Collings I-35 LC Deluxe Custom Inlay/ThroBaks Electric Guitar in Rootbeer

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The Collings I-35 LC Deluxe in Rootbeer is a work of rare devotion, a guitar that stands as both tribute and testament to the unyielding pursuit of perfection that defined the late Bill Collings. Under his visionary hand, Collings Guitars became synonymous with instruments that blur the line between engineering and art. The I-35 LC Deluxe continues that legacy, a semi-hollow masterpiece whose every contour and detail hums with precision, warmth, and character. Its voice is refined and articulate, yet full of soul, as if each note carries a spark of the spirit that built it.

Crafted with figured maple laminate for both body and top, the I-35 LC Deluxe merges resonance and strength into a form that feels alive in the hands. The semi-hollow construction, anchored by a maple center block, brings a blooming sustain and a clarity that sings through every chord and solo. The deep, lustrous Rootbeer finish is a thing of quiet luxury, its tones of dark amber and gold shifting with the light, revealing the shimmering depth of the maple beneath. Grained ivoroid binding traces the body, fingerboard, and peghead like fine jewelry, framing the craftsmanship with elegant restraint.

The Honduran mahogany neck is shaped for perfect comfort, joined to the body with an extra-long mortise and tenon that maximizes tonal transfer and sustain. Beneath the fingers, the Madagascar rosewood fingerboard gleams like dark glass, adorned with custom parallelogram inlays that evoke the classic lineage of vintage archtops while asserting Collings’ unmistakable refinement. Each fret, each edge, each polished surface is shaped with the microscopic care that defined Bill Collings’ ethos—perfection not as a goal, but as a responsibility.

The ThroBak SLE101 Plus MXV humbuckers capture the soul of the finest vintage PAFs, with a voice that is warm, dynamic, and endlessly expressive. Wired in true 50s style with DiMarzio 500K pots and Jupiter Vintage Yellow capacitors, they translate touch into tone with astonishing fidelity. Whether played clean through a shimmering amp or pushed into overdrive, the sound remains rich and three-dimensional, with a responsiveness that rewards the most nuanced hands.

Nickel Gotoh tuners with small grained ivoroid buttons complement the Kluson ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece, all chosen for their balance of function and beauty. The high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, painstakingly applied and hand-polished, allows the wood to breathe and age gracefully, developing a depth of tone and character that only time can reveal.

At just over seven pounds, the I-35 LC Deluxe feels perfectly poised, its weight balanced as if it were born for the stage and the studio alike. Housed in its deluxe hardshell case, it stands as a shining example of what modern guitar-making can achieve when guided by a relentless devotion to craft.

The Collings I-35 LC Deluxe in Rootbeer is more than an instrument. It is a continuation of a legacy—a celebration of tone, touch, and the indelible mark left by Bill Collings on the world of music. Every note played upon it is a reminder that perfection, when pursued with love, becomes art.

Other specifications of the Collings I-35 LC Deluxe include: