Heritage semi Florentine

[heritagefan7]

There is the awesome 535/555...I loved my 555. Next, the AMAZING 525. I have seen TalismanRich's and was blown away!

 

Putting these together and loving a Florentine cut---any thoughts on why Heritage doesn't offer a Florentine cut semi?

 

Gibby has the (now defunked) 135/137...and maybe the now defunked part is part of the answer, but what abt a 535/555 size git w/ a 525 shape?

 

Maybe something like a Guild slim-jim but as a semi?

 

 

[heritagefan7]

Guess I need to add that my original thought was of a 16 inch width at the bout & 1 1/2 inch rim guitar. Not thinking small body size, but more along 555 size with a 525 shape.

[koula901]

You can always approach them to request a custom build with your specs.

[SouthpawGuy]

Guess I need to add that my original thought was of a 16 inch width at the bout & 1 1/2 inch rim guitar. Not thinking small body size, but more along 555 size with a 525 shape.

 

Sounds like a 576 style Roy Clark with a florentine cutaway

[TalismanRich]

They might be willing to do a 525 but with a center block and do it thinner, more to the 535 rim size.

 

Heritage also just showed the Millennium Pro a while back which has the Florentine cutaway. Not exactly 535 size, but you get some of that semihollow openness.

 

 

 

[heritagefan7]

 

Sounds like a 576 style Roy Clark with a florentine cutaway

I had the same thought--it's that Florentine pointy thing that just grabs my attn. I'd prob bag the signature as well--no offence Roy!

[heritagefan7]

They might be willing to do a 525 but with a center block and do it thinner, more to the 535 rim size.

 

Heritage also just showed the Millennium Pro a while back which has the Florentine cutaway. Not exactly 535 size, but you get some of that semihollow openness.

 

 

 

I know--I loved it--then say it was a smaller body size--still love it--but just had that larger body in mind. It's right there though Rich...and except for the size and a few customizations (head stock (h357) and inlays (split diamond or diamond) almost exactly what I had in mind.....KOULA--thanks for the kind and wishful thought! Cashola and Custom Order sadly butt heads in my world....Free to dream....& post abt it though!

[bolero]

525 with humbuckers?

[schundog]

I love my 535 AND my 525; but they are different beasts. The 525 is thicker than the 535 and is full hollow, and sounds that way, BUT I rarely have problems with it feeding back, unless I am facing the speakers directly and I REALLY have it cranked up. I assume this is because of the laminate top VS solid wood, although I don't really have much of a problem with my 575 feeding back, either. It sounds like the Roy Clark is more like what you are looking for, or the Millenium Pro Rich posted.

[heritagefan7]

525 with humbuckers?

I was actually thinking HOT like liquidfire dimarzio's in the bridge and something like SD 59's or seths in the neck

[heritagefan7]

I love my 535 AND my 525; but they are different beasts. The 525 is thicker than the 535 and is full hollow, and sounds that way, BUT I rarely have problems with it feeding back, unless I am facing the speakers directly and I REALLY have it cranked up. I assume this is because of the laminate top VS solid wood, although I don't really have much of a problem with my 575 feeding back, either. It sounds like the Roy Clark is more like what you are looking for, or the Millenium Pro Rich posted.

just dreamin' schondog---but dreamin' is fun! I have been gas free since I sold the 574 to Slammer and narrowed it to 4. But dreaming is healthy, right?

[SouthpawGuy]

I was actually thinking HOT like liquidfire dimarzio's in the bridge and something like SD 59's or seths in the neck

 

An HRW in the bridge and a 59 in the neck wouldn't be too far off that combo.

[SouthpawGuy]

just dreamin' schondog---but dreamin' is fun! I have been gas free since I sold the 574 to Slammer and narrowed it to 4. But dreaming is healthy, right?

 

That 574 must have the magical GAS FREE mojo thing going on 'cos slammer has been GAS FREE since he bought it.

 

 

Or so he tells us

[bolero]

did Gibson stop making 135's?

 

I thought they were one of the cooler gtrs in the lineup

[heritagefan7]

did Gibson stop making 135's?

 

I thought they were one of the cooler gtrs in the lineup

Yes--they moved on to the blinged up 137 and then they stopped making that I believe.

 

SOUTHPAW---I don't know, the 574 is uber cool--maybe it does have the mojo?????

[Guest HRB853370]

Yes--they moved on to the blinged up 137 and then they stopped making that I believe.

 

SOUTHPAW---I don't know, the 574 is uber cool--maybe it does have the mojo?????

Miss your 574?

[SouthpawGuy]

There is the awesome 535/555...I loved my 555. Next, the AMAZING 525. I have seen TalismanRich's and was blown away!

 

Putting these together and loving a Florentine cut---any thoughts on why Heritage doesn't offer a Florentine cut semi?

 

Gibby has the (now defunked) 135/137...and maybe the now defunked part is part of the answer, but what abt a 535/555 size git w/ a 525 shape?

 

Maybe something like a Guild slim-jim but as a semi?

 

 

 

Another reason might be the extra cost a florentine cutaway would involve. There was a recent thread describing the extra work involved in producing one.

[peteraltongreen]

I love a nice 'Florentine' Cutaway,always have.It goes right back to the early sixties with me,when the old 'Jazzers' had the old 'Venetian' cutaway guitars,and the new boys opted for the 'Florentine'. I was a great fan ( Still am) of Wes Montgomery,he always played a single pup,Venetian cut L5.Not available at that time in the U.K. I saw & breifly met Wes in London ( Ronnie Scott's Old place,Gerard Street,London ) in March 1965. He'd just come off stage,and was carrying 'THAT' guitar,a brief word,but better than that.I touched 'That' guitar,and thought 'One day'.Gibson's were horrenously expensive in the U.K. A little later,Wes released the album 'Movin' Wes',and he was carrying a Florentine,2 pup L5 on the album cover.I could not resist.The organist in my then current band had just bought a Hammond organ,so I thought,I have a better paid job than him...now's the time. I was,at that time ,playing an Epiphone 'Sorrento',with Florentine cutaway,which unfortunately,and to go as the deposit for the L5. ( I have since bought another Sorrento ,a 1964 U.S. made guitar in Royal Olive ) .My L5 took 3 months to arrive,it was a great guitar then,and still is.Joe Pass used it in London c1974 time to do a seminar in Ivor Mairants guitar center.It was in for a re fret,so he used it.There was a press photographer a the gig,and I saw him usuing it in the report.How did I know it was mine ? I'd stuck a large flower on the scratchplate that I'd bought in Switzerland,and there it was staring at me ,with Joe sat behind it. There are still a couple of photo's of Joe using it in Ivor's shop. ( Rathbone Place,Oxford Street,London ). I'd always wanted a Gibson ES140T,but with a 24 3/4" scale,center block & 2 H buck pups,with Stop bar tailpiece.It was a dream ,because it didn't exist.I even did a mock up with photo's.I enquired with the U.K. importers,and the price was huge ! Enter the Heritage Guitar Company,and their solid 140...perfect ! I had a good rapore with my local guitar store,they got one in,and it was mine ! ( 1986 ) I still have it,and yes,it really is a great guitar...and I still love Florentine cutaways.I've since added a 575,which I don't find too deep.After that came a 1953 Gibson L4 with a Charlie Christin pup.Wonderful,and I'm not 'Through' yet ! A 525 with P90's would be nice,very soon,I hope.

[SouthpawGuy]

So you actually met Wes Montgomery ? Very cool.

[peteraltongreen]

Yes.I saw him twice. First in London's Ronnie Scott's 'Old Place, which was a cellar in the Soho area of London,very small,very intimate.Great if you really wanted to see & hear your favourite musician.Secondly,I also saw him at Ronnies 'New Place' in Frith Street,also in Soho.That's the Club that still survives today.I saw many people there including Blossom Dearie,Kenny Burrell,Jim Hall,Roland Kirk,Buddy Rich,Horace Silver for starters.

The attached photo's show 1) Wes's 'Movin' Wes Cover art,2) Wes appearing on U.K. T.V programme 'Jazz 625' about 1965 time,and playing with 3) Cedric West,a U.K. based jazz guitarist,again about 1965 time.Wes seems to be playing an L5 with a DeArmond 'Rhythm Chief' pup.

[Gitfiddler]

I love a nice 'Florentine' Cutaway,always have.It goes right back to the early sixties with me,when the old 'Jazzers' had the old 'Venetian' cutaway guitars,and the new boys opted for the 'Florentine'. I was a great fan ( Still am) of Wes Montgomery,he always played a single pup,Venetian cut L5.Not available at that time in the U.K. I saw & breifly met Wes in London ( Ronnie Scott's Old place,Gerard Street,London ) in March 1965. He'd just come off stage,and was carrying 'THAT' guitar,a brief word,but better than that.I touched 'That' guitar,and thought 'One day'.Gibson's were horrenously expensive in the U.K. A little later,Wes released the album 'Movin' Wes',and he was carrying a Florentine,2 pup L5 on the album cover.I could not resist.The organist in my then current band had just bought a Hammond organ,so I thought,I have a better paid job than him...now's the time. I was,at that time ,playing an Epiphone 'Sorrento',with Florentine cutaway,which unfortunately,and to go as the deposit for the L5. ( I have since bought another Sorrento ,a 1964 U.S. made guitar in Royal Olive ) .My L5 took 3 months to arrive,it was a great guitar then,and still is.Joe Pass used it in London c1974 time to do a seminar in Ivor Mairants guitar center.It was in for a re fret,so he used it.There was a press photographer a the gig,and I saw him usuing it in the report.How did I know it was mine ? I'd stuck a large flower on the scratchplate that I'd bought in Switzerland,and there it was staring at me ,with Joe sat behind it. There are still a couple of photo's of Joe using it in Ivor's shop. ( Rathbone Place,Oxford Street,London ). I'd always wanted a Gibson ES140T,but with a 24 3/4" scale,center block & 2 H buck pups,with Stop bar tailpiece.It was a dream ,because it didn't exist.I even did a mock up with photo's.I enquired with the U.K. importers,and the price was huge ! Enter the Heritage Guitar Company,and their solid 140...perfect ! I had a good rapore with my local guitar store,they got one in,and it was mine ! ( 1986 ) I still have it,and yes,it really is a great guitar...and I still love Florentine cutaways.I've since added a 575,which I don't find too deep.After that came a 1953 Gibson L4 with a Charlie Christin pup.Wonderful,and I'm not 'Through' yet ! A 525 with P90's would be nice,very soon,I hope.

 

 

Great memories, Peter!!

[SouthpawGuy]

There is the awesome 535/555...I loved my 555. Next, the AMAZING 525. I have seen TalismanRich's and was blown away!

 

Putting these together and loving a Florentine cut---any thoughts on why Heritage doesn't offer a Florentine cut semi?

 

Gibby has the (now defunked) 135/137...and maybe the now defunked part is part of the answer, but what abt a 535/555 size git w/ a 525 shape?

 

Maybe something like a Guild slim-jim but as a semi?

 

 

 

 

 

Another reason might be the extra cost a florentine cutaway would involve. There was a recent thread describing the extra work involved in producing one.

 

And here's the link to that thread .... http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/topic/23044-why-florentine-cutaways-cost-so-much-more/

 

A $600 upcharge for a florentine cutaway on a Golden Eagle

[peteraltongreen]

I have great memories of SF bay area too.On my last visit in 1982,I saw Eddie Duran in Giradelli Square with Tania Maria singing.Eddie was playing an old Gibson nonecut,with a Charlie Christian pup.A great band,in the open air,free to the listener.The next day,I went into Columbia Music down Market Street,and saw a beautiful,blonde Gibson ES335 new,on the wall.An afternoon of playing it,and haggling got me it for the price I wanted to pay.I still have it,it's still beautiful,and it now knows all my stuff ! It's now darkened to a lovely honey color.

[Gitfiddler]

I have great memories of SF bay area too.On my last visit in 1982,I saw Eddie Duran in Giradelli Square with Tania Maria singing.Eddie was playing an old Gibson nonecut,with a Charlie Christian pup.A great band,in the open air,free to the listener.The next day,I went into Columbia Music down Market Street,and saw a beautiful,blonde Gibson ES335 new,on the wall.An afternoon of playing it,and haggling got me it for the price I wanted to pay.I still have it,it's still beautiful,and it now knows all my stuff ! It's now darkened to a lovely honey color.

 

Cool 335. I'm partial to blonde gitfiddles.

 

And if you return to the SF Bay Area, be sure to look me up. We'll have a great dinner and jam to some old Wes tunes.

 

No need to bring any gear.

[peteraltongreen]

Do I Like Florentine ? .....I'll Say !!

These guitars shown were all ( to my knowledge) made at 225 Parsons,Kalamazoo,between 1953 & 1988.All play great,look great & sound great.What better recommendation could a guitar maker have.I love 'em all,of course.L to R : 1953 Gibson L4 with CC pup,1964 Epi 'Sorrento',1968 Gibson L5,1986 Heritage 140,1988 Heritage 575. If I get back to S.F.,I'll certainly let you know.It's about time I saw my favourite American city again,and a nice trip to Sausalito would be on the cards too.Many thanks.( Please note,I use English Oxford spelling,so to you U.S. guys,I may look like I can't spell ! )