How can I describe the wait from the moment of ordering and receiving this superb guitar…? Long, very long, 4 years in fact, ordered in mid-2021, the beauty one finally arrived here at Leadmusic in January 2025, it’s crazy, isn’t it? But the wait was worth it, as these instruments are rare in Collings production and this Colligns 470JL is a killer axe !!

We are familiar with the Signature Model acoustic versions, Julian Lage having previously worked with Collings on his OM-type Signatures model. Collings and this fabulous artist have finally developed his signature electric model, the 470 JL, which is a marvel and is completely hollow, except for a reinforcement block under the bridge. The body is solid Honduran mahogany and the top is plywood maple. The neck is also Honduran mahogany and has a profile that combines “C” and “V”. The ebony fingerboard accommodates 22 frets for a rather unusual scale of 24.875 inches and has a super comfortable radius of 12 inches. This guitar is a marvel of dynamics, comfort and obviously timbres, on the one hand thanks to the overall quality and on the other hand thanks to the pickups which include two Dynasonic type wound by Ron Ellis Ellisonics. Julian Lage chose these pickups for their vintage sound. They are controlled by a master volume and two tone controls. The hardware consists of a Bigsby B3 vibrato, a Tune-o-Matic bridge placed on an ebony base and vintage tuners with oval buttons. Everything is coated with a fine nitrocellulose varnish and obviously exudes the quality and immense know-how of the famous American company.

When European stores offer them new for €8,000 excluding taxes (and some used ones have sold and are available for €7,500 online) but above all there are only 5 or 6 stores in the solar system that have them in stock, here is an extremely rare guitar that will obviously keep its value over the years.