MartyGrass Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 For those who don't know Aaron, he was one of the luthiers on upscale guitars for Gibson in the 60s through 80s. He continues to do some work for Heritage, like tap tuning, but is an independent luthier. He is one of the best in the world IMO. A friend of mine asked that I drop off his guitar for Aaron to work on. Aaron's shop is about 25 minutes away and out in the boondocks. So every time I go there I make sure I get everything done at once. My friend wants his new Super Eagle set up with some new fangled bridge de jour. I think he's also putting on a traditional H tailpiece. I'm just the chaffeur in this case. I'm getting gold Alumitones put into this H576 with no other changes. The Seth Lovers that come out of the H576 will go into this H157. I also will have the neck buffed on one side. Heritage did not buff the area around the binding after the binding was scraped. It happens. Lastly, Aaron will make a pickguard for my Millie Eagle 2000 so that it matches my other Millie Eagle 2000. When I get the black Golden Eagle, I want him to make another bridge for me, put a tone pot on the pickguard, and build me a pickguard without a pickup on it. If I can editorialize, the time to get stuff like this done is now. That includes any custom Heritage builds you want, especially H357s. I realize lately that we are in the end of a very special era- the origin of the electric guitar. The pioneers who brought the notion from simply putting a microphone on an acoustic guitar to designing instruments that are wholely electric are now aged and will not be with us much longer. I want their spirits in my instruments. There will always be great luthiers on this planet (unless they are right about Iran's nukes). So you will be able to get wonderful instruments and have them modified to your wishes indefinitely. But every inspired musician believes in magic and feels it in his playing. The Kalamazoo luthiers, as unlikely as they seem at times, are important conduits of this cosmic goodness. With the quieting of just a few remaining heartbeats, the entire era will be over. And won't that be sad?
Doug Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 Yes indeed. Aaron is a master luthier, and a great guy as well. I live in Schoolcraft, and we refer to Vicksburg as the big city
chico Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 I used to hang out at the Vicksburg train depot when I was a kid in the mid 60s, there was a station agent still there at the time and he'd buy me 7oz cokes and I'd pester him about trains all afternoon long on his shift while my dad worked nearby. yeh, Vicksburg. lots o memories there. edited to add: but I digress.. Marty is right time to make the move is now.
Number8 Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 Marty - Did you get that 157 from Stonegrove Guitars in LaGrange, IL? I only ask because they still have that very picture posted on their website. See the link below: http://stonegroveguitar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181:heritage-h-157-in-vintage-sunburst&catid=20:heritage-guitars&Itemid=44 I'm curious about what they charge for a new one there.
Doug Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 I used to hang out at the Vicksburg train depot when I was a kid in the mid 60s, there was a station agent still there at the time and he'd buy me 7oz cokes and I'd pester him about trains all afternoon long on his shift while my dad worked nearby. yeh, Vicksburg. lots o memories there. edited to add: but I digress.. Marty is right time to make the move is now. They have turned it into a train museum of sorts... perhaps you are aware. Thought you might be interested in these train-related photos I shot there a few months ago. http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/IMG_3221.jpg http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/IMG_3217.jpg http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/IMG_3215.jpg http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/IMG_3212.jpg http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/IMG_3211.jpg I really like your train photos.
MartyGrass Posted September 28, 2012 Author Posted September 28, 2012 Marty - Did you get that 157 from Stonegrove Guitars in LaGrange, IL? I only ask because they still have that very picture posted on their website. See the link below: http://stonegrovegui...itars&Itemid=44 I'm curious about what they charge for a new one there. I did get it there. I don't think they have any more. I had the feeling that he may not be carrying Heritage, but I don't know. He has a beautiful Millie that he was willing to sell me for $1800. You might do a little better. There are two nice NOS H150s at www.guitarlovers.net. I'll bet you could pick up either one of those for less than $1400.
Number8 Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 I did get it there. I don't think they have any more. I had the feeling that he may not be carrying Heritage, but I don't know. He has a beautiful Millie that he was willing to sell me for $1800. You might do a little better. There are two nice NOS H150s at www.guitarlovers.net. I'll bet you could pick up either one of those for less than $1400. I bought my Prospect from him (Paul at Stonegrove) about two weeks ago (still pictured on the site). He actually filled in all the blanks for me regarding Heritage and was a big proponent of Heritage in general.
Genericmusic Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 ...we are in the end of a very special era- the origin of the electric guitar....every inspired musician believes in magic and feels it in his playing. The Kalamazoo luthiers...are important conduits of this cosmic goodness... I want their spirits in my instruments. +1
MartyGrass Posted September 28, 2012 Author Posted September 28, 2012 Aaron also has something interesting going on. Today he showed me an old Gibson he rehabilitated for a Merle Travis style player. (Aaron has worked on Merle's personal guitars BTW.) This one is a 1939 Super 400. It was built as an acoustic but years ago was converted to electric. This guitar was the first year that the Super 400 has a cutaway, making it a highly valuable instrument. The Bigsby was engraved by the owner, who is a saddle maker. The headstock was also customized quite a while ago. Aaron refinished it and did some minor repairs. This guitar is 73 years old but feels and plays like new. The extra toggle is a kill switch, a great idea for a P90 guitar. BTW, Merle Haggard preferred P90s. Aaron had to custom make his Super 400s to include them. Aaron described to me the history of how these were made over the years. I won't bore you. But the most important question he answered was whether they built guitars better in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s then now. He said the quality is about the same. The older ones don't sound and were not made better. I went through how he tap tunes compared to others. When I asked him why he does what he does, his answer was because it sounds better. I wanted a more thorough explanation. He said there is none. The techniques are time honored. He has convinced himself that the principles he was taught are true. He is a pragmatist. Here's the Super 400 with the new finish.
skydog52 Posted September 28, 2012 Posted September 28, 2012 Great story Mark. Now that is a custom guitar. What a great response to your question. Because it sounds better. Great! All these luthiers in the Kalamazoo area are all salt of the earth type people. Genuine.
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