My guitar collection - Collings
What about a tenor ukulele using the classic combo of a Sitka spruce top with East Indian rosewood back and sides? This Collings 17” scale tenor ukulele delivers on just that, although not in an opulent fashion as by using Brazilian rosewood (see e.g. this UC41 Brazilian with S/N 284)! The high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finished body, with a width of 8⅝”, 11” length, and a depth 2⅞”, is double bound with ivoroid and B/W purfling. With its ‘2’ in the model designation, this ukulele is still much more adorned than my UC2 (spalted pecan), even closer to a ‘3’. I think mainly for the obvious reason to mimic a fine acoustic guitar commonly found with the same tonewood combination, which is also reflected in other design choices. In all places where normally East Indian rosewood is found on Collings ukuleles, on this instrument it has been replaced by the more appropriate ebony. It is used for the bridge which has the usual bone saddle with 111⁄16” string spacing. The gorgeous rosette is made out of an ivoroid ring with B/W/B purfling on either side. The Honduran mahogany neck has a C-shaped profile, ivoroid heel cap, ivoroid bound 12” radius ebony fingerboard with special abalone short diamonds & squares position markers, and 1⅜” wide bone nut. The ivoroid bound so-called “Haircut” headstock has an ebony veneer with ivoroid Collings logo and 4:1 gear ratio Pegheds planetary gear tuning machines. That headstock shape gives it an unmistakable, classy Collings look! It has the usual Ameritage case. These Custom ukuleles with ‘2’ appointments are rare among this already rare line of acoustic Collings instruments, discontinued in mid-2016, and do not have their own page on the old Collings website. Instead, a 2016 snapshot for the UT2K is included here.
Collings UT2 Custom
The story behind this ukulele
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My 5th ukulele and the first with something different than a koa or mahogany body. To repeat what I stated elsewhere, I was not aware Collings had built ukuleles with other tonewoods until I bought this Custom in mid-2026 from Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI, for a rather attractive price. With the UC2 (spalted pecan), UT2 Walnut, and UT3 Maple SB, several are now part of this collection. It is interesting to delve into some model designations found on the soundhole sticker. This ukulele is a ‘Custom’ without any explicit mention of the body tonewoods used, i.e. ‘Indian’. In contrast, my UT3 explicitly has ‘Maple SB’ on the sticker. A similar thing is true for the UC2 listed on Reverb by Dolphin Guitars in Suita, Japan, mentioned in connection with my UC2 (spalted pecan). That concert ukulele has the same ebony appointments as this UT2 Custom, although without binding on the fretboard and headstock, and has ‘Indian SB’ on the sticker. My suspicion is that in both cases this is mainly driven by the presence of the burst for the top, although a ‘3’ tenor in this archived ukulele gallery (2011) has both ‘Custom’ and ‘SB’ as part of the model designation. And it is known a Custom can be about anything as far a tonewoods, finish, and other appointments go! When you hold this instrument, in all aspects it looks like a mini acoustic with nylon strings which was a large part of the appeal. Something special indeed. The sound of this ukulele is well balanced with the typical characteristics of these tonewoods subtly coming through, i.e. a profound bass and sparkly highs. I wonder whether I should put a wound-G on this one for that reason. To be decided. A wonderful compliment to all my other (tenor) ukuleles.
The story behind this guitar
July 10, 2013
1204
Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back & sides, ebony bridge,
ebony fingerboard
