The DS3 is the most dressed of Collings' 12-fret slope shoulder dreadnoughts: East Indian rosewood under a Sitka spruce top, an abalone rosette, ivoroid binding with black and white purfling around the body, and ivoroid on the fingerboard and peghead as well. The ebony board is left clean of inlay, which keeps the eye on the binding and the abalone. Gold Waverly tuners and ebony bridge pins dotted with abalone finish the trim.
Underneath it shares the DS2H's working parts: pre-war scalloped X-bracing, a modified V neck with a 1 13/16" bone nut that gives the picking hand room, and a 12-fret joint that sets the bridge nearer the centre of the lower bout. Collings says that layout gives an open, airy voice with more warmth than its 14-fret dreadnoughts.
For herringbone trim on the same body, look at the DS2H. The 14-fret dreadnought at this trim level is the D3. The DS3 can also be built with Collings' options for tops, finishes, trim and inlays, which follow 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: E. Indian rosewood
Brace Material: Sitka spruce
Brace Pattern: Pre-war scalloped X-brace
Body Binding: Ivoroid with b/w/b/w/b purfling
Rosette: Abalone
Backstrip: 3-style (Chevron)
Pickguard: Tortoise
Body Finish: High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
NECK
Neck: Honduran mahogany
Neck Profile: Modified V
Neck Joint: Mortise & tenon hybrid
Scale Length: 25 1/2"
Fingerboard: Ebony with no inlay
Fingerboard Radius: 14" - 26" compound
Fingerboard Binding: .060" ivoroid
Frets: Medium 18% nickel-silver
Nut: Bone, 1 13/16"
Truss Rod: Fully adjustable
Peghead Profile: Tapered slotted square with volute
Peghead Veneer: Stained Exotic Ebony with MOP Collings logo
Peghead Binding: .100" ivoroid with b/w purfling
Neck Finish: High gloss polyester resin
HARDWARE
Bridge: Ebony belly-style with 2 3/8" spacing
Saddle: Bone, drop-in
Bridge Pins/End Pin: Ebony with abalone dot
Tuners: Gold 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
