dyross Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 A few weeks ago, I had the unexpected pleasure of learning about the Heritage guitars and am intrigued. I've been planning for a while on complimenting my strat with a Les Paul style guitar, and the Heritage has both a better story and better value than Gibson (I guess I don't need to convince anyone here). I was further convinced by this beautiful photo: I've decided that I at least want to look into getting one custom-made, but here's where I get overwhelmed. What I know I want: -Goldtop body -Chrome hardware -Ebony fretboard Now what I'm less certain on -Pickups (yes, the most important part, but I'm totally overwhelmed) -Neck size / shape (I've played 50's and 60s necks, and like them both. Does Heritage do customizations here?) -Inlays (I love trapezoids, but I'm curious what other customizations people have enjoyed in the past?) Anything else I'm missing that I should think about? Any wood upgrades I should look into? Does this seem like enough to custom-order, or should I just go with one of the usual models? Anyway, thanks in advance, and I hope be able to add to this community soon enough! ~Dave .
barrymclark Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 The options are as big as your wallet! haha. One of the ones I liked is the split block inlays. Pickups? I am a fan of the Seths, but there are serious pickup fiends on here that can give you options galore. What sound are you going for?
mark555 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Get a mother of pearl inlay on the headstock for the name, not the screen print. Nickel is far better than chrome, doesn't pit like chrome eventually will and is the stuff that was used on the genuine vintage stuff. As far as pick ups go, as Barry says, it depends on what sound you are after and what genre you play, so you need to tell us more. Last of all, welcome to the club, you can check out any time you want, but once you get your Heritage, you won't be able to leave...!
DetroitBlues Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 That's not ebony.... its rosewood.... Ebony looks almost black and you cannot see the wood grain...
barrymclark Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 That's not ebony.... its rosewood.... Ebony looks almost black and you cannot see the wood grain... I think he is saying an ebony fretboard is what he wants, not what is pictured.
Kuz Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Go with binding around the headstock and MOP headstock inlay. DO you want the Heritage pick guard or NO pick guard. If you go with the Heritage pick guard and the holes are drilled, you can't add a Gibby style because the holes won't match and you will have to drill new holes. If you go with an Ebony fret board, then you will be essesntial creating a 157, and while it may be more money, you will be automatically getting the bound headstock (but not the MOP head stock inlay). My best advice is to sure up what you want and then see if you are making a custom 150 (with a number of options) or a 157 (with fewer options). One way maybe less expensive than the other, but either way it will ROCK!!!!!!!! OH, almost forgot, do you want the dark walnut style back finish (like pictured) or the natural back finish? You will have to tell them that as well.
DetroitBlues Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 I think he is saying an ebony fretboard is what he wants, not what is pictured. I realized that too, but it was too late to edit... Ebony boards are really nice. I'd suggest adding a custom truss rod cover too.
MartyGrass Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Make sure you get it exactly the way you want it because you will probably keep it a long time. Once you're sure what you want on it, wait an entire month before ordering it. If you change your mind in that month, wait another month. I love the walnut back. The fatter neck is traditional for a GT. As a suggestion, I'd seriously consider a H170 also. One of the nicest tops is natural. You don't see it that often, so I enjoy posting pics. Consider also abalone block inlays.
DetroitBlues Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 If you're going for a true LP style guitar, stick with the H-150 (LP Standard) or H-157 (LP Custom). The H-170 is a double cutaway, but still a great guitar though.
zguitar71 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Go here for pickups: http://sdpickups.com/ This guy makes the best imo, follow his suggestions on wiring too.
zguitar71 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Wood can be importanat too. Another imo here, I would go for a a one piece back and of course neck too in Mahogany and go for a light weight piece too. As far as the fret board the standard Rosewood or Ebony are fine but there are woods that are just so beautiful out there like Cocobolo (in the Rosewood family) or Snakewood ect.... Look up tone woods on google and you can find pictures and descriptions of different types of wood for fretboards. Personally I stay away from any wood that requires a finish like Maple for a fret board because I think they feel horrible. I am excited for you, I love goldtops and have my own dream one in my head but right now cannot pull the trigger good luck and have fun.
tulk1 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 I'd take the one in the pic and change to: Tulip Tuners Bound Headstock (single line) MoP Inlay Ebony Board (if that is what you want. you can order a dark/near black rosewood) Nickle hardware If you don't specify a neck, you'll get a slightly fatter '60s style, that tends towards a '50s. If you really know what neck you want, they can get very very close. And I would have to 2nd everything that Kuz mentioned. He's probably custom ordered more Heritages than any one I know of.
H Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Go here for pickups: http://sdpickups.com/ This guy makes the best imo, follow his suggestions on wiring too. Unless you're putting Phat Cats in, in which case his wiring diagram produces poor results.
dyross Posted March 15, 2011 Author Posted March 15, 2011 Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions! I will look into all of these things. Now a little bit about the Les Paul sound I love: -I'm a blues rock guy who also enjoys heavier stuff and more jazzy stuff -I first learned about the guitar (ages ago) when I looked into what Jimmy Page used to play, and I think he is still the canonical LP sound for me -Peter Green's old goldtop tone can almost make me cry, but I know that it was wired funny and perhaps that's not worth it for my "dream" guitar -Clapton's Beano period shaped blues/rock, and some of his tones ("All Your Love") are remarkable -Alex Lifeson can do anything he wants with his LP, and I especially love his 2112-era tone That's what I got for you guys now!
zguitar71 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 -I first learned about the guitar (ages ago) when I looked into what Jimmy Page used to play, and I think he is still the canonical LP sound for me -Peter Green's old goldtop tone can almost make me cry, but I know that it was wired funny and perhaps that's not worth it for my "dream" guitar I think you would love the S..D. pickups he has the J. Page and Green's set ups nailed.
DetroitBlues Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions! I will look into all of these things. Now a little bit about the Les Paul sound I love: -I'm a blues rock guy who also enjoys heavier stuff and more jazzy stuff -I first learned about the guitar (ages ago) when I looked into what Jimmy Page used to play, and I think he is still the canonical LP sound for me -Peter Green's old goldtop tone can almost make me cry, but I know that it was wired funny and perhaps that's not worth it for my "dream" guitar -Clapton's Beano period shaped blues/rock, and some of his tones ("All Your Love") are remarkable -Alex Lifeson can do anything he wants with his LP, and I especially love his 2112-era tone That's what I got for you guys now! Get either Seymour Duncan's low impedence pickups or Gibson' '57 classics for those tones.... I think the Alnico II Pro's from Seymour Duncan would be best...
dyross Posted March 15, 2011 Author Posted March 15, 2011 Ah, forgot to mention - totally did Joe Bonamassa's LP sound! Also - will the Heritage install any of these pickups as long as I pick up the bill?
tulk1 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Also - will the Heritage install any of these pickups as long as I pick up the bill? That is an option. You may find, also, that they'll do just about any SD pickup you ask, so long as they aren't outrageously priced. And if you have a favorite manufacturer, they'll give you pickup credits. That is, reduce the cost of the build by the cost of the pickups. So, it's kinda like cash towards your custom options. If that makes sense.
squawken Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 I'll second the Alnico II's. In my Gary Moore 150-close to Bonamassa less 3 or 4 amps.
mark555 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash had a custom built flying V made for him by a luthier, in the bridge he out a seymour JB and in the neck slot a Seymour Jazz humbucker, don't know the correct name for that one. But having heard that guitar live twice now, I can tell you that it sounds fabulous.
kbp810 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Ah, forgot to mention - totally did Joe Bonamassa's LP sound! Also - will the Heritage install any of these pickups as long as I pick up the bill? Yep, they most certainly will! On top of what's already been mentioned above, there are also a ton of great boutique pup makers out there too - many of them will work with you on exactly what you want too... tell them the sound you're aiming for and they can point you in the right direction. This is the fun part about doing a custom order! Start with a basic foundation of what you want, and then just watch that list keep growing until your dream guitar is sitting in print just waiting to come to fruition
brentrocks Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 i would definately go for the MOP inlayed and bound headstock!
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