No more tease...it's here (1996 H535)

[Patrick]

Fred,

Both you and Patrick picked up on the re-fret.

Having never seen one before, it had never occured to me.

But now that you've mentioned it, I took some pix of my three Heritage fretboards, just to see the differences.

 

First up is my 2001 Millie H155 with an ebony board. You can see the neck binding is formed to exactly meet the fret ends.

 

 

 

And here's the H535. Looking very closely (and probably not visible in the pix), you can see where the very top edge of the neck binding has been either cut or filed flat. It's slightly lighter in color than the lower part of the binding. If this binding originally had been shaped to meet the fret ends, it's not now.

 

 

 

And just for something completely different, here's my H137, unbound rosewood board:

 

 

 

 

I tend to agree with your comment about the re-fret not being a bad thing. It likely saved me the trouble and expense of having it done.

 

After 14 years, and evidently having been played enough to need a re-fret, that would tend to explain the discoloration and tarnishing on the pickup covers, and the very-new-looking bridge and tailpiece. But it makes the H535 more of a mystery than ever, because the overall condition is so good.

The headstock's front, back, and all edges, are completely pristine. This thing has never bumped against anything. The top has a couple of extremely minor marks, same for the back and sides, but the condition of the finish is remarkably good.

 

Makes me wonder how this guitar could have possibly been played so much as to require a re-fret but still remain in such excellent condition.

I'll never know. Sent an email to the seller asking if he know anything about its history (he runs an antique store and I have no idea how he happened to find this guitar), but did not get a reply. His eBay pix were not anywhere near good enough to spot the re-fret, and it wasn't mentioned in the description. Not exactly full disclosure, but I'm not going to let it bother me.

 

Interesting stuff. Thanks, guys, for pointing this out to me. Good to learn new things.

 

By the way, nobody has asked me how much I paid for this H535, but it's on the eBay completed auctions and therefore available to anyone who cares to look. I paid $1101. Not a screaming bargain-of-the-century price, but considering what I got, I'm happy.

Lyle

 

Lyle; it's definitely a re-fret. There's no doubt in my military mind about that. But as Fred said, it appears to be a good job. Also, not every fret job is done because the frets have worn out. I've seen some guys fall totally in love with a brand new guitar . . except for the size of the frets . . . and they had them immediately changed out to a jumbo, from a small . . or from a medium to a jumbo. . etc. Also, some guys (idiots) get a brand new guitar, can't play it worth a lick, blame it on the frets and change them out. Then there are the unscrupulous repair guys who convince the naive players that a guitar needs a re-fret when all it needed was a fret dress and a set up. So, I doubt that someone wore those frets out. Also, smack yourself. You deserve it if you don't think you got a GREAT deal on that guitar at $1,101. In fact, I'd be willing to give you $1,102 for it right now

[High Flying Bird]

It is red but it isn't solid red. I like the fact you can see the grain. Good looking Guitar Lyle. I think you will love the 535.

[TalismanRich]

All I can say is Bravo! That thing is CHERRY, man. Welcome to the family of red 535 owners!

 

[LK155]

Thanks, folks for all the positive replies.

 

This 535 is a triple-take guitar.

On first glance, it looks just like any other bright red guitar. Before I actually saw it, I was making fun of its redness. That's a word, right?

 

When you look closer, you see a bit of the flame showing through, and you think maybe this is NOT just another red guitar.

 

And when you really take a good look at it, and turn it a bit to catch the light, you realize what an amazing finish it has. There's lots of flame, both front and back, and other figuring as well. It's almost 3D; the flame looks like it's sitting under a quarter inch of glass. Fascinating. And yes, Rich, it's cherry, not just plain old red. Says so right on the label. "Tr.Cherry", it says. Transylvanian Cherry, or Transparent Cherry, or Traditional Cherry, or Transvestite Cherry (well, probably not that one), or Translucent Cherry. Yeah, that's it.

 

 

Ever pick up a guitar, play it a bit, then sit back, smile, and say....man, this is a nice, nice, NICE stick? That's my reaction to the 535 every time. Since I got the action set to my liking (4/64ths on both sides), it plays exceptionally well.

 

I'll be taking it with me this week for my lesson, where they have a mid-60's very old-and-worn-looking Kalamazoo 335 for sale on the wall. Should be interesting to see how similar and how different they are. Price tag on the 335 is more than three times what I paid for the 535.

 

Did I mention I was happy with this guitar?

Lyle

[Kuz]

I am so glad you found your soul mate Lyle.

 

Great looking and sounding guitar, play her in good health!!!

[yoslate]

Transvestite Cherry (well, probably not that one),

 

Oxymoron...?

 

Congrats, Lyle; a keeper for sure!

[bolero]

congrats!!

 

that's a killer cherry red 535!!

[LK155]

congrats!!

 

that's a killer cherry red 535!!

 

 

Thanks, Bolero.

 

Hey, don't you also have a newly-acquired cherry red 535 in your fleet?

Was it the one that was for sale on the Guitars Canada site? I was tempted by that one.

Never saw any pix of yours............

[koula901]

 

Ever pick up a guitar, play it a bit, then sit back, smile, and say....man, this is a nice, nice, NICE stick? That's my reaction to the 535 every time.

 

 

Lyle,

Yes, I have the same reaction to my 535. Sweeet! Enjoy!

[bolero]

Thanks, Bolero.

 

Hey, don't you also have a newly-acquired cherry red 535 in your fleet?

Was it the one that was for sale on the Guitars Canada site? I was tempted by that one.

Never saw any pix of yours............

 

yes, that's the one, and it's fantastic...no pics yet as I can't find my cam charger, grr

 

 

hey Lyle, you aren't into old slotcars, by any chance?

[LK155]

yes, that's the one, and it's fantastic...no pics yet as I can't find my cam charger, grr

 

 

hey Lyle, you aren't into old slotcars, by any chance?

 

 

Um, no.

 

(This sounds like a trick question, and I'm about to get zinged.)

[TalismanRich]

yes, that's the one, and it's fantastic...no pics yet as I can't find my cam charger, grr

 

 

hey Lyle, you aren't into old slotcars, by any chance?

 

Did someone mention slotcars? I might have dabbled in the once upon a time.

[TalismanRich]

Lyle, I've listened to the 535 clip and you've got some really nice stuff in there. Can't wait until you round them out a bit. Is this the long awaited 3rd Geezer album?

[LK155]

Lyle, I've listened to the 535 clip and you've got some really nice stuff in there. Can't wait until you round them out a bit. Is this the long awaited 3rd Geezer album?

 

 

(Internal Server Error: is this when your manservant spills your beer on the carpet?)

This is now my third attempt to add a reply...........

 

 

Rich,

Well, no.

The Geezer only has 4 songs completed for the next album, and he thinks there should be a couple more.

Patience.

Don't forget that the talent pool he has to work with is very shallow.

 

But the rest of the band showed up this afternoon.

So here's what the 535, neck pickup only, sounds like in that context:

 

(Relax, it's only about a minute and a half long.)

 

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9908778

 

Too bad about that loud, rowdy bugger that showed up for the last few bars. He was quite rude.

[bolero]

Um, no.

 

(This sounds like a trick question, and I'm about to get zinged.)

 

ha, no, I knew someone named Lyle located up there, with a 1964 falcon amp. but lost touch a few years back

 

we used to race slotcars

 

Rich those look pretty damn fast, those would be wingcars, no?

 

we raced HO AFX & 1/32 scale: those guys would build the revell model kits with soldered brass chassis etc. they still race in a couple leagues, rotating thru huge tracks they've all got....it's a lot of fun!

[bolero]

ps nice clip: great playing!!