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Heritage Owners Club

Hello! New member with questions...


pietro

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Posted

Hi, I'm a long time TGP-er, but have never joined the HOC. My "real name" is Peter.

 

First off, I've had three Heritages. Years ago I had a blonde H535 and a guitar that I can't remember the model name of (the one I should NOT have sold), I think it was a 565? It was the same shape as a 535, but a little thicker and single cutaway... sorry, don't have pics of those beauties.

 

Recently decided I wanted a great Les Paul so I traded... of course... for a Heritage. I'm delighted with it. Here she is. I got her with an after-market Bigsby already installed (which I've adjusted so that it sits a teensy bit higher with some stainless steel washers). Strung her with .012 boomers, but put a .010 on the top instead. PERFECT! Stays in tune real well, too.

 

heritage_1.jpg

 

Since then I added the "poker chip" (sorry guys, gotta have it) and replaced the stock bridge with a Fishman piezo PowerBridge tune-o-matic, which, btw, sounds amazing... wired in stereo. NO active electronics or anything to interfere with the electric wiring. Plug a mono cable in, it just ignores the piezo. Perfect.

 

here's the inside label.

 

heritage_inside_label_web.jpg

 

It says Duncan 59s, but they were upgraded with Seth Lovers (yay) and an RS wiring kit installed (double yay). The thing smokes the Gibson Les Paul I had years ago (although that guitar was eminently playable, I admit). Even better, although it's only 3 years old, it's been played... hard... some GREAT nicks and bumps, some GREAT nitro wear... If I play my cards right, this thing will look like a banged around beauty in no time (the neck is super clean, though, and very little fret wear). I have 2 or 3 pristine guitars, didn't want another one...

 

So... my question.

 

I know it's a 2008 based on the S/N (which you can see above). And I know it's not weight relieved (It's about 10 pounds with the Bigsby, but that's not bad, as I have a wide strap for it), based on the "CM" designation (and not the "LW" designation). But what does CM mean? And how do I know (without taking the neck pickup out) if it's a long tenon (not that I actually care...). And what does "05B" mean? I could have just asked Brentrocks on TGP, but I thought this would be gobs more fun!

Posted

Hi Pietro, I agree on your comment re pristine guitars. Nice 150 and some cool mods. Welcome to the club.

Posted

Excellent !! That's a sweet 150 ( and I usually add the poker chip also ).

I love that finish (OSB).. I've got it on a Heritage archtop.

 

Yours wouldn't be considered a long tenon, they've only been doing that recently ( as they felt that they were having no stability problems with their neck joint anyhow )

 

Welcome to the forum...

Posted

Can't go wrong with OSB on an H150!! And a wiggle stick to set it all off. What a beauty. Welcome to the HoC, Peter.

Posted

You picked a great color and +1 on the upgrades.

 

heritage_1.jpg

Posted

Thanks everybody! I traded an AWESOME Soloway Swan I wasn't bonding with for this. So it came with all the abuse already installed... Don't get me wrong, it's not like it's trashed. On-stage it'll look pristine... but close up you can see "normal wear", not for a 3-year old guitar, but more like a 15-year old guitar.

 

The joker who installed the Bigsby put a washer in on top of the spring for space... the washer was actually a penny with a hole cut in the middle of it (yes, I kept it, it's cool). Once I got that out of there, loosened the hex screw holding the arm in place, and raised the Bigsby off the body with some SS washers... voila... Floyd-like tuning stability. And is it possible that raising the Bigsby improved the tone? It feels like it.

 

Thinking of putting a "Gibson" pickguard on. I am a pickguard guy with LPs, but I like the look of the Gibson's shape better. Too bad I have to fill two holes and drill two new ones to do that, though... so I'm leaving it alone for now.

 

Here's another view.

 

heritage_2.jpg

Posted

Hi, I'm a long time TGP-er, but have never joined the HOC. My "real name" is Peter.

 

First off, I've had three Heritages. Years ago I had a blonde H535 and a guitar that I can't remember the model name of (the one I should NOT have sold), I think it was a 565? It was the same shape as a 535, but a little thicker and single cutaway... sorry, don't have pics of those beauties.

 

Recently decided I wanted a great Les Paul so I traded... of course... for a Heritage. I'm delighted with it. Here she is. I got her with an after-market Bigsby already installed (which I've adjusted so that it sits a teensy bit higher with some stainless steel washers). Strung her with .012 boomers, but put a .010 on the top instead. PERFECT! Stays in tune real well, too.

 

heritage_1.jpg

 

Since then I added the "poker chip" (sorry guys, gotta have it) and replaced the stock bridge with a Fishman piezo PowerBridge tune-o-matic, which, btw, sounds amazing... wired in stereo. NO active electronics or anything to interfere with the electric wiring. Plug a mono cable in, it just ignores the piezo. Perfect.

 

here's the inside label.

 

heritage_inside_label_web.jpg

 

It says Duncan 59s, but they were upgraded with Seth Lovers (yay) and an RS wiring kit installed (double yay). The thing smokes the Gibson Les Paul I had years ago (although that guitar was eminently playable, I admit). Even better, although it's only 3 years old, it's been played... hard... some GREAT nicks and bumps, some GREAT nitro wear... If I play my cards right, this thing will look like a banged around beauty in no time (the neck is super clean, though, and very little fret wear). I have 2 or 3 pristine guitars, didn't want another one...

 

So... my question.

 

I know it's a 2008 based on the S/N (which you can see above). And I know it's not weight relieved (It's about 10 pounds with the Bigsby, but that's not bad, as I have a wide strap for it), based on the "CM" designation (and not the "LW" designation). But what does CM mean? And how do I know (without taking the neck pickup out) if it's a long tenon (not that I actually care...). And what does "05B" mean? I could have just asked Brentrocks on TGP, but I thought this would be gobs more fun!

that thing is sweet!! And i don't even like Bigsbys!! :icon_smile:

Posted

Pietro, have you considered having a Gibson style guard made that would fit the Heritage holes? I'm sure any of a dozen pickguard places could do it.

 

Personally, I much prefer the wooden guard found on the 157 to any of the plastic ones. It just gives the guitar another touch of class.

 

My 157 with my 535.

 

gallery_790_192_53592.jpg

Posted

If it was a wooden guard, like I had on my first two Heritages years ago, it'd be a no brainer... I'd keep it.

 

It's such a minor thing that I'm not spending money, effort, or worry on it.

Posted

Welcome, pietro! Mighty fine looking 150, seems a player, for sure! And that Heritage you described in your first post sounds like a 576. I have one, and it's a killer box, does it all! Keep us posted regarding your "live adventures" with the 150.

Posted

wow, that's a fantastic looking H150, love the bigsby!!

 

 

I've become a fan of the Heritage pickguards, I now prefer them to the straight Gibson style. I think they look cooler & also identify the brand

 

I don't understand where the bigsby spacers are, did you put them on top of the spring, by the handle?

 

stellar guitar!!

Posted
And that Heritage you described in your first post sounds like a 576

 

Except the cutaway doesn't have a sharp horn. It looked more like a 550, but it had a block through it like a 335. Literally, it felt like it was exactly the same shape as a 335 but with single cutaway and a little thicker... I don't have a photo anywhere, but it is prominently featured in the video we made of one of the songs from our CD from 98.

 

Posted

 

Except the cutaway doesn't have a sharp horn. It looked more like a 550, but it had a block through it like a 335. Literally, it felt like it was exactly the same shape as a 335 but with single cutaway and a little thicker... I don't have a photo anywhere, but it is prominently featured in the video we made of one of the songs from our CD from 98.

 

 

Yep, that's right: Yours is (was...sorry) a 576...not a 575, which has the Florentine cutaway. The 576 is a discontinued model. Shame; they killed! Cool video, and a really good power pop tune! Fine band, and good songwriting! Thanks for posting

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