Jazzydave Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 Hey all! This is my first thread here on HOC. I'm a "regular" over on TGP but have always been a huge fan of the Heritage guitars. At the suggestions of Brentrocks, I decided to join you all...diggin' it! I'm curious as to who's had a custom Heritage built here? I recently picked up a '08 Lucille and although I love the tone, it has some typical issues from Gibson - nut's cut way to high causing intonation issues, control cavity was a mess, etc. I pulled out the entire Varitone harness and replaced it all with a RS Guitarworks kit. I also added some Tombuckers that I got in on a trade over the summer...and a RS lightweight tail piece to replace the TP6. So...I've always wanted a black H535/555 and was curious as to what it would cost me to get them to do one similar to the Lucille without the F-holes. My previous H535 was killer but as with all semi-hollows, I had to watch the feedback while performing at higher sound levels. I'd probably want the block inlays as well...or maybe the arrowhead style (not sure what you call those) up to the 12th and then nothing above that. Ideas?
skydog52 Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 I've never seen a Lucille in person. How are the electronics done without f-holes? I would order a H-555 that has the arrow inlays and bindings that make it nice. Pretty much same guitar as H-535 with upgrades.
Jazzydave Posted January 16, 2011 Author Posted January 16, 2011 Hi Skydog52, the Lucilles have a rear access panel just like a LP/H150 type. They're also wired for stereo, although I bypassed that when swapping the electronics...
tulk1 Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 I ordered my Millie without f holes. I asked Ren about an arched back with an access plate. He said I could have an arched back, which would require f holes. Or I could have an access plate and a flat back. On the Millie I went with the access plate. Not sure I'd want a 535 with a flat back, if they could even do that.
pegleg32 Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 It seems fair to say that the everyday standard build of Heritage is equal to or better than a custom shop build of Gibson. That is not to say that they build each and every guitar perfectly as they are almost entirely hand built after all.
smurph1 Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 I've never seen a Lucille in person. How are the electronics done without f-holes? I would order a H-555 that has the arrow inlays and bindings that make it nice. Pretty much same guitar as H-535 with upgrades. wow..thats BEAUTIFUL!! Welcome JazzyDave, I think if you were to custom order a Heritage to your specs, you would probably like it much better than anything you could get from the Gibby Custom shop.. Plus it wouldn't cost as much..I have a straight standard 535 that is absolutely awesome..good Luck in your search..
NoNameBand Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 Welcome jazzyDave. Did your Lucille come with Classic 57 pups? If so, did you not like them? And most certainly, while on a quest for the best guitar, Get a Heritage, its the real thing.
Jazzydave Posted January 26, 2011 Author Posted January 26, 2011 Welcome jazzyDave. Did your Lucille come with Classic 57 pups? If so, did you not like them? And most certainly, while on a quest for the best guitar, Get a Heritage, its the real thing. Mine came with the 490 pups and I wasn't a fan. They're pretty hot (not in the HRW sexy tone way). I found it to be a bit brittle on the high end. I actually gutted the Lucille, replaced all of the wiring with a RS Guitarworks kit, and swapped a set of Tombuckers into it - talk about a tone upgrade! It has a unique yet familiar tone that seems to go on forever... I'm actually selling the Lucille right now if anyone's interested...it's posted here and on TGP!
335 Posted February 7, 2011 Posted February 7, 2011 It seems fair to say that the everyday standard build of Heritage is equal to or better than a custom shop build of Gibson. That is not to say that they build each and every guitar perfectly as they are almost entirely hand built after all. Are earlier Heritages generally better?
yoslate Posted February 7, 2011 Posted February 7, 2011 Are earlier Heritages generally better? I think a lot of the regulars, many of whom have purchased one or more pieces recently, or have ordered a custom build, would agree that we may very well be in the "Golden Age" of Heritage, just now. Quality control seems to have tightened up, and they've been willing to build some one-offs (big bob's three p'up) and, perhaps, discontinued models (skydog and Bird's 357's), which are just stunning! And J'dave...Tombuckers! Absolutely! Tom winds great pickups!
Gitfiddler Posted February 7, 2011 Posted February 7, 2011 Are earlier Heritages generally better? While Heritage has always built great, handmade, custom guitars, I see the instruments coming out of their custom shop these days as the best they've ever built. I could not be happier with my '07 H555!! (See pic) I'm certain they can put together a killer custom order for you.
Joey Posted February 7, 2011 Posted February 7, 2011 Hey all! This is my first thread here on HOC. I'm a "regular" over on TGP but have always been a huge fan of the Heritage guitars. At the suggestions of Brentrocks, I decided to join you all...diggin' it! I'm curious as to who's had a custom Heritage built here? I recently picked up a '08 Lucille and although I love the tone, it has some typical issues from Gibson - nut's cut way to high causing intonation issues, control cavity was a mess, etc. I pulled out the entire Varitone harness and replaced it all with a RS Guitarworks kit. I also added some Tombuckers that I got in on a trade over the summer...and a RS lightweight tail piece to replace the TP6. So...I've always wanted a black H535/555 and was curious as to what it would cost me to get them to do one similar to the Lucille without the F-holes. My previous H535 was killer but as with all semi-hollows, I had to watch the feedback while performing at higher sound levels. I'd probably want the block inlays as well...or maybe the arrowhead style (not sure what you call those) up to the 12th and then nothing above that. Ideas? Hi Jazzydave,
Joey Posted February 7, 2011 Posted February 7, 2011 Hi Jazzydave, Try a set of f hole covers from Doug's Plugs which run about $60. They cut out all feedback without altering the tone.
H555rocks Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Hi Jazzydave welcome to HOC. To tell you straight up I think you should get an H555. I have an H555cm classic I got from Wolfe Guitars and I wouldn't trade it for anything. From what I'm seeing your looking for a sort of bluesy-jazzy tone which I think you could pull off with a pair of SD Seth-Lovers or another pair of Seymour Duncans 5-Star pickups. I also think that for your problem of buzzing at high volume levels you could (just as the others have said) try to get a custom order to your specs with no f-holes or some other solution. Hope this helps, H555rocks
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 While Heritage has always built great, handmade, custom guitars, I see the instruments coming out of their custom shop these days as the best they've ever built. I could not be happier with my '07 H555!! (See pic) I'm certain they can put together a killer custom order for you. Ooohhh I love that amber top Git, that would be my number one on a custom, the chestnut burst maybe a number 2.
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Dave, you couldn't go wrong with either. My 555 has an ebony fb and a maple neck, but it is an 04. Now they build the 555 with mahoganey necks. If you like appointments, go for the 555. If you like the classic look of the Dot 335 go for a 535. Its a little less $$.
JackBaruth Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I have two 555s, one maple neck and one mahogany. To my mind they are the Patek Philippe of guitars. Any more decoration and they would be over the top, though!
mark555 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Welcome Jazzydave, I agree with Yoslate that we are in the Golden age of Heritage guitars. Now is the time to get your choice of Heritage guitars. I do not think that the older Heritage models are any better than the newer ones. Here's my own 555.
DetroitBlues Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Hey all! This is my first thread here on HOC. I'm a "regular" over on TGP but have always been a huge fan of the Heritage guitars. At the suggestions of Brentrocks, I decided to join you all...diggin' it! I'm curious as to who's had a custom Heritage built here? I recently picked up a '08 Lucille and although I love the tone, it has some typical issues from Gibson - nut's cut way to high causing intonation issues, control cavity was a mess, etc. I pulled out the entire Varitone harness and replaced it all with a RS Guitarworks kit. I also added some Tombuckers that I got in on a trade over the summer...and a RS lightweight tail piece to replace the TP6. So...I've always wanted a black H535/555 and was curious as to what it would cost me to get them to do one similar to the Lucille without the F-holes. My previous H535 was killer but as with all semi-hollows, I had to watch the feedback while performing at higher sound levels. I'd probably want the block inlays as well...or maybe the arrowhead style (not sure what you call those) up to the 12th and then nothing above that. Ideas? I like your thinking. I just mentioned the other day about creating a guitar exactly as you described. I would imagine the price would be, give or take a couple hundred, $3500... Just a guess.
DetroitBlues Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I've never seen a Lucille in person. How are the electronics done without f-holes? I would order a H-555 that has the arrow inlays and bindings that make it nice. Pretty much same guitar as H-535 with upgrades. rear routed control cavity.
Kuz Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Seeing JazzyDave hasn't responded in 5 months, he has either moved on or made up his mind.
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