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.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

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