for real musicians and they have no real interest in music. If they spent even a fraction of the necessary effort in learning how to play the damn thing it would be perfectly excusable.

[@frankcarter6427]

@@sacredgeometry agree totally

[@TheRezus35]

everything sounds fine these days. It`s playability and comfort that matters.

[@picksalot1]

A few guitarists use the Tone Knob to help dial in sounds, though many do not. Some notable players that use it are Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa, and Julian Lage. 😉

[@DaveSheremata]

Great video as always John! Hey, could you make a video where you try to dial in another guitar to sound as close as possible to the Collings? I’ve been trying to comp the Julian Lage tone with PRS 408 Semihollow, a Yammy RevStar, a Tele, a Casino, two other PRSi, another Tele… I get close, I think, but…. Curious what YOU think…

[@stevenheath741]

They both sound good in their own way

[@kf9879]

Clearly, you now need to swap the pickups around and see the sound difference.

[@rossbulcock552]

LOL Nice.

[@adamgray8009]

To me the Squire on the Autumn Leaves party (which is brilliant btw) sounds very fundamental. In other words very little character to the note other than the frequency being played. Not bad by any stretch but basic. The specific notes on the Collings, on the other hand, sounds much complex and you can hear the character of the hollowbody construction and the slight compression on the attack and then blooming. More overtones overall. Much more pleasing to my ear. I could tell them apart 100/100 times *without distortion*. Add distribution and effects those characteristics are largely masked. Where a lot of the value of these expensive instruments lies is in the feel of the guitar in the hand and on your lap and body. How it responds to your playing. How it inspires you to pick it up and play it more and more. Maybe that's the "mojo" a guitar has.. how it inspires you to play it. That's my experience anyway. I actually have a Collings I-35 Deluxe semi hollow guitar and I'm often amazed at how every single detail on it is perfect. The feel of the neck. The feel of the tuners and how perfectly they keep the guitar in tune. How resonant it is in the hand. How it sounds unplugged. The amazing fit and finish. How it perfectly intonates. How amazing it sounds through every pickup combination. Just a great instrument. And it makes me pick it up and play regularly which, in itself, is worth a lot in my opinion.

[@gene_the_dev_42]

yeah, 8K..., if you want nicely crafted expensive axe in that style, just buy a made-in-Japan Gretsch G6228 Pro and save 6K. I cannot imagine what Collings does better (pickup differences aside). That Japanese Terada factory produces immaculate instruments.

[@BillyTheKidsGhost]

I walked out to put on a T-shirt and didn't notice he had changed guitars...🤷‍♂ It's down to playability and looks for me. I would argue you can hear a difference if you listen, I did pick out the PRS as a Hollowbody in one of Glenn Friks's Challenges which he conveniently didn't mention.

[@myturningpoint]

Pay a local luthier for a good full setup and fret dress, and put a parametric EQ and EQ and level match both guitars. And show me the 7500 difference, there won't be any (other than the pickup type) People of any hobby/professional pursuasion are disproportionately biased by often irrelevant perceptive differences and not real measurable differences.

[@Uuuuutuuuube]

Thanks John. Very interesting. Where did you find the pictures of the Collings trestle layout? I’ve looked everywhere for that?

[@joemiller9856]

Another thought.. the quality of the instrument doesn’t rise linearity with the amount invested. And yes of course the variability of the labor rate is a bug factor.. Time and skill of the builder along with quality of materials regardless of labor rate is a thing..

[@raysstlyn6346]

Indeed, labour is such a big part of the equation. Considering the various stages in which it is involved, each piece and part needs to be produced, transported, sorted, sold, etc. In my opinion, based on where I'm living atm, the price of both guitars is so off that I wouldn't recommend buying any of them... Lol Being both produced locally with local parts and pieces one would be around the 1k$ mark and the other would't be at least half the price... More or less

[@jasondorsey7110]

The cost/quality ratio gets even more skewed if you're talking vintage

[@FrancoAlcudia]

Ok, for me, they sound significantly different, but the Squier doesn't sound bad, well it's obviously because the pickups are different, but the Squier doesn't sound bad, I do own an Affinity series HH and I love it, I've tried more expensive guitars before and mine is quite similar, the only thing that I noticed, is that the more expensive guitars had better finish, like the frets were softer on the edges, and the hardware was better, but when it comes to the sound, my guitar actually sound pretty good, so, my conclusions is, "cheap guitars" are getting a lot better when we compare them to the "cheap guitars" from the 2000s for example, at the end of the day, every single guitar is gonna need love to be the best version it could be.

[@tomduckworth8335]

I think you are really stretching to justify the price difference. They are very different guitars in design. I would like to see a comparison with the Gretch guitars it’s based on both the Electromatic and Japan versions. What you proved so well is you can get a good sound out of a reasonably competent guitar and you don’t need to spend 8000.00 on a guitar to get great sound. Many of the Legacy guitar companies are making high end luxury items for wealthy people to collect rather than working musicians tools to play. It ridiculous to spend many thousands of dollars on a guitar like that and take it out to multiple gigs risking damage or having it stolen. I owned some very nice vintage guitars over the years that I bought when I was young and I had to stop playing them out because it just became too risky. I realize there is no control over vintage prices but some manufacturers are taking advantage of that and overcharging for their new instruments.

[@jrgutierrez316]

Awesome. would like to hear Stella by Starlight on that Collings. Sounds sweeeeeeet!

[@Robert_Bubba_Baker]

Well tone really does come through the fingers and wherever the sound comes out of(speakers, audio interface). Then it works all the way back to the guitar. Maybe a comparison between the Collings and a Gretch Electromagnetic might be a very interesting comparison. You still can’t beat quality but how many can really afford it? 🧐

[@darwinsaye]

The Collings pickups cost 6x the price of the Squier? Cripes. I thought they sounded pretty bad. Some of the muddiest single coils I’ve heard. Not disputing the quality of craftsmanship of the Collings, but I really didn’t like the sound of it at all.

[@buckwheat2002]

did you use your camera mic to record your voice? I'm noticing a difference from your past videos and this one.

[@yarbzag]

Have you left the tag on the Squire as a statement or is it on loan?

[@marziograva]

The biggest differences are in feel, tuning stability as well as the fact these ultra cheap guitars use young woods that may surprise you negatively overtime. But there are important differences in sound and appearance too. A 200 USD guitar is worth 200 USD, it feels, looks and sounds like a 200 USD guitar.

[@jacksonhoward3743]

Cheap guitars are definitely getting good! I bought some cheap tostar brand strat kits for my school and was blown away by them. The frets are rounded nicely, and with a quick setup they play wonderfully. I'd gig with one no questions. Not to mention that for about the same price as that squire, it has a bag, capo, tuner, Battery powered amp, stand and spare strings and picks.

[@kerrytyk111]

Great vid. I prefer the squier sound and looks wise. Probably a good setup and it’s good to go

[@RocktCityTim]

Automated manufacturing has come very close to hand assembly.I took a tour of a factory and was shown the machines and one thing that blew my mind was the tolerancing of the parts being assembled. That means that the fret wire is very tightly controlled and the resulting assembly is very spot on for every guitar off of that machine. The result, when all of the assembly processes are considered, is that there are very few "hands" on the low cost instrument resulting in a lower cost to manufacture - even taking into account the salaries of the humans involved. On the other side of that coin, hand assembly means that each instrument has its own character and flaws and the human labor costs are tied into that process of hand assembly and finishing. The thing that I noticed was that the Squier sounded like a Strat playing jazz while the Collings sounded like a jazz guitar playing jazz. As a player with over 50 years of playing under my callouses, my collection is filled with many high-end guitars from Fender, Gretsch, Gibson, Yamaha, and even an old Vox (don't own a Collings, sorry), but would I recommend a new student start with one of those? Absolutely not when an instrument like that Squier is available. And with the Gretsch Streamliner series and fender's other Squier offerings, a new player can get into the fun for under $400 and have a right playable guitar to grow with.

[@breft3416]

The Squire is a copy of a Picasso that will break down if used like a workman's tool. The Collings is a workman's tool that is a Picasso.

[@LonePigsyAndCub]

True! I got a good year out of my Squier Bullet, but the neck has become bowed and the truss rod is as far as it will go.

[@hakarl_]

Surprised by how well it stays in tune in this vid.

[@monahantp3767]

how the factory preps the wood before use is a consideration as well. For example, US made PRS guitars spend much time drying the neck woods, cutting the necks, then letting the blanks sit for a while before actually turning them into necks with frets and all; I doubt the China made entry level guitars are seeing that kind of attention. Over time the PRS (or Collings) is going to last a lifetime of service, where the Squire might have a good few years before structural problems arise, not to mention other issues. However, for a child who wants to play, the Squire is likely better than that which I started on, and if the child decides to ditch the guitar for the trumbone instead-- the bank account isn't too badly hurt on a guitar that sits unplayed :D

[@vampolascott36]

I own a Collings mandolin and it is just so resonant and loud. Collings are mainly known for hand-built acoustic instruments with select tone woods. I'm not interested in their electric guitars though. My 6120 with TV Jones Dynasonics does everything your Collings does with more sonic personality and style. The 6120 is much cheaper too.

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

Fun video and just another example that musicality/tonality is ~95% the player and 5% the instrument. I wouldn't be surprised if that Squier would "fatten up" a bit with heavier strings and an EQ on the amp. Cheers to you for your fine vids.

[@aarontkacheve4595]

The p90 sound is incredible, but I’m pretty sure a gold top by Gibson or even ELP gold tops sound similar

[@lovelyguy5345]

The squier sounded good, the collings sounded AMAZING

[@user-jy3io4iz2p]

I love stupid comparissons 😎 With my bank balance fair chance the Squier wins 😂

[@jedmarsillo]

I'm pretty sure you could make a plank of wood with some rubber bands stapled to it sound good. Cool comparison though.

[@playthechanges]

What a fun video. Luxury .vs basic like comparing a Porsche to a Honda Civic. In the hands of Julian Lage or JC kind of makes sense, not really for your average schmoe. Amazing tone on the JL460 there's just no denying. I'm going to watch Autumn Leaves a few more times, very nice...

[@mathmusicstructure]

For me, my $400 Ibanez with jumbo frets > That Collings with medium frets. If I owned the Collings I'd almost never play it, and I guarantee I'd sell it.

[@dzungpham]

Gloss shiny nitro makes Collings look cheap, there are bunch of fingerprints on it. it reminds me of some expensive Gretsch, looks fancy but souless

[@neilevans6229]

That Collins regardless of price just sounds perfect

[@strings2wood]

This.

[@frankcarter6427]

that's cos you've seen it - in a blind test, it'd sound like a decent guitar

[@ScottsGuitar]

⁠​⁠@@frankcarter6427if it were a blind test where you actually played the 2, it wouldn’t be close though. If the only measure is that of recorded sound (not listening in the room) then yes it’s hard to truly quantify its value especially if you’re playing with any distortion.

[@bluwng]

Placebo. I bet if it was a cheap and I mean cheap Epiphone you wouldn’t say that.

[@frankcarter6427]

@@bluwng yep

[@erickmo1188]

Honestly…. That Squier sounds really really really good for being the cheapest guitar you’ve ever bought. They’re very different. And sound very different. And yes… I’d say the Collings sounds “better” but only because it’s very unique sounding. It has an open midrange and a top end that compresses in certain gain settings but stays sweet and articulate. The strat had a little bit less note separation… but man oh man. Still good

[@davedavid7061]

Im a cabinetmaker. I usually buy mid priced tools. But I wouldnt give a shit if someone bought higher end stuff

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I bet, if it were possible to switch out the pickups, the Strat would sound the same. I used to have a Squier Affinity Telecaster (also entry level). Selling it was my stupidest mistake. I loved the neck, just wasn’t crazy about the electronics, which could have easily been replaced.

[@GitShiddy]

The JL470...every time I here it, any situation, any player it's just the best sounding thing. I mean that DI sound was maybe the best clean sound I've heard ever. Mind altering guitar.

[@jaltsch1]

Tone differences could be partially a Gretsch / Fender thing more than an expensive / cheap thing.

[@Dan-of-NJ]

Love your channel. But...How can one really tell the difference in pick up quality when the sound is so overly processed with digital effects. You can make nearly anything sound good because it's oversaturated and digitally manipulate. I could hear the difference nonetheless but you're not hearing to true output of the pickups.

[@WindGLP]

At 7 min you have DI comparisons, cheers

[@philipmarsh3522]

$8k is a lot of money for a guitar. Anyone who doesn’t have your skill level is just buying it because it’s beautiful and rare. Nothing wrong with that but it isn’t really going to sound better in unskilled hands than a much less costly guitar.

[@randrothify]

This is why I never like buying very expensive guitars. I am not nearly good enough to get the most out of them and I certainly don’t like worrying about them getting a few dings. In fact, the cheaper the better. I get more excited about finding a diamond in the rough and then doing some upgrades that make it my own and not worrying about it picking up a few knocks. The only real necessity is it stays out of the way so that I don’t have to constantly re-tune, adjust the neck, etc. But all cheap guitars can be fixed up to get these issues mostly resolved, it just takes more tinkering and time. So I rarely go for the very cheapest options more out of practical considerations than principle.

[@peachmelba1000]

What bothers me about the Collings is for that price, it better not just be their version of a very old design. Yet, of course it is.

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

Honestly I don't care about sound of a guitar much the main difference in cheap v expensive is playability. Cheap ones can take more work, particularly doing fret work to get them there. To me the most important thing on a guitar is the neck and fret work. I could really care less about other things as long as they were working. You can use a 10band graphic eq and other ways to get a sound you like.

[@imacmadman22]

The thing I noticed is the Squier is very bright and lacks mid range which the Collings has in spades. I own a few Squiers and two of them are very good guitars and the other two are less so. I don't own a Collings and unless I win a lottery, I likely never will but they are clearly very lovely guitars. The thing about Squiers that strikes me is that they are tough to beat for the price.

[@kadourimdou43]

Now I realise the neck shape, fingerboard radius, comfort of body, type bridge, and general good level of build matter more. We have been convinced to pay more for the wood, like a guitar has become furniture.

[@jasondorsey7110]

Paul Reed Smith is the tonewood demagogue...his build quality is already impressively high, but he insists on pushing that wood angle anyway to try to set his product apart, and it's had quite a polarizing effect

[@ProducerLeon24]

They both sound great

[@SoulForty5Music]

Damn that Collings sounds nice.

[@pearsonart]

And you could probably balance the results more with a set of great pickups in the Squier. Lots of small companies making better pickups for not much money. Along those lines, I think the best option is to build your own - particularly if one is picky about things like neck profile, wood types, component quality, fit and finish. Buy the Squier and practice. Dial in too much gain and roll back the volume / tone. Jack Pearson loves them.

[@paulversey6589]

What is the song you play ? It's really nice ! I would like to learn it.

[@jamiebridson7871]

Autumn Leaves (a jazz standard)

[@paulversey6589]

Thank you ​@@jamiebridson7871

[@jmaripen]

Heritage has stickers in their scratch plates and I didnt rake mine off! Haha I should. 😆 Seriously though, they both sound good to me coz of your playing. Only my eyes can tell the price difference. Different tone characteristics, obviously, but at the end of the day you made them sound great. 👌

[@bluwng]

The Strat looks like a young man from many different genres would play and gig with it followed by some drinks on a hot day. The Collin’s look like a grandpa or some snobby jazz guy would play it only gig in a more refined small, clean venue and have no interest to speak with you let alone let you touch their guitar.

[@BeachJazzMusic]

There's definitely a difference both in build and in sound quality but on KZbin, at least, the sound is minimal. if you put the Collings up against a custom built Strat I think the price difference isn't going to be that much different. I think Fender is asking about 8,000.00 US to have a guitar custom made and with Collings that's what you're getting off the shelf. I have a friend that builds both archtops and solid bodies. He does them by hand with no CNC at all. He told me it takes just the same amount of time to build one as the other. Wood quality has a lot to do with the price. Fender doesn't use swamp ash anymore unless you custom order it and it's really expensive. I recently purchased an American made Fender Mustang for 1,400 US and played a Collings I-35LC (7,650 US) and while the Collings was made better I thought the Mustang played better, go figure. I think playability is the most important thing. You can have the most beautiful guitar with the best wood and best tone but if you can't play it, it's worthless.

[@Kevin-the-Just]

After all the discussion around the cost of parts and of manufacture, you are forced to wonder how much of the pricing structure, by all the major western builders, is actually about establishing a market position for their guitars. "If it's more expensive, it must be better." I don't believe a Gibson (or Fender) custom shop guitar is twice as good as a standard production guitar and yet they're twice the price. The work and parts that went into making them is almost exactly the same. Is the workmanship on a custom shop Gibson as good as a Collings - not in my experience. Yet they're pushing that price point now. That's just trading on brand desirability.

[@janures]

get a guitar you enjoy playing.. I would love the Colings, but in my financial situation I would be freaking out each time on the gig when I won't have it in my hands, that someone will steal it, or even the sound engineer will harm it while jumping around the stage

[@brazilianjosh]

Turns out, you can make good music with most instruments, no matter the cost. Sure, an expensive instrument can be inspiring, but there are loads of other sources of inspiration that don’t have to cost anything.

[@what1864]

yup , you can make good music with a bad instrument, and bad music with a good one ...

[@rescd4]

maybe Ron Ellis pickups are really that good and maybe on the way to Jake's, someone nicked it from your car and the insurance covered the replacement and 2 UK guitarists are very happy......just sayin'. Thanks for the Autumn Leaves playthrough

[@revolead]

I disagree, John. This needed to be made. Some things in life are just for fun. It also confirms I would rather have an inexpensive Strat than a costly pseudo-jazz LP thing (even though it sounds great). Of course, I'd mod the crap out of that Squier, but for me, that's more fun.

[@blackheart7886]

Expensive guitars just look nice on the wall, that's really about it these days.

[@nekkon1989]

I read "cheaper guitar giveaways" and I thought that that John was giving away the cheap guitar. Not the case 😢

[@bryancollins6796]

Collings guitars are luxury items. You spend the money on them because you can. A Squier is a playable anyone can buy.

[@carlcino]

People have to stop listening with their eyes

[@jaymax3201]

Sorry, but if I hadn't heard that it was a Collings, it would have looked like a $1000 Gretsch guitar. I can't really tell until I play it myself, the unplugged sound, the neck grip, the construction.

[@teerexness]

And the Gretsch guitar's Filtertrons would have sounded better.

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

I couldn't hear it well, but the subs said you bought the Squier from Amazon, but maybe you said Andertons. I think, when possible one should not buy from Amazon. They let their employees pee in a bottle on the workfloor, where I have no doubt employees at Andertons are allowed to go to a real toilet. What do we want to support?

[@davidyelland908]

The Collings just sounds like music. The Squier makes me stop listening almost immediately. If you are a career guitarist that matters. Would be interested to hear it next to the Gretsch Electromatic with de 14:05 Armonds.

[@zoomzoom3950]

I've paid some "stupid" money for guitars, my most expensive guitar to date being a Gittler titanium which would be one of the last guitars I'd sell. Some others include an Ibanez PS10, an EBMM Majesty (plan to get another) and currently 4 x EBMM Kaizen 6 (may get another). These are all in the sub-$4K range new. I've owned Gibson LP custom in the past, purchased new. and I'd never do it again.

[@serdar.saglam]

Collings is awesome. But you can make great music with Squier. It is a legit guitar

[@frealdohmohammed1388]

The price of guitars is only worth it or not according to the player. No one else can ever tell. They're all pink on the inside or something like that.

[@dnottis]

Everyone in the comments owns that mythical Squier that "plays better than a $2500 custom shop Fender". yea, sure.

[@Nightwinflyer]

John, if you took audio only clips from all your videos and used every piece of gear (expensive, cheap, tube, modeler, etc) then shuffled the audio around, nobody would be able to tell what gear was used. It is what you play and how you play, not what you play it with. An inexpensive guitar with proper fretwork and setup will play better than an expensive guitar that isn't.

[@timelwell7002]

You're not comparing like with like here, John. The Strat has an instrinsically bright tone, a little too much so for my taste - in common with many solid body guitars. Whereas the Collings, being hollow body by design, and with P-90s instead of 'ordinary' single coil pickups, has a far warmer and more pleasant tone. Perhaps a somewhat more apt comparison would be between a Squier Starcaster (costing between £275 - £425) which is ALSO a hollow body design - and the Collings, which if I understand correctly costs in excess of £8K. Alternatively, the Epiphone Les Paul Special with P-90s, even though of solid Mahogany construction, has an inately warmer tone than the Squier Strat. Therefor an LP Special might compare favourably with the Collings. I love your playing, as always. Here's a link to a Les Paul Special with P-90s, made by Edwards, being played by a jazz guitarist: kzbin.info?search_query=Edwards+Les+Paul+Special+P90+Jazz+Tone+kharchenko_guitar

[@craiger2399]

Why are you bringing a tele into this? I assume you're joking with this post?

[@timelwell7002]

@@craiger2399 Oops - a senior moment, I'm afraid... I've amended the comment accordingly. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@suedeface]

I kinda think the point of this was to skip the minutiae, that is for other channels. When playing through your standard rig, is the cheapest guitar so bad you couldn't use it? Is the most expensive guitar so magical you'd be missing out not using it.

[@timelwell7002]

@@suedeface I take your point. Even so, comparing like for like in terms of design gives a more accurate appraisal of the relative merits of either instrument.

[@teerexness]

If I was to pay Collings money for a guitar, it would have a fully bound neck and headstock. It would also have something nicer than the cheapo dots for fret markers. You know, like my $600 Gretsch Electromatic Pro Jet has.

[@raf889]

The Squier sounds better…

[@bradswanson6788]

Love the copium from the 95 percent of the commenters that can’t afford a Collings, LOL.

[@PDXASMR]

not stupid. throws water on G.A.S.

[@HarryBall-fw7pv]

Most of what makes any guitar sound good its the player. The rest is the electronics its run through. Maybe 2% wood quality. The question we all should be asking is. Are you ok with enslaving humans. And destroy the planet. For cheap crap. With the worse business practices and ethics, EVER.... Sweet jam as always!

[@YaYousef5]

That’s why I like Kiesel. The majority of their profit doesn’t come from exploiting people for cheap labor. If you’re fine with knowing these companies pay people less than a dollar a day, then you do you, cause I’m not okay with it. Ask yourself, if you knew a local coffee shop in your area was paying someone a dollar a day, would you support it? Why then is it okay when they’re in another country?

[@DesconectadoOaxaca]

I commend you for this. But I would only say that it's impossible you don't participate daily in supporting businesses and industries that do this exact thing

[@YaYousef5]

@@DesconectadoOaxaca true. It isn't about absolutes. We live in a works that's ethically bankrupt. It's about reducing my personal participation in it as much as possible. And it's really easy to do that with toys/hobby's like guitar.

[@JasonT-xp3kh]

Have you ever stopped to think that your world view doesn't apply to the whole world? Nor could it. Or, that maybe your views aren't correct? Maybe even damaging? It's fine if you don't want to participate, just leave it at that. Just don't try to impose your broken and warpped views on others. That's how blood gets spilled.

[@YaYousef5]

@@JasonT-xp3kh yeah, I thought about it. These guitar companies outsource the labor to Asia/Mexico so they can make cheaper instruments because they can pay the people making the guitar a lot less. That's the truth of the situation. It's not my personal world view. I choose not to participate in that horrible, unethical, slimey shit as much as possible especially when it comes to toys like guitars.

[@antoonhermans8953]

the squire is for the player , the collings for the rich dentist/laywer to brag about while its hanging on a wall and never gets played

[@shiftd_1114]

the opposite -

[@89digits59]

Collings is overrated, 8k is too much - 8000/130 = 61.5 - which means you can get about 62 Squier Debut for that one Collings - a lot of people who cannot afford even the Squier would be happier if someone could buy 62 Squier's and keep 2 and donate the balance 60. Like this comment if you agree 🙂

[@davedavid7061]

You first

[@RyanMcQuen]

They both sound bad.

[@johnokeefe3841]

Does this guy ever answer anything? If ya can't ask questions he's useless..