For anyone who may not know, Lance McCollum passed away 2 years ago. Nice that his legacy will live on.
This just came in on consignment, and I spent the evening checking it out, plugging it in, and photographing (photos done, will finish the listing later – I’m pooped!). It has gone through a few hands since 2001 (I only know the recent consignor), but is still near mint. Surprisingly, this is the first one I’ve had a chance to examine and play in person, and I must say, I am blown away.
I’ve A/B’d it against my Dyer and a Holloway, and tomorrow Frank will stop by and do the same.
Does anyone know when Lance built his first one? And how many? I have no idea. It’s strange that I’ve never met nor heard from a single McCollum HG owner, until now. None has ever shown up at a Gathering, nor ordered strings, nor posted a Forum message (that I can remember).
I’d say that this is now a rare treasure. I just wish I had the chance talk to Lance about this fascinating instrument and his harp guitar career.
I have the first McCollum harp guitar. I bought it at the Healdsburg festival.
I hope to be able to attend the next gathering.
The first HG that Lance built was shown at the Healdsburg Fest in 1997. Micheal Hedges stopped by and played it (I have a picture). A doctor in SF bought it. I commissioned Lance in January 1998 to build the second HG. He built less than 5 in his total guitar build of around 300 before his untimely passing. I have 4 other LM guitars.
Let me check with a fellow I know that owns a couple of Lance’s guitars.
Listing is finished: http://www.harpguitarmusic.com/listings/hg-mccollum.htm
True, Nate – that is among the 3 different instruments I have included in his Luthier listing.
I remember he also built a 12 string varient