When Bill Collings launched the Waterloo line in 2014, his intention was to build guitars looking back in time to when there was a genuine need for soulful tone that could be coaxed from simple instruments. The blues, country, and folk music played on these instruments was made in heartfelt response to the hard times of the depression era. Proudly made by Collings in Austin, Waterloo guitars capture the sound and vibe of yesteryear—but with modern precision and attention to detail. There’s nothing quite like the sound of an all mahogany guitar. With its warm yet crisp tone and even note articulation, Mahogany was a go-to tone wood for country, blues, and folk guitarists throughout the last century. The all-mahogany WL-12 Mh perhaps best captures the vibe of "Dust Bowl" era instruments. Like the guitars of yesteryear, this 12-fret Waterloo is impressively loud, bold, and punchy, yet it remains lightweight, comfortable, compact, and portable. This Waterloo WL-12 Mh (serial #2073) was made in Austin, Texas in 2017. It shows some minor signs of play and use, and there are some minor bumps around the treble edge of the back. There is some clip-on tuner rash to the front headstock, and the pickguard-free top has been mostly spared over the years but shows some minor swirling as expected (see photos). Fret wear is minimal, and the current setup is low and inviting. This WL-12 Mh produces a woody, rich, but well-balanced sound. Because of the 12-fret design, there's more bass presence than you might expect from a small-body. The Mahogany character gives it an old-time vibe that would be perfect for blues, folk, or any music that calls for a more traditional, prewar-inspired tone. The Moderate Oval neck profile feels like the perfect match for a 1-3/4" nut width, and this WL-12 Mh has an adjustable truss rod! Original TKL hardshell case included. Top: Solid Mahogany Back/Sides: Solid Mahogany Bracing: Vintage-inspired X-bracing Color: Vintage Pecan Binding: Ivoroid bound top, back, and soundhole Bridge: Ebony with 2-3/8" spacing Bridge Pins: Ebony Saddle: Bone drop-in Body Finish: Semi-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish Neck: Solid Mahogany Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood Nut: 1-3/4" Ebony nut Neck Support: Adjustable truss rod Fingerboard Inlays: 6mm acrylic dots Neck Profile: Moderate Oval shape Scale Length: 24-7/8" Fret Wire: Medium 18% nickel-silver Logo: Stenciled Waterloo Tuners: Golden Age Restoration Fingerboard Radius: 12"
