Prospect w Mahogany Back and Sides? Arched Back?

[lachiron]

Josh asked me to post this question...

Can a Prospect be made with Mahogany back and sides? With Maple laminates on top for feedback control. He loves his Millie, but he is playing a lot of Jazz and Millie plays more like a Les Paul. He wants a breathier version, more hollow body version. He really doesn't want a 535 or Archtop, but liked the Gibson 359 and Prospect but they sound a bit treble!

I called Ren to see if he could do this, but wanted some of your thoughts. He also asked if back could be arched like a classical guitar? Ren told me to call back next week to see if Heritage would do a prospect like that...we will see. But any thoughts from the Millie/Prospect crowd??? Doesn't CP Thornton Maple top/Mahogany back in small archtop?

Len

[bolero]

as far as I know, prospects already have arched backs? maybe not fully arched but they are curved for sure...they aren't flat

 

I had one it was a fantastic gtr and I regret selling it...it was very comfortable to play

 

mahogany back/sides would be interesting, only the factory can answer that question but I don't see why not?

 

 

my Millie Eagle has a carved/arched back..it is like a mini jazz guitar I'm surprised he can't get what he wants out of one. does his have F holes?

 

there is a guy in Austria that uses them for jazz, sounds great

 

ps the Les Paul was originally designed to play jazz!! then those English lads started cranking them into marshall's & all hell broke loose...

[skydog52]

Prospects are made with a laminated curly maple top and back and form curved.

The H-530 is a full hollow body and more "airy".

[MartyGrass]

Gibson Johnny A

[Guest HRB853370]

Gibson Johnny A

$4000 +

[MartyGrass]

$4000 +

 

 

They are available used for less.

 

The Thorntons, that would also fit the description, are over $5K, and there is no used market.

 

Heritage doesn't make such an animal. But you could price out a Prospect with those custom features and see what it costs. But consider that the resale value would be very low compared to the new cost.

 

Also consider getting a fully carved Mille like the Millie Eagle 2000. It does jazz very well and has a hollower sound. Here are two videos of this guitar. I have one available (see the listing from about a month ago).

 

 

[lachiron]

Do you think his Millie could be sent back and carved out?? That would be exactly what he would want actually!! CP Thornton would be similar to Mille isn't it? Gibson 356 also similar but he would prefer to stay w Heritage. Really liked Marv and Ren and wants Heritage to make the guitar or better yet hollow out Millie. Can that be done....anyone know??

Len

[bolero]

that might work...they could replace the whole back piece with one of carved maple or mahogany instead

 

 

although it wouldn't be cheap either

[MartyGrass]

Thorntons are quite different from Heritages in their design.

 

You'd be better off getting another guitar than disassembling and remaking your current one.

 

The best small carved hollow body is the Johnny A. If you are willing to go to a 15" or greater body, there are more choices.

 

Josh already has a versatile guitar that can do jazz pretty well.

[Gitfiddler]

Josh currently has one of the most versatile Heritage guitars out there. Each guitar mentioned has trade-off's. Scale length, tonewoods, electronics, etc. all will have an impact on tone, feel and more. If he wants a warmer tone for jazz, try putting flatwounds on his Millie. 11's or 12's should do the trick. The only issue might be strings too fat for the nut, so start with a good set of 11's. In the search for the perfect tone I find a more rewarding journey by starting off taking inexpensive steps.

 

 

[lachiron]

I can't believe I spelled Mahogany wrong!! LOL. Dumb percussionists!!

Thanks for all your help...we were actually interested in just getting another Heritage perhaps a Prospect w Mahogany back and laminate top. Will talk to Ren this week. He loves the Millie, just not really a hollow body sound which is sort of where he is going...Prospect might be fine for Jazz. We will see...but he is going to Interlochen this summer playing Jazz and Classical on scholarship, so he wanted a Jazz box. Really like him to get one more guitar from Marv and Jim before they retire and he can visit Kalamazoo and pick up his guitar this summer!

Again Thanks...

 

[TalismanRich]

While there are people that play Jazz on a tele, it just doesn't have the same open sound that you get with a hollow body.

 

I would suggest that he look at the 525 and 575 models for possible jazz use. They are the smallest of the hollow body lines. I recently picked up a 525 and the sound is very different from either my Millie or my 535. It is a bigger body for sure, but I don't find unwieldy at all, especially compared to playing standard acoustic. As with any guitar, it will take a bit to get totally familiar with it, but that's true of most any guitar. For me it was no different than switching from the strat to the Millie.

[Gitfiddler]

 

While there are people that play Jazz on a tele, it just doesn't have the same open sound that you get with a hollow body.

 

I would suggest that he look at the 525 and 575 models for possible jazz use. They are the smallest of the hollow body lines. I recently picked up a 525 and the sound is very different from either my Millie or my 535. It is a bigger body for sure, but I don't find unwieldy at all, especially compared to playing standard acoustic. As with any guitar, it will take a bit to get totally familiar with it, but that's true of most any guitar. For me it was no different than switching from the strat to the Millie.

 

 

+1 on checking out the H525. There are a few very nice ones currently on Ebay. The 525 sounds and plays like the old school jazz guitars, but with much improved features and playability.

 

Also check out the Groovemaster.

 

Not sure why the emphasis on Mahogany as a preferred wood for Josh, except that it is the body wood of the Gibson he played but did not like. The Mahogany bodied Gibson comparisons are not full hollow except for the Johnny A., as Marty mentioned previously. Most jazz guitars are Maple bodies with either Spruce or Maple tops. I play a Johnny A. as well as CS356, both Mahogany bodied gits, and they can do jazz, rock, fusion, blues, etc. (limited only by this player). There are lots of options but keep looking for what works best and have Josh play as many as he can.

 

Good hunting!