sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Took delivery of a Waterloo WL-14XTR today. It's not a Gibson, but it is inspired by the old L-00's, so I thought it was somewhat appropriate to post here. never owned a guitar this small, and so far I'm digging it. Forces you to play differently than I do my AJ and HD-28, that's for sure! I know some have scoffed at the price tag of these given how sparse they are in appointments, etc. Well here's why I chose one of these instead of a new Gibson L-00. This thing out of the case has incredible fit and finish with ZERO issues. The little glue globs that you can see on the bracing are intentional, but aside from that it's immaculate. Intonation is perfect, nut is cut perfect, neck angle is perfect and the action is perfect. I've never played a guitar from Martin or Gibson that I can say that about. So these things, along with it being built by a "taller" company are why the price is so high on these. Also, I've played a few of these now, and they are VERY consistent form one to the other. This made me less nervous about ordering one online from a reputable dealer without playing it first. Can't say I'd do that with a Gibson or Martin. I'm starting to think these Waterllos are like a gateway drug. I'm kind of getting sucked in, and almost see my next guitar being a Collings down the line. Still, nothing beats my AJ, but the Waterloo is a great couch companion and songwriting companion for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Nice! I have a WL-K coming on Monday. Sort of bought it by "accident". Looking forward to seeing if it agrees with me. Enjoy yours! She's a beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Nice! I have a WL-K coming on Monday. Sort of bought it by "accident". Looking forward to seeing if it agrees with me. Enjoy yours! She's a beauty. This is the one I wound up with. I played a couple of the WL-K last weekend, but the regular one and one had a desert scene painted on it. In all honesty I thought that was the model that would be going home with me, but I just seemed to prefer the 14 fret Waterloos over the 12 fretters. The big surprise was the Jumbo King. I may have to pick one of those up at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Wow............it's a looker! 14 frets is a winner too! Is the neck more "C" or "V"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Wow............it's a looker! 14 frets is a winner too! Is the neck more "C" or "V"? Its a fairly chunky, prominent V. The also offer this model in a lower profile, less prominent V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 beautiful guitars. Congratulations, I do not own one but have played them and really like them. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozz Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Very nice, man. They really know how to build guitars down there in Austin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Congrats.... looks purdy. Enjoy it. I'm afraid if I try these SCGC and Collings guitars, it would be hazardous for my wealth.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie King Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I can say that the Waterloo guitars have a better fit and finish that Gibsons at a higher price point and any glue inside is less than some of the Gibsons I own and while Bill Collings says they don't sand the braces as much as on a Collings, they do sand them more than a Gibson. They are GREAT guitars for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie King Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Congrats.... looks purdy. Enjoy it. I'm afraid if I try these SCGC and Collings guitars, it would be hazardous for my wealth.... Yeah that C10-35 Collings is a siren song I am fighting with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Haven't played one myself recently. It sure looks good from here. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Congrats on your new guitar- i have the same guitar except a c-profile neck and left handed build. I must say i like the bursts from collings best of all, none do it better in my eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Great! I have the Ladder Braced with truss rod version and love it. Now go play some Mississippi John Hurt on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Great! I have the Ladder Braced with truss rod version and love it. Now go play some Mississippi John Hurt on it! Haha! Funny thing is, I'm NOT a blues guy at all. More country, old standards, some fiddle tunes, more current alt-country stuff like Son Volt, Ryan Adams, older stuff like Flying Burrito Brothers, etc. I just wanted something that offered me more variety and a radically different sound compared to the Martin and Gibson dreads and all-mahogany 000 I also have. So far it's proven to be a super fun little guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Haha! Funny thing is, I'm NOT a blues guy at all. More country, old standards, some fiddle tunes, more current alt-country stuff like Son Volt, Ryan Adams, older stuff like Flying Burrito Brothers, etc. I just wanted something that offered me more variety and a radically different sound compared to the Martin and Gibson dreads and all-mahogany 000 I also have. So far it's proven to be a super fun little guitar! No problem. Jeff Tweedy likes him some Waterloo as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 No problem. Jeff Tweedy likes him some Waterloo as well! Saw then for 3 of the 5 shows they did at the Filmore in San Francisco last year. Jeff Tweedy is one of my favorite songwriters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Saw then for 3 of the 5 shows they did at the Filmore in San Francisco last year. Jeff Tweedy is one of my favorite songwriters. Son Volt is coming here to New Orleans on March 8th. Got my ticket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Son Volt is coming here to New Orleans on March 8th. Got my ticket! Already got my tickets as well for San Francisco! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Here are a couple of pics I took outside this morning between the rain showers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Here are a couple of pics I took outside this morning between the rain showers. Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderful remark Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 My WL-14X Tbar(#56) is my dessert island guitar. Mine has an Adi top on it too :D Love the MASSIVE V neck and the resonance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 My WL-14X Tbar(#56) is my dessert island guitar. Mine has an Adi top on it too :D Love the MASSIVE V neck and the resonance. And by your avatar, looks like we have similar taste with the SJ-200 as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 This post is not so much about the guitar (which is beautiful, by the way), but about why Collings calls its Gibsony-designs Waterloo. Besides having an obvious similarity to the word Kalamazoo, which was Gibson's location and name of its budget brand (from which the Waterloos take thier inspiration), Waterloo was the original name of Austin, TX, where Collings is located. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 This post is not so much about the guitar (which is beautiful, by the way), but about why Collings calls it's Gibsony- designs Waterloo. Besides having an obvious similarity to the word Kalamazoo, which was Gibson's location and name of its budget brand (from which the Waterloos take thier inspiration), Waterloo was the original name of Austin, TX, where Collins is located. Red 333 I remembered reading about that. Pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Congrats, enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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