CONDITION: brand new

Some things are simply better in pairs. With a double-cutaway mahogany body and dual hand-wound P90 pickups from Jason Lollar, the 290 DC offers unhindered access to the upper frets and a wide range of tonal possibilities. From pristine clean tones with rich harmonic complexity to hard-hitting classic rock sounds, there are few bases the 290 DC cannot cover. This one is set up with a tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece, which brings precise intonation up the neck and that familiar, solidly anchored feel under the strings.

CRAIG'S POV
For me, there are very few truly iconic guitar shapes, and in the solid body electric world the double cut "special" is one of them. Just looking at one brings up so many images of great players ripping solos on specials: Leslie West, Steve Hunter on Lou Reed's live version of "Sweet Jane," and on and on. You know that killer sound of a cranked mahogany and P90 monster. This one has all of that, and a good deal more.

This is one of my favorite Collings guitars, period. It's got the look, the feel and the vibe, and this time it comes wearing a tobacco sunburst that is simply classic and gorgeous. I don't know of anyone doing a better job with finish work than the folks in Austin, and this one is a knockout.

This one is fitted with a tune-o-matic and stop bar. It puts the strings right where you expect them, gives you exact intonation across the board, and the stop bar sinks that energy straight into the mahogany.

I've been a professional guitarist for a lot of years, and while this guitar will scream when you want it to scream, I'd take it on any gig anywhere. It's that versatile. The P90s bleed a big bluesy sound, but a few turns of the volume and tone knobs and you're playing a jazz standard.

The neck here is the Collings '60s carve, which is a departure from the '50s profile I usually spec on these. It's slimmer through the shoulders and closer to what you'd find on a Gibson from around 1962 to 1964, but make no mistake, there is still real wood in your hand. It's fast without being thin, and the rolled fingerboard edges and fretwork are as good as it gets. If the fatter '50s carve has ever been a sticking point for you, this is the one to play.

The body has a beautifully executed tummy cut and is carved at the bottom as well (see the photos), which makes it a supremely comfortable guitar to hold whether you're standing or sitting. The double cut gives you real access up top. It's just an eminently playable instrument.

Plenty of makers, large and small, build a special style guitar with mahogany and P90s. I think this is the best of them, bespoke builders included.

Most of all, and this is something you'll recognize the moment you pick it up, it's a blast to play. Fun from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece, every part of it. It begs for a long rainy afternoon so you can skip the chores and play away to your heart's content. A great example of a great model. You'll love it.

YEAR 2026
SERIAL # 290DC26608
BODY solid Honduran mahogany, double cutaway
NECK Honduran mahogany
NECK SHAPE Collings '60s carve
FINGERBOARD East Indian rosewood
FINGERBOARD RADIUS 12"
INLAYS grained ivoroid dots
FRETS medium jumbo
NUT WIDTH 1 11/16"
SCALE LENGTH 24 7/8"
BODY DEPTH 1 5/8"
BODY LENGTH 17"
LOWER BOUT WIDTH 13 1/2"
FINISH tobacco sunburst, gloss nitrocellulose
PICKUPS two custom P90 style by Jason Lollar
KNOBS amber top hat
WIRING '50s style
BRIDGE tune-o-matic
TAILPIECE stop bar
TUNERS Gotoh SG301 vintage style
PEGHEAD VENEER ebony
WEIGHT 7.0 lbs
CASE Collings hardshell