Collings CJ-45 Traditional
Highly inspired by Gibson’s Wartime and early Post-War J-45, the CJ-45T is quite unique to the Collings lineup, offering a tone that is both vintage and modern, and an aesthetic that captures many of the details that we love of those 1940’s Gibsons while remaining firmly grounded in traditional Collings territory.
With its wide-X angle and 40’s bracing dimensions, significantly flatter back with narrow and tall braces, classic slope shoulder body shape and 4-7/8” depth, the guitar offers the midrange focus, dry and clean fundamental, quick attack and decay, and amazing string balance that a small-bridge vintage J-45 is famous for, and this example, ordered with a Sitka spruce top, is quite reminiscent of a post-war version of that model.
Collings, being Collings, made a few changes to the design that we’re big fans of – notably, the bridge features a wider 2-5/16” string spread (like a 1930’s Martin), and is carved of ebony (also, like a 30’s Style 18 Martin). The ebony adds some clarity, presence, and extra volume to the guitar, relative to what a rosewood bridge would offer; and the wider bridge pin spacing gives your right hand more space between the strings for cleaner picking.
The neck features a rounded and fairly deep carve but remains much more manageable than those ‘banner’ necks of the 1940s. It features a nut width of 1-3/4”, and a nicely rounded-over fingerboard wall. Waverly tuners are standard, as are bone nut and saddle, perfect frets, intonation, and set-up, and the most perfect finish-work in the biz. The traditional package lacquer is significantly thinner than a standard model Collings, too.
With original hardshell case.
USD $8200
Please contact us for current Canadian Dollar pricing
Individual instruments may vary slightly in appearance.
