I am a long time hoarder of guitars, sometimes cheap, sometimes not. I also build as a hobby. I've never seen a guitar made in numbers like collings make with the same quality and consistency. The best. Rest in Peace, Bill. Unmatched for giving people what they're paying for, and the more you know about guitars, the better the collings guitars look. He must be good to his work force, because guitars aren't made to that standard if people don't believe in what they're doing.
BILL Collings is a very special person he has a great talent!!!! I wish I could meet him!!! I am now learning to play the guitar at age 64, boy is it hard. I am determined to do it
GOOD for you, Miss Bonnie. I hope by now, you are smokin' it ... BTW: I am now in year 59. I cannot tell you all that a guitar has done for me (including tinnitus!).
I first met Bill Collings in Houston around 1979 or 1980 when I had a small guitar shop in the Montrose area. I also repaired instruments and got to know Bill when he came into my shop one day. I was also good friends with Rick Gordon, a Houston-based guitar player, and Bill had made an extraordinary acoustic for him. Shortly after seeing Rick's guitar, I ordered three guitars from Bill: two rosewood dreadnoughts and a mahogany 000. There was no Collings label or inlay on these guitars. I asked Bill to sign them so the signature could be seen in the soundhole, which he did. I sold the two dreadnoughts and kept the mahogany 000, which I play to this very day. Concidentally, in 1989, I bought a house between Dripping Springs and Oak Hill on a street call Rim Rock Trail. One day, I was driving around the other side of the street to go to the store and noticed an office warehouse with 'Collings' on the mailbox. Not believing it could be Collings' workshop, I stopped and went in and there was Bill. He gave me a quick tour of his (then) new digs. Bill would ride his motorcycle around Rim Rock Trail and, if I was outside working in the yard, he would stop and chat for a while. His newer factory is located across the street from Rim Rock Trail. Rest in peace, Bill. I feel honored to own an instrument that you made, personally, and I will always treasure your memory with every note I play.
What a nice story, I really hope to play more Collings, I cannot imagine how he could create such quality instruments w/o playing himself, but yea I have a Martin now, and will add a Collings some day.
One of the greats that changed so much about how one builds a great guitar has passed. We will miss you greatly, Bill! You have changed so many lives for the better, thank you for this.
My pal personally introduced me to Bill at the NAMM show, and I found him to be gregarious, precocious, and fun-loving kinda like me. I liked him right away. He also makes just about the best guitar that money can buy. Cancer is a thief. :'(
Bill was THE consummate luthier. The proof is in the playability, tone and exceptional fit and finish. I’m privileged to own two of the finest stringed instruments ever built-the Collings OM1 acoustic and Eastside LC jazzbox. Move over Stradivari!
My favorite flat top acoustic. One of my favorite archtop guitars too. That's says a lot. Bill was a nice guy and really normal when I met him some years ago. I've wanted a Collings so bad since 92? when they approached me about this new company making a Tony Rice model. It was stunning. Not that long ago, I got my Collings, it's impeccable and sounds great. Thanks Bill.......
My Collings D2H is the best guitar I've ever owned, hands down. I don't think I've ever taken it to a session or gig where I didn't have someone ask me about it after they heard it.
just heard Bill has passed...
I worked with that genius for 5 years...
R.I.P. BOSS!
I am a long time hoarder of guitars, sometimes cheap, sometimes not. I also build as a hobby. I've never seen a guitar made in numbers like collings make with the same quality and consistency. The best. Rest in Peace, Bill. Unmatched for giving people what they're paying for, and the more you know about guitars, the better the collings guitars look.
He must be good to his work force, because guitars aren't made to that standard if people don't believe in what they're doing.
BILL Collings is a very special person he has a great talent!!!! I wish I could meet him!!! I am now learning to play the guitar at age 64, boy is it hard. I am determined to do it
I'm doing the same at 59. We won't let ourselves be put to rest easily, shall we? R.I.P. M. Collings.
GOOD for you, Miss Bonnie. I hope by now, you are smokin' it ... BTW: I am now in year 59. I cannot tell you all that a guitar has done for me (including tinnitus!).
I'm 71 and have put the guitar aside for 45 years. Now I can afford a Collings and will be getting back into it!
I first met Bill Collings in Houston around 1979 or 1980 when I had a small guitar shop in the Montrose area. I also repaired instruments and got to know Bill when he came into my shop one day. I was also good friends with Rick Gordon, a Houston-based guitar player, and Bill had made an extraordinary acoustic for him. Shortly after seeing Rick's guitar, I ordered three guitars from Bill: two rosewood dreadnoughts and a mahogany 000. There was no Collings label or inlay on these guitars. I asked Bill to sign them so the signature could be seen in the soundhole, which he did. I sold the two dreadnoughts and kept the mahogany 000, which I play to this very day.
Concidentally, in 1989, I bought a house between Dripping Springs and Oak Hill on a street call Rim Rock Trail. One day, I was driving around the other side of the street to go to the store and noticed an office warehouse with 'Collings' on the mailbox. Not believing it could be Collings' workshop, I stopped and went in and there was Bill. He gave me a quick tour of his (then) new digs. Bill would ride his motorcycle around Rim Rock Trail and, if I was outside working in the yard, he would stop and chat for a while. His newer factory is located across the street from Rim Rock Trail.
Rest in peace, Bill. I feel honored to own an instrument that you made, personally, and I will always treasure your memory with every note I play.
What a nice story, I really hope to play more Collings, I cannot imagine how he could create such quality instruments w/o playing himself, but yea I have a Martin now, and will add a Collings some day.
One of the greats that changed so much about how one builds a great guitar has passed. We will miss you greatly, Bill! You have changed so many lives for the better, thank you for this.
This should be required viewing in all middle and high schools in the US!
Really enjoyed watching this. I had no idea he was born and raised just north of where I was.
Amazing story , truly appreciated
My pal personally introduced me to Bill at the NAMM show, and I found him to be gregarious, precocious, and fun-loving kinda like me. I liked him right away. He also makes just about the best guitar that money can buy. Cancer is a thief. :'(
RIP Bill, i will have my mandolin you made for me forever and pass it along in the family. Thank you sir, you will be greatly missed.
Bill was THE consummate luthier. The proof is in the playability, tone
and exceptional fit and finish. I’m privileged to own two of the finest stringed instruments
ever built-the Collings OM1 acoustic and Eastside LC jazzbox.
Move over Stradivari!
My favorite flat top acoustic. One of my favorite archtop guitars too. That's says a lot.
Bill was a nice guy and really normal when I met him some years ago.
I've wanted a Collings so bad since 92? when they approached me about this new company making a Tony Rice model.
It was stunning. Not that long ago, I got my Collings, it's impeccable and sounds great.
Thanks Bill.......
Rest in peace Bill.
Thank you for all that you have done.
My Collings D2H is the best guitar I've ever owned, hands down. I don't think I've ever taken it to a session or gig where I didn't have someone ask me about it after they heard it.
Wow. This was great! coming from the future owner of an OM1AV! :o)
Huge loss. Very sorry to hear this news
Good stuff!!
I see M. Collings rode a Ducati Scrambler. Tasty too!
R.I.P. Bill Collings
He makes even better mandolins. They are considered the best of the best.
I own the best guitar I've ever played.. Collings OM1
Not one flaw on this guitar. Utterly perfect.
Fare The Well Bill