H-535 or H-575

[jcyyz]

Hi all.

New here and looking to get my first Heritage.  I've got 4 guitars in 3 configurations I'm looking at.  All are within 10% on the price, so dollars are not the driving force.  None are local (I'm a lefty) so there is some guessing involved.

 

    1) New '07 H-535 with stock pups (dealer says Golden Age)

    2) New '07 H-535 With Seth Lover pup (2 different guitars, 1 is a 23rd Anniversary Edition)

    3) Used '00 H-575 with unknown pups

 

I'll be playing jazz, (new agelight and traditional), blues, praise and worship, classic rock and maybe some fusion or funk on it.  My main amp is a '65 Deluxe Reverb RI. 

 

My research suggests that either guitar can cover the genres listed above.    Clean tone is my major concern.  I'm less concerned about the distorted tone as I have 2 other guitars (Carvin DC200TA and PRS Hollowbody copy) that can handle that.  The Carvin has coil splitting and active EQ, which means it can cover a lot of territory.  It just can't get that warmer sound of a bigger hollowbody.  The PRS copy has 24 frets, so it's brighter too and may go if the Heritage works out as planned.  I'd like to get down to 1 main guitar for a smooth warm tone that is flexible, records well, cuts through a mix and is fun to play.  If anyone can shed some light on any of these guitars it would be a great help.  Thanks a lot.

[fxdx99]

Only you'll be able to pick your fav... and buying site unseen is always a risk, but here's one opinion - I've a 535 w/seth lovers that is tied right now as my favorite guitar for playing and tone.  I play mostly blues, some rock, very little jazz thru an Allen Accomplish which is based on a DR.  The 535 had Schallers (may be what the dealer is calling golden age but I'm not sure on that) and I wasn't as thrilled with the sound.  The seth lovers woke it right up - love the clean tones, love the slightly driven sound.  Great guitar - I'll never sell this one, it's here to stay.

 

But I don't have a thick body guitar to contrast it to - have the 'standard' designs (tele, strat, lp, 535, 150) and the tele and 535 are tone heaven thru the allen.

[SouthpawGuy]

Hi jcyyz and Welcome to the HOC, greetings also from a fellow lefty.

 

I have a 535 and a 575 Custom both with SD'59s and if I had to choose only one it would have to be the 535.

It sounds great acoustically and has a wider range of tones than the 575, don't get me wrong though the 575 is one hell of an instrument but the 535 is more versatile.

I bought the 535 first but I caved in to GAS a couple of months after and got the 575.

Clean tones from the 535 are big fat and juicy, not a very musical description I know but you get the idea, and it sustains very well at even low volumes.

The 575 does not have as much bite as the 535 but it makes up for that with a very big full warm tone, neck pickup with the tone rolled off is extremely jazzy, bridge pickup tone on full is great for rock'n'roll.

I have a few amps, Blues Junior, Cyber Twin and Cube 30 and they both sound best through the Junior, makes me grin, as they say, whenever I put them through that little thing.

Here are a couple of pics to give you some idea ... apologies to all who have seen these before but any excuse to show them off  ;D

 

535 Golden Amber,

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/SouthpawGuy/535lh01.jpg[/img]

 

575 Custom

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/SouthpawGuy/575lh01.jpg[/img]

 

 

You might also want to consider one of these, if you can find one, they are rare enough in lefty, there was one on Ebay a few months ago.

Millennium Standard Ultra with HRWs

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/SouthpawGuy/millennium2.jpg[/img]

 

I bought all of these online, I must be very lucky as all of them are grade A guitars, two of them were used instruments.

 

Regards ..

[SouthpawGuy]

By the way forgot to mention the 535 "23" has '59s not Seth Lovers as advertised, I checked with the dealer.

Hope this helps.

[jcyyz]

Thanks all, keep the comments coming.

 

Southpaw, do all '23' models have 59's?  I know of 2 dealers with lefty's.

[big bob]

I have a 575 and replaced the stock schallers/golden age.... they are fuzzy, good for middles but not bright at all...

[SouthpawGuy]

Southpaw, do all '23' models have 59's?  I know of 2 dealers with lefty's.

 

The dealer I was contacting said they were '59s and not Seths.

Some sites have them advertised as Seths, there is nothing on the Heritage site about the 535 "23".

So the answer is afraid that I don't know  ???

Maybe someone with access to the factory might enquire about it ?  :angel:

[jcyyz]

I recevied an e-mail from one of the dealers.  The invoice says 59's and the signed label says Seth Lovers ???  He is going to call the factory on Monday.  Obviously, he does not want to unstring the guitar if he can avoid it.

[tulk1]

I recevied an e-mail from one of the dealers.  The invoice says 59's and the signed label says Seth Lovers ???  He is going to call the factory on Monday.  Obviously, he does not want to unstring the guitar if he can avoid it.

 

I'd go with the label.

[Kuz]

I'd go with the label.

 

Absolutely right. The label is what is in the guitar. I'd be 99% sure of that. They use the labels as work orders as they complete the guitar.

[Gitfiddler]

H-535 with Seth's or 59's. 

[jcyyz]

I pulled the trigger on the 23rd Anniversary H-535.  Even though the 23 in the inlay is a little hokey, it has a nice flame and the dealer confirmed with the factory that it has Seth Lovers in it.  Another thing is it's an actual 2008 model, not a 2007.  A little more assurance that Heritage is past the troubles of last year.

 

I'll post some pictures when it gets in.  Thanks to everyone for your help. 

[brentrocks]

good call!

 

i just got a 555 w/ HRWs and i'm enjoying it immensely!!!

 

 

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y52/ebmmquilt/555/P1010024.jpg[/img]

 

congrats and....

 

:this_thread_is_useless_withou

[big bob]

nice, hope you like it

 

(If I could be like mike)