Advice from Collings I35lc or Prs 594 owners

AllthegearNoidea

Long term Fender Strat player. I’ve just sold my electric with the intention of just playing acoustic. However, the thought of something different appeals. 

Has anyone owned both of these guitars or at least tried them. 

Cheers

Fishboy7

I've owned both, as well as a couple of city limits.

Both were great but obviously quite different.  The PRS should be easier to find used

Blueingreen

I have a 594 singlecut semi-hollow.  The fairly chunky neck shape will be a matter of taste (although I imagine a primarily acoustic player would love it).  Apart from that I have no hesitation in saying that in terms of quality it's the finest guitar I've owned and I've owned a couple of DGTs, Suhrs, Tom Anderson, numerous Gibsons.  Does that make it my favourite guitar?  Alas, we're not alway that rational and I may have stronger preferences.  But it's the best.

Collings

I have both. They are quite different really. Both are great but obviously the 594 is going for the 50s singlecut tone and feel and the I35LC is going for a 335 tone. What they both have in common is they both aim to improve on the guitars they are chasing. 

Both are superbly built.

AllthegearNoidea

Collings said:

I have both. They are quite different really. Both are great but obviously the 594 is going for the 50s singlecut tone and feel and the I35LC is going for a 335 tone. What they both have in common is they both aim to improve on the guitars they are chasing. 

Both are superbly built.

If you had to have one as an all rounder which would you pick?

Collings

AllthegearNoidea said:

Collings said:

I have both. They are quite different really. Both are great but obviously the 594 is going for the 50s singlecut tone and feel and the I35LC is going for a 335 tone. What they both have in common is they both aim to improve on the guitars they are chasing. 

Both are superbly built.

If you had to have one as an all rounder which would you pick?

For me it would be the I35LC however the 594 is maybe more versatile with it's greater range of tones so could maybe cover more bases.

AllthegearNoidea

Collings said:

AllthegearNoidea said:

Collings said:

I have both. They are quite different really. Both are great but obviously the 594 is going for the 50s singlecut tone and feel and the I35LC is going for a 335 tone. What they both have in common is they both aim to improve on the guitars they are chasing. 

Both are superbly built.

If you had to have one as an all rounder which would you pick?

For me it would be the I35LC however the 594 is maybe more versatile with it's greater range of tones so could maybe cover more bases.

Thanks

chris78

I’ve never played a collings, but I’m on my 2nd 594 and I think they’re amazing guitars. I can’t imagine buying another Les Paul as I think the 594 nails that tone but is better in just about every way than the Gibson from pickups to build quality

ToneControl

If you are a strat guy, would you miss single coils?

guitars4you

Collings said:

AllthegearNoidea said:

Collings said:

I have both. They are quite different really. Both are great but obviously the 594 is going for the 50s singlecut tone and feel and the I35LC is going for a 335 tone. What they both have in common is they both aim to improve on the guitars they are chasing. 

Both are superbly built.

If you had to have one as an all rounder which would you pick?

For me it would be the I35LC however the 594 is maybe more versatile with it's greater range of tones so could maybe cover more bases.

I've stocked/sold/played both and agree with above thoughts - I'd tend to support the i35 option if I was only allowed one

west

Can only speak about collings ... as a former 335 / 535 player i was keen to try the smaller bodied i35 ( solid wood )  i tried one at GG  and sonically i didnt care for it at all , hard sounding mid focused no life / spring ... six months later i got to try the laminate version i35 LC and wow what a difference everything the other one lacked was present ... i actually ended up with a Soco 15 lc used and its just the ticket for me a 15 single cut 335 laminate constructed thinline  beast ...

The only thing i havnt done is play a  i35 lc and my soco back to back ... but im pretty stoked with what ive got ...  the quality is superb ! 

guitars4you

west said:

Can only speak about collings ... as a former 335 / 535 player i was keen to try the smaller bodied i35 ( solid wood )  i tried one at GG  and sonically i didnt care for it at all , hard sounding mid focused no life / spring ... six months later i got to try the laminate version i35 LC and wow what a difference everything the other one lacked was present ... i actually ended up with a Soco 15 lc used and its just the ticket for me a 15 single cut 335 laminate constructed thinline  beast ...

The only thing i havnt done is play a  i35 lc and my soco back to back ... but im pretty stoked with what ive got ...  the quality is superb ! 

agree about the LC version - I know they are expensive but there should be more praise for them then what we hear - Yet supply is very low so very few actually get to the dealers walls

Fishboy7

How about the 594 Semi-hollow or 594 Hollowbody ? 

They both look amazing  

AllthegearNoidea

Fishboy7 said:

How about the 594 Semi-hollow or 594 Hollowbody ? 

They both look amazing  

There is a nice one on gumtree but I think it’s too expensive. 

Aflf

My personal experience:

594 Singlecut

Pros: High Quality LP type guitar with great LP sounds (I liked it better than the current Gibson 60th anniversaries)
Cons: Heavy, single coil sounds not that useful, volume below 9 cuts treble (too dull in my ears)

594 Semi Doublecut
Pros: Sounds (incl. single coil), neck profile, weight

Cons: yet to find , maybe treble cut with volume below 9 as well (but not that prominent)

I35LC P90

Pros: Sounds, neck, weight

Cons: yet to find

Overall, the 594 Semi is the most versatile, imvho.