• Model: I-35 LC Vintage
• Finish: Faded Cherry
• Ageing: Factory Aged
• Body Construction: Semi-Hollow Laminate
• Body Style: Double Cutaway
• Centre Block: Solid Centre Block Construction
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 24 7/8"
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"
• Frets: 22
• Inlays: Parallelogram Inlays
• Pickup Configuration: HH
• Current Pickups: ThroBak SLE-101 Plus MXV Humbuckers
• ThroBak Pickup Documentation: Included
• Controls: 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone
• Switching: 3-Way Toggle Pickup Selector
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic Style
• Tailpiece: Stopbar
• Hardware: Nickel
• Finish Treatment: Collings Vintage Aged
• Case: Original Collings Hardshell Case
• Country: USA
• Year: 2017

This is a superb early I-35 LC Vintage and exactly the sort of guitar that demonstrates why Collings has such a strong reputation for semi-hollow instruments. The Faded Cherry finish and Vintage ageing give it a beautifully understated, old-guitar appearance, with just enough checking and patina to take the shine off a modern instrument without looking artificially overworked.

The I-35 LC takes the familiar semi-hollow formula and applies Collings’ exceptionally precise build quality to it. The more compact body feels extremely comfortable compared with a full-sized 335, while still retaining the openness, resonance and woody character that make centre-block semi-hollows so versatile. The shorter 24 7/8" scale also gives it a slightly softer, more relaxed feel under the fingers.

A particularly interesting feature of this example is the fitted ThroBak SLE-101 Plus MXV humbuckers. These are serious vintage-PAF-style pickups and a very high-end upgrade, designed around painstakingly recreated late-’50s construction methods. They suit the I-35 beautifully, giving plenty of openness, harmonic detail and woody midrange rather than simply adding output. The accompanying ThroBak documentation is included with the guitar.

The combination of the Faded Cherry finish, factory Vintage ageing and ThroBak electronics makes this an especially appealing example. It has all the refinement expected from Collings but with a much more broken-in, vintage-inspired personality than their cleaner standard builds.

Excellent condition. The lacquer checking, finish wear and hardware patina are part of Collings’ original Vintage Aged treatment rather than subsequent damage. Beyond the intentional ageing, the guitar presents very cleanly overall with only light signs of careful use.

Currently fitted with ThroBak SLE-101 Plus MXV humbuckers, with the accompanying ThroBak documentation included. Supplied with its original Collings hardshell case.

https://www.youtube.com/@squealingpigguitars