Collings UC-1 (2009)

While the demand for Collings' guitars and mandolins has grown to such an extent that producing ukuleles is simply no longer viable for them as a company, this somewhat rare UC-1 from the company's brief seven year period of production shows that their ukes are just the same as their other instruments - truly exceptional. With an all-mahogany build sheet that immediately calls to mind classic vintage Martins of yesteryear, this concert-sized four-string has loads of high mids and a punchy, snappy tone even with under 20 years of playing in. Some of the appointments appear to be inspired by Martin's 17 Series guitars, with a multi-ring fiber rosette and grained ivoroid dot inlays on the fingerboard, but with a more traditional crown headstock. The real magic is however in this instrument's remarkably full voice; we have it strung with a low G to help show off how orchestral this compact little instrument can get.

This instrument arrived in our store on the upper end of very good condition. The only obvious wear is very light finish scuffing around the perimeter of the soundhole, which is really only visible when examined carefully under oblique lighting. Other wear is more or less nonexistent, and all parts (including the high end Wittner faux tension tuners) are original. The set up is excellent, with comfortable action and very mild relief for a big, rich sound totally without brittleness or dead frets. Included in the price is the original hard-shell case.

Specifications

Top Wood: Mahogany
Back and Sides Wood: Mahogany 
Width at Nut: 1.38"
Bracing Pattern: Fan
Scale Length: 15.06"
Frets to Body: 12 
Fingerboard and Bridge Wood: Indian rosewood
Body Binding: None
Rosette: Multi-ring
Headplate Material: Indian rosewood
Headstock Inlay / Logo: Collings logotype in mother-of-pearl
Neck Binding: None
Neck Shape: Slim profile
Fingerboard Side Dots: 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets 
Fingerboard Inlay: Grained ivoroid dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets
Pickguard: None
Tuners: Wittner ebony geared tension tuners
Electronics: None
Case: Original hard-shell case