Is it just me, or has Heritage gotten better?

[jrfreed]

I cant get over it...I keep seeing HOC members latest guitars on the forum and the quality Heritage is putting out is amazing lately!! I owned a 535 years back and sold it (mistake) but I honestly believe that 95 H535 was nowhere near the quality as the 530 I bought this year. Same name on the headstock but nowhere near the same level of build and attention to detail.

 

I mean look the pics Git's new 525 custom! That guitar is an instant classic, and I'll even step out on a limb and say, that may be the best 525 they've ever made. (but maybe he'll have to ship to Houston and let me test drive her for a few days to verify that claim! HA)

 

The white PSPIII 535...AMAZING!

 

Is anyone else noticing this trend? Are they doing something different? New people in the finish room?

 

Whatever it is guys...keep it up!

[High Flying Bird]

I am sure the young people at 225 Parsons have gotten better / more experienced in the last few years. I suspect they will keep getting better too.

 

Your right about the Guit's 525. I got weak in the knees seeing it in person.

[Spectrum13]

It's not just you but you play a big part so pat yourself on the back for being on the HOC. Gitfiddler's 525 is his take on low budget 1960's Gibbons and dresses it up with a bound headstock, neck, inlays, burst pickguard and custom color. All this and and a Marv carved neck he knows Heritage can build through the dealer network and examples on the HOC and lots of you are super creative. This is a long way from a 1965 catalogue. Try placing a custom order with Gibson back then or today and see if they would put an L5 neck on a 175 with P90.

[jrfreed]

I've always enjoyed Heritage guitars, but never had them on the same level as a Montelone, Collings, Sadowsky et al but the latest batch outta 225 Parsons St seem to take aim.

 

The most exciting thing I've seen in ages are those P90 beauties (the 525 and 530's) they are producing right now. You can dress them up or dress them down and they look/play incredable.

 

Quit the 'buckers and put lollar p90's in everything!!

GE? p90

575? 2- p90's

535? 2 p90's

Sweet 16? P90!

550? 3 P90's ala' Switchmaster!! I THINK I FOUND MY NEXT BUILD!! Sunset burst, bound and pearled headstock...hmmmm...I better start saving.

[AnH555]

Looks to me like the P-90 trend has caught on big. And Heritage's custom shop stuff just glows, with those killer finishes. When I think about it, so do their standard models. Sometimes people want to compare a $2500 Heritage to a $6000 brand X. Like KIA versus Lexus. I still think Heritage is unbeatable in their price class. Just depends on what what I'm looking for. All I know is me and everyone who has ever seen my Heritage is blown away by it. And in this forum it's just your average everyday Heritage. If I ever buy another guitar it will be a custom spec'd Heritage and I'm confident they'd do a fantastic job on it.

[smurph1]

I have never played a heritage from the 90's..But my New 535 is the best guitar I have ever owned..And as was said earlier, it's not even custom, Just a factory spec OSB 535 w/Seths..But it blows my mind..i'm taking her to a jam tonight after work..Can't wait!!

[eljay]

I've always enjoyed Heritage guitars, but never had them on the same level as a Montelone, Collings, Sadowsky et al but the latest batch outta 225 Parsons St seem to take aim.

 

The most exciting thing I've seen in ages are those P90 beauties (the 525 and 530's) they are producing right now. You can dress them up or dress them down and they look/play incredable.

 

Quit the 'buckers and put lollar p90's in everything!!

GE? p90

575? 2- p90's

535? 2 p90's

Sweet 16? P90!

550? 3 P90's ala' Switchmaster!! I THINK I FOUND MY NEXT BUILD!! Sunset burst, bound and pearled headstock...hmmmm...I better start saving.

both my Hs, 530 and 150, have p90s: i "need" a 'bucker-equipped H. will be either a 535 or a 530. i was blathering about a hbucker 530 at psp3 and i still can't shake the notion! maybe need 530 and 535!

[mark555]

I have said it before, this is the golden age of Heritage production. I have a 90's 555, great guitar - especially since I put the upgrades on it..

[smurph1]

a 535 is good for almost anything because it's got that solid center block..the 530 is a true hollow which tends to feed back a bit more easily..So here's an idea..Get Both!!Eljay..

[FredZepp]

It's hard to know how to comment on the original topic...

There is no doubt that Kalamazoo is turning out some of their finest work , and yes , I do mean the finest since the plant opened in 1917.

 

 

And wow ... the pics of the latest custom orders... well .. they speak for themselves. Awesome.

 

But I do love my older Heritage beauties and don't mind them having a few miles on them. ( an '89, '92,'94, '99, '00...)

[ingeneri]

I've always enjoyed Heritage guitars, but never had them on the same level as a Montelone, Collings, Sadowsky et al but the latest batch outta 225 Parsons St seem to take aim.

 

The most exciting thing I've seen in ages are those P90 beauties (the 525 and 530's) they are producing right now. You can dress them up or dress them down and they look/play incredable.

 

Quit the 'buckers and put lollar p90's in everything!!

GE? p90

575? 2- p90's

535? 2 p90's

Sweet 16? P90!

550? 3 P90's ala' Switchmaster!! I THINK I FOUND MY NEXT BUILD!! Sunset burst, bound and pearled headstock...hmmmm...I better start saving.

 

Heritage 575 with P-90s like this? http://jazzguitarlife.ning.com/profile/MattIngeneri

[smurph1]

Heritage 575 with P-90s like this? http://jazzguitarlife.ning.com/profile/MattIngeneri

Yeah..like THAT!!

[big bob]

My (Katie directed) 170 custom is by far the nicest, best built, guitar, heritage or not, I've played.. Brent's 357 is a close second..

I would say the next generation, Curly, Kate, Chris, ect. are gonna set a new standard for quality..

[High Flying Bird]

I would say the next generation, Curly, Kate, Chris, ect. are gonna set a new standard for quality.

 

They couldn't have paid for a better education.

[H]

Quit the 'buckers and put lollar p90's in everything!!

 

How about Seymour Duncan P-Rails for even more options? Anyone put these in a Heritage yet?

[Patrick]

Here's my take on it . . . . I think that Heritage has made really good and high quality guitars since it's beginning days back in 1984-85. However, there have been occasional issues with consistancy in the quality control.

 

However, I believe that they have now attained a cohesiveness as a team. I think that they have hit their stride and they are currently producing outstanding guitars on a regular basis. Probably, as fredzep said . . some of the best EVER. Now, with that being said . . . here's the challange . . . . I believe that they know that too. The management team needs to be very tuned in to maintaining the focus and avoiding complacency. If the attitude of "we're doing real well with our products now . . . and that's good enough . .. and we can stop over-reaching to do it better" . . . starts to seep in . . . they need to recognize it and nip it in the bud.

 

Here's another observation;; whether or not you guys realize it . . the HOC has put the team up at Parsons street in a possition of now having to live up to the cudos we continuously dump on them. They know we realize that they are capable of greatness . . . and they know the we will accept nothing less.

[big bob]

How about Seymour Duncan P-Rails for even more options? Anyone put these in a Heritage yet?

I have them in my 575, they are rocken, not swingen. ie good for rock, rockabilly, blues, not so good for jazz...

[golferwave]

They couldn't have paid for a better education.

 

 

Well said HFB! ... Patrick makes an astute observation as well. We are the first group to come along and tell them how wonderful they are ... People respond to others opinions and expectations...if you tell them they're great, they'll strive to live up to that ... and they have!

[tulk1]

I've had a '99 Prospect that I thought was fabulous. Not sure where it's gotten to, right now.

My '01 Millie SAE was a strange bird. But the build was spot on. Thin neck, tho'. But the finish was all that and more.

The '05 H157 was absolutely gorgeous. Good medium neck, spotless binding. Heavy git, tho'. Last seen making its way to MOE.

I picked up a stunning 535 in '07. There is not one flaw on that whole guitar. The most intriguing flames on the back, just get deeper and deeper as you polish it up. Wonderfully woody tone, great neck.

The Millie NFH - my first custom order Heritage. It's a rockin' machine. Flawless build, just amazing balance and wide flame that looks like it's burning.

The Prospect Custom is probably The Best guitar I have ever owned ... or played. There is not one thing wrong with that guitar. From the choice woods, to the detailing, to the balance of weight to the tone. Absolutely The Best!

Oh, and then there's that white guitar I've been seen with. Y'know.

 

My point? Oh, yeah. Except for some differences in the build (necks, woods, custom order, etc), I think my '99 - '10 guitars are very nearly the same. But I do think if one wanted to, one could track a slight increase in the "feel" (read:quality) as the years increase. And I certainly hope that we Do claim some responsibility for the increase in quality. Even if it's really just a slight increase.

[Kuz]

No doubt in my mind that NOW Heritage is building their best guitars.

[jrfreed]

Definately not knocking the older builds...I owned one and loved it and Heritage has always made great guitars at an amazing price point, but the 07-10's seem to have really struck me as "polished" builds...mature...ya know?

[Guest HRB853370]

Here's my take on it . . . . I think that Heritage has made really good and high quality guitars since it's beginning days back in 1984-85. However, there have been occasional issues with consistancy in the quality control.

 

However, I believe that they have now attained a cohesiveness as a team. I think that they have hit their stride and they are currently producing outstanding guitars on a regular basis. Probably, as fredzep said . . some of the best EVER. Now, with that being said . . . here's the challange . . . . I believe that they know that too. The management team needs to be very tuned in to maintaining the focus and avoiding complacency. If the attitude of "we're doing real well with our products now . . . and that's good enough . .. and we can stop over-reaching to do it better" . . . starts to seep in . . . they need to recognize it and nip it in the bud.

 

Here's another observation;; whether or not you guys realize it . . the HOC has put the team up at Parsons street in a possition of now having to live up to the cudos we continuously dump on them. They know we realize that they are capable of greatness . . . and they know the we will accept nothing less.

 

Do you surmise that Ren, Marv, Bill, Vince and the rest of the team read our posts on the HOC forum? It would certainly behoove them to do so!

[tulk1]

Do you surmise that Ren, Marv, Bill, Vince and the rest of the team read our posts on the HOC forum? It would certainly behoove them to do so!

 

Lurkers, everyone of them!! We know that Ren does. Katie and some of the younger folk do. Not everyday, probably. But they sure were up on current issues at the PSP.

[Kuz]

Definately not knocking the older builds...I owned one and loved it and Heritage has always made great guitars at an amazing price point, but the 07-10's seem to have really struck me as "polished" builds...mature...ya know?

 

That is when Vince became a partner and he told me that one of his goal was to increase quality control over fit & finish!!!

 

I can't argue with the results.

 

It's just like PRS. Everybody drools over the '85 & '86 PRS guitars. I have played early one and they seem primitive compared to the newer ones.

I am not trying to start an PRS thread, but just to make a comparison.

[Spectrum13]

Do you surmise that Ren, Marv, Bill, Vince and the rest of the team read our posts on the HOC forum? It would certainly behoove them to do so!

 

 

Will they are taking bets on how long it will take you to end up with a super eagle and already have five push pins in south atlanta.