DetroitBlues

Perfect combination, I'd imagine its glorious! At first when I read this, I was thinking it was from the same Chinese budget guitar maker, Firefly, that's sold on Amazon. This obviously is not the case.

Used market has definitely bottomed out. My 2016 Heritage with custom specs was about $1300 less than what a custom core model sells for new today. I wouldn't expect though I could get more than $1500 or so on the used market unless I want it to sit for a year or two waiting for prices to go up or the perfect buyer.

Looks like a great guitar, most likely has a slimmer neck that what you'll find on new Heritages. The crack is odd, but since its a 555, it has a centerblock meaning its pretty solidly built. I'd be surprised if its an actual crack too, since the laminated maple/poplar/maple construction would prevent any serious issues aside from someone stepping on it.

I was very, very close to using one of these. But I also use the four-cable method too. My Wampler Terraform has presets in which I can decided if I want an effect to go into the front of the amp or the effects loop for all my modulation stuff. Then run a UA Del-Verb for my delay and reverb needs which I use mostly as a set it and forget it.

Much bigger facility. Heritage has limited capacity and manpower. Plus they also make Harmony guitars there as well which are priced slightly below Heritages these days, only major difference is more CNC work and easier construction methods.

Well said Kuz! Almost every new guitar I see on the three different Heritage FB pages I follow/moderate, people are buying the Custom Core models and loving them. I think Heritage has shown the CC line is fine instrument for the money. Heritage maybe following the PRS business model making their USA models as their high-end and the budget models being the SE lineup (and the SE's have drastically bridged the gap to be gig worthy guitars that closer resemble their USA made counter-parts0

I may be mistaken, but here is what I remember/assumptions: Mahogany Body with a Strat-like body Bolt-On Maple Neck Banana Headstock Bill Lawerence Humbucker Bridge Pickup Single Volume Control Only 24.75" Scale Maple Fretboard Fixed Tele-like bridge Some weird fuzzy like paint finish. Does that sound about right? I believe this is bare-bones student model like guitar. My guess is this developed from the short-lived idea of Heritage building Fender guitars.

My guess is the Custom Shop Bespoke program and Custom Core line need the capacity to keep up with demand....

Probably not, the HRW was a Schaller humbucker that was completely reworked. However, just my thoughts anyway.

I’ve got a feeling the Standard USA model line is going away and only Custom Cores will be USA made…

Lol, well said Kuz. I'm lugging around tube amps to this day. I do have a solid state, pedal amp only as a backup. That Metropoulos amp I'm using has power settings from 10/25/50 watts, but unlike most amps that offer such features, the tone doesn't change. A lot of work went into it from what I understand, but make no mistake, it's a boutique amp and isn't cheap.

Is it so much of a volume issue as it is weight? Those modelers/solid state abominations are significantly lighter. For some reason the Fender Mustang craze just came to mind. How many people here and other places raved on the 100w Mustang III combo and the Mustang IV head/cabinet? I know they were lightweight... but was the tone really there?

I have a custom ordered H535, turning 9 years old this year. When I initially bought it, I didn't want the single-ply plastic pickguard that was offered. Years before it would have been a matching flame bound maple pickguard, but cost-cutting measures reduced it to a cheap piece of plastic. A few years ago, I had a newer designed, multiply pickguard installed. Looks better to me. Fast-forward to 2023, I purchased a new H150 factory direct with a standard pickguard. For some reason, I like that guitar without a pickguard. Again looks better. I have a HOC LE H137 with soapbar P90's. To my eyes, it looks "right" with a NOS Gibson pickguard on it vs without it. Can't explain it, but some guitars seem right with a pickguard and others don't. Anyone else do this?

I'd wave the banner, but the band asked me to stop. People thought it was the name of the band...

There is a trick for pickup rings. Tape a piece of sandpaper on the top, gently glide the pickup ring back and forth until it makes the curve of the top. The tailpiece is also original.. Fine guitar all around. Hows the neck shape?