JasonA Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 This is my first post at the HOC and my first Heritage. I had been wanting an LP-style guitar for some time and remembered seeing Heritage at a local shop several years ago. In my research, I stumbled across the HOC, and actually found this guitar from a post in the Bay Watch section. I drove half-way across the state to the only place in Iowa that sells Heritage just to try them out. I pulled the trigger on this one, largely because of the price. It is a "very used" guitar, and I knew that when I bought it. For some reason, it just seems "right" for a LP to show some wear. The only pictures I had of the guitar before I bought it were from a cell phone and not at all flattering, so my expectations weren't real high. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the guitar that the top was significantly more figured than I was expecting. It's a '93 in VSB. Unlike the few new Heritages I got to play that had huge necks, this one is actually quite slim. I was actually a little worried that it would be difficult for me to get used to a giant baseball bat neck, but that's certainly not the case with this guitar. It was shipped without strings, so I'm going to give it a couple days for the neck to settle back into position before I do any adjustment. As it is right now, the neck could probably use just a little relief, but otherwise it plays great. Still plenty of life left in the frets. Before I even strung it up, I pulled out the pickups and popped the control cavity to have a peek. The seller wasn't sure what pickups were in it, but thought they were SDs. I'm not sure what these are - any help identifying them? My best guess is Gibson '57s, but I suppose they could be any sort of PAF clones, with the "Patent Applied For" sticker. I don't have an amp at the house right now, so I've only heard it through headphones, so I can't make a very definitive assertion on the tone. According to my bathroom scale, it weighs in right at 10 lb, although it really doesn't feel that heavy. I was going to polish it up before I put strings on, but decided to hold off. There's something about the worn finish that I kind of dig, so I think I'm going to leave it as is for a while. I'll probably spend some time getting the 20 years worth of grime off the back of the neck (the finish is actually worn through to the wood in one section). The hardware also has a nice patina on it. I think someone described it as "natural relic'ing". I feel like I got real lucky on this one, as the color is almost exactly what I wanted - a very vintage looking, subtle burst. These pictures outside in the shade are fairly accurate on the color. It definitely changes depending on the lighting - in doors it's more of a yellow amber, and out doors its got a stronger orange tint. I love it either way.
skydog52 Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Welcome to the Club JasonA. You certainly have a classic beauty for your first one. Enjoy.
eljay Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Welcome to the Club JasonA. You certainly have a classic beauty for your first one. Enjoy. right-own right-own right-own!
tsp17 Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Very well done. that's a beauty with some real mojo! Welcome.
H Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 What a great first Heritage! I never tire of looking at VSB 150s Welcome to the HOC, we're a friendly, helpful and chatty bunch here from a diverse array of backgrounds and countries. Stick around and let us know about the musical journey that brought you to Heritage. And finally, can you stop at one? I doubt it
koula901 Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Welcome to the cult Jason, and congrats on a lovely VSB!
big bob Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 First post and he's already snuck into Brent's yard for a photo shoot. Welcome to the HOC. hope that 150 treats you right.
golferwave Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Welcome to the HOC Jason! You certainly picked a fine H-150. Enjoy!! - BTW, you must have went to see my friend John at Crazy Horse Guitars to try them out. I worked on him for years to convince him to become a Heritage dealer. Soon you'll be saving your nickels and dimes for the next Heritage!
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Nice one Jason, and welcome to HOC. I had one that looked very similar and it found a new home with Davesnothere. He is enjoying it now. But rest assured, I am not Heritage-less!
JasonA Posted May 17, 2012 Author Posted May 17, 2012 Thanks guys. I played the guitar for a couple hours last night unplugged and I just love this thing. I haven't had a short scale guitar in a long time - this thing plays like butta. @golferwave - yep, it was Crazy Horse where I got to play some Heritages. I think he had 2 or 3 H150s, a 157 and a 535. They all had pretty fat necks, which I wouldn't have had a problem with, but this one is much thinner and I already feel right at home. I'm hoping to have a chance to play it through an amp tonight. Even through headphones I I'm liking what I hear.
FredZepp Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 That's a wonderful looking VSB 150. I feel the same way about wear, it doesn't bother me at all. I can't help you with the pickups, maybe they were swapped out sometime. I have a set that looks like that in a LP Replica, but I'm not sure what those are also. Did you check the label in the control cavity to see if it says anything interesting...?
JasonA Posted May 18, 2012 Author Posted May 18, 2012 Not much useful in the control cavity, unfortunately.
Hfan Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 Not much useful in the control cavity, unfortunately. Appears to be stock. From the yellow caps .22s I believe..Heritage uses them. Welcome to the cult. And all this talk about new Heritages with fat necks may be GAS inducing for me, would love a chunky neck 150.
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