Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Folks. I thought I would post just a few quick pics of the latest labour of love from my friend, Luthier Mike Collins. I have been fortunate to have had Mike build me several guitars over the years and he NEVER dissapoints This latest is a 14 fret Nylon string W/cut-a-way, Ebony board and bridge, Africian Olive wood sides and back w/mastergrade ( of course) ceder top. I will post a few better pics in a few days....right now I cant stop playing it!!! still have top install the LR Baggs pickup system.
...remeber to click on the pic
:







sorry for the hurried photos...a lot going on today..oh well...got to get back to playing this baby

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Drinkin' up the future, livin' down the past.

Congrats... Mike's work is always inspiring.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Thanks LCH & Brock !
The B & Sides are Olivewood from Hibdon Hardwood .
A OLF Sponcer.
The wood was ready to use when they sent it to me .
NO drying problems .
If I recall Koa was to be the B & S wood.
But when he saw the Olive he just went I WANT THAT WOOD FOR MY GUITAR !!!!

A 14 fret Classical is not so rare anymore ,but is a bit tougher to get the right tone out of !
Especially with a cutaway.

I wish you could hear LCH play !!
He's a ONE of a kind !
One of the best I've ever heard !

Mike

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Mike Collins

Very nice!

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Build log

Congrats to both of you! Looked like a fun build Mikey, lots of inlay on that one as well. The cutaway proportions look great to me!

Shane

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Canada

Shane-lefty/righty I forget which hand you injured !!

That's one of the tops I got from you when we first hooked up !!
It's a killer piece !!

Everybody need some bling !
pearl works so great on guitars !!

How's Biz??

Mikey

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Mike Collins

I always love Mike's work! Mike, you inspire me to excellence!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

What a fine looking instrument.
Mike, kudos to you! I can see why you havd a repeat customer.
And LCH, your excitement is quite understandable.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Beautiful Mike! What's your technique for getting the headblock mortise perfect so the jazz style heel lines up flush with the side of the cutaway?
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Terry;
I make the neck block 2mm less then the width of the f.b. .
This is for the side(2mm thick) to be flush with the f.b.
This one is a bolt on neck-usually I use a Sp.Foot which is a bit tougher then a bolt on.

Thanks guys!
Mike

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Mike Collins

Do you rout the mortise into the headblock before it's glued in or after the body is complete Mike?
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Before it's glue in Terry.
I find it easier that way.

I glue the block to the top first then fit the sides.
Maybe I'm backwards but it works for me.

Mike

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Mike Collins

Thanks Mike
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hi Folks, Just had to post a few more pics of my latest from Mike Collins now with the electronics installed. We used an L.R. Baggs "Element Onboard Stage Pro" and I am glad we did!! This thing sounds incredable without the electronics but even more mind boggeling with them
After talking with Mike about some concerns I had with other guitars in the past ( not his) we decided to mount the controls on the lower bout. Works GREAT!....dont forget...click on the pics







Could not resist posting this pic of the tieblock

Just cant thank Mike enough for his fine work and dedication!!

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Drinkin' up the future, livin' down the past.

i've got to thank Hibdon Hardwood for the great set of Olivewood.
It was a joy to work with.
The Baggs system is just so well engineered .
You can't go wrong with their stuff.

Mike
Thanks LCH

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Mike Collins

Nice Mike, I really like the headstock and bridge, beautiful work.

Thanks Marc;
The bridge shape was LCH's design .
The Head is one of my regular ones with the inlays LCH wanted.
looks killer to me !
But I'm a bit bias .

take care
Mc

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Mike Collins

Oh Mike! I'm so disappointed!

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Waddy

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