hotfordcoupe Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Today I went into one of my local guitar stores to just try and hear what a Heritage made D'Angelico II was like. (Not the guitar I bought. Way too pricey) I really enjoyed playing it because it sounded so sweet, clear, warm and mellow. As I was putting it back and told the sales associate that it was just way too expensive for me, he pointed to a 1996 Gretsch Synchromatic 400 blonde cutaway with regular F holes instead of cat's eyes, an 18" body, an art deco extended bridge and what looked like a Heritage pick guard with a floating pickup. The guy then said, "you might want to try that one. It's also a Heritage made guitar but a lot less money. Sure enough, it was ghost built Gretsch Synchromatic 400/Eldorado done by the Heritage company at a price I just couldn't turn down. It sounded just like the Heritage D'A II and was essentially the same guitar only with a Gretsch headstock. Unless I'm wrong, it seems to be built almost like a Super Eagle with a floater. When I researched it, I found out that during the mid 90s, Heritage had ghost built high end guitars for Gretsch before they sent the work to Terada, Japan. I figured this thing has to be a rare bird and for the price, I absolutely could not get a corresponding Heritage Super Eagle for such a price. It had to be bought. The top is nice and thin, the wood is gorgeously flamey and the acoustic sound is so warm, mellow and loud even after I put .013 flatwounds on it. It came with .012 rounds but I just can't stand the string squeak. This one is now going to be my "go to" axe.
Spectrum13 Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Photos or it did not happen, Would like to see that close up.
hotfordcoupe Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 No problem. I'll be working on that in the afternoon. I took it to a local Heritage dealer who looked at it pretty closely and told me he definitely believes it was made by Heritage. It has a Gretsch label inside with the signatures of the 4 original owners of Heritage. On another guitar site, there was one in sunburst that was exactly like mine.
SouthpawGuy Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Congrats, sounds like you found a rare one. Definitely like to see some photos.
tulk1 Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Ya might be surprised at who all Heritage has made guitars for. And for those they've turned down. Congrats on finding such a cool guitar. Yeah, baby!!
DetroitBlues Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Photos or it did not happen, Would like to see that close up. +1
hotfordcoupe Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 Here she be as promised. The back could have been a little more flamey but beggars can't be choosers. Besides, the sides make up for it. and the tell. The sound is clear as a bell. This is also a solid wood guitar i.e. no laminated parts except the neck. I'm still drooling over thie thing.
hotfordcoupe Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 Thanks for all the kind words. Considering who made the guitar and considering it's a completely carved 18" solid spruce top and maple back with solid maple sides (It was $3000 clams out the door, Kentucky state sales tax, a super clean heavy black case and a new set of .013 strings included) it was one hell of a bargain I just couldn't resist. It's too bad it doesn't have the cat's eye holes and the chili pepper headstock inlay but who cares once you hear this thing plugged or unplugged. I definitely think I'm done chasing gear. Famous last words. Now all I have to do is become a better player.
TalismanRich Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 HotFordCoupe, where did you find that gem around here? MainStreet maybe? The only place that I can think would have a DA would be Guitar Emporium.
barrymclark Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I have a Heritage. I have a Gretsch. I don\'t have a Heritage-made Gretsch. That is a guitar of borderline lore VERY cool. BIG body. Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
hotfordcoupe Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 HotFordCoupe, where did you find that gem around here? MainStreet maybe? The only place that I can think would have a DA would be Guitar Emporium. You nailed it. I went to Guitar Emporiun just to hear what that D'A sounded like. Then I was going to go over to Steilburg Strings music on Bardstown Rd to see how much it would take to get a new Golden Eagle. The D'A is still there as we speak with that $8000 price tag which I found out may not be a bad price. The sales guy told me that the D'A is a consignment piece but the Gretsch which came form the same place was not and it was also Heritage made. Right there I knew it was going to be mine. Earlier today I did something that may be sacreligious for some. The original pickup tends to be a bit unbalanced and too heavy in the bass. I removed the stock pickguard with the stock pickup (there's a jack connection that easily comes apart without messing with the wiring) and put on a Monkey on a Stick DeArmond FHC pickup with a repro D'Angelico pickguard for effect. The sound is electric sound is way more balanced without changing the electric sound. I've also got a Rhythm Chief 1100 which I'll try on later. I promise all of the purists out there that I never altered the guitar in any way. I also never made it to Steilburg to check out the Golden Eagle. Don't need to now
heritagefan7 Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 Wow--that is truly a jewel...great find...congrats and enjoy!
FredZepp Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 Fantastic guitar in so many ways. It would be a wonderful thing even without the Heritage association, but that makes it really really special. The label is wonderful... as it removes all doubt where this one came from. That's a great find. Congrats. (Heck.. it's even got a Centurion bridge... )
hotfordcoupe Posted July 30, 2012 Author Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks again guys. When my wife finally understood what the big deal was, she said I would have been stupid not to buy it. And this comes from a wife. Zowie !!
hotfordcoupe Posted August 1, 2012 Author Posted August 1, 2012 Well, yesterday I played my first gig with the guitar and I realized, I definitely did not make a mistake with this thing. The electric tone was incredible but then again, I was using a vintage DeArmond FHC pickup. The acoustic tone was the real killer. The guitar was loud, mellow, sweet and full even with flat wound strings. The guitar was very easy to play and didn't even cramp my hand which usually happens halfway into a gig. This is no doubt a true Heritage guitar even if the name on the headstock is different.
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