Sound Pure's Take

The Collings CJ Mh SS is a short-scale jumbo acoustic that delivers warmth, punch, and impressive balance with a relaxed, responsive feel. Its Sitka spruce top and Honduran mahogany body create a dry, woody character with clear mids and a smooth low end, while the pre-war scalloped bracing helps the guitar feel open and lively. The short scale adds a softer feel under the fingers without sacrificing projection or clarity. Premium appointments like tortoise binding, ebony fittings, and Waverly tuners give it a refined vintage-inspired look. Warm, resonant, and highly articulate, this CJ Mh SS offers a rich voice with plenty of character.

From Collings Guitars

The Collings Jumbo, or CJ, is our version of the classic slope-shouldered dreadnought, a shape that has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years. While the CJ is similar in width and depth to the traditional dreadnought, it has a distinctly different tone. Despite its large size, this model works well with the optional shorter string scale, resulting in a somewhat percussive bottom end ideal for acoustic blues or other styles that benefit from a more controlled bass response.

 

Of all the Collings body shapes, this is the one most often requested with an optional sunburst top finish, and the wide range of wood options, neck widths, and string scales allow the CJ to be many different guitars to a wide variety of players.

 

CJ vs CJ Mh vs CJ35 vs CJ-45 T

 

While all CJ models share the same body dimensions, key differences are outlined below.

 

Our CJ is a standard build featuring East Indian rosewood back and sides with grained ivoroid binding on the body, fingerboard, and peghead, a belly bridge, and a 3-style backstrip.

Our CJ Mh is a standard build featuring Honduran mahogany back and sides with tortoise binding on the body, fingerboard, and peghead, a belly bridge, and a walnut backstrip.

Our CJ35 is vintage-inspired featuring Honduran mahogany back and sides with non-grained ivoroid body binding and no purfling, no binding on the fingerboard and peghead, a Wenge fingerboard and straight bridge, shorter 24 7/8″ scale length, and non-scalloped X-bracing with three tone bars.

Our CJ-45 T is our Traditional build with a fundamental-focused tone featuring Honduran mahogany back and sides, non-grained ivoroid body binding with no purfling, no binding on the fingerboard and peghead, a fully-exposed rosette, East Indian rosewood fingerboard with ebony straight bridge, shorter 24 7/8″ scale length, and Wartime scalloped X-bracing.

Top
Sitka spruce
Back & Sides
Honduran mahogany
Neck
Honduran mahogany
Body Binding
Tortoise with b/w/b/w top purfling
Fingerboard Binding
.100" Tortoise with b/w purfling
Peghead Binding
.100" Tortoise with b/w purfling
Bridge
Ebony belly-style with 2 3/16" spacing
Fingerboard
Ebony with MOP long dots
Fingerboard Radius
14" - 26" compound
Bridge Pins/End Pin
Ebony with MOP dot
Nut
Bone, 1 11/16"
Saddle
Bone, drop-in
Neck Profile
C-shape
Peghead Profile
Haircut
Neck Joint
Mortise & tenon hybrid
Truss Rod
Fully adjustable
Frets
Medium 18% nickel-silver
Peghead Veneer
Ebony with MOP Collings logo
Tuners
Nickel Waverly
Backstrip
1-style (Walnut)
Rosette
Ivoroid with b/w purfling
Scale Length
Short Scale length (24 7/8")
Brace Material
Sitka spruce
Brace Pattern
Pre-war scalloped X-brace
Body Finish
High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck Finish
High gloss polyester resin
Pickguard
Tortoise
Strings
D'Addario EJ-17 (.013"- .056")
Case
Deluxe hardshell case
Weight
4lbs 6oz

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

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