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Gryphon is proud to present to you...the elusive Collings varnish finish! Much has been made of this finish and what its' tonal possibilities are, and to the cynic it may seem ike voodoo. However, this guitar (and the other varnish finish Collings we have had the pleasure of enjoying and selling) has a very different tone compared to an already excellent sounding D2H. What strikes me immediately is the woody, musical treble response. It can prove to be difficult in writing or expressing descriptions of sound, but striking a chord on this guitar I am immediately reminded of similarities to it and my personal '65 Martin D-28. While the Collings still has the "zing" of a new guitar, it also has the complexities and mellow but bold sound that is to be experienced in a vintage dreadnought. Adjectives that pop into mind include resonant, rich, punchy and musical. I hope to be able to hear this guitar again in a few years; sounding this great when new will only lead to a stellar future tone. -Derek
The following passage is from Collings FAQ's which gives an excellent expanation of the nature of varnish:
"7. How is the varnish finish option different from the standard lacquer finish?
Varnish is a softer and therefore more flexible finish material. While there are subtle tonal advantages to the varnish finish, this option is not for everyone. Unlike lacquer, the process for applying varnish is not conducive to "finish touch-ups", meaning that we cannot repair some minor imperfections such as small pinholes, bubbles, or sinks. While we've always taken pride in our high standard for fit and finish, we cannot produce varnish instruments to the level of cosmetic "perfection" as we can with our lacquer finish instruments. The varnish finish has a beautiful, rich luster, but may include very small imperfections when put under close examination.
Additionally, the softer finish is not as protective as the harder lacquer finish. The alkyd resin-based varnish finish is very slow to cure and can be relatively soft on new instruments. The finish will continue to harden as the instrument ages, but new varnish instruments can be vulnerable to scratches, dings, and imprinting. By its very nature, varnish can shrink, wrinkle, and/or dull over time and is not likely to maintain a "new" apperance as well as lacquer instruments. With that said, the varnish finish allows the instrument to vibrate more freely and can produce a more responsive instrument with a greater depth of tone." | |
