Ukulele Eddie
Well-known member
My Rotating Uke Program continues. Rotating in this morning was a 2009 production UC2 that had been bought by a collector but unplayed. Well, that was the story I was told by the store who sold it to me. It certainly looks unplayed with no marks anywhere. Nada. Zip. It could've just rolled out of the finishing department at Collings based on the look (cleaner than many I've seen in stores).
The Mahogany wood is absolutely elegant, very deep in color with nice figuring and a very tasteful tortoise binding. And Collings sure does outstanding finish work. Every detail appears perfect. I've heard some people comment they don't like that they use CNC machines for some of the production. When the finished product looks and sounds this good, it's a bit hard to knock their process.
It still had the (crappy) original Aquila Nylguts which they used to use. I loathe those strings. What is it? Just the sound, the feel and the look. Other than that, they're fine. ;-).
I wanted to throw on some Aquila Reds since I've loved them on everything I've tried them on so far and since I've really become accustomed to their feel. Alas, I discovered I didn't have any more of the right sets (arrrggghh! quickly ordered a bunch more sets!). So I put on a set of Living Water strings, another string I have come to like on a variety of instruments.
I'm very keen to see if I fall in love with Collings to anywhere close to the degree so many others have.
By the way, if you're in the market of a UC2, McCabes has one with rope binding (an up charge) for $1,750, I believe. That's the best price I've seen on a new UC2 by no small margin.
Here is the UC2 with my Clara (and sitting on @coolkayak's favorite floor; right, Steve? ;-)
View attachment 68288
I might have to pour a nice Highland Scotch and just admire my babies tonight. ;-)
Best, Eddie
P.S. If you're in the market for a killer soprano, my Mark Pereira deep body soprano will be seeking a new home in latter July when the Mrs. brings it back from Japan. Will be very sad to see that one go since he is not taking orders (still producing ukes here and there, but they are only spec units and tend to be large size).
The Mahogany wood is absolutely elegant, very deep in color with nice figuring and a very tasteful tortoise binding. And Collings sure does outstanding finish work. Every detail appears perfect. I've heard some people comment they don't like that they use CNC machines for some of the production. When the finished product looks and sounds this good, it's a bit hard to knock their process.
It still had the (crappy) original Aquila Nylguts which they used to use. I loathe those strings. What is it? Just the sound, the feel and the look. Other than that, they're fine. ;-).
I wanted to throw on some Aquila Reds since I've loved them on everything I've tried them on so far and since I've really become accustomed to their feel. Alas, I discovered I didn't have any more of the right sets (arrrggghh! quickly ordered a bunch more sets!). So I put on a set of Living Water strings, another string I have come to like on a variety of instruments.
I'm very keen to see if I fall in love with Collings to anywhere close to the degree so many others have.
By the way, if you're in the market of a UC2, McCabes has one with rope binding (an up charge) for $1,750, I believe. That's the best price I've seen on a new UC2 by no small margin.
Here is the UC2 with my Clara (and sitting on @coolkayak's favorite floor; right, Steve? ;-)
View attachment 68288
I might have to pour a nice Highland Scotch and just admire my babies tonight. ;-)
Best, Eddie
P.S. If you're in the market for a killer soprano, my Mark Pereira deep body soprano will be seeking a new home in latter July when the Mrs. brings it back from Japan. Will be very sad to see that one go since he is not taking orders (still producing ukes here and there, but they are only spec units and tend to be large size).