Ben2 Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 Heritage makes a dizzying number. Can anyone who's tried a bunch recommend one to me ? I currently own a 535 which is really nice but fit and finish were a bit lower than I would have liked. Still, I like that it has nice figured maple and I love the Seth Lovers pickups. Can't complain otherwise. I found a H575 Custom with just a neck pickup and spruce top for sale semi-locally (3 hr drive). I've seen enough 550's for sale that look great too. Not that it would make me sound any better but I've always wanted an ebony board. Only full hollow guitars I've owned otherwise were Peerless which I thought were actually pretty nice. Any of those Heritage Hollow Body's garner particular favor among the Heritage crowd ? I meant to ask as well, what year did Heritage stock Seymour Duncan's in the 575's or 550's ? Any year(s) worth seeking out for significant improvements ? What would a great deal in a 575 or 550 be (hoping for near mint but excellent+ would be nice)
Ned Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 a spruce 575 with one pickup is a sweet custom instrument. anything within a few hundred dollars +/- of $2k would be in the ball park for me. It is well worth a 3 hour drive to play it - you aren't likely to find something like it hanging on a wall anywhere. For intangible reasons, I really like the ebony finger board too. Can't help you on the years, the general consensus is that each instrument is an individual and that there are no years better than others. You will find people giving high praise to instruments from every year. Sounds like a big consideration for you might be amplification. Spruce is rumored to be more sensitive to feedback, and some folks prefer laminated instruments for louder gigs.
MichYank Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 I love my 575, but it's the only Heritage I've owned. It has that classic big-jazz-box sound. I did make a slight mod to the SD '59 pick ups though. I put an A2 in the neck and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge. Even so, that tweek just made the sweet a tad sweeter.
Gitfiddler Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 I love my 575, but it's the only Heritage I've owned. It has that classic big-jazz-box sound. I did make a slight mod to the SD '59 pick ups though. I put an A2 in the neck and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge. Even so, that tweek just made the sweet a tad sweeter. An A2 in the neck and A5 in the bridge sounds perfect for a 575. Good choice.
Ben2 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 I spoke too soon. Looks like it's got a rosewood board which of course is not tragic. It also says "Floating Custom PIckup". Not sure what that means. The pickup is black. This H550 looks very nice too. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-The-Heritage-H-550-Electric-Guitar-Nice-one-/350582831311?pt=Guitar&hash=item51a05d78cf#ht_500wt_1102
Ned Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Sounds basically like a short scale sweet 16. I bet it is a fine instrument.
Ben2 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 Sounds basically like a short scale sweet 16. I bet it is a fine instrument. You're talking about the 575 I assume ?
Ned Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 yep. Spruce with a floater, 16" body, Florentine cutaway. All the differences I can think of are in the neck: material (mahogany vs. maple, fingerboard, binding, bling). Sounds like a great guitar to me.
DetroitBlues Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 What's wrong with the fit and finish of your 535?
skbaily Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 I really like my Golden Eagle. There is a really nice natural finish GE listed in the marketplace section of this very site!
Ben2 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Posted July 25, 2012 What's wrong with the fit and finish of your 535? The nut was cut as though someone eyeballed the slots. Fret filing marks on the board. Finished checked a bit. Nothing tragic like I said but still inconsistent. My luthier was able to correct most of them (except the checking) and I like it but it did make me wonder about Heritage QC. Pretty small sample I know...
Ben2 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Posted July 26, 2012 I really like my Golden Eagle. There is a really nice natural finish GE listed in the marketplace section of this very site! Correction, there WAS a GE for sale. Looks like it went just yesterday. Looked beautiful. I assume mostly fancy finish detail separates it from the spruce 575. Still, $3k gets you a lot. Used Benedetto Bravo which seem pretty sweet as well.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.