MartyGrass Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 First, let me thank all who expressed concern about my wife's injury about a week before PSP. She is getting better. She hurt herself felling trees with a chain saw, a tool she is general quite handy with. She ruptured a disk in her neck and has a partially paralyzed right arm. The pain is 90% better and her strength is returning pretty well. She saw her neurosurgeon this morning, a very decent man. If she continues this rate of improvement she will not need surgery. My wife and I have 7 kids. I never realized how much she did until she couldn't do it anymore. We see the light at the end of the tunnel now, especially since she's now doing some of the housework. All will be fine. Her surgeon told her today that there will be no more chain sawing for her. I guess that leaves me to clear the land. I got the custom H530 that I reported on as an incoming. It did not disappoint. The neck is heftier than I expected. It is a bit shy of a typical '59 LP but is more than what I would call medium. It is more of a C than a D. The guitar is bright acoustically. It is set up very precisely for 12's and has a very low action. The pups are Lollartrons. I expected them to sound Gretschy so I put dark strings on it. The previous owner, Toty Viola, played jazz using Rotosound flatwounds, very mellow strings. I didn't have those so I used D'Addario Chrome FW 12's. They work well and have great clarity. I'm still experimenting with amp settings. I talked with Jason Lollar today about these pups. He recommends the harness Heritage uses, 500K pots with their standard caps. I took pix of the guitar with a more standard H530, but neither are very close to stock. The new arrival has these custom features: big headstock, MOP "The Heritage" inlay, multilayered binding, ebony board, full MOP inlays, 25.5" scale, gold hardware, 3" deep body, pickguard (mahogany), and Lollartrons. Due to the longer scale length, there are 21 frets. The comparison guitar has standard H530 dimensions with some fancy appointments per skydog52.
Keith7940236 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 That is an extremely cool guitar. I Love It. I have always wondered why there aren't more "full bodied" double cutaways. I'm anxious to hear how you like the sound when you get her dialed in.
FredZepp Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 It's a great looking guitar and the extra depth with those pickups should make for a wonderfully unique tone. Congrats on a great grab. And thanks for the news on your wifes condition.... best wishes for a quick recovery.
bsck1 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Really great looking guitar. Very happy for you. So glad the Mrs. is doing so much better. What a horribly frightful experience to go through. Here's to continued good health and successful guitar searches.
Keith7940236 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 I'm assuming that the center block doesn't connect with the back of the guitar. Does it have more of a hollow body sound? It looks like something that Grant Green would be right at home with!!!
Gitfiddler Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Marty, all the best to your wife...and you. Wives carry quite a load around the house. That new chubby 530 of yours is one of my new favorite Heritages. It's got so much going on. So many contradictions...that all work! Fat body and thick Mahogany neck for fat tone. Long scale, ebony board and Lollartrons for bright, snappy notes. In Toty's video, the guitar sounded wonderful. He knew what he wanted. Play it in good health.
LK155 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Noticed that the frets are sitting on top of the binding. Does that indicate a re-fret, or would it have been built that way?
bolero Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 wow, look at that thing!!! sexy beast indeed with all that fretbinding, I would assume they fretted over it? otherwise there's gotta be 1/2" of play area lost, to all that bling Mark, best wishes for your wife's recovery! I'm glad she is getting better!! I worked with a tree felling operation for a few years in my youth, fun but dangerous work. I got out with my fingers & limbs intact
Beagle216 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Whoa!!! That is the coolest hollow body type I have seen on this forum. That depth is awesome looking!! Great grain in that top!
MartyGrass Posted August 9, 2014 Author Posted August 9, 2014 These are the original frets. I forgot to mention that the lack of nibs is another custom feature. Some prefer that. RhoadsScholar does for example. I don't do a lot of bending, so I don't care either way. Here's a pic of George Benson playing the guitar last year. Toty is on the right.
MartyGrass Posted August 9, 2014 Author Posted August 9, 2014 GB wears that guitar like a beautiful suit. GB looks GQ.
RhoadsScholar Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 So glad to hear your wife is recovering well. Folks have to get in line for dibs on this one. I guess I will take a place in line. As I recall Steve Howe played the gibson 150 version of one of these (I believe that was the model number) not sure why they didn't catch on but glad heritage is making those. I really like it. Cool to get the pic of George Benson playing that guitar. I bet it sounds great. I wish I learned about naming the frets extend over the binding sooner, I would have kept some of the heritages I let go
yoslate Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Was unaware of your wife's accident, Mark. I hope the recovery is quick and complete. That piece...! Another stunner for an already stunning collection. "Eclectic" doesn't do your pieces justice. This one's remarkable!
Vanschoyck Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 GB wears that guitar like a beautiful suit. GB looks GQ. I was just thinking that. Everyone looks like they're at a picnic and he looks all uptown. Sounds like you guys really dodged a bullet, and I would second the no more chain saw thang. Another cool addition to a collection of unique instruments.
2bornot2bop Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Here's to a speedy recovery for the Mrs! It's good that one wasn't completely photographed on Reverb...it would have been tough to resist! That guitar looks killer!!! Can't wait to hear your later impressions.
tbonesullivan Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 25.5 scale? interesting. Does Grestch use that scale on their guitars, or is it just something the guy who ordered wanted?
Guitarbean Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Best thoughts and wishes for your wife, Mark. Man, I'd love hear what GB sounded like playing that thing with TV Jones pickups. He is the MAN!
barrymclark Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 25.5 scale? interesting. Does Grestch use that scale on their guitars, or is it just something the guy who ordered wanted? Some do. Some don't. The Nashvilles don't but the Country Clubs do.
MartyGrass Posted August 10, 2014 Author Posted August 10, 2014 As I understand it, the 16" bodies have a shorter scale, perhaps for balance.
rockabilly69 Posted August 11, 2014 Posted August 11, 2014 congrats on that fine guitar, and well wishes from Utah for your wife's full recovery!
Gianluca Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 great looking guitar, congrats, enjoy it in health
smaj Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Mark, glad to hear the wife is doing better. I played your new guitar at Limelight Music, it is super nice in every way, glad you got it! Rick is a good fellow to deal with.
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