JackBaruth Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 This may get lost in all the PSP IV happiness but I wanted to mention it since this was a big part of the Kalamazoo trip for me. In early January of this year, MartyGrass and I started talking about a "Y"-serial Eagle that he had in his possession. It was a former employee guitar, that had suffered an irreparable headstock break. The specification of the Eagle was extremely modest, to be sure --- unbound headstock and neck, sticker on the headstock, dots on a mahogany fretboard, nothing that looked like flame anywhere to be found --- but it did have a spruce top and Marty said it had been a very nice-sounding guitar before the break. Marty dropped it off at Aaron's Music Service in Kalamazoo. Aaron Cowles is a former K-zoo Gibson employee who struck out on his own when the plant closed. He maintains a close relationship with Heritage and is an authorized Heritage dealer. Over the course of the next seven months, Aaron carved a new neck from mahogany for me and glued it to the broken Eagle. He bound the original fretboard and bought a bound/MOP script headstock veneer from Heritage, just to bring the spec of this very basic Eagle up to what I considered minimum gingerbread for a jazz box. He was clearly in no hurry --- think of how many guitars Schecter makes in China over the course of seven months! --- but he was committed to doing it right. On the Friday of PSP IV I picked up my Eagle. I am not exaggerating when I say that it sounds absolutely magical unplugged... it has projection and depth beyond anything I've heard, even other Eagles. The neck is easy to play and perfectly finished to match the body. In all respects it looks like a factory Eagle; only the lack of serial number betrays the repair. And plugged in... I put it through my VGA-5 set to Maximum JC-120 Imitation Mode and it sounded like I was inside Lee Ritenour's studio. Except, of course, the notes were coming at one-fourth speed. My mother, who was a professional singer and has a very critical ear, stopped by the house and commented that it was probably the best, cleanest, richest-sounding guitar she'd ever heard. So, consider this a solid vote for Mr. Cowles and his abilities. He also builds guitars from scratchs, under the "Jubal" brand. I played a few and his $2200 dreadnaught compares very well, in my opinion, to the $7500 Gibson "Doves In Flight" Montana Acoustic sitting next to my bed as I write this. The photo is of Mr. and Mrs. Cowles together with my Eagle. Thanks to them, and thanks to Marty for steering me in the right direction!
H Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 Nice story and fabulous guitar! Just goes to show that one person's definition of irreparable isn't everyone's Well done for saving that beauty.
golferwave Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 That is one fantasic looking instrument! Marty and Brent seem to have those "underground" connections like no one else. Must come from being in the magical Kalamazoo area. Congratulations and enjoy your new Heritage!
DetroitBlues Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 Wow, didn't even know you had brought that one. Looks fantastic!
MartyGrass Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 Here are the pics of the broken Eagle as I unpacked it. Thanks, FedEx. http://s796.photobucket.com/upload/albums/mgoetting/?location=Broken+Eagle
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