Sancho Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 I'm about to go ahead and order my first Heritage. But I'm having a hard time deciding... I've got several LP Standards (Gibson and Tokai) and an Edwards LP Custom. I'm inclined to go for a H150, but the H157 is very tempting as well. No matter which one I pick, I'd go for a nice subdued sunburst. As for pickups.. I play old school metal, so the 59 or Seth Lover won't cut it in the bridge position. A JB/59 is a safe combination for me, but I'd like something different in the bridge, for variation. Maybe a Custom or Custom 5? To get to the point : what are the main differences between the H150 and H157, aside from cosmetics? Thanks!
Alfonzo Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 ok, as a newbie, I'll take a stab at it, pls correct me if I'm wrong, somebody. The 157 has bound head, ebony board, different inlays and gold hardware. I can't think of anything else. So the question is, other than bling???, rosewood or ebony board? I haven't contacted a dealer about the difference in pricing, but you could just order a 150 with a bound head and ebony board.
Hfan Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 157s have Ebony boards. Mine is heavier than my 150, have read others here mention the same but don't know how common that is. I would think if you already have LP deluxes, the 157 (kind of comparable to a LP Custom) would give you a little variety. Actually if it where me and I already had those lp types, I would consider a hollow or semi hollow model, the 535 comes to mind. Good luck
Guest HRB853370 Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 157s have Ebony boards. Mine is heavier than my 150, have read others here mention the same but don't know how common that is. I would think if you already have LP deluxes, the 157 (kind of comparable to a LP Custom) would give you a little variety. Actually if it where me and I already had those lp types, I would consider a hollow or semi hollow model, the 535 comes to mind. Good luck Or a Millienium, to further complicate things! So you play Sabbath !?
TalismanRich Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 Hfan brings up a good point. However, if you're hitting the metal side, the 535 might cause issues if you are really cranking. You might look at a Millennium. Without the f holes, you won't run into the feedback issues, but you can still get a different sound than a solid body, and it still has a similar profile and feel to 150. You can have them put the switch on the top if a lower bout switch is an issue. As for the pickups, the JB has a very clear, distinct sound, and quite a bit stronger than the Seth Lovers. It seems to be designed for high gain applications. Two combinations that I hear about a lot are JB/59 and JB / Jazz. Good luck with your search.
rjsanders Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 i think the ebony fingerboard would add significant tonal variations over your others, a plus. but they were kinda rare among the old school crowd, so there's that...
bolero Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 I think aside from cosmetics, it's the ebony fretboard that is the main difference you could also get a chambered 150/157, that would cut the weight & also maybe give some sonic variety, if you already have some other LP's? once I got my H150 I sold off the Gibson guitars...I prefer the Heritages, I think they are more unique & better built.....kind of like a good microbrew vs coors light
hinesarchtop Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 VSB/vintage sunburst or ASB/antique sunburst are bot very nice finishes. I would order an H150 with a bound headstock and pearl logo instead of the painted one. For metal, maybe the Gibson 498 or 500 for the bridge? The Heritage 150s have a more hand finished feel which I prefer. The pearl position markers are nice too. I don't dig the acrylic swirl material their using on the Historic line.
blueox Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 I'm about to go ahead and order my first Heritage. But I'm having a hard time deciding... I've got several LP Standards (Gibson and Tokai) and an Edwards LP Custom. I'm inclined to go for a H150, but the H157 is very tempting as well. No matter which one I pick, I'd go for a nice subdued sunburst . . . Since you have several LP-style guitars, and you're going to order one, for something a little different, you might take a look at a Heritage H-110, available solid or chambered: http://www.heritageg...wvwb_specs.html. As for pickups, you could go with Wild Bill's (Lawrence) Twin Blades, with an L500L at the neck and an L500XL at the bridge: http://wildepickups....win_Blades.html. Of course, you would want to do your homework to see if these would be right for you. The finish and fretboard would be your personal preferences.
Sancho Posted December 25, 2011 Author Posted December 25, 2011 Thanks for the suggestions guys. As much as I'd like an H535, it really wouldn't be practical in a band setting. I use a decent, but not excessive, amount of gain so there would definitely be feedback issues to deal with. I don't really care about weight. I had a chambered Gibson LP once and sold it because it sounded to airy. It lacked the density I associate with a Les Paul. The H157 would probably add most to my collection. My wife pointed that out to me as well. But then I see pics of some astonishing H150s and I doubt again... As for pickups, the JB/59 works for me in several guitars. If it ain't broke don't fix it?
Trouble Posted December 26, 2011 Posted December 26, 2011 Thanks for the suggestions guys. As much as I'd like an H535, it really wouldn't be practical in a band setting. I use a decent, but not excessive, amount of gain so there would definitely be feedback issues to deal with. I don't really care about weight. I had a chambered Gibson LP once and sold it because it sounded to airy. It lacked the density I associate with a Les Paul. The H157 would probably add most to my collection. My wife pointed that out to me as well. But then I see pics of some astonishing H150s and I doubt again... As for pickups, the JB/59 works for me in several guitars. If it ain't broke don't fix it? I like the JB/59 setup, but if you play mostly metal and want something different a Duncan Invader or Screamin' Demon might work for you and give you something different. I played a Peavey tele that had the bridge pup swapped to a Screamin Demon, and it really woke that guitar up.
Sancho Posted December 26, 2011 Author Posted December 26, 2011 I tried the Invader in a Les Paul. Total overkill for my needs. The Screamin' Demon might be interesting but I'm not sure if that one's voiced right for a mahogany axe. Nah, as for pickups, I'm fairly certain I'll go JB/59. Now all that's left to decide is the model. 150 or 157. If I could afford both, my life would be so much easier
TalismanRich Posted December 26, 2011 Posted December 26, 2011 All I can say is that the 157 had a real touch of class. Multilayer binding, the wood pickguard, bound headstock, block inlays on the ebony fretboard. When I ordered my 1st Heritage, thats the direction I went.
Sancho Posted December 26, 2011 Author Posted December 26, 2011 So you play Sabbath !? I know the odd Sabbath tune (who doesn't?) but not nearly as many as I'd like to. TalismanRich, that guitar looks a lot like what I have in mind for a H157. There's a member here who has a lovely one in OSB. That one really has me drooling...
smurph1 Posted December 26, 2011 Posted December 26, 2011 Pardon me if this is an ignorant question..but if you have so many LP type guitars, why not try something different, like maybe a 535 or a Prospect..Maybe a H-137? Just Curious..Scott
rlinwood Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 The Heritage Millennium Ultra STD series (current production strongly similar to my 2000 Millennium Limited Edition) would be a pretty amazing resource to consider at if you're still shopping.
Sancho Posted December 31, 2011 Author Posted December 31, 2011 Nah, I'm definitely going H15X. I've got both a 150 and 157 spec'ed out. Just not sure which one to get. An H535 or Milennium may be in the books for the future, but I want my first Heritage to be an LP.
brentrocks Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 playing both a H150 and a H 157, i can tell you that with the JB/59 combo, i dont think you can go wrong either way. My Alex Skolnick H 150 had those pickups in it stock....but i was looking for a more vintage style pickup so i swapped them out for a set of Throbak SLE 101 pluses. here is a clip... http://www.reverbnat...ow/song_9033837 Then there is the H 157...a little heavier....HRW pickups. Really a totally different monster. Mostly because of the pickups. the clip tells the story. the HRWs are brighter, snappier.... http://www.reverbnat...w/song_11048281
mark555 Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 its up to you... Only you can make the decision! don't forget to post the pics!
Guest HRB853370 Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Sancho, if you care to go pre-owned rather than brand new, I know somebody on the forum that has a nice 2005 VSB H-150 for sale at a great price. I think he would ship to Belgium too. And the Duncans could be changed out easily. Just sayin!
Sancho Posted December 31, 2011 Author Posted December 31, 2011 Shipping cost and import duties will kill getting a pre-owned guitar from the States, unfortunately... Fortunately new Heritage guitars are very competitively priced around here. Anyone have an H150 in Amber or Golden Amber they'd care to share pics of?
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