kbp810 Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 Meanwhile, it's a real shame that they don't do any customized variations of their current lineup...
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 Meanwhile, it's a real shame that they don't do any customized variations of their current lineup... Nice LP copy you have there KPB!
TalismanRich Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 The Mille series is somewhat unique to Heritage. There's no current match to the Millennium in the Gibby line. Its still "traditional" enough in feel to appeal to the classic style buyer, but not a copy of an old Gibson design. Its obvious that Heritage looked at various new designs, including the shredder guitars, the Parson Street guitars, the Little One. I'm guessing that the sales of those models didn't merit their continuation. The customer base is tilted towards a particular style, and that is the 150, 535 styles and then the jazz boxes, 575, Eagles, KB etc. Remember too, that this is a small shop doing hand crafted work. The forms for doing the current line are well established. They tend not to do slab bodies, except for the 137 series. They list 20 hollow or semi hollow models, and 8 solid bodies. I don't think they want to compete with Dean, BC Rich, Jackson, ESP and the like, not because they can't, but because it's not their strength, just as making Teles and Strats isn't their strength. There are far fewer luthiers making hollow body / jazz boxes. You're looking at Heritage, Gibson, Gretsch, Eastman and Ibanez, as the major players, unless you want to go for the big bucks (Campellone, Buscarino, Benedetto, American). They have a good spot in their market. It's their "heritage".
big bob Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 Meanwhile, it's a real shame that they don't do any customized variations of their current lineup... What he said
SouthpawGuy Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 The Prospect and Millie are a mix of the old and the new. They're not the most well known Heritage models, I for one am certainly liking them lots.
the jayce Posted November 2, 2011 Author Posted November 2, 2011 Meanwhile, it's a real shame that they don't do any customized variations of their current lineup... Beautifull guitar indeed! Like the cupids bow! nice touch. My original posting is leaning toward heritage designing some stuff outside the lp and 335 styling,, heritage has got those hands down no arguing that and being able to customize is a great perk with heritage such as you did with yours. It would be very cool to see them design some body styles all thier own with that quality of wood and craftsmanship. Or at least for heritage to draw up some ideas and post them hear for the hoc to vote on for an actual build or somthing along those lines. Just would be nice to see them spark up a little intrest in furthuring thier appeal to folks that are traditionalist but also like somthing outside the norm. I dont know maybe it would just be a waste of time for them and they have to make what is selling for the business sake. But i do know the exterminator and terminator the released in late 80's are pretty sought after nowadays... they took a chance on designed some styles that just happened to be fizzling out at the time, but the point being they made the attempt and I would love to have one even though they may not be whats in style, and im sure just about every other hoc member would to just because of how original they are.
vbf Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 I really like that Heritage hand builds great guitars in an old factory in Michigan using skilled American craftsman. They are what they are.....great guitars! Why mess with a good thing.
the jayce Posted November 2, 2011 Author Posted November 2, 2011 In a follow up to my last response...........Now that i think about it does anyone have an heritage terminator they want to sell??????
Halowords Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 I think there is a bit of a market for traditional stuff and somewhat more "evolved" things. Somebody brought up Hamer. They did some "shredder" stuff. Some of which are amongst the most highly sought after in some crowds. Try buying an American made Hamer Californian Elite sometime, or a set-neck Chaparral. I suspect they just made a business decision based on the direction they wanted to go more than people not buying the Shredders. Their Tele-copies are pretty highly regarded as well. I think they also did some nice things in making their Leo-copies a bit more than carbon copies. I'd happily buy Hamer's more traditional models AND their Strat/Super-Strat/Tele models. With Heritage, I think there is a niche as well. A set-neck Heritage Stat would be awesome! It partially inspired me to have a custom-build made in the 25.5" Strat/PRS vein (face it, it's pretty much a PRS-y Fender-scale set-neck Strat-y sort of build with Gibson/Heritage ingredients for wood choices). Sure, Stats and Stat Deluxes exist, but they are pretty rare. Same with their set-neck Tele-style. I think set-neck carved-top Strat/Tele/Super-Strat designs done with a more classic/vintage vibe (not "shredder" or "pointy" or "extreme", just classy looking with the usual Heritage accoutrements and standard pickup/bridge options) would have their place. That is almost what PRS has done (successfully, I might add). I'd buy a LP-DC/PRS-y Heritage (24.75" OR 25.5" scale). There are also things they could pretty easily do to evolve the H-150 as well. No, not put a Floyd on it, but make the neck heel/joint more ergonomic and blended, a/o add a belly cut contour, but otherwise keep the looks, sound, and feel the same. Of course, Heritage HAS done some new things. The Prospect is an under-acknowledged gem of a design as well. It takes what people love in an ES-335/ES-535, and makes it much more comfortable to play (not to mention a bit sexier to look at). That was an original take on an old classic that predates what Gibson did with their ES-335 variants. The Millies seem pretty original. They are also a custom shop. Really, for all I know, they'd do anything and everything I mentioned above if I only put in an order and asked for it. They have done some pretty incredible stuff with their custom orders in the past, so really nothing there would surprise me. I just believe there are some things they probably could do as standard models that would find a niche and not be terribly far from what they are doing now, or have done in the past.
JeffB Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 would buy: Stat melded with a H162. My options: Traditional Heritage 3 aside headstock. Mahogany body with arched maple cap. Maple neck with maple or rose wood fret board. with slight pitch/angle back off the body 25 1/2 in scale. Hum sing hum configuration with 5way and a toggle switch that brings in the bridge p/up what ever position the 5way is in. Both hums splittable. Rear routed cavity electronic access and control mounting Neck body/block heel and inside lower horn cut back for easier access to the fun but least paying part of the neck. Vintage style trem. Probably blocked. . Variations on the above would be: Choice of body timbers. Alder, Swamp ash, capped with maple or uncapped. New 6 aside headstock, modern/classic and rounded rather that pointy. Not angled back but straight. front routed and pick guard mounted controls. (Cheaper). Stop tail, either top mounted string through body bridge or bridge and stop tail. HSH, HSS pup configurations. Maybe even 3 p90's Sort of a hybrid of my Hamer Phantom A4 and PRS swamp ash but better. Maybe not so original just a personal want in a guitar.
Halowords Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 would buy: Stat melded with a H162. My options: Traditional Heritage 3 aside headstock. Mahogany body with arched maple cap. Maple neck with maple or rose wood fret board. with slight pitch/angle back off the body 25 1/2 in scale. Hum sing hum configuration with 5way and a toggle switch that brings in the bridge p/up what ever position the 5way is in. Both hums splittable. Rear routed cavity electronic access and control mounting Neck body/block heel and inside lower horn cut back for easier access to the fun but least paying part of the neck. Vintage style trem. Probably blocked. . Variations on the above would be: Choice of body timbers. Alder, Swamp ash, capped with maple or uncapped. New 6 aside headstock, modern/classic and rounded rather that pointy. Not angled back but straight. front routed and pick guard mounted controls. (Cheaper). Stop tail, either top mounted string through body bridge or bridge and stop tail. HSH, HSS pup configurations. Maybe even 3 p90's Sort of a hybrid of my Hamer Phantom A4 and PRS swamp ash but better. Maybe not so original just a personal want in a guitar. How about a S/H pickup setup, with a slanted 27-fret option (ala. a Hamer Californian), but with a Charlie Christian/CC-Rider in the neck (can you tell I like that pickup), or a fat-sounding Strat neck pickup or maybe a warmer-sounding P90. For the headstock, I think they could do a new 6-aside headstock, but with an off-set variant of their typical three-point headstock only done in a similar manner to the Ibanez S/RG headstock, or something like a cross between their current headstock and the PRS headstock (make the headstock curved and a bit fatter near the bottom, not as linear, to blend with the curves of the body). I'd offer a Floyd, Vintage, hard-tail bridge, or intonatable wraparound bridge. I'd stick with a reverse-routed (from the back) body, set-neck w/ blended heel, carved Maple top and deeper carve on the inside of the treble cutaway for easier upper fret access (without being uber-shredder in design), and offer it 25.5" or 24.75" for the scales. The rest, pretty much what you listed. I think that would sell, and end up being both classy AND functional without being cheesy.
MartyGrass Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 The neck joint could be contoured for easier access to the higher frets. I would like it as long as it doesn't compromise anything, like stability and tone. I don't see it as a big advantage though. My Thornton has such a joint. I don't use it much really. I've been watching a lot of Gary Moore concert videos lately. (My 9 month old grandson loves them and falls asleep while I rock him in front of the videos. Very strange but consistent.) Gary hits the high notes just fine with the traditional style and doesn't seem hampered.
MartyGrass Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 Meanwhile, it's a real shame that they don't do any customized variations of their current lineup... I'm probably too late to claim dibbs. That is a fantastic piece. What does it weigh?
Halowords Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 The neck joint could be contoured for easier access to the higher frets. I would like it as long as it doesn't compromise anything, like stability and tone. I don't see it as a big advantage though. My Thornton has such a joint. I don't use it much really. I've been watching a lot of Gary Moore concert videos lately. (My 9 month old grandson loves them and falls asleep while I rock him in front of the videos. Very strange but consistent.) Gary hits the high notes just fine with the traditional style and doesn't seem hampered. The neck heel has been an issue of mine since, well, since I started playing up the neck. It does not even have to be blended like your Thornton. Just get thicker maybe more gradually, or even just closer to the body. I notice the start of the heel everytime I play up the neck. Moreso after having played my Hamer Studio and my Strat-copy. It is like my thumb stops but the rest of my hand keeps moving. Sure, Gary Moore, Slash, Zakk Wylde, and the like play up and down them just fine, it is obviously possible, but it consistently takes me out of the moment anytime I play high up the neck. For me, even though it is a minor nuisance, it is still an issue in the overall feel & flow of the guitar as I'm playing it. There seems like there has to be a better design that will play better yet not sacrifice tone or stability. My Hamer, for example, had great upper fret access and still had really nice tone and no neck stability issues at all.
MartyGrass Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 You have some good points. I have been considering getting a Fender Strat for over a year but not very seriously. The one that I'd prefer is the Jeff Beck simply because of the neck joint mod. Everything else being equal, it is an advantage to maintain your hand posture going up the neck.
Kuz Posted November 2, 2011 Posted November 2, 2011 To the original question.... to those that have been here long enough to remember the "Blue Whale" aka "The Can Opener", I think it's safe for Heritage to stick with the models at hand!!!
blueox Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 "Just wondering why heritage doesnt design thier own line of guitars with totally new and original styling, while still making thier gibson styled models. Just would be cool to see a hole new line of thier own design. I know in the past they have stepped outside the box here and there but a whole new original styled launch-- such as 6 to 8 models, solid and hollow bodied might draw some new clientel. Just a thought, whats your opinion?" I am somewhat sympathetic with this sentiment, but at this point Heritage is not ready to to get knee deep into R&D and come up with a few new designs, which may or may not be financially successful and worthy of the preparation time and setup charges. The owners seem to appreciate their four-day work week (with at least one owner, a three-day work week) and would not want to take on any big changes at this time. This gets back to their business model discussed elsewhere on this forum. They are successful with what they are doing now, and Heritage quality remains top notch. If one wants something different, the beauty of Heritage is that they will take on custom orders that may not be as radical as some would like, but they do result in very unique instruments based on their current models. Some of us have offered some one-of-a-kind specs, and Heritage has done them up as only Heritage can.
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