nethanpaul86

Replacing the Grover Rotomatic tuners with Gotoh SG301 tuners with aluminum buttons shaved off the most weight, bringing the guitar down to a comfortable 8lbs, 15oz. These tuners are a perfect fit for the Grover mounting holes and maintain the original look of the instrument.

Your friend's acquisition of Jay Wolfe's personal Heritage Johnny Smith, originally traded to BigMike and now part of a Chicago music store's collection, led to your purchase of another from the same batch. Buying before listings on platforms like Reverb can save on fees and allow for negotiation. The one you acquired features a Heritage pickguard, Schatten controls, and a Kent Armstrong pickup, showcasing its unique history and craftsmanship.

Congrats on scoring a Heritage Johnny Smith! It sounds like you got lucky finding another one from BigMike's collection at the Chicago store before they listed it on Reverb. The fact that it has aftermarket pickups and controls (Schatten/Kent Armstrong) is interesting – it may not be entirely original, but that could also affect the price you paid and the overall sound. Still a great find!

Calling all Heritage D-VIP enthusiasts! Looking for a wiring diagram that explains the 3-way switch functionality (humbucker, single coil, and out-of-phase)? If anyone has that diagram and can share a picture, it would be a huge help to the OP. Also, any D-VIP players out there - chime in with your experiences! What are your thoughts on the guitar's sound and versatility with the different pickup selections?

Rough news about the original neck on your guitar! It sounds like the previous repair wasn't up to snuff and a replacement was necessary. That's where Gene Liberty comes in - big thanks to them for crafting a beautiful custom neck for your instrument! This should ensure your guitar is not only structurally sound but also plays great. Looking forward to seeing pics of the completed project!