DennisD Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 I've always wanted a Heritage, gave up on Gibson Les Pauls, overpriced, heavy and unbalanced. I sold my '93 standard and wouldn't be caught dead buying a new Gibson. All the Heritages I've seen seem al little overpriced but I finally got a '04 H-140 Goldtop with OHSC for $600 in a pawn shop Has a few character dings but wow! Great guitar! My question is it has the Schaller pickups, I'm thinking about throwing in a set of Duncan 59's I have laying around. Opinions on the Schaller PUPs? Also is the market price increasing for used Heritages? I would really like an H-150 at some point soon. I also need a truss rod cover for it, so if anyone has a line for them? I will post pics when I can shoot guitar in daylight, flash pics look crappy. Thanks for any advice or input for another aging rock and roller with a Kalamazoo jones and no money. Dennis
schundog Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Very well done, and welcome to the HOC! $600 is a great price for a 140. I like the Schallers I have in my H 170, which is a similar size guitar to yours. I DIDN'T care for them as much in my 535 semi-hollow, and replaced them with SD Antiquities, and like the result. If I were you, I'd leave them in for a few weeks to give them a trial run, then swap them out with the other ones you have. That way you can make up your own mind whether or not the Schallers are "worthy." Stick around, we have a lot of fun around here. Oh, and post some pics of your new Heritage!
FredZepp Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Good for you... seeing that great deal and grabbing it. We have seen a slow increase in the price of used Heritages as people realize what they are ... and how good they are. The Schaller pickups get mixed reviews.. in certain guitars, for certain tones, some people love them. Others may swap them out. Can't wait for the pics...... Congrats.
High Flying Bird Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Send me a PM. I think I can help you with the truss rod cover.
Guest HRB853370 Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 I've always wanted a Heritage, gave up on Gibson Les Pauls, overpriced, heavy and unbalanced. I sold my '93 standard and wouldn't be caught dead buying a new Gibson. All the Heritages I've seen seem al little overpriced but I finally got a '04 H-140 Goldtop with OHSC for $600 in a pawn shop Has a few character dings but wow! Great guitar! My question is it has the Schaller pickups, I'm thinking about throwing in a set of Duncan 59's I have laying around. Opinions on the Schaller PUPs? Also is the market price increasing for used Heritages? I would really like an H-150 at some point soon. I also need a truss rod cover for it, so if anyone has a line for them? I will post pics when I can shoot guitar in daylight, flash pics look crappy. Thanks for any advice or input for another aging rock and roller with a Kalamazoo jones and no money. Dennis Welcome to the club Dennis. Not quite sure what you mean about Gibson LP's being heavy and unbalanced, although I would agree that the new ones are way overpriced. You can usually find a new Heritage 150 for about the same price as a used Gibby LP. Anything built after 1982 by Gibson has a swiss cheesed body for weight relief, so they are usually lighter than than a Heritage 150 which is solid to the core. Not sure about the unbalanced comment, I have not noticed that at all with any of my LP's. Enjoy your new 140!! To send a PM, click on the avatar of any HOC member and then you will see a link that says "send a message".
DennisD Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 My 93 was bottom heavy, really unbalanced. hard to play sitting or standing
High Flying Bird Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 How do I send a PM? sorry.... You did good. I will respond in a few minutes.
Hfan Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Congrats and welcome. Please let us know if you do the pickup swap, I am curious about the 59 vs Schaller deal as well. I have a 157 with Schallers and have been considering some tinkering. And great deal to say the least on that Goldtop, I could care less about dings, minty guitars make me nerveous.
DennisD Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 Here are the pics. Ron is kindly sending me a truss rod cover. I replaced knobs with a set of top hats I had laying around. I will save all original stuff so when I get really old it can be put back stock who knows what they will be worth. I'm kinda itchy to put in SD '59's it seems like Heritage has gone toward Duncans as well? It has a few nicks but I bought it to play it. There is a really nice dark tobacco burst H-140 on local (minneapolis) Craigslist like new, he wants 1200. Seems a tad high? I am going to wait and try for a 150 0r 157 since I already have a 140. Thanks for all the replies, I may try to make Kalamazoo in two weeks, sounds like fun.
TalismanRich Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Dennis, you got a good deal on that 140. Re: the Schallers. I have them in my 157 and 535 and like them. I had uncovered ones in my '87 140 but they were dark and muddy sounding. Swapped them out for APH1 from SD. Alnico Pro IIs. Much better balanced. I don't know if it was the lack of covers, or the changes in the pickups between 1987 and 2003. Something was different and it made all the difference in the world. Ultimately, hook it up and play it. If you can't find the sweet spot, give them a swap.
DetroitBlues Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Here is another Gold Top that appears to have some Flame Top beneath the paint.... Does anyone else see it????
PunkKitty Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Congrats! You got a great deal on a beautiful 140. Welcome to the HOC.
DennisD Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 Really? Cuz I have a good friend who is a luthier, can you say strip and burst?
fxdx99 Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 You got a steal at that price. That's a nice looking goldtop, like the reflector knob look. I'm with you on the pickup swap - easy to do and I'd just do it since you already have the pickups. The bridge saddles looks like they're adjusted all the way back - would seem the intonation would be off at those positions. Maybe a setup along with the pickup swap.
Horace Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Wow, great score ! Surprised the alarm didn't go off when you walked out of the shop. Welcome ! Horace
FredZepp Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Wow... that is a great looking 140... you did very well to grab that.
DetroitBlues Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Really? Cuz I have a good friend who is a luthier, can you say strip and burst? You could, but the one finish that I think is a finish I'd keep would be a Goldtop. Such a fitting tribute to the original Les Paul...
chico Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 yeah, no stripper..just buy another Heritage in another color lol welcome, and watch out for that high flying bird. in a good way.
DetroitBlues Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 yeah, no stripper..just buy another Heritage in another color lol welcome, and watch out for that high flying bird. in a good way. I agree! For that price, you could sell that guitar for a profit and buy another that suites your taste in finishes...
212Mavguy Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Be careful! You can end up with more than one Heritage guitar if you spend too much time here...!
DennisD Posted July 25, 2012 Author Posted July 25, 2012 I threw in the 59's. The neck Schaller actually sound better. But I also scored a set of double creme SD antiquities on eBay for 133 bucks that would look really sweet in it.... My luthier buddy did the swap and set up. Detroit Blues is right, my bud says you can see the flame, but I will leave it. I am a huge Duane Allman geek and Layla was recorded with a Gold top and he swapped the pickups out of his '57 Goldy with his first burst. Also from circular gouges around posts it looks as though previous owner might have changes out bridge? Wasn't Heritage using Schaller bridges at this time? Again, don't care cuz it looks and plays great. I had a PRS and got rid of it just cuz it was too pretty. The whole PRS thing is too cork sniffer for my taste. But great guitars. I appreciate all the answers, this seems like a really great board. BTW: IF anyone is looking, I saw a Black 150 with P-90's on Guitar Centers used site for 999 with case. I'm holding for a burst 150 or 157
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