Although I had never held one, one of my dream ukes has always been a Collings, especially one with a satin finish, to which I am partial. Everything I read about them seemed... perfect.
Just a couple days ago I was thrilled to find on-line a used "Walnut" UT1 at the Guitar Center in Pasadena, listed in "Excellent" shape for $724 (plus tax and shipping came to just under $800). Suspecting that it would sell fast, I bought it essentially unseen, based on one single tiny thumbnail photo on my phone.
I've received the uke, and darn it all, it's not as I hoped.
I'm not entirely sure I know what i'm seeing, and wanted to ask the community. Maybe one of you even looked at it in Pasadena.
Fairly certain it's hog and not walnut - no prob.
There's a bad ding on the headstock, which is disappointing but not intolerable. A smell of cigarette smoke makes me more leery.
But worst of all, rather than the expected satin finish, it comes with a highly reflective gloss finish, seen with a kind of orange peel surface in certain light (the dimples are very tiny and i'm not able to show this with a photograph). As seen in photos, there is some kind of crud on the bridge and end of the fretboard.
Has this uke been refinished or over-sprayed?
(Would a Collings ever have that slight orange peel finish?)
Fortunately it should be an easy return, but I wanted to learn from folks here who know Collings (and finishing processes) first. Thought it best to give a heads up to the next buyer as well.
Serial number is an early #548, and it has the wonderful haircut headstock that I understand was on the early UT1.
Darn.
Just a couple days ago I was thrilled to find on-line a used "Walnut" UT1 at the Guitar Center in Pasadena, listed in "Excellent" shape for $724 (plus tax and shipping came to just under $800). Suspecting that it would sell fast, I bought it essentially unseen, based on one single tiny thumbnail photo on my phone.
I've received the uke, and darn it all, it's not as I hoped.
I'm not entirely sure I know what i'm seeing, and wanted to ask the community. Maybe one of you even looked at it in Pasadena.
Fairly certain it's hog and not walnut - no prob.
There's a bad ding on the headstock, which is disappointing but not intolerable. A smell of cigarette smoke makes me more leery.
But worst of all, rather than the expected satin finish, it comes with a highly reflective gloss finish, seen with a kind of orange peel surface in certain light (the dimples are very tiny and i'm not able to show this with a photograph). As seen in photos, there is some kind of crud on the bridge and end of the fretboard.
Has this uke been refinished or over-sprayed?
(Would a Collings ever have that slight orange peel finish?)
Fortunately it should be an easy return, but I wanted to learn from folks here who know Collings (and finishing processes) first. Thought it best to give a heads up to the next buyer as well.
Serial number is an early #548, and it has the wonderful haircut headstock that I understand was on the early UT1.
Darn.
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