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516 and 550-the difference?


Guest HRB853370

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Guest HRB853370
Posted

Anybody know the differece between the 516 and the 550?

Posted

Will, I believe the 516 has a 16" body width, and the 550 has a 17" body width and 3" depth. I'm not sure what the body depth is on the 516, but I'm guessing it is slightly slimmer than the 550.

 

The 516 is like a laminated 575 with rounded cutaway, and the 550 is like a laminated Eagle size archtop.

Guest HRB853370
Posted

Will, I believe the 516 has a 16" body width, and the 550 has a 17" body width and 3" depth. I'm not sure what the body depth is on the 516, but I'm guessing it is slightly slimmer than the 550.

 

The 516 is like a laminated 575 with rounded cutaway, and the 550 is like a laminated Eagle size archtop.

 

Thanks Git. I spoke to Ren briefly today and he told me the 516 was a custom order.

Posted

Hey 'slammer.

 

There was this great thread a while back. It wasn't longer than a year ago that it was posted I don't think. Anyways, it had a list of Heritage guitars and what Gibby inspired their creation. It was very cool. Might be something to look up. It may help with any question you might have regarding a specific model.

 

My favorite finds were that the H575 was inspired by the L4 more than the ES175 and that the H550 was inspired by the ES350.

Guest HRB853370
Posted

Hey 'slammer.

 

There was this great thread a while back. It wasn't longer than a year ago that it was posted I don't think. Anyways, it had a list of Heritage guitars and what Gibby inspired their creation. It was very cool. Might be something to look up. It may help with any question you might have regarding a specific model.

 

My favorite finds were that the H575 was inspired by the L4 more than the ES175 and that the H550 was inspired by the ES350.

 

Thanks, I will look that up

Posted

Hey 'slammer.

 

There was this great thread a while back. It wasn't longer than a year ago that it was posted I don't think. Anyways, it had a list of Heritage guitars and what Gibby inspired their creation. It was very cool. Might be something to look up. It may help with any question you might have regarding a specific model.

 

My favorite finds were that the H575 was inspired by the L4 more than the ES175 and that the H550 was inspired by the ES350.

I don't remember that thread. Would be cool if ....... ahem .... someone! would dig it up.

Posted

Thanks, I will look that up

 

When u find it, could you refer me to it please?

Guest HRB853370
Posted

When u find it, could you refer me to it please?

 

Yes

Posted

Yes

I had trouble finding it. Maybe it didn't make it through the site conversion a few months ago.

 

This would make a good article for reference like the serial number one. That is, unless it too closely ties Heritage to Gibby. I can see that too.

Posted

Well, in an attempt to reinvent the wheel here's my guesstimation:

 

Heritage Super Eagle- Gibson Super 400

Heritage Golden Eagle- Gibson L5C

Heritage Johnny Smith- Gibson Johnny Smith (duh)

Heritage Eagle Classic- L5CES

Heritage Sweet 16- Gibson L4C

Heritage 550- Gibson ES350/Tal Farlow

Heritage 530- Gibson ES330

Heritage 525- Gibson ES225

Heritage 575- Gibson ES175

 

I think the 575 is closer to the ES175 due to the maple top and mahogany neck, the spruce topped Sweet 16 seems closer to the L4. Of course, all this is complicated by the amount of customization Heritage does. For example, is an X-braced Golden Eagle closer to a paralell braced L5C or a Johnny Smith.

 

The 516 and 576 are 16 inch maple top laminates with a "floating center block". The Groovemaster is the successor to these, but I can't think of a Gibson equivilent.

 

The Super Kenny Burrell is basically a copy of his early 60's Super 400 with the florentine cutaway. Those go around $20,000 these days making the Super KB a bargain!

Posted

Well, in an attempt to reinvent the wheel here's my guesstimation:

 

Heritage Super Eagle- Gibson Super 400

Heritage Golden Eagle- Gibson L5C

Heritage Johnny Smith- Gibson Johnny Smith (duh)

Heritage Eagle Classic- L5CES

Heritage Sweet 16- Gibson L4C

Heritage 550- Gibson ES350/Tal Farlow

Heritage 530- Gibson ES330

Heritage 525- Gibson ES225

Heritage 575- Gibson ES175

 

I think the 575 is closer to the ES175 due to the maple top and mahogany neck, the spruce topped Sweet 16 seems closer to the L4. Of course, all this is complicated by the amount of customization Heritage does.

I thought the old L4CES models had a mahogany neck and the only real material difference was that the L4's had a carved spruce top as opposed to the H575's carved maple top. Not true? I could be way wrong. Based on what I thought to be true, I had put the 575 closer to the L4CES due to the 175s having laminate bodies but, yeah, the things Heritage did made them their own monsters. Putting your perspective with mine, it is sort of a between model but certainly favors the 175 with regards to embellishment.

 

Either way, killer guitars!

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