Identification of an Heritage H 150

[arnissart]

Hello,

 

I may be about to enter your ownersclub in a few days. The guitar seems nice, but I'd like to be sure it's an authentic Heritage (I'm questionning myself, especially, because of the lack of the "made in kalamazoo" inscription on the back of the neck and, maybe, because of the tuners alignment).

Would it be possible that some experts of this forum give me their opinion about this guitar ? Hera are some pictures :

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

And here it's some more :

 

http://imageshack.us...p1010873mh.jpg/

 

Thanks for your help

[FredZepp]

I notice in one pic, it says USA.. in another it doesn't.

 

The crooked tuners aren't a problem, they do that sometimes.

I'd be looking to see if the neck is one piece lengthwise, not scarfed. A view of the label would be good.

Check that the inlays are actual Mother of Pearl , not plastic.

 

 

 

 

 

[FredZepp]

I'm trying to decide if the font is right on the serial number...it seems small, but I'd have to compare some to comment on that.

I don't recall seeing one that says USA only or doesn't have Kalamazoo under the serial number ..

 

Any repairs to this guitar? ..

[kbp810]

Any shots of the control cavity? (along with the Heritage label within)

 

The serial number does seem a little off to me, but I could very well be wrong about that... the "USA" print does indeed seem odd to me though.

[DavesNotHere]

I notice in one pic, it says USA.. in another it doesn't.

 

The crooked tuners aren't a problem, they do that sometimes.

I'd be looking to see if the neck is one piece lengthwise, not scarfed. A view of the label would be good.

Check that the inlays are actual Mother of Pearl , not plastic.

 

 

 

 

 

The finish on the back of the headstock makes me wonder if it was refinished or possibly not authentic.

I can't imagine that finish leaving the factory.

[brentrocks]

Looks a little fishy

[pegleg32]

It looks reasonable except for the back of the headstock. I agree with others, you need to remove the plastic plate on the control cavity and see what the label says.

[brentrocks]

the serial # make me thing headstock repair/refinish

[JeffB]

The finish on the back of the headstock makes me wonder if it was refinished or possibly not authentic.

I can't imagine that finish leaving the factory.

the serial # make me thing headstock repair/refinish

I also think its had a headstock repair.

[pegleg32]

It just occured to me after reading another post here today. Maybe it is stolen and the serial number was removed?

[Millennium Maestro]

The serials are totally incorrect, but I see the actual headstock shape seems to be off, I will measure the taper from bottom to top and get back to you.

[FredZepp]

The serials are totally incorrect, but I see the actual headstock shape seems to be off, I will measure the taper from bottom to top and get back to you.

Keep in mind that early 150s have a slightly different taper than later ones...

[Blunote]

There's a number of inconsistencies:

• The serial numbers on my 3 guitars are written in white lettering, not black
  
• The first digit is a clearly distinguishable letter, followed by 3 digits for the day of the year (1-365) and 2 for which guitar it was on that day. this one doesn't appear to have a letter designation, the day of year looks like 379 and the last I checked there are still only 365 days in a year (even with daylight savings time)
  
• None of my guitars shows the orange peel finish this one has on the headstock.
  
• All have "Made in Kalamazoo, MI USA"
  
• two of my more recent guitars headstocks taper from 2.625" to 2". My older 150P tapers from 2.625" to 1.9". They all seem to have more taper than is showing on this one.
  
• My guitars don't have the poker chip or Gibson LP pick guard this one has -though it could have been added later or custom ordered that way.
  

[DavesNotHere]

There's a number of inconsistencies:

• The serial numbers on my 3 guitars are written in white lettering, not black
  
• The first digit is a clearly distinguishable letter, followed by 3 digits for the day of the year (1-365) and 2 for which guitar it was on that day. this one doesn't appear to have a letter designation, the day of year looks like 379 and the last I checked there are still only 365 days in a year (even with daylight savings time)
  
• None of my guitars shows the orange peel finish this one has on the headstock.
  
• All have "Made in Kalamazoo, MI USA"
  
• two of my more recent guitars headstocks taper from 2.625" to 2". My older 150P tapers from 2.625" to 1.9". They all seem to have more taper than is showing on this one.
  
• My guitars don't have the poker chip or Gibson LP pick guard this one has -though it could have been added later or custom ordered that way.
  

 

I agree. Even on my white stinger they used silver instead of black.

[kbp810]

There is also the possibility of this being one of those Chinese knock-offs...

 

I'd still like to see the control cavity and label... but either way, I think I would probably just go ahead and look elsewhere, in my opinion anyways.

 

Seems it's either a knock off - or it's had a fairly significant repair done to the headstock.

[mark555]

It looks a nice guitar in many ways, the orange peel may well be because the black stinger has been removed. If you have the slightest doubt, don't buy it. There are always forum members selling the genuine article in the for sale section. Brent always seems to have a deal coming along and he is a stand up guy, then of course you could always contact Jay Wolfe, one the best guitar dealers there is.

 

Good luck in finding the right Heritage for you, and welcome to the forum.

[arnissart]

Thanks to all of you for the help.

I'm a little bit confused about the guitar and, in the doubt, I'll clearly give up on this one. The problem is that I'm French and, in our country, those kind of guitars don't come often on the second hand market... Here's an extra pictures that may help :

http://imageshack.us.../img0300gt.jpg/

 

PS : About the "special" wiring, it's supposed to have BK's Mule pickups with phase/split wiring..

[mark555]

It's the same here in England, they are hard to come by. Jay Wolfe will export and he really knows what he is doing. Talk to Southpaw Guy (Paul) he is in IReland and seems to be buying Heritage quite regularly, and he is left handed (not his fault, some people are born that way....) he can probably tell you about importing into Europe.

[DetroitBlues]

The control plate cover has a label on the back side. That's will be the proof in the pudding... Very well could be one of those Korean made Heritages someone sanded down and repainted so you'd never know...

[Blunote]

The control plate cover has a label on the back side. That's will be the proof in the pudding... Very well could be one of those Korean made Heritages someone sanded down and repainted so you'd never know...

Don't mean to argue, but I don't want folks who later read this thread to leave with the idea that Heritage ever made guitars in Korea. They didn't.

 

A few (perhaps 12) were made independently by a Korean builder to pitch their ability to manufacture Heritage guitars. It's my understanding that the Korean guitars being sold as Heritages were never owned, marketed, authorized, sanctioned, licensed, blessed, or otherwise recognized by the Heritage Guitar Company as bona fide Heritage product.

[arnissart]

Ok, could anybody help me with this. As I'm french, a few english words or expressions are mysterie for me : "control plate" is one of them. I thought that the last pictures I've send you was what you meant, apparently not. Could you please show me a picture of a "control plate" so that I"ll know what we are talking about ?

SOrry about this ...

[H]

Hi arnissart, the control plate is behind the volume and tone knobs. It covers the hole where the wires for the volume and tone knobs are. It's a piece of plastic about the size of your palm with some screws in it.

 

Bonne chance

[H]

Hi arnissart, this is a control plate: at the top on the right.

 

This guitar is for sale on this forum

[arnissart]

Hi everybody,

 

The plate controls is engraved with "H150 Ultra"

About the rest, here are the explanations of the seller :

- The "Made in Kalamazoo" inscription was just a stamp and, after having polish the neck "with a polishing machine) for a "second youht" it had disappeared ;

- The guitar was made in 2003, 19th day of the year, 5th guitar of the day (that would mean that serial is "T34605" if I don't make a mistake) ;

He also says to me that it has never been repaired or "refin" and that it comes with the original Heritage case.

 

I'm still confused, I must say...

[big bob]

I would still be wondering about how the fake black serial number got underneath the bad lacquer job. Another thing I would check is if the "The Heritage

" logo is over or under the finish on the front. It should be over the finish, as should the serial number. I would walk away.

Cheers