jacques Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Hi there dudes, hope you are all doing well! Long time no speak, but I was never really gone, just occupied with life AND having my VIP2 rebuilt. Last time I visited was when I offered it for sale, but that just did not happen. My main problem with the guitar was its 100% hard maple body, which is great for fast clean jazz runs, but that is not my style (mainly because I can not play fast runs...). Besides that it had a Kahler tremolo which had its quirks like going out of tune and having a too loose tremolo arm. To solve all this in one go, I had the body copied in Sapele, sort of an African mahogany. (I know there exist one or two VIP2's with mahogany bodies, so this make over was not really such a rediculous move as the following interventions are.) I asked the wood worker to carve out a Stratocaster style swimming pool cavity and space for a Schaller LockMeister tremolo. He also made me rosewood covers for the electronics and scratch plate. Then I had my luthier install a setup of one volume and two tone knobs plus 5 way switching: neck humbucker - neck single coil - neck single coil and bridge single coil together - bridge single coil - bridge humbucker. The body was oiled. This left me with a guitar that produces strat like sounds together with good fat humbucking (the humbuckers are Seymour Duncan Alnico2 pro). The necks of VIP2 guitars are excellent and I also kept the Kahler string locking system. The VIP is now one of my favourites, especially because it sings forever. The warmth of the body and the quality of the tremolo are really a great improvement. I really hope I don't lose that point attached to my name because of Heritage sacrilege! You can hear and see the new VIP2 on YouTube: Cheers! Jacques p.s. the former 30 year old 100% Michigan maple body is for sale at a special price for my Heritage buddies. I left the electronics in and the altered switching can be returned to the original VIP2 settings.
Keith7940236 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Beautiful Guitar Jacques!! Well done. Have you determined a price on your original Heritage guitar?
DavesNotHere Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 That is beautiful! The body and the pick guard are top notch. Congratulations!
High Flying Bird Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Long time no see. Good to see your still kicking.
jacques Posted March 13, 2013 Author Posted March 13, 2013 Beautiful Guitar Jacques!! Well done. Have you determined a price on your original Heritage guitar? Hi Keith, thanks! Do you mean what I asked for the original and complete VIP2? That was $800 What I am selling now is just the body, without the tremolo but with all the wiring and pots.
Keith7940236 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 I don't see the special price that you have for "HOC" members for the guitar body with wiring. Thanks, Keith
bolero Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 that looks great!! so to be clear, you just replaced the body on the VIP? and are now selling the original body? I didn't think they were bolt on necks? nice playing BTW
Glide Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Congrats on your success the guitar looked great! I enjoyed the video, Thanks.
big bob Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Nice to hear from you again, I had feared you left us. That is one sharp looking axe! Wish I could see the vid on my iPad.
jacques Posted March 14, 2013 Author Posted March 14, 2013 I don't see the special price that you have for "HOC" members for the guitar body with wiring. Thanks, Keith O yes, I thought I'd keep that between the potential buyer and myself... well, how about $85? Remember I'll have to send it from The Netherlands and you will have to pay for that too.
y2kc Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Hi there dudes, hope you are all doing well! Long time no speak, but I was never really gone, just occupied with life AND having my VIP2 rebuilt. Last time I visited was when I offered it for sale, but that just did not happen. My main problem with the guitar was its 100% hard maple body, which is great for fast clean jazz runs, but that is not my style (mainly because I can not play fast runs...). Besides that it had a Kahler tremolo which had its quirks like going out of tune and having a too loose tremolo arm. To solve all this in one go, I had the body copied in Sapele, sort of an African mahogany. (I know there exist one or two VIP2's with mahogany bodies, so this make over was not really such a rediculous move as the following interventions are.) I asked the wood worker to carve out a Stratocaster style swimming pool cavity and space for a Schaller LockMeister tremolo. He also made me rosewood covers for the electronics and scratch plate. Then I had my luthier install a setup of one volume and two tone knobs plus 5 way switching: neck humbucker - neck single coil - neck single coil and bridge single coil together - bridge single coil - bridge humbucker. The body was oiled. This left me with a guitar that produces strat like sounds together with good fat humbucking (the humbuckers are Seymour Duncan Alnico2 pro). The necks of VIP2 guitars are excellent and I also kept the Kahler string locking system. The VIP is now one of my favourites, especially because it sings forever. The warmth of the body and the quality of the tremolo are really a great improvement. I really hope I don't lose that point attached to my name because of Heritage sacrilege! You can hear and see the new VIP2 on YouTube: Cheers! Jacques p.s. the former 30 year old 100% Michigan maple body is for sale at a special price for my Heritage buddies. I left the electronics in and the altered switching can be returned to the original VIP2 settings. Great chunk of wood,just beautiful. Everything was done very nicely including the playing. I hope the guys at 225 see this. y2kc
Steiner Posted March 17, 2013 Posted March 17, 2013 jacques, Nice playing! The body and pickguard are composed beautifully.
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