can we use our own stuff in a custom build? (and other silly questions)

[eor]

not sure if i've asked this here already, but i tried asking (by email) a dealer and heritage in the past and both of those efforts went nowhere.

 

can we make our own submissions for a custom build? pickups and pots and whatnot? but more importantly, can they use wood that we specify, or send in? i'm sure they have nice wood and all, but if i want something different or specific, would they use it? assuming, of course, it is fit for that sort of thing. and if so, what specs must the piece of wood meet? dimensions and dryness or whatever.

 

for example: you have a fancy piece of maple you want to use for a top, or some ebony you want to use as your fingerboard.

 

and would they do nuttier things, like:

 

-deeper/shallower depths (say, a thinline 575 or 550)

-longer/shorter scales (less than 24.75, greater than 25.5, or a 25.5 neck on a 24.75 body and vice versa)

-wider/narrower bodies (like a 17" 575)

-unusual wood combos (spruce top 535)

-custom inlays (something other than the usual dots/traps/blocks/split blocks)

 

(the parentheticals are just examples for illustrative purposes)

[tulk1]

Yes, yes, yes .... up to a point. The rejected custom specs I'm aware of are:

 

-Hardware they weren't familiar. They didn't know how to mount it and didn't care to experiment (experience with that right here!).

-Wood that is hard to work with. i.e., purple heart and other "hard to work with" woods. I do know of one Braz fretboard they did from wood that was supplied. The caveat being if it didn't work, too bad. And they wouldn't source the Braz board for the member.

-I'm thinking they refused a shorter scale length, but don't readily recall which model.

 

They are at heart a Custom Shop - you just never know, tho'.

[DetroitBlues]

Not sure about the wood, but KBP worked with a couple pickup manufactures to when he ordered his 157 custom.

[FredZepp]

It's a good idea to have what you'd like worked out pretty well , so that if they say yes... you're ready to order it.

 

 

You're maybe more likely to get it done, if they feel that you're serious...that it is a specific request , rather than a laundry list of things to consider some day in the future.

[DetroitBlues]

Only thing I'd say about wood is Heritage may not like the wood quality or how it was prepared.... If a piece of lumber supplied wasn't fully dried out, they may not cover it under a warrenty, just like G&L does with Birdseye necks...

[bolero]

Yeah I'd think if they put their name on they will want control over the wood source....I can see a world of pain if they catered to some obscure request and then the neck warped after a few years. Not worth the risk.

 

 

But within reason I'm sure they will comply

[Gitfiddler]

So I guess my Bubinga, Purpleheart, Pau Ferro dream gitfiddle ain't gonna be made by Heritage!

[tulk1]

Yeah I'd think if they put their name on they will want control over the wood source....I can see a world of pain if they catered to some obscure request and then the neck warped after a few years. Not worth the risk.

 

 

But within reason I'm sure they will comply

Well ... it isn't like we haven't seen standard builds with their own problems, warped necks included. What I recall Ren saying at PSPI when we brought this up is they would prefer not to use customer provided woods. But if they did, whatever happened to the wood during the build or after was not Heritage's problem. BTW, the BrazWood fretboard I mentioned earlier turned out uber cool. I even got to play it. Can't say it sounded significantly better than Indian RW, or anyother RW. But it sure looked pretty.

[eor]

i was thinking of the luthier supply houses- sometimes i see a neat piece of would that i think would make a cool top or a pretty board. but it is standard maple, ebony and rosewood. just pretty. striped and burled and figured and such. just tops and boards, no necks. no acrylic or portuguese asswood or whatever, nor would i send in an old desk. so i would assume it would be acceptable to work with, but what do i know? i never considered the warranty aspect.

 

and i don't see he big deal in sending in my own pots/caps/pickups, so that's good to know.

[Kuz]

No problem sending in your own components, but like Tulk1 said they only trust their wood. I very highly doubt that they would build with anyone's wood. The one guitar he was talking about, was only the fretboard.

 

But if you purchase their select upgraded wood option, you can ask for a certain type of figured wood and they will send you pics of it (or you can go to the factory and they can help pick it out with you). I did that before about 4 years ago. I don't know if they still do this, but I have never heard of ANYONE complain of their upgraded wood package.

 

Here are some pics of my premium wood package guitars...

 

[eor]

those are very pretty, but i was thinking of less normal stuff, like burled or oddly swirled maple (not spalted) and stripey undyed ebony and rosewood. less common stuff that you don't really see much of, hence my wondering if i'd have to find it myself.

 

i really like that last one. i don't always like quilt, but is kinda abstract and i think that's neat.

[DetroitBlues]

If you tell them what you want, they usually will find it. Might take awhile, but they usually find what you're looking for.

[Kuz]

those are very pretty, but i was thinking of less normal stuff, like burled or oddly swirled maple (not spalted) and stripey undyed ebony and rosewood. less common stuff that you don't really see much of, hence my wondering if i'd have to find it myself.

 

i really like that last one. i don't always like quilt, but is kinda abstract and i think that's neat.

 

Thanks.

 

The last pic really isn't quilt, it is more burled. It was part of a special run they made for Wolfe guitars.

 

It never hurts to ask Heritage. If you call M-TR between 7-9:30AM EST they always pickup. They pickup other times as well, but the hours are M-TR 7-3PM EST.

 

Hey all they can say is no.

[eor]

or, maybe if i buy a nice piece of wood, send it over to one of the fellas over in that direction and have them visit the plant. then they can take the tour and casually toss the piece of wood in their pile when nobody is looking. then i can call and ask about a special piece of wood, and one will have magically appeared in their stock, heritage materials- full warranty!

 

otherwise, i'll keep all this in mind for when the time comes.

 

and does all this nuttyness happen through a dealer or through heritage directly? for the more oddball custom requests, anyway.

[Kuz]

Only through a dealer.