Sale Pending-Collings 470 JL - Antiqued Black Top

The Collings 470 JL – Antiqued Black Top is a striking collaboration between Collings Guitars and Julian Lage, bringing together refined jazz sensibility and forward-thinking design in a fully hollow electric that’s as sonically profound as it is visually captivating. With meticulous attention to detail and a no-compromise approach to tone and playability, this guitar stands at the intersection of vintage vibe and modern precision.

At the heart of the 470 JL lies a fully hollow construction paired with a trestle block bracing system, giving the guitar exceptional resonance and feedback control without sacrificing that airy, open character. The body is crafted from solid Honduran mahogany, offering warmth and richness, while the maple laminate top adds a touch of snap and articulation—ideal for both clean, expressive phrasing and more dynamic, driven passages. The high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, presented in an aged Antiqued Black Top, adds to the vintage aesthetic while allowing the wood to breathe and mature sonically over time.

The Honduran mahogany neck, joined with an extra-long mortise and tenon for improved transfer of resonance, features the custom 470 JL neck profile (.850" at the 1st fret and .955" at the 9th), which feels substantial yet supremely ergonomic. The ebony fingerboard, bound in ebony and adorned with graduated pearl dot inlays, offers a smooth and luxurious feel. The 12" radius and medium nickel-silver frets provide a familiar playing surface for a variety of styles, whether you're comping jazz chords or articulating single-note lines.

Tone and responsiveness are taken to another level with a matched set of Ron Ellis Ellisonic pickups, uniquely voiced for this model and customizable in height, delivering clear, nuanced tones with a vintage sparkle and rich midrange. These pickups are enhanced by a thoughtfully voiced control layout featuring DiMarzio 500K pots, Jupiter Vintage Yellow capacitors, and Orange Drop treble bleed circuitry, ensuring tonal clarity across all volume settings. The 470 Wiring scheme includes a master volume and two tone controls, providing flexible, intuitive control over your sound. Classic black phenolic pickup rings and your choice of black/silver or black/gold reflector knobs round out the aesthetic with a clean, purposeful look.

Hardware-wise, the 470 JL is anchored by a Collings custom trapeze tailpiece and a pinned ebony base bridge with a tune-o-matic top and nylon saddles, blending the warmth of traditional archtop tone with enhanced intonation stability. Tuning is handled by relic nickel Waverly tuners with vintage oval buttons (16:1 ratio), offering silky smooth adjustment and rock-solid stability. Additional premium touches include a 1 11/16" Delrin nut, ebony peghead veneer with a mother-of-pearl Collings script logo, and a black/cream/black truss rod cover.

Measuring 13 1/2” at the lower bout, with a body depth of 1 13/16” and an overall length of 38 3/4”, the guitar is compact, balanced, and elegant in hand. At just 6 lbs 5 oz, it's remarkably lightweight, making it a dream to play for extended sessions. It comes complete with a deluxe hardshell case, ensuring it arrives and travels in style and safety.

The Collings 470 JL – Antiqued Black Top isn’t just a signature model—it’s a redefinition of what a modern hollowbody can be. It’s built to inspire, crafted to perform, and destined to become a modern classic.

Other specifications include:

• Construction Fully hollow w/ trestle block
• Body Solid Honduran mahogany
• Top Maple laminate
• Neck Honduran mahogany
• Body Binding Non-grained ivoroid
• Fingerboard Binding Ebony
• Peghead Binding None
• Bridge Pinned ebony base w/ tune-o-matic saddle top (nylon saddles)
• Tailpiece Collings Custom Trapeze
• Fingerboard Ebony w/ graduated pearl dots
• Fingerboard Radius 12"
• Pickups Ron Ellis Ellisonics (custom adjustable height)
• Pots/Caps DiMarzio 500K / Jupiter Vintage Yellow / Orange Drop Treble Bleed
• Knobs Black/Silver or Black/Gold Reflector Top
• Pickup Rings Black Phenolic
• Nut 1 11/16" Delrin
• Scale Length 24 7/8"
• Neck Joint Extra long mortise & tenon
• Frets Medium 18% nickel-silver
• Peghead Veneer Ebony w/ MOP Collings Script logo
• Peghead Profile 470 JL Haircut
• Tuners Relic nickel Waverly with vintage oval buttons (16:1 ratio)
• Wiring  470 Wiring (master volume, two tones)
• Guitar Finish High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
• Pickguard Acrylic Tortoise (1-ply) or Parchment (3-Ply)
• Truss Rod Cover Black/Cream/Black
• Strings D'Addario NYXL1149 (.011" - .049")
• Neck Profile 470 JL (1st Fret 0.850" / 9th Fret 0.955")
• Body Length 17 ⅜”
• Body Depth 1 13/16”
• Lower Bout Width 13 1/2”
• Total Length 38 3/4”
• Case Deluxe hardshell case
• 6 lbs 5 oz
• 25774

For more information on the Collings 470 JL, please contact us.

Product Images

Product Videos

Play

Comparing two different Collings I-35 LC Semi-Hollowbody Guitars

Play

Rickenbacker Guitars Factory and Museum Tour