Special Invitation To New Members

Welcome aboard Endre. Very nice looking 150!

Be sure and point us to any video or audio posts of the band. We enjoy hearing what people are doing out there with their music.

 
HI there,

My name is Jay new member and Heritage owner, so new the shipping box is still in the garage! My 2008 H550 Custom (ASB) with 59' Seymour Duncans just arrived the other day. Just loving the guitar. It has a unique tone somewhere between a Gibson Tal Farlow and an ES175. Workmanship is superb. I've been in the market for a jazz box for sometime but wanted a little more versatility that a "pure" archtop. I considered Eastman, Sadowsky and Gibson but was impressed with the reputation of Heritage guitars. I feel I got an amazing deal, this is a whole lotta guitar for the money. From what I gather the 550 is not considered one of the more desirable Heritage guitars, maybe you veteran members can tell me why?

 
jsolman said:
HI there,

My name is Jay new member and Heritage owner, so new the shipping box is still in the garage! My 2008 H550 Custom (ASB) with 59' Seymour Duncans just arrived the other day. Just loving the guitar. It has a unique tone somewhere between a Gibson Tal Farlow and an ES175. Workmanship is superb. I've been in the market for a jazz box for sometime but wanted a little more versatility that a "pure" archtop. I considered Eastman, Sadowsky and Gibson but was impressed with the reputation of Heritage guitars. I feel I got an amazing deal, this is a whole lotta guitar for the money. From what I gather the 550 is not considered one of the more desirable Heritage guitars, maybe you veteran members can tell me why?
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Hello Jay, and welcome to the HOC! Congratulations on scoring your 550. I don't know who told you that 550's were less desirable or whatever, but they were wrong. In my view those are very special guitars in the Heritage line-up. As you correctly compared it to Tal Farlow and ES175 Gibsons, all three are finely made laminate archtops. If this model had been made back in the 50's or 60's, I bet we would have heard it on many jazz recordings.

The 550 is great for live performances due to its ability to sound huge, fat, warm, articulate with minimal feadback issues. Yes, you'll be able to get her to howl if you aren't careful with EQ and the position of your guitar and amp, but that tone is worth it. Maybe some folks view it as inferior to other fine solid wook archtops suc as the Golden Eagle, L5, etc., but that's all relative and dependant on one's use of the guitar. Also, because the 550 is laminate bodied, the cost is far less than its solid wood bretheren. The good news is that the quality is extremely high since it comes from Heritage. To me it is one of those incredible bang for buck guitars that is often undervalued for whatever reason.

Contrary to H550's being any less desirable, I like to view them as the Golden Eagle that you can actually gig with.

Play yours in good health and feel free to show n tell us more about your 'new' H550.

 
dag2000 said:
My name is Mike. I live in the Boston area and noodle around on the guitar for fun. Don't play as much as I used to.

In the late 90s, in an attempt to recreate "that Grestch sound" I ordered a H-550. This being the days before TV Jones came on the scene, I had Seymour Duncan's custom shop make up a set of Filtertrons in a standard humbucker size. Later, I had it retrofitted with a Bigsby B6. And voila!

In the summer of 2007, I had a flood in my basement and, though I thought I had gotten everything up off the floor, the headstock end of the case had gotten thoroughly soaked. I hadn't played the guitar in about six months and when I went to open the case, I watched (to my horror) the headstock actually split down the center.

I was absolutely sick to my stomach every time I looked at the case (I couldn't bear to open it and look at the headstock). I was convinced that I would have to get the neck replaced. About a year later, I called up Heritage and Ren said "Oh yeah, that's easy. We just dry it out completely and glue the headstock back together." Altogether it cost me about $200 and the guitar is good as new.

I absolutely love this guitar. I play it through a modified Victoria amp (the chassis of a 35310 put into a Clark custom built 2x10 combo cab with Weber alnico speakers). It sounds great. The Duncans, although they cost an arm and a leg, are spot on and it's just a great rock and roll guitar.
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What year is the guitar? You should be able to tell from the first letter of its serial number.

 
Hi there.

My name is Joost and I'm from Belgium.

I've been playing since1986. Hard rock, heavy metal... but everything old school.

My favourite guitars are Les Paul styles, so it's only natural I'd end up with Heritage.

Don't own one yet, but am about to pull the trigger. Still a few choices to make.

I look forward to chatting with you guys and especially looking at pictures of your guitars :icon_smile:

 
Hi, my name is Steve but I go by "Baimo". I am 57 and am learning how to play. I played when I was 13-14 years old for a couple years and dropped guitars when I discovered girls. I have grown passionate about guitars and have 3 exotic acoustics and 2 and 1/2 exotic electrics. I just decided over the past few weeks that I would like to try an archtop. I thad traded an acoustic I was not fond of to a local dealer and had a credit there. I ended up pulling the trigger on a 19996 Heritage sweet 16 and will pick it up tomorrow. Very excited, I have much to learn. When the dealer asked me if I wanted flat or round strings I started scratching my head. I tried both types of string on a couple different Archtops and will pick the newly strung and setup sweet 16 tomorrow. My teacher plays an archtop and I always love the sounds his makes. He will be surprised to see me show up with the 16. Looking forward to the journey

 
Welcome to the HOC, Sancho and Baimo.

You should enjoy that Sweet 16, Baimo. They're very nice instruments. The archtop is one guitar that is missing from my "stable". I make do with my semihollow 535. I'm sure I'll find one eventually, though.

 
Hey, My name is Ray but go by flattop here. I've been playing on and off for the last thirty some years. Awhile back I was contemplating the purchase of an ES175 when I discovered Heritage. I saw an amber 575 hanging in my local music shop and it was love at first sight. I really love the guitar but to be honest I'm still getting used to it. It didn't take me long to see that I am in some pretty tall company on this sight. I'm 51 years old and I'm going to be doing my first gig since high school (not counting a stint playing in church). Its great to see this many people dedicated to the brand as well as music in general. I,m new to the electric arch top and was wondering what strings would be the best. I currently have the guitar strung with blue steel 10s and they seem a little light. I realize its a personal preference but they seem somewhat twangy or sloppy. Also I'm not sure of what type humbuckers it has but they tend to sound more nasally than some I've heard even when set to the neck pickup. Incidentally Jazz is the style of music I will be "attempting" to play. Thanks for the warm welcome. Any advice would be welcomed and appreciated.

 
HI, My name is Dan, Bruhan is my user name. I am more of a bass player these days and that's what I play with others, but have been playing guitar since high school. I've owned lot's of solid bodies and acoustics over the years but i have long wanted a semi-hollowbody. Causally searching around has led me to Heritage. The 535 and Prospect have caught my eye. We will see what comes my way. Glad to be on board, Dan

 
Hello Bruhan, welcome to the HOC.

Heritage semihollows and hollow bodies are among my most favored guitars.

You can't go wrong with a 535 or 555 semihollow.

I have not had a chance to try a prospect yet.

 
Hello, my name is Daniel and I live in France. I am a former session player who had to stop due to arthrosis(s ?), but still collect guitars and strugle to learn playing Jazz ! I currently own 2 Johnny Smith, 2 Super Eagle (1 with 1 P.U.) and a Golden Eagle. I am a huge fan of Heritage guitars which I compared to their G counterparts seems to be better made with more attention to the details.

 
Hi Daniel, bienvenue au HOC :)

I'm a rosbif but we share the Heritage passion. It would be nice to see some pictures of your guitars :)

 
Hi H,

Nothing against rosbifs (eat a lot of them :lol: ) ...

Here you are :

One of my J.S. : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/TheRose1990?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmbo4q3-I2YggE

Super Eagle : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/SuperEagle?authkey=Gv1sRgCK7epovN9ouVKQ

Golden Eagle : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/SuperEagle?authkey=Gv1sRgCK7epovN9ouVKQ (includes my email should you need it)

H 575 Custom (Ebony fingerboard) : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/HeritageH57598?authkey=Gv1sRgCNrp5vzp986QaQ

Sweet 16 (P.U. changed for a handmade Kent Armstrong) : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/Sweet16?authkey=Gv1sRgCK3xs4_X9trAUQ

I begin to be partial to Heriatge guitars but still have G... ones : https://picasaweb.google.com/stanfr08/Family?authkey=Gv1sRgCMWnhderhsvpVg

Enjoy !

 
hello all, recently got a 2007 535. been hiding in my local music store for 5 years! with trade in purchased for less than half the current list, here in england! a very happy bunny!! regards, mike, southampton, hampshire, england. uk.

 
englishman said:
hello all, recently got a 2007 535. been hiding in my local music store for 5 years! with trade in purchased for less than half the current list, here in england! a very happy bunny!! regards, mike, southampton, hampshire, england. uk.
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Welcome to the HOC from another Englishman, Mike :) There are half a dozen or so of us on here as regular contributors, maybe the same again as lurkers and infrequent posters.

Of course, in the interests of public decency, you should now let us see some pics of this beauty :)

 
BruceW here. i wanted to get close to the es-345 i sold in the 60's but the prices are out of range. then i found ed roman selling his blues deluxe and wow.. everything i wanted and less! less weight, less feedback, smaller size and less $$$. i had mine plek'd before heritage got their own machine and it plays like a dream. i don't bother much with the vip system. i find i'm more of a strat guy now so it sits under the bed as a hopeful investment..

 
Hello , Scott here in Los Angeles . I have my eye on a stunning red H-137 and if all goes as planned she'll be mine real soon . I mainly play bass but I love a fine guitar and this will be the prize of my collection . Just can't wait ! taps foot...

 
Ach aye the noo from Scotland. I have a circa 1990 H357, needs a bit of work but still sounds and plays very well. It's my only Heritage.............for now. They are quite hard to come by in the UK so next time I'm in the states I'll pick up another.

Hello to all, I look forwards to sharing in some banter and slavering over guitars with you.

Now.........where did I put that kidney.

Steve.

 
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