Michigan-born Bill Collings grew up in Ohio, but relocated to Houston, Texas in 1973. He began to build his own instruments in 1975 with prominent local musicians, including Lyle Lovett, beginning to use Collings guitars. Thus, his reputation grew rapidly and he opened his own company in 1986.

A few years later, Collings was boosted by a significant order for 24 custom instruments from Nashville guitar dealer George Gruhn. Soon after that his designs were attracting attention from artists such as David Crosby, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, and Keith Richards.

The distinctive Collings script lettering is adapted from the company’s Pen and Ink drawing of it’s factory in Austin, Texas that appears in the soundhole.