Which guitar is this?

[aarsvold]

 

Yesterday found the white guitar on the picture for sale used on the internet and I ordered it. I did that despite I am having problem finding out exactly what guitar it is. I bought it because it was fairly cheap, approx 800 US$.

The owner seems to know very little about the guitar apart from that he has changed one humbucker and the model is H150. He said he bought it new 2 years ago.

So, therefore I have some questions for you?

 

Is this really a H150, and if so what type?

It doesnt have a pickguard, does that mean it is a semihollow (LW)?

Is it a good guitar, and is it worth the price?

 

As you see I am not really sure what i bought here but I think (hope) I will be satisfied. For the record I am a huge Neil Young fan and want to put on a bigsby on it, so that can give you some clue to what I am searching for in a guitar.

[H]

Hi, welcome to the forum

 

Unscrew the control plate at the back behind the pots and there is usually a sticker with the model info there. Tell us what it says (or send us a pic) and we'll fill in the gaps for you.

[aarsvold]

Hi, welcome to the forum

 

Unscrew the control plate at the back behind the pots and there is usually a sticker with the model info there. Tell us what it says (or send us a pic) and we'll fill in the gaps for you.

 

Well, I havent received it in the mail yet. I will get it 4 days from now or so. I am just very curious at the moment and I am doing some research while I am waiting here.

[Spectrum13]

aar,

 

$800 is a good price for a 150. It looks like a carved top and has a tuna-bridge so most like not a 137 or 157 and that leaves a 150 and like "H" said you need to remove the control plate for more information. Some come with pickguards some don't.

 

#1 Play it

#2 set it up (if needed)

#3 Repete step #1

#4 Let us know what you think.

[FredZepp]

Welcome to the club, aarsvold.

 

I believe that you'll find that guitar will do justice to a Neil Young jam.

 

You'll be impressed with what you get , especially for $800.

 

Of course, that's how it begins... as you start looking at another one , because the deal on these seems too good to be true.( and it's always nice to have one more....... )

 

Enjoy & give us a report (with pics) when you get it, we love to hear about a new guitar day.

[aarsvold]

Thanks so far, I feel really at home here. You seem to be some kind of a family thats glad to get new family-member.

 

Its odd, I had only heard about this brand a couple of times before I came over this offer. I really dont know much about these guitars but after reading some posts here and there it seems like a lot of people love them.

I will definately post pics and a report when i get it.

By the way, will a bigsby B7 do the job?

[Guest HRB853370]

aar,

 

$800 is a good price for a 150. It looks like a carved top and has a tuna-bridge so most like not a 137 or 157 and that leaves a 150 and like "H" said you need to remove the control plate for more information. Some come with pickguards some don't.

 

#1 Play it

#2 set it up (if needed)

#3 Repete step #1

#4 Let us know what you think.

 

Spectrum, would that be Chicken-of-the-sea Tuna bridge, or another brand? Please qualify!

[big bob]

Thar she blows,, that would be the ever elusive white whale..

 

Great buy!

[aarsvold]

I have now received the guitar in the mail and have tried for some hours including one rehearsal with the band.

 

I must say I was very excited when I came home and was about to open the guitarcase for the first time. Especially since i by Norwegian standards got it so cheap.

I must say that I was not at all disappointed. The guitar was really superb. Ok, the white color is not my favourite and i also dont like the fact that one of the two seymour 59s is replaced by a prs tremonti treble humbucker. But still, I was shocked that it actually sounded so much better than my existing main guitar which is a gibson studio. The sustain was ridiciosuly much better on the Heritage. The neck was a bit thicker than expected but I soon got used to that. I can really feel that this is really solid work.

 

On the rehearsal with the band I think the others thought I had gotten mad cause I just stood there laughing while I played because I liked it so much. Escpecially the powerchords through my 57 fender tweed deluxe reissue, the sound was insanely good. When it came to soloing it was also good though I think I might get better sound with other pickups.

I certainly know that this will be my main guitar for a while now.

 

On the downside i saw that there had been a pickguard mounted which was removed but I will fix that to. It also had quite a few scratches but I really dont care at all about that.

 

So now I have a few questions for you out there:

1. Can i use a standard Gibson pickguard

2. I am a big fan of Neil Youngs sound in his old black guitar, which pickups would you recommend?

3. I am planning to put on a bigsby. Has any of you done that and have experienced how it affect the sound on the Heritage? (sustain etc)

 

I guess more questions will occur as I continue playing it. Tomorrow I will do a concert with the band using it and I am really looking forward to it.

 

[FredZepp]

You can use a Gibson pickguard, but the screw holes will be in different places than the ones currently in it.

 

Neil Youngs Old Black guitar has a P-90 pickup and a mini bucker from a firebird.

I've found that the amp is the secret to Neils tone really.

I think I've acheived some good Neil tones with a variety of pickups.

Just something vintage sounding , not modern.

 

 

There is a joke around here that Bigsbys are "tone-suckers" ... but it's not really an issue. Many have them and love 'em.

 

 

So you'll end up with a "Tone-Sucking White Whale"... cool.

[mark555]

Hi and welcome, what a fantastic guitar for $800! it looks fantastic in white and will superb on stage. I can't tell you anything about a bigsby or pick ups as those would be your choice and I don't know too much about Neil Young, but that's a lovely guitar, no doubt about it.

[rjsanders]

good to hear you're diggin' the guit, bud. incredible deal.

 

- Neil's sound is more than the pickups, but those are certainly part of it. his Old Black has been hacked considerably over the years with various experiments. his amp setup is similar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Black +

 

 

- i've seen Heritages w/Gibbie-style pickguards

 

- there are different models of Bigsbys, one should fit yours. consult a good luthier, tho

 

enjoy

 

[aarsvold]

Hi again.

I have now already played my first gig with the Heritage and although i played really bad tonight I am extremely satisfied with the sound.

When it comes to my question about Neil Young pickups I think I asked this question a little bit inaccurately. What I really meant was that I wonder if any of you have put on a p90 and a minihumbucker on the Heritage and can recommend a brand that works well on this guitar for the sound I am after. For example this one which I have put my eyes on for a while: Seymour specialiced firebird

I guess theres not many out there though that has used this setup on the guitar.

 

Regarding the bigsby, I wonder if any of you have tried it (b7 for example). The reason why I ask is that I think that the sustain in my guitar is very very good and I am a bit afraid to destroy that with a bigsby.

 

Ok, that was all for now, thank you for all your help so far.

[FredZepp]

Rock-n-Roll can never die..

[H]

I'm pretty sure your 150 would need a larger pickup route for a real P90. You could put in a humbucker-sized P90 (Phat Cats, Mississippi Queens, amongst others), not a 'real' P90 but close enough to avoid major surgery on your new baby!

[Millennium Maestro]

On the rehearsal with the band I think the others thought I had gotten mad cause I just stood there laughing while I played because I liked it so much. Escpecially the powerchords through my 57 fender tweed deluxe reissue, the sound was insanely good. When it came to soloing it was also good though I think I might get better sound with other pickups.

I certainly know that this will be my main guitar for a while now.

 

On the downside i saw that there had been a pickguard mounted which was removed but I will fix that to. It also had quite a few scratches but I really dont care at all about that.

 

So now I have a few questions for you out there:

1. Can i use a standard Gibson pickguard

2. I am a big fan of Neil Youngs sound in his old black guitar, which pickups would you recommend?

3. I am planning to put on a bigsby. Has any of you done that and have experienced how it affect the sound on the Heritage? (sustain etc)

nice 2008.

 

I will start with the pickguard... you already know the holes are diferent with a heritage and a Gibson... my advise.... take a gibson pickguard and see how it lines up, it is entirely possible some previously installed a g style guard (this will give you a great reference.

as far as the Neil thing, try some Phat cats or... sell the guitar for a guitar similar to Neils guitar. If you alter the guitar you will alter its value... YOU STOLE the guitar pricewise... please dont hack it up!

On the Bigsby, there are models tht wont alter the guitar... every one that has installed these on a fixed bridge guitar has stated tuning issues, lube that nut nd it will absolutely change the tone. It will also change the string tension.

 

Lastly... White will finish check more, age to a yellow... not many are built, thats what you have your hands on enjoy it.

 

When I brought mine home, my wife labeled it "Liberace".... talk about a reality check!

[Assumer]

Nice looking guitar. Congrats!

[Bombassa]

Hi again.

I have now already played my first gig with the Heritage and although i played really bad tonight I am extremely satisfied with the sound.

When it comes to my question about Neil Young pickups I think I asked this question a little bit inaccurately. What I really meant was that I wonder if any of you have put on a p90 and a minihumbucker on the Heritage and can recommend a brand that works well on this guitar for the sound I am after. For example this one which I have put my eyes on for a while: Seymour specialiced firebird

I guess theres not many out there though that has used this setup on the guitar.

 

Regarding the bigsby, I wonder if any of you have tried it (b7 for example). The reason why I ask is that I think that the sustain in my guitar is very very good and I am a bit afraid to destroy that with a bigsby.

 

Ok, that was all for now, thank you for all your help so far.

 

I sendt you a message.

[aarsvold]

I sendt you a message.

And I replied.

[aarsvold]

On the downside i saw that there had been a pickguard mounted which was removed but I will fix that to. It also had quite a few scratches but I really dont care at all about that.

 

A few days ago I had more luck than I thought was possible. The above sentence about the pickguard was something I wrote after receiving the guitar, and I had begun thinking about how on earth I could get hold of one of those here in Norway.

Suddenly I was contacted by a member here on the forum that had one heritage pickguard in spare, creamcoloured too. And best of all, he lived just a 20 minute drive away from where I live.

So today I went there and got it (for free actually) and I am very thankful.

in a few days I will mount it (also my Bigsby) and I will of course post some pictures.

 

When it comes to the Bigsby I have ordered a B7 which i

I will receive tomorrow or the day after. I couldnt stand the thought of drilling in my guitar so I also bought the Vibramate-system which allows me to mount it without doing any drilling.

If a B7 will fit remains to be found out so I cross my fingers.

 

By the way, have any of you seen a B7 on the h-150 and can tell me about it/post links?

 

Well, this was just an update on whats happening here. Ill be back later with more reports on how this project developes. Hopefully its positive news.

[bolero]

COOL!!!!

 

that is a killer looking gtr....good choice using the vibramatic, although I believe with a B7 you still will need to drill holes by the strap

 

a B5 would mount right on top

 

 

I have installed B7's on 2 les pauls, it's not difficult

 

 

can't wait to see the finished product!!

 

ps what pickups are you going to use?

 

I would highly recommend Wolfetone Legends, they get a nice hollow/bright PAF sound that gets me close to Neil Young's chirpy firebird bridge

 

you can get a P90 that'll fit a HB route though

 

of course Neil uses those old tweed deluxes & a magnatone

 

 

"Cinnamon Jam" at this link is an H150 with Wolfetone's...thru a cranked 100w NMV tube amp though

 

 

http://www.myspace.com/galactagog

[aarsvold]

 

that is a killer looking gtr....good choice using the vibramatic, although I believe with a B7 you still will need to drill holes by the strap

 

ps what pickups are you going to use?

 

 

Hi, and thanks for your reply. The audioclip sounded really nice.

 

The vibramate has a aluminiumsplate by the strap as well, allowing you to only use the screw for the strapattachement. I am sceptic though, because this whole setup is depended on the Heritage having the same distance as the Gibsons between the end of the guitar and the tailpiece screwholes. I hope it will fit but I am not sure at all.

 

When it comes to humbuckers I now use Seymour Duncan Antiquities in both bridge and neck. I am a bit uncertain if I like the sound or not. This is due to the fact I havent been able to test it with my Fender Tweed deluxe yet. But your suggestion regarding the Wolfetone was interesting. I will do some more research about them.