!!! Waterloo WL-14LTR by Collings, 2017 Black

The Waterloo WL-14 is built by Collings guitars at their shop in Austin, to re-create some of the guitars from the American depression era of the late 1920s and 1930s. The results are extremely impressive – these guitars are very responsive and have great tone.

Check out the pages at www.waterlooguitars.com – it includes interviews with Bill Collings on why and how he has come to build these particular instruments.

The Waterloo WL-14 is a 14-fret guitar available in two basic versions, L and X, for Ladder or X braced. During the depression, Ladder bracing – bracing bars running across the top – was still common, and produce an open sound with lots of midrange. X bracing is now the default for any steel string guitar, and offers a tighter, more defined and balanced tone. As well, the necks can have either a carbon-fibre stiffening rod or a standard type adjustable truss rod.

Shown here is a WL-14 L TR version in black finish and white pickguard, so it has both the Ladder bracing and adjustable Truss Rod option. We also have the WL-14 X TR, also in black but with a ‘firestripe’ pickguard. Both are built with solid spruce top, solid mahogany for the back, sides and neck, and rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. Scale length is 24 7/8 inches and nut width is 1 3/4 inch.

One of the defining characteristics of these early models was their weight and Waterloo models share this. They are very light and responsive.

If you grew up in a time when the original depression era guitars were still in circulation, these will visually remind you of them – and surprise you at how great they sound. And of course, they are put together by some of the best builders and they play as you would expect from a Collings.

A Collings hardshell case is included.

Visit the Waterloo Guitars website to learn more about these exciting instruments!