2Finger Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 First of all: Happy New Year to all my fellow Heritage 'addicts' Thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my latest addition to my Heritage collection. It's a 1995 Eagle Classic, which plays beautifully (needless to say). This is my first Jazz guitar. Could anyone give some general advise regarding type of strings - and gauge - I should stick to with this one? I just bought the guitar and it now has flatwound strings on it. But they are 2 years old and I need to have my tech do some adjustments to the guitar - neck and action - and at the same time give it fresh strings. On my H-150 CM i use 0.010's which obviously is not the right choice for the Eagle. Should I go for 0.011 or 0.012? Should I choose flatwound or roundwound? Any feed-back will be highly appreciated.
DetroitBlues Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 I believe those archtops are short scale jazz guitars that sound best with heavier strings. I don't think a lot of jazz players do a lot of heavy bending, so I'm sure the strings won't be a problem.
Guest HRB853370 Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 I have heard of Thomastik as being great strings for those guitars, but no personal experience. Congrats and good to hear from you. What else do you have lurking in your Heritage guitar collection? Please share!
Kuz Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 I believe those archtops are short scale jazz guitars that sound best with heavier strings. I don't think a lot of jazz players do a lot of heavy bending, so I'm sure the strings won't be a problem. Most of Heritage jazz boxes are long scale 25.25" ( including all the Golden Eagles, Super Eagles, Classic Eagles, Kenny Burrell's, Henry Johnson's, 550s, Sweet 16s ect). The only short scale 24.75 are 575s and 525 (if call a 525 a jazz box). Heritage ship their archtops with .11 gauge strings. The only strings I use on my 575, two Golden Eagles, and 525 are Thomastics. I use Thomastic George Benson Flatwounds 12-52. The Thomastics are cheap but they last longer and sound much better. I have used Thomastic Roundwound as well but I the warmer tone and no finger squeak of Flatwounds.
2Finger Posted January 8, 2012 Author Posted January 8, 2012 DetroitBlues and Slammer: thanks for your comments. I have owned an H-137, an H-140, two 535's - all of which are now in the hands of other happy guitarists. I actually formed a second band with one of the guys, who bought one of the 535's. Obviously, I would have liked to keep these guitars, but my GAS and financial abilities do not always see eye to eye. My present collection is limited to the H-150CM Ultra with HRW's (my profile photo) and the newly acquired Eagle.
2Finger Posted January 8, 2012 Author Posted January 8, 2012 @ Kuz: Thank you !!! - your comments and help is highly appreciated. Nice to receive such quick responses from y'all here at HOC - rock solid evidence that Heritage owners are proud and happy people who have made the only right choices when it comes to choosing their guitar brand
Guest wesmo Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 Now THAT is a classy jazz box! Regarding the strings, I would follow Kuz' advice. However, if you need something a little less expensive than TIs, (Kuz said the Tomastiks are cheap, but I think he was typing on the fly and meant to say that they are NOT cheap.)try D'Addario Chrome flat wounds. I would suggest you start with .012 guage. But, as to your question of what you should stick with . . . that's a choice entirely up to your own preferences.
Kuz Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 Dang this IPad!!!!! yes I meant to say that Thomastiks are NOT cheap but worth it!
Steiner Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Nice box 2Finger! Simply stated and classy. I use D'Addario 115Ws on my Eagles, but then, I'm not a great jazz guy either... Lookin' Good!
Flat Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Beautiful Eagle Classic! Truly a classic, imho! Congratulations! I agree about the not-cheap-but-worth-it Thomastiks. I usually use the JS112 or JS113 flatwound sets on my Heritage 575 or Sadowsky Jim Hall. Another lower-cost alternative that is perhaps just as good are the Sadowsky Flatwounds. These can run about $15 per set in my neighborhood, compared to $20 or $22 for the Thomastiks. https://secure.sadowsky.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=70_36&products_id=102 But some great players do prefer round wound strings, even on archtops. It's a matter of personal preference.
mark555 Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Dang this IPad!!!!! yes I meant to say that Thomastiks are NOT cheap but worth it! John, I haven't seen Thomastiks over here in England, you say they are expensive, but how much? I pay about £5 for a set of Rotosounds, my main choice of string just now.
2Finger Posted January 9, 2012 Author Posted January 9, 2012 I was told by the seller, that this guitar was in fact featured on one of Eva Cassidy's album (R.I.P., dear Eva) - it was purchased from Heritage by a female guitarist, who personally selected the woods at Heritage together with the workshop staff. Maybe it is just sales talk - but a nice story . Anyways, it is truly a classic and beautiful guitar and I simply love the kind of understated appearance - just nice woods and excellent craftsmanship. Thank to you all for your inputs regarding strings. I may try the D'Addarion Chromes as they cost only half of what the Tomastiks go for. I have seen both brands at www.thomann.de.
Guest wesmo Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 I was told by the seller, that this guitar was in fact featured on one of Eva Cassidy's album (R.I.P., dear Eva) - it was purchased from Heritage by a female guitarist,who personally selected the woods at Heritage together with the workshop staff. Maybe it is just sales talk - but a nice story . Anyways, it is truly a classic and beautiful guitar and I simply love the kind of understated appearance - just nice woods and excellent craftsmanship. Thank to you all for your inputs regarding strings. I may try the D'Addarion Chromes as they cost only half of what the Tomastiks go for. I have seen both brands at www.thomann.de. 2Finger, do not doubt, for one minute, the possibility or even the probability of the story you heard as being accurate. Exactly what you described has happened frequently at the Heritage plant.
2Finger Posted January 9, 2012 Author Posted January 9, 2012 Thanks, Wesmo - I kind of like it, when a guitar has a special history connected to it. Doesn't make me a better player, but it certainly adds an extra dimension of joy to the ownership. Just spent 3 hours playing it this afternoon - just couldn't put it down, forgot about eating lunch. And it hasn't even been adjusted yet. Still with the 2-year-old strings on it. WOW!!
brentrocks Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Congrats on the Eagle....if i had any talent at all, a Super Eagle would be on my hit list
Guest wesmo Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Thanks, Wesmo - I kind of like it, when a guitar has a special history connected to it. Doesn't make me a better player, but it certainly adds an extra dimension of joyto the ownership. Just spent 3 hours playing it this afternoon - just couldn't put it down, forgot about eating lunch. And it hasn't even been adjusted yet. Still with the 2-year-old strings on it. WOW!! Well 2Finger, the notion that a good guitar doesn't make a person play better, is in my opinion just not true. Your motivation and inspiration to play that beauty is obvious. The guitar just seems to inspire you, and how could it not? It's a beauty. Regarding the strings being 2 years old, you indicated that they're flat wounds. If they're of the Thomastik or D'Addario quality, and the guitar hasn't been play too much before you got it, and if the previous owner took care to wipe the strings down after playing it, they just might not need to be replaced yet. If you ever get the spare time to do it, I would love to see a picture of the back of the guitar and the back of the neck.
Kuz Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 John, I haven't seen Thomastiks over here in England, you say they are expensive, but how much? I pay about £5 for a set of Rotosounds, my main choice of string just now. I buy most of my strings (cause I use Thomastik and Curt Mangan) off of the web site http://www.juststrings.com/
Hfan Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Welcome 2 finger, beautiful Eagle to say the least. Spruce top?
bolero Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 WOW!! that is a gorgeous guitar....!! congrats & welcome
2Finger Posted January 10, 2012 Author Posted January 10, 2012 Welcome 2 finger, beautiful Eagle to say the least. Spruce top? Yes, spruce top - very nice and densely grained. And, of course, solid maple back and sides. 5-piece maple neck. Ebony fretboard... all the 'normal' stuff. The resonance and 'replies' you get from this box is simply inspiring!!!
2Finger Posted January 10, 2012 Author Posted January 10, 2012 Well 2Finger, the notion that a good guitar doesn't make a person play better, is in my opinion just not true. Your motivation and inspiration to play that beauty is obvious. The guitar just seems to inspire you, and how could it not? It's a beauty. Regarding the strings being 2 years old, you indicated that they're flat wounds. If they're of the Thomastik or D'Addario quality, and the guitar hasn't been play too much before you got it, and if the previous owner took care to wipe the strings down after playing it, they just might not need to be replaced yet. If you ever get the spare time to do it, I would love to see a picture of the back of the guitar and the back of the neck. Oh, I totally agree that a good guitar makes you a better player. Simply because the mere quality of the instrument will inspire you to explore and play more hours - and thus make you a better player (guess it's sort of like playing tennis - the more you play, the better you get. Practise, practise...) I just meant, that the fact, that this particular instrument has the history connected to it by some previous owner adds joy to my ownership - but it is still my fingers and abilities that have to do justice to this beautiful guitar.
hinesarchtop Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 As Kuz said, the Thomastic Bensons in 12 gage are great. They are what I've been using.
EddieF Posted January 14, 2012 Posted January 14, 2012 I have Heritage Golden Eagle and I use D'Adderio Chromes 12-52 (Flatwound). I tried Thomastic but did not like them much. Its all a matter of personal taste. Try different ones to see what you like. Strings are relatively cheap so if you don't like a set then its not a big loss.
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