Collings City Limits TME Custom Walnut w/ Throbak Pre-T 301s

Take a trip back with us to 1976. Jimmy Carter wins the Presidential Election, the US celebrates its Bicentennial, and Apple was founded. But let's not diminish the fact that...

...Gibson releases the Les Paul Artisan.

Is that not iconic enough of a moment in guitar history for you?! No need to answer. If it's not, then maybe the introduction of this guitar will have enough of an impact.

We've been dreaming up all sorts of fun vintage-inspired builds for our friends at Collings, and naturally, they've been knocking them clear out of the park. Enter our newest creation - this TME Custom Walnut City Limits! Inspired by those Norlin-Era LP Artisans of the late 70s, this City Limits pulls back the reigns a touch on the absolutely wild aesthetic of what became one of Gibson's most expensive Les Paul models ever offered, but still hits on some what made those guitars stand out in the first place.

Though not quite the level of Gibson's banjo inlays and ornate headstock trimmings, this CL does push those boundaries a bit with the inclusion of their "mom" inlays (affectionately named after and inspired by Bill Collings' mother). Instead of glamming it up with a third pickup and gold hardware, though, we kept it as a more classic/traditional twin humbucker guitar with lightly aged nickel hardware.

What you get is a glorious vintage/modern hybrid that is both unique and approachable. The non-contoured body harkens back to vintage LP, with the absolute high-level precision of build and refinement that few can achieve as well as Collings.

Loaded up with a set of Throbak Pre-T 301s, you get all of that post-PAF bite and top end in the bridge along with the sweet chime and compression in the neck position. It's a monstrous sounding instrument that is both lightweight yet formidably sturdy feeling.

If you're looking to stand out in a crowd and still have the unmistakable sound, feel, and quality of a great Collings solidbody, look no further.