Kuz

To me, Relic'd guitars FEEL much better, SOUND much better (less nitro finish), and I don't have to worry about dings. We have been through this before, but many artists including Greg Koch, have stated publicly that the weathered & less finish on relic'd guitars make them ring & sustain better and they have more bloom & overtones. I didn't buy relic'd guitars because of the look, but for the feel and sound. When I bought relic'd/aged guitars, they were either "ultra light" or "light aged" guitars because they look more like vintage aged guitars.

That is what I thought, but others were referring to it as a 535 when I suspected it was a 530.

Congrats Rich! She is a Beauty! She is a fully hollow 530, correct?

I have used Boss, Gator, Boice Box, and currently use Pivotal Pedalbords.

What size do you want? How many pedals are you going to use? Are you going to be using a pedal looper system or only the pedals themselves? Do you want a 2 tier system? Do you want a hard lid or gig bag? Are you going to be using multiple power supplies? I just finished a pedalboard rebuild that is HUGE and the cost was significant. My pedalboard weighs 40-45lbs. It is perfect for me for use at home with almost all my pedals available at anytime for recording use or just playing at home. I think you need to be more specific to the questions above to get a recommendation.

Well, considering there are not a lot of manufacturing differences for Heritage between the standard line and the custom core line, and considering they are pricing the custom core line anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 more than the standards,... then I would say Heritage's profit margin is MUCH higher with the custom core line. And thus, fewer custom core guitars need to be sold to keep a higher profit over the standard line. Also, I think the custom core line has been a HUGE success. Of all the Heritage guitar owners groups forums (obviously here at HOC and on Facebook), the number of owners reporting a new custom core Heritage purchase BY FAR out weighs the number of new standard line Heritage purchases. For me, the lighter weight on my Custom Core 150 has justified it's price. Last night, I played the Aged CC 150 comparing it to my Murphy Ultra Lite aged R9. Other than the different frets on the CC 150, I am not so sure the CC 150 is not a better guitar.... again, validating the price of the custom core line.

I just started putting D’addario XS 12.5s on my Gibsons acoustics (J-45, Southern Jumbo, SJ-200) and the 12.5s are a perfect goldilock compromise between 12s and 13s. I use my acoustics for singer/songwriter music so I am not bending or using much vibrato much at all. I want volume, tone, feel, & projection from strumming and finger-picking playing so the 12.5s are perfect (in my opinion) for Gibson bigger body acoustics!

I get it, that "Wind Cried Mary" tone is awful!!! (LOL 😛)

I have just lately got back into playing my electric guitars. I went on a 3+ year bender of ONLY playing my acoustics. I did a lot of experimenting with strings and gauges on my acoustics. My conclusion was that most bigger body acoustics(dreadnoughts) thrive with 13s and most smaller body acoustics (small jumbos and OMs) like 12s. But there are some exceptions.... and thus the reason for this reply. I have a beautiful 1957 J-200 Reissue acoustic that you would think based on it's large size would love heavier (13s) strings. But I read many acoustic forums that the heavier strings can "choke" the top and sacrifice tone on a J-200. Well, I didn't believe it until I tried it. Heavier strings (13s) took all the projection and life out of the J-200, so I immediately put 12s back on. So I think string gauges and even brands, can vary from guitar to guitar based on the design and the brand producing the guitar.

And Jimi used 9s... nobody complained about his tone. 🤨

Just my opinion, but I prefer the looks of guitars (especially Gibson & Heritage guitars) WITH the pickguard on the guitar. I always thought the guitars that had the pickguards removed looked hacked, naked, and modified. Plus, the pickguard is really a "finger rest" so it serves as functional part of the guitar as well.

Amen, Brother!

Weight is not an issue for me. All my tube combo amps are around 35lbs (the all tube Headstrong 'Lil King is even much lighter than that). My pedalboard weighs about the same. I am 58 years old and the day I can't haul 35lbs in and out of the car is the day I will stop playing. I don't need 100 watts or a 4x12 cab, they are super cool but unpractical anymore. Mic the cab and use some monitors. If you do this you can lower the stage volume (use the above mentioned attenuate to lower the stage & overall volume even more). So get in shape, butter cup, LOL 😛 and haul a medium size combo amp, a pedalboard, and one the great new attenuators..... no need to sacrifice tube tone for volume or weight issues. Just my opinion, others may vary.

This.... Tone King Ironman II 100-watt Reactive Power Attenuator .... and your volume/tone problems are solved. PERIOD

Every Heritage that I have owned (over 12 of them) I replaced with Faber locking ABR1 bridge and locking stoptail. On Faber's website, it says, "Bridges for Heritage guitars".

In Jazz guitar, there really aren't any bending or vibrato. Usually, bends, and especially vibrato, is discouraged to frowned upon in "classic" jazz guitar playing. Some of the more contemporary jazz guitar artists are doing more bends/vibrato, but they are using lighter strings. It just a matter of personal taste and playing style.

For the record, Heritage ships their archtops with 12s on them. I, personally, would be a little concerned putting that much tension on the top with 14s. Vince Lewis, a jazz master and Heritage endorser, uses 11s and 10s on his Sweet 16s.

When I ordered my 535 P-90, I told Marv Lamb I wanted the first 535 P-90 and the first Marv Lamb wine-burst finish. Rockabilly wanted it bad so he now has it. I was also told that Marv was the only one that sprayed the Marv wine-burst finish himself.

I have used both and it is just WAY too hard to do simple editing of presets/patches/simulated pedals when playing live with the direct modeler stuff. I like all my analog pedals available on the board where I can see them and just make a simple level or tone adjustment, by just reaching down and turning the knob on the pedal. What is essential is a Looper for your pedals (like Boss M8 or Gigrig G3) where you can program an infinite number of presets that can turn on/off multiple different pedals with just one step on the board. If editing of any the pedals are needed, just reach down and turn the knobs on the physical pedals. HONESTLY, the Looper & analog pedals combination is the best of both worlds of modeling & tube amps!

Mark, it is great when the chemistry of the band comes together and it looks like you are finally there! I love all my guitars and currently don't have any PRS guitars. But I can tell you that from my experience PRS guitars are the most versatile guitars out there. Get a PRS with a Trem and they can sound close to a LP & SG, and the coil tapping is surprisingly good for Strat & Tele tones. If I could only have one guitar for a gig, a Trem equipped PRS with coil tapping would be the one. I will eventually get another PRS DGT, but I have two kids with college expenses right around the corner. And don't let anyone tell you that Guitar -->input cord ---> amp is the only way to play. NO professional plays this way. Clubs don't allow you to play loud enough anymore for amp only distortion. Even Robben Ford uses a zen drive to goose his $50K Dumble. You aren't less of a guitarist if you use pedals. Your tone doesn't suck if you use pedals. Hello, David Gilmore forever has used a clean amp and pedals for his OD/Dist and no complains of his tone. EVERYONE use pedals. One question; How long are you banned from driving? That really stinks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

That's a shame Mark, but you showed a lot of patience. Time to move ahead with a new guitarist. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself playing out at gigs!

Mark, it is always good to feel vindicated. And why is it that the truth always comes around after the fact? I am glad the band is still together and hope your drummer is up and running (or at least up and walking) soon! Yea, turning on the footswitch for the lights helps. Lately, I learned that plugging the input cord from my pedal board to my amp helps make my guitar sound louder!!!! Ha, ha

Mark, I am really glad you were able to solve this issue in a civilized manor. I know many here on the HOC were advising you to fire him, but maybe now the message came through loud in clear. It's my experience that she will go through cycles of good & bad behavior, so I would be prepared that the "bad" wife may come back. Hopefully, another quick talk to the husband will get her back on track if needed. Bottom line, it's like rebooting your iPad or computer....you don't have to reboot that often but it fixes the problem quickly until the next glitch & reboot. Again, I commend you on your patience and civil behavior especially when you did nothing wrong.

Yes, your patience is something I envy. I probably would have been more direct and made the situation worse. But the "playing" members of the band should all have an equal vote on band matters (not wives or girlfriends). It is really petty and selfish of the band member (with the wife) to back out of a gig when he agreed to do it. If the band says "yes" that should be the end of it. I can also speak from experience, that there are no amiable separations from a band. Leaving members will hold a grudge and say, "Let's keep in touch" but like when your girlfriend breaks up with you and says, "Let's still be friends" both parties know you will never speak again. I guess the moral of the story is; at all costs try to work it out before leaving because it will be hard (if not impossible) to restore what you once had. FWIW, I LOVE my Gretsch Penguin. I had a couple hollowbody Gretsch guitars, but the feedback was a real problem with stage volume so I sold/traded them. I would go with a solidbody or semi-hollow for more flexibility and an actual usable guitar on stage. That Duesenberg is HOT!!!