Jazzpunk Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 My 'new to me' Heritage Kenny Burrell Groovemaster arrived today from Portland, OR safe and sound! I believe this guitar originally belonged to HOC member Ingeneri but I may be wrong. If it did that would be cool as it is now back in the fam! This guitar is an '08 model with OSB finish and SD Phat Cats. Let me just say, as with all Heritage guitars, she is quite a looker! I've never owned a guitar with gold hardware (was never really a fan until now) but it looks really pimptastic in person! The block inlays and bound headstock are just oh, so classy. It took a few minutes to adjust when I first plugged in to my Headstrong Lil King as I was instantly comparing the Groovemaster to my old 575. To be honest, I was hoping that this guitar would fill the void left buy my not so smart 575 sale but it was immediately apparent that they are very different sounding instruments (duh!). This is not a bad thing at all, just took me a bit to stop comparing the two and embrace the new guitar on it's own merits. With the laminate top and metal bridge, it definitely has a brighter sound than the 575. I dig the Phat Cats and will spend some more time with them but I think I am going to put in some P.A.F. style pups eventually (Seths or Lollars maybe?). Haven't spent enough time with her to give a full tone report but the initial impressions are very good. Though I do miss the big 'round' warmth that the 575 offered in spades, I think this guitar will be a better fit for the project I am involved in right now. One day when my jazz chops are better (and man does that seem like a long way off right now!), I will definitely own another 575 or perhaps an Eagle. Enough rambling...here she is!
GuitArtMan Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Bee-yewt-tea-full!!! Almost as nice as the 335 I sold ya!
Patrick Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Very nice . . . very cool jazz vibe. I can just hear the Joe Pass line jumping out of that box!!! One thing you may want to consider . . . in my not so humble opinion . . . get those black speed knobs off of that beauty and replace tham with a set of gold top hats. That's really give it that 50s - 60s vibe. They're cheap too!! All Parts, 2 to a pack . . . aroung $10 per pack
Gitfiddler Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Well done!! That is the nicest looking Groovemaster I've ever seen. I agree with you that dropping your suggested humbuckers in it will really bring out that gits best tonal qualities.
FredZepp Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 That is a Special Heritage that you picked up there....!!!! It has a great look to it. OSB ..Oh Yeah. The Phat Cats are a surprise and I'd expect that to be pretty cool, but I don't own any..so.... I guess it depends on what the sound that you're aiming for is...
H Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Pretty, pretty, pretty - well done Time to get practising your modes now
Patrick Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 That is a Special Heritage that you picked up there....!!!! It has a great look to it. OSB ..Oh Yeah. The Phat Cats are a surprise and I'd expect that to be pretty cool, but I don't own any..so.... I guess it depends on what the sound that you're aiming for is... Is that OSB??? It looks more like ASB
tulk1 Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Is that OSB??? It looks more like ASB In those pics it sure looks like ALSB = Almond Sunburst. ASB = Antique Sunburst which has more, um, yellow? in it. Either way, I agree, it doesn't look OSB in the pics. Could be the lighting.
peacemaker Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 To be honest, I was hoping that this guitar would fill the void left buy my not so smart 575 sale . . . So that's how you feel about it, huh? Well, I'm very grateful for your indiscretion then! Hardly a day goes by that she doesn't get loved on. I just had to delete a bunch of other comments about that guitar for fear of highjacking your thread here . . . on to the KB . . . SWEEEEt! Can't say I'm the least bit surprised you bought one of those given your Kenny Burrell obsession. That really is a classy looking guitar, man! I've never been a fan of gold hardware either . . . but on a guitar with Kenny Burrell's signature on it, the gold just fits. It's just gorgeous! Congratulations, man! The Phat Cats didn't come standard on that did they? I'm interested in a full "tone report" once you really get your ears wrapped around what they can do . . . Happy New Guitar Day!
jrfreed Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Killer...a GrooveMaster is definatly my next Heritage
ronalr Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Wow...that is a real beauty Jazzpunk...congratulations.....now let me hear you play "Soul Lament" on it
Jazzpunk Posted May 18, 2010 Author Posted May 18, 2010 In those pics it sure looks like ALSB = Almond Sunburst. ASB = Antique Sunburst which has more, um, yellow? in it. Either way, I agree, it doesn't look OSB in the pics. Could be the lighting. I just dug up Ingeneri's old thread and it says that the color is ASB (I believe this guitar was his due to the year and the custom order on the Phat Cats): Ingeneri Groovemaster The sticker inside the guitar definitely reads 'O.S.B.' though. The Groovemaster is definitely darker than the pics but than my old 535 with the Dark Almond Burst had a nice deep hue to it as well. As you can see from the pics of my old 575 in the gallery, my amazing photography skills do little to capture the true colors of the guitar before me lol. I guess it's a mystery for now!
Jazzpunk Posted May 18, 2010 Author Posted May 18, 2010 Thanks for all of the kind words everybody. Always nice to share a new purchase with the addicts uh, I mean good folks of the HOC!
smurph1 Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 A big honkin' beauty right there! Uh Huh..What he said..
ingeneri Posted May 19, 2010 Posted May 19, 2010 Yep, that's my old Groovemaster. Great guitar and hope you enjoy it. For the record, it was a custom order with ASB finish, phat cats, and gold hardware. I ended up trading this in for a 575 project modded with Lollar P90s. I'd be curious as to how you compare the Groovemaster to your 525. Glad to have the guitar in the HOC family!
Jazzpunk Posted May 19, 2010 Author Posted May 19, 2010 Yep, that's my old Groovemaster. Great guitar and hope you enjoy it. For the record, it was a custom order with ASB finish, phat cats, and gold hardware. I ended up trading this in for a 575 project modded with Lollar P90s. I'd be curious as to how you compare the Groovemaster to your 525. Glad to have the guitar in the HOC family! Very cool! Maybe some of your mojo will rub off. I'll come back and give a full tone report once I've had more time to play it.
Jazzpunk Posted May 19, 2010 Author Posted May 19, 2010 The Phat Cats are a surprise and I'd expect that to be pretty cool, but I don't own any..so.... I guess it depends on what the sound that you're aiming for is... The Phat Cats are cool but I've got the P-90 mojo covered with my 525. It ain't getting any better than that! Just placed my order for the Lollar Imperials (Top Ramen here I come lol). I'll let you know how the swap works out.
Jazzpunk Posted May 29, 2010 Author Posted May 29, 2010 Dropped her off today to have the Lollars installed. My luthier always gets excited when I bring a new Heritage in! He's a great player and I have to admit that when he plugged into his Ceriatone ODS and started running some jazz licks, the Phat Cats sounded mighty fine. Considering the price of the Imperials, I hope I'm making the right decision.
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