Description

The 2023 Collings I-35 Deluxe Custom Inlay - Mermaid Blue is nothing short of a masterpiece—a harmonious blend of old-world craftsmanship and modern refinement, wrapped in a finish as deep and mesmerizing as the ocean itself. Its Honduran mahogany body, resonant and rich, forms the perfect foundation, while a premium flamed maple top dances beneath the light, shifting like waves under the moon. The grained ivoroid binding that traces its contours adds a touch of vintage elegance, an artisanal detail that whispers of Collings’ meticulous attention to detail.

In your hands, the Honduran mahogany neck is a dream—carved into a comfortable C-profile, with a silk-smooth gloss finish that makes every note feel effortless. The rosewood fingerboard, adorned with custom parallelogram inlays, is a runway for inspiration, guiding your fingers to newfound heights of expression. With a 12" radius and medium nickel-silver frets, this neck is built for both precision and soulful bends, every touch met with effortless response.

Sonically, the Lollar Low Wind Imperial humbuckers sing with unrivaled clarity, offering warm, dynamic lows and articulate highs that shimmer like sunlight reflecting off the sea. Paired with DiMarzio 500K pots and Jupiter Vintage Yellow caps, this guitar delivers a spectrum of tones—from airy cleans that breathe with vintage sweetness to thick, harmonically rich overdrive that surges with character. The 50s-style wiring ensures that even as you roll back the volume, your tone retains its brilliance, never losing its depth or dimension.

From its Kluson ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece to the nickel Gotoh tuners, every component has been chosen for stability, resonance, and aesthetic harmony. The absence of a pickguard allows the stunning Mermaid Blue finish to take center stage, an unbroken expanse of color as deep and captivating as the sea itself. Nestled in its deluxe Ameritage hardshell case, this instrument is not just an object of beauty—it is an invitation to explore, to create, and to lose yourself in its boundless sonic horizons.

Other specifications include:

Construction Semi hollow w/ maple center block
Body Honduran mahogany
Top Premium flamed maple
Neck Honduran mahogany
Body Binding Grained ivoroid
Fingerboard Binding Grained ivoroid
Peghead Binding Grained ivoroid
Bridge Kluson ABR-1(nickel-plated zinc w/ retaining wire)
Tailpiece Kluson Stop Tailpiece (nickel-plated zinc, steel studs)
Fingerboard Rosewood w/ Custom Parallelogram Inlays
Soundhole F-holes (unbound)
Pickups Lollar Low Wind Imperial Humbuckers
Pots/Caps DiMarzio 500K / Jupiter Vintage Yellow
Knobs Custom grained ivoroid top hat
Pickup Rings Custom grained ivoroid
Nut 1 11/16"
Scale Length 24 7/8"
Neck Joint Extra long mortise & tenon
Frets Medium 18% nickel-silver
Peghead Veneer Ebony w/ MOP Collings logo
Peghead Profile Haircut
Tuners Nickel Gotoh w/ Collings logo
Wiring 50s style
Fingerboard Radius 12"
Guitar Finish High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Pickguard None
Truss Rod Cover Grained ivoroid
Strings D'Addario NYXL1149 (.011" - .049")
Body Length 17 5/8"
Body Depth 1 5/8"
Lower Bout Width 15"
Total Length 40"
Neck Profile C Shape (.865 @ 1st Fret/.967 @ 9th Fret)
Case Deluxe Hardshell case by Ameritage
6 lbs 13 oz