The DS1 A HC is Collings' 12-fret slope shoulder dreadnought built to the Hill Country recipe: an Adirondack spruce top over Honduran mahogany back and sides, braced with Collings' Hill Country scalloped X pattern in Sitka spruce. The pickguard is hand-poured tortoise with a matching rosette ring, wedge and heel cap, and the Collings logo is stamped on the back of the peghead with nothing on the front.
With the neck meeting the body at the 12th fret, the bridge sits nearer the centre of the lower bout than it does on a 14-fret dreadnought. Collings describes the Hill Country voice as warm, woody and dry with a full low end, and expects bluegrass players to feel at home with it in a jam.
For the same Hill Country build in East Indian rosewood, look at the DS2 A HC. The 14-fret Hill Country dreadnought is the D1 A HC. Collings' options for tops, finishes, trim and inlays are 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)
Construction: Hill Country Build and Voicing
Top: Adirondack spruce
Back & Sides: Honduran mahogany
Brace Material: Sitka spruce
Brace Pattern: Hill Country scalloped X-brace (abbreviated soundboard graft (tongue brace))
Body Binding: Tortoise
Rosette: Hand-poured ring from matching pickguard set
Backstrip: 1-style (walnut)
Pickguard: Hand-poured tortoise w/ matching rosette ring, wedge, and heel cap
Body Finish: High gloss ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer
NECK
Neck: Honduran mahogany
Neck Profile: DS Hill Country
Neck Joint: Mortise & tenon hybrid
Scale Length: 25 1/2"
Fingerboard: Ebony with gold MOP dots
Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" compound
Fingerboard Binding: Ebony
Frets: Medium 18% nickel-silver
Nut: Aged bone, 1 3/4"
Truss Rod: Fully adjustable
Peghead Profile: Tapered slotted square with volute
Peghead Veneer: Ebony with no Collings Logo on front and stamped logo on back
Peghead Binding: None
Neck Finish: High gloss ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer
HARDWARE
Bridge: Ebony belly-style with 2 5/16" spacing
Saddle: Aged bone, cutthrough
Bridge Pins/End Pin: Ebony
Tuners: Relic Nickel Waverly
Strings: D'Addario EJ-17 (.013"- .056")
DIMENSIONS
Body Width: 15 5/8"
Body Length: 20 7/8"
Body Depth: 4 7/8"
Total Length: 40 1/8"
CASE
Case: Deluxe hardshell case
