The Baby 1 is the smallest guitar Collings builds, roughly a three-quarter-size OM at 12 1/2" across the lower bout, with a Sitka spruce top over Honduran mahogany back and sides. The headstock and bridge are scaled down to match, and Collings says it gives up the deep bass of their bigger bodies for a balanced voice with volume enough for most uses.
The 24 1/8" scale lowers string tension, and the modified V neck has a 1 11/16" bone nut. It's built the same way as the full-size models, with a pre-war scalloped X-brace, a mortise and tenon hybrid neck joint, an ebony board and nitrocellulose lacquer. Tortoise binding, mother-of-pearl dots and a walnut backstrip make up the 1-style trim.
Collings says it travels well, and that it often ends up as a songwriting guitar kept ready to pick up. For rosewood and herringbone on the same body, look at the Baby 2H. Collings offers tops, finishes, trim and inlays for it, listed below.
The photo shows one example build.
Options for this model include:
- Adirondack, old-growth Sitka, European, Engelmann or torrefied spruce top
- Figured mahogany, cocobolo or figured maple back and sides
- Sunburst or Western shaded top, full-body sunburst, Doghair or Jet Black finish
- Adirondack bracing
- Abalone rosette or abalone top border
- Wood binding
- Peghead inlays (Torch, Flowerpot, Vine, Flourish, Rose)
- Fingerboard inlays (snowflakes, Tree of Life and others)
- Nut width and neck options
- Left-handed build
Price subject to change based on options chosen.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA (built in Austin, Texas)
Top: Sitka spruce
Back & Sides: Honduran mahogany
Brace Material: Sitka spruce
Brace Pattern: Pre-war scalloped X-brace
Body Binding: Tortoise with b/w/b/w top purfling
Rosette: b/w Purfling
Backstrip: 1-style (Walnut)
Pickguard: Tortoise
Body Finish: High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
NECK
Neck: Honduran mahogany
Neck Profile: Modified V
Neck Joint: Mortise & tenon hybrid
Scale Length: 24 1/8"
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP short dots
Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" compound
Fingerboard Binding: None
Frets: Medium 18% nickel-silver
Nut: Bone, 1 11/16"
Truss Rod: Fully adjustable
Peghead Profile: Square with volute
Peghead Veneer: Ebony with MOP Collings logo
Peghead Binding: None
Neck Finish: High gloss polyester resin
HARDWARE
Bridge: Ebony small belly-style with 2 3/16" spacing
Saddle: Bone, drop-in
Bridge Pins/End Pin: Ebony with MOP dot
Tuners: Nickel Waverly
Strings: D'Addario EJ-16 (.012"- .053")
DIMENSIONS
Body Width: 12 1/2"
Body Length: 17 1/8"
Body Depth: 3 15/16"
Total Length: 36 1/2"
CASE
Case: Deluxe hardshell case
