PrairieDude Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 Hey all, I'm new here and have been lurking around for a few days now. I've seen some models that seem to be factory upgrades but they aren't addressed on the Heritage website. How is a H-150CM Deluxe different from a H-150CM? Or how is an Ultra different? Premium woods? Hardware? Binding? Are these limited edition guitars made in very small numbers? Or are they factory upgrades in one way or another and still made in small quantities but not limited? Are they still being made or are they out of production? Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge with me.
mark555 Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 If you order new from a dealer, you can really have what you want on a Heritage. They don't do private stock like PRS, but they do use some terrific wood on their guitars. There are no limited production runs as far as I know, but others will tell you the differences between ultra's etc. A CM as far as I know is a top of the line model, I'd love one. By the way, Hi and welcome!
Blunote Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 Most all H150s are H150CM (Curly Maple) and mahogany body and neck. An H-150 Ultra or H150CM Ultra assures a highly figured top. The H150 Ultra Deluxe has a highly figured top a bound wood pickguard, a bound headstock, multi layer body binding, and a scarfed body carve often referred to as a belly cut. Previous models included an H150 Special which is much like the H150CM except that the body is "hardwood". The H150P has a thinner solid poplar body (no maple cap).
SouthpawGuy Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 Fairly certain the Ultra models had HRWs, my Millie Std Ultra does and so do a lot of the 150 Ultras. That and gold hardware. Now that heritage no longer uses HRWs I wonder where that leaves the Ultra models ? Seth Lovers ?
AP515 Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 Fairly certain the Ultra models had HRWs, my Millie Std Ultra does and so do a lot of the 150 Ultras. That and gold hardware. Now that heritage no longer uses HRWs I wonder where that leaves the Ultra models ? Seth Lovers ? My Ultra did have HRW's. Mine is a gold top, if it is guaranteed to have a great top, why did they cover it with gold paint?
SouthpawGuy Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 My Ultra did have HRW's. Mine is a gold top, if it is guaranteed to have a great top, why did they cover it with gold paint? To be ultra certain the wood grain wouldn't show ? I always get mixed up between the Ultra and Deluxe models. Here's the specs from web archive... -------------------------------------------------------------- H-150CM Ultra Neck - 17 degree peghead pitch; one piece mahogany neck. Fingerboard - 24 3/4” scale rosewood cream bound fingerboard with 22 frets, with mother of pearl trapezoid inlays. Radius is 12". Nut width is 1-11/16". Body - Single cutaway solid body solid carved ultra curly maple top and solid mahogany back, cream bound. body size: rim thickness - 2” body width - 13” body length – 17 1/4” Electronics - Two gold plated Heritage premium HRW pickups; two volume and two tone controls with selector switch. Hardware - Gold plated hardware. http://web.archive.org/web/20031004072444/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H150CMUltra.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------- H-150CM Deluxe Neck - 17 degree peghead pitch; one piece mahogany neck; single cream bound head veneer. Fingerboard - 24 3/4” scale rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl trapezoid inlays; single cream bound; 22 frets. Body - Single cutaway solid body with solid carved selected curly maple top; with solid mahogany back, multiple cream bound top with scarfed back . single cream bound wood pickguard. body size: rim thickness - 2” body width - 13” body length - 17 1/4” Electronics - Two Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups two volume and two tone controls with selector switch. Hardware - Chrome plated hardware. http://web.archive.org/web/20031004070408/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H150CMDeluxe.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------ Looks like the Ultra had HRWs and gold hardware, the Deluxe had Duncans and chrome. The Ultra had ultra curly maple top, the Deluxe had select maple top.
SouthpawGuy Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 My Ultra did have HRW's. Mine is a gold top, if it is guaranteed to have a great top, why did they cover it with gold paint? There's also the possibility that it was ordered with the Ultra hardware / pickups by a gold top fan. Same reason that their are some 157s with chrome hardware instead of the usual gold.
blueox Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 Fairly certain the Ultra models had HRWs, my Millie Std Ultra does and so do a lot of the 150 Ultras. That and gold hardware. Now that heritage no longer uses HRWs I wonder where that leaves the Ultra models ? Seth Lovers ? My Ultra did have HRW's. Mine is a gold top, if it is guaranteed to have a great top, why did they cover it with gold paint?Since HRW pickups are no longer produced, H-150CM-Ultra models can no longer be produced, as originally defined. Gold hardware added to the look. As far as the Ultra tops, there are great tops found on most H-150s in general, and some "out-ultra" the Ultras. With a custom order, one could have ordered an Ultra with a gold top, if that was the look one wanted.
PrairieDude Posted February 8, 2013 Author Posted February 8, 2013 Choices, choices!!!! Thanks, guys!!!
AP515 Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 These are good possibilities. The cover plate does say Ultra so I don't think it was a 150 with ultra hardware. Do you think the maple under the paint is "highly figured" or did they see they had to paint it anyway and just use a less than usual ultra top?
pegleg32 Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 Remember that Heritage is basically a "custom" shop. They do make a standard series of guitars, but you can go thru a dealer and order about anything you want within a series. That's why you see so many variations on the market. Also they do special runs from time to time of a limited edtion of one kind or another. Best example of this is probably the many aniversary issues. Another example of this is my matched set 150/535 which is a series of 25.
H Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 As far as the Ultra tops, there are great tops found on most H-150s in general, and some "out-ultra" the Ultras. QED - here's my 1990 ASB H-150CM
PrairieDude Posted February 8, 2013 Author Posted February 8, 2013 Those are beautiful guitars!! And pegleg32, your matched set is really special! Thanks for helping me get started.
yoslate Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 QED - here's my 1990 ASB H-150CM That is the second best top I've ever seen...ever!
H Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 That is the second best top I've ever seen...ever! I'm guessing Fredzepp's Centurion tops the list?
yoslate Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 I'm guessing Fredzepp's Centurion tops the list? http://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Links/Burst-Serial-Log/8365400_vVQ5sp#!p=2&n=10 Click on: Gallery, 1959 view the collection of 1959 Goldtop and Burst Les Paul pics, 9-0837 This is an actual '59, which I've played many times. It belonged to my late friend Sam Moss, and is known as The Mossburst. The picture is from a badly faded copy, and it in no way conveys the gorgeous color of this guitar. Last I heard, it was sold to a Japanese collector for $300K.
H Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 http://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Links/Burst-Serial-Log/8365400_vVQ5sp#!p=2&n=10 Click on: Gallery, 1959 view the collection of 1959 Goldtop and Burst Les Paul pics, 9-0837 This is an actual '59, which I've played many times. It belonged to my late friend Sam Moss, and is known as The Mossburst. The picture is from a badly faded copy, and it in no way conveys the gorgeous color of this guitar. Last I heard, it was sold to a Japanese collector for $300K. In that case, mine is in very elevated company!
Jimbob Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 QED - here's my 1990 ASB H-150CM Man, sometimes I wonder why I sold this one. What was I thinking?
H Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 Man, sometimes I wonder why I sold this one. What was I thinking? I'll let you play it again in 2015, Jim
Jimbob Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 I'll let you play it again in 2015, Jim Ok, you're on!
bigsbytp Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 Since HRW pickups are no longer produced, H-150CM-Ultra models can no longer be produced, as originally defined. Gold hardware added to the look. As far as the Ultra tops, there are great tops found on most H-150s in general, and some "out-ultra" the Ultras. With a custom order, one could have ordered an Ultra with a gold top, if that was the look one wanted. Maybe I am the only guy who did not catch this...but why are they discontinued? Any reason? Thx, Nic
blueox Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 Maybe I am the only guy who did not catch this...but why are they discontinued? Any reason? Thx, Nic The Ultra version of the H-150CM is no longer made because the Ren Wall-produced HRW pickups are no longer being made. In the 2005 Heritage catalog, for example, the H-150CM-Ultra is described as having "ultra top, gold parts, and HRW pickups", and it listed for over $300 over the price of an H-157CM. In later years, the Ultra was listed as having chrome plated hardware, but it still had the ultra top and HRW pickups.
Guest HRB853370 Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 QED - here's my 1990 ASB H-150CM Ouch! Dont scratch the back!!!
SouthpawGuy Posted February 10, 2013 Posted February 10, 2013 To be ultra certain the wood grain wouldn't show ? I always get mixed up between the Ultra and Deluxe models. Here's the specs from web archive... -------------------------------------------------------------- H-150CM Ultra Neck - 17 degree peghead pitch; one piece mahogany neck. Fingerboard - 24 3/4” scale rosewood cream bound fingerboard with 22 frets, with mother of pearl trapezoid inlays. Radius is 12". Nut width is 1-11/16". Body - Single cutaway solid body solid carved ultra curly maple top and solid mahogany back, cream bound. body size: rim thickness - 2” body width - 13” body length – 17 1/4” Electronics - Two gold plated Heritage premium HRW pickups; two volume and two tone controls with selector switch. Hardware - Gold plated hardware. http://web.archive.org/web/20031004072444/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H150CMUltra.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------- H-150CM Deluxe Neck - 17 degree peghead pitch; one piece mahogany neck; single cream bound head veneer. Fingerboard - 24 3/4” scale rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl trapezoid inlays; single cream bound; 22 frets. Body - Single cutaway solid body with solid carved selected curly maple top; with solid mahogany back, multiple cream bound top with scarfed back . single cream bound wood pickguard. body size: rim thickness - 2” body width - 13” body length - 17 1/4” Electronics - Two Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups two volume and two tone controls with selector switch. Hardware - Chrome plated hardware. http://web.archive.org/web/20031004070408/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H150CMDeluxe.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------ Looks like the Ultra had HRWs and gold hardware, the Deluxe had Duncans and chrome. The Ultra had ultra curly maple top, the Deluxe had select maple top. Also interesting to note that the Ultra had a non bound headstock and non scarfed body. The Deluxe, which I would have guessed to be a lower spec'd model than the Ultra, had a bound headstock and scarfed body.
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