Another American Eagle...Lefty!

[Gitfiddler]

While surfing the net for interesting Heritages, I came upon this amazing natural beauty.

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/heritage-american-eagle-1992-natural

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[koula901]

Wow!

[Guitarbean]

I'm tempted to relearn guitar with my left hand...hhmm

[Gitfiddler]

If you click on the above photos, they expand to their correct aspect.

 

But be warned. That makes this lefty American Eagle soar to even higher heights of beauty!

[brentrocks]

that is one heck of a case

[MartyGrass]

I did take a close look at that AE and was disappointed honestly, not in the work but in the woods.

 

This guitar would retail these days at about $15K. So there should be only the finest woods.

 

The back is beautifully flamed but not squarely quartersawn. The pin striping is not evenly spaced. Another issue is the chaotic mineral streaks throughout the maple.

 

Here are Heritages that are better.

 

 

Here's a Thornton that's quartersawn with great grain.

 

 

Here's another AE that was intentionally not quartersawn but was cut right.

 

 

 

Lastly, the spruce top is average. The grain is not consistently tight, reflecting fast growth of the tree at times. The horizontal raying pattern is mediocre.

 

Look at another AE to compare.

 

 

Here's a Thornton Improv with some of the tightest master grade sitka spruce I've ever seen.

 

 

 

 

I post these comments only in the interest of education, not to be snooty. None of the features of "mediocre" wood will likely affect tone, especially when the guitar is amplified. But neither would a cigarette burn on the top or a bad finish. Yet the value of the guitar would drop nonetheless.

 

I wish I had the pix of the Unity archtop I sold Kuz. That had some gorgeous wood on it with all the features the old timers sought. Heritage also has used some very fine woods for their archtops. I can't explain this left handed one though.

[RhoadsScholar]

I love the appointments, but I think I like the quilted maple better than the flame maple (purely cosmetic though)..... What a fine specimen for a lefty guitar.....

 

I too love that case. It is like a vault for a guitar

[Gitfiddler]

Marty, here's one of the threads showing the Aaron Cowles Unity.

 

http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/topic/20886-woops-accidental-pics-erased-of-nused-gd-x2/?hl=%2Bunity+%2Barchtop&do=findComment&comment=278166

 

 

 

 

[MartyGrass]

Oh yeah. That's the one. Oh yeah.

 

[RhoadsScholar]

That Unity is spectacular.

[SouthpawGuy]

 

Now that's a voluptuous blonde if I ever saw one

 

It's on Ebay .... http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-Heritage-American-Eagle-LEFT-HANDED-Archtop-Guitar-with-Case-/281234808015?pt=Guitar&hash=item417ae69ccf

 

[peterbright]

Beautiful