Collings I-30 LC Electric Guitar in Charcoal Frost

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The Collings I-30 LC in Charcoal Frost is an instrument that seems to carry both elegance and electricity in its very being. Its fully hollow maple laminate body, braced with carefully designed parallel trestle supports, creates a guitar that is at once resonant and alive, responsive to the lightest touch yet capable of roaring when pushed. The high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer in Charcoal Frost reveals subtle depth and richness, a finish that shifts in the light like smoke over steel, perfectly complementing the guitar’s vintage-inspired silhouette. At 5 pounds 11 ounces, it feels wonderfully balanced, light in the hands and ready to spring into sound with effortless energy.

The maple body and top are framed by non-grained ivoroid binding, offering a graceful contrast to the darker tones of the finish. Every line of its construction speaks to precision, from the 17 5/8" body length to the slender 1 5/8" depth, a profile that makes the instrument both elegant and comfortable to hold. The Honduran mahogany neck is carved with care and joined to the body with an extra-long mortise and tenon, ensuring strength, resonance, and an unshakable connection between player and instrument. The rosewood fingerboard, bound in matching ivoroid, glows warmly beneath the hand, its mother-of-pearl long dots understated yet striking.

At the heart of the I-30 LC’s voice are its Lollar Dog Ear P90s with custom phenolic covers. These pickups capture every nuance of the hollow body’s breath, from delicate, shimmering cleans to growling, raw-edged overdrive. Paired with CTS 500K pots, Jupiter Vintage Yellow capacitors, and wired in classic 50s style, the electronics deliver tones that feel alive, dynamic, and full of character. Black top hat knobs provide a vintage touch, while the unbound f-holes give the body a direct, open presence. Every note resonates with a clarity that feels both woody and electric, bridging the worlds of acoustic resonance and amplified fire.

The hardware complements this finely tuned instrument with equal thoughtfulness. A Kluson ABR-1 bridge, nickel-plated zinc with retaining wire, ensures stability and classic style, while the original Collings trapeze tailpiece adds elegance and sustain. Nickel Gotoh tuners, detailed with the Collings logo, provide precise tuning and a touch of subtle refinement. The ebony peghead veneer bears the Collings logo in mother-of-pearl, while the haircut profile adds distinction without excess. The black and cream layered pickguard and truss rod cover frame the Charcoal Frost finish with bold, clean lines, a reminder of Collings’ mastery of both detail and proportion.

With its 24 7/8" scale length and 1 11/16" nut, the I-30 LC plays with effortless ease. The 12" fingerboard radius and medium nickel-silver frets allow for fluid movement across the neck, whether exploring gentle jazz voicings, chiming pop chords, or blues-inflected bends. Strung with D’Addario NYXL1149s, the guitar responds with strength and elasticity, ready to meet the player’s intent in any style.

The Collings I-30 LC in Charcoal Frost is a study in refined simplicity and resonant power. It offers a voice that is rich yet unencumbered, vintage-inspired yet unmistakably modern in its precision. With its hollow body construction, impeccable electronics, and sleek finish, it invites the player into a world of tonal possibilities that are as versatile as they are inspiring. Safely housed in its deluxe hardshell case, it is not only a guitar to be admired but one to be played, cherished, and allowed to sing in every setting it enters.

Other specifications of the I-30 LC include: