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My old eyes are seeing a different finish on the back of the headstock compared to the back of the neck.  If the back of the headstock was at some point refinished, someone may have decided to do away with the serial number, assuming there was one.  Speculation's free, right?

 
I hope that's not correct, as it sounds suspicious to me that a refinisher wouldn't try to preserve the SN at all costs  unless there was a (suspicious) reason not to, but your speculation could certainly be valid.

I uploaded all the pictures I took during a recent clean/restring to a google doc if anyone is interested in seeing more.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1x8Jfy9AoEyBUWN9UUj2TACJMw7-GAwRh?usp=sharing

I've also reached out to Heritage and am in touch with Ren Wall, so if we figure anything out I'll update.

 
Seeing the rest of the pictures, I think it looks like it matches up fine; just a trick of the light, and/or the neck may have remained a little glossier from being essentially "hand" polished over time by playing. I also couldn't imagine that someone would sand the back of the headstock like that, but then taking the time to get it re-stamped with the "made in". 

Will be interesting to hear what Ren thinks

 
I'm thinking maybe an employee build, although the guys certainly could have done a one=off special for a friend.   The dot neck would be either from an H140 or maybe an H150P.   They should use the same neck.   Is the body mahogany or poplar?  I thought the 150Ps were pretty light.

The Made in Germany tailpiece suggests Schaller gear.   The pickups are definitely Schaller.   Everything  on it looks typical of Heritage builds from the early days.  

Maybe it was an early prototype build for the H-150 style guitar that was later sold off.   Hopefully Ren or maybe Jim will remember the story.  

 
Hi folks,

Sweden here,

Im new here and I have just got my Heritage Custom H-150 delivered.

I have always owned and played many Gibson Custom Shops, but lately my eyes have started to lean towards Heritage. So I thought, why not buy one. After all it’s the roots to Gibson.

Im blown away how well built this one is, the quality, the form factor on the neck. The top on this one has the Angel Stepping. 3.8 kg.

I haven’t been able to try it yet. I will as soon as I’m home again ?

Amazing guitars Heritage!

Best Regards

Daniel

 
Ren's take was:  
"The finish on back of peg-hd is satin or 4-0 steel wooled. It may have been a second stamped #2 and maybe serial number and #2 was sanded or buffed off. Don't know but the back and entire finish should be hi gloss buffed and not dull as shown in the pictures.

With no lable, no serial number and a dull finish, it looks like an original, was altered."

I don't know that I 100% agree, seeing it in person, since the "Made in Kalamazoo" bit wasn't rubbed off at the same time and there's no discernible difference in the finish in that area vs. where the number should be, but I admit he's the expert and I'm not!   I'll bow to his wisdom and chalk it up to mystery.   A bit sad that I won't be finding out more of this guitar's history, but that's okay too.   
 
Hello, I’m a new Heritage Custom Core h150 tobacco sunburst owner, first Heritage guitar.  I’ve had it less than a day so won’t provide observations yet, other than to say I really appreciate the overall quality and thought that went into this. 
 

-JJ

 
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Just joined this forum as I have my first Heritage coming this week.  

Wasn't planning on buying a new guitar anytime soon but then I saw the limited run of CC H-150s in Cadillac Green that have recently hit some shops.  Got the chance to play one over the weekend and was quite impressed.  Have one on the way to me now and am excited to get my hands on it.  

 
slide13 said:
Just joined this forum as I have my first Heritage coming this week.  

Wasn't planning on buying a new guitar anytime soon but then I saw the limited run of CC H-150s in Cadillac Green that have recently hit some shops.  Got the chance to play one over the weekend and was quite impressed.  Have one on the way to me now and am excited to get my hands on it.  
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Welcome aboard and congratulations on your acquisition.  You will love it! 

Lots of pictures when you get it.

 
Hello and Hope all is well.

Picked up a 2018 H-535 artisan aged today.  It’s an amazing guitar.  Light (7.6), resonant, cool checking and play’s wonderful.  I had a Gibson 59 Custom Shop VOS for a few years and never bonded with it.  It was heavier and the MHS picks ups never worked for me.  I have 3 wonderful vintage Gibson’s (46,57,61) made in the Kalamazoo factory that are stellar.  I feel like this has the same vibe and soul.  I had a chance to compare the H-535 today to many Custom Shop 335s,  Standards and Vintage.  This one took the cake.   Best 535/335 I’ve played and I’m not young :).   Thanks Heritage for making this guitar.  I’ve been looking for one like this for many years.  
My Best, Gunny.IMG_8832.jpeg

 
Gunny said:
Hello and Hope all is well.

Picked up a 2018 H-535 artisan aged today.  It’s an amazing guitar.  Light (7.6), resonant, cool checking and play’s wonderful.  I had a Gibson 59 Custom Shop VOS for a few years and never bonded with it.  It was heavier and the MHS picks ups never worked for me.  I have 3 wonderful vintage Gibson’s (46,57,61) made in the Kalamazoo factory that are stellar.  I feel like this has the same vibe and soul.  I had a chance to compare the H-535 today to many Custom Shop 335s,  Standards and Vintage.  This one took the cake.   Best 535/335 I’ve played and I’m not young :).   Thanks Heritage for making this guitar.  I’ve been looking for one like this for many years.  
My Best, Gunny.View attachment 31807
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Outstanding!

Welcome!

 
Hi all! I'm Jeremy.

I just ran across a Pre-lawsuit 1996 H-150 at Music-go-Round and just had to buy it because it's such a cool little piece of history. It's cosmetically pretty banged but the Cherry Burst flame top is still gorgeous! I made the shop take the pickups out to assure they are original. All is as it was built in 1996 with the exception of one volume pot. The switch is sticky and the pickups are a bit dark and muddy. Also, the volume knobs don't turn the volume down as evenly as I'd like. I don't want to modify this thing since it's as old and cool as it is but I'm very tempted to upgrade the electronics. Is that considered sacrilegious?? 

IMG_8847.jpeg

IMG_8846.jpeg

 
Jermnjones66 said:
Hi all! I'm Jeremy.

I just ran across a Pre-lawsuit 1996 H-150 at Music-go-Round and just had to buy it because it's such a cool little piece of history. It's cosmetically pretty banged but the Cherry Burst flame top is still gorgeous! I made the shop take the pickups out to assure they are original. All is as it was built in 1996 with the exception of one volume pot. The switch is sticky and the pickups are a bit dark and muddy. Also, the volume knobs don't turn the volume down as evenly as I'd like. I don't want to modify this thing since it's as old and cool as it is but I'm very tempted to upgrade the electronics. Is that considered sacrilegious?? 

View attachment 31915

View attachment 31914
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Very fine top!  Thanks for posting photos

 
@Jermnjones66...Welcome to the HOC!

If you truly want to preserve your beautiful H150's electronics, pickups, etc., why not replace them with your preferred parts, but keep the originals stored.  You'll likely get more long term enjoyment from a guitar that is structurally and electronically sound, and one that has your favorite pickups.  The market for early Heritage guitars is nothing like Gibson or other large, well known makers.  So you might as well enjoy it in its best possible form.

After your upgrades my only recommendation is to play that 150 like you stole it!  ?

 
Thanks! I actually misspoke. Its an 1989. Not sure why I typed 1996. Anyhow, I already have a full Faber master Kit, Seymour Duncan Antiquity Set and  all new electronics ordered. This guitar is beautiful wood but I'm surprised how bad the electronics are. Decision was easy after trying to get it to sound like there wasn't a wet blanket over the top of the pickups. I'll keep the parts as suggested but I'm going to make this 150 a Gibson Killer!

 
There might have been something weird about some early Schaller pickups.   My 87 H140 just sounded dead,  very dark and wooly.   I tried changing the caps, etc and nothing helped until I put a pair of Alnico Pro 2s in.   Now she sings.

She made the trip home this summer for PSP2023.  




 
Congrats. I have a couple of pre 1990 heritage's and yes, I found the pickups really muddy. There are a couple of people who like the Schaller's around here but I am not one of them. I put some Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs in them and it changed everything. My favorite guitar of all times is an 86 H-170. It felt good right away but the pups sucked. Change them and you will have a really nice guitar for sure.

 
The Schallers in my 2003 H-157 aren't muddy at all,  they sound nothing like the ones in my H-140.  Likewise, the ones in my 535 (2005) weren't bad either.   I put the Sheptones in just to see how they would sound.  

 
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