❌SOLD❌ Waterloo WL 12 Steel String Guitar Black, 2017

Guitars like the Waterloo WL 12 take us back to the early days when guitars were heading to mass popularity, and small lightweight models were the rage.

Waterloo guitars are built by Collings in Austin Texas, with a goal of reproducing the old instruments that had so much influence on the music and culture of those times. Predictably, the Collings / Waterloo staff do an impeccable job. Wood selection, construction and finishing are all expertly done. These instruments are surprisingly similar to the best of the vintage models, but with the advantage of being ‘new’ construction, ready to take on the task of performance.

This Waterloo WL 12 built around 2017 at the Collings / Waterloo shop in Austin, Texas, is paired with a solid, X-braced Spruce top – finished black – with a lovely Flame Maple set, stained medium Walnut, for the back and sides. The neck, body blocks, back braces and lining are Mahogany. The fingerboard is Indian Rosewood, and Ebony is used for the bridge and nut; the saddle is bone. A vintage ‘Firestripe’ style pickguard is installed and open-gear strip Golden Age Restoration tuners complete the look.

This guitar is wonderful. It is very lively, with a sparkling, even tone and great action. It has been very well looked after and wear is minimal.

The original hard shell case is included.

Here is the builder’s statement on the Waterloo WL 12:

“The WL-12 is a new variation on the flagship WL-14 that brings together the elements of maple back and sides, vintage x-bracing, and 12-fret construction to create an entirely new Waterloo experience.

By joining the neck to the body at the 12th fret, the bridge is positioned closer to the center of the lower bout, producing a rich and open tone with stronger low end response than you would typically expect from a parlor-sized guitar.

Maple back/sides make for the perfect tonal compliment to the body design, adding focus, projection, and a pronounced front-end attack that is sure to inspire players of nearly any acoustic genre.

As a standard, all WL-12 models feature a moderate oval-shaped neck profile with a fully adjustable truss rod, drop-in saddle, and a vintage-style sunburst finish. This model is also available with an optional Aged Finish for an authentic time-worn appearance. A hardshell TKL case is included.

All Waterloo models are handmade in Austin, Texas.”