2023 - Collings SoCo Deluxe, Iced Tea Burst

When you're undecided between a Les Paul and an ES-335 and conlcude you don't want a blend, but an evolution. The SoCo Deluxe is a luthier masterpiece. I find that Collings don't quite splurge on needless cosmetics (say, my favorite penchant for matching headstocks), but they nail the build, with super resonant instruments that exude quality. That said, this SoCo was custom-ordered and specced, and sports a rare quilt top that's very, very hard to accommodate, even for made-to-measure.