RickFinsta Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 Well, I just sold my '88 H535 to fund a guitar I would actually play (I just never fell in love with the neck on it and it was too pretty to play at punk rock shows) so even though I haven't shipped it yet, I'm technically not a Heritage owner for the first time in fifteen years. So I've already been in contact with a dealer and got some options/pricing, but my biggest concern is the neck, since this makes or breaks a guitar for me. I want Ebony on Maple, and I'm wondering if anyone here has been able to actually go to Kal and have the folks at Heritage actually measure a neck or two that you like, or otherwise not finish the guitar until you've made a trip there to approve the neck profile? I just don't want to spend $3K on a guitar just to have it sit - I want something I will love to play and beat the crap out of that will be on its third set of frets twenty years from now. Anyone do something similar with the custom profiling or approval trip? Thanks in advance!
Millennium Maestro Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 You have been playing a Heritage, you could spec that neck or even take it to the factory and have the factory duplicate it. I would think from the year of guitar you played you like slim necks. Have a great time and I hope your experience is amazing! Guy
FredZepp Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 Yes... they should be able to use measurements from a neck that you like to craft one similar ( as long as it's within a certain range that they are comfortable with) . And they have had players stop in during the crafting of the guitar to verify the neck carve. My thought is that it is probably best to use a dealer that has pretty good communication with the plant on a regular basis to help facilitate this process. There are several that meet this qualification... I'm curious ... what neck are you aiming for?
RickFinsta Posted January 24, 2016 Author Posted January 24, 2016 Thanks for the insight! The dealer I've been talking to is a "big one." There are a few local shops that I'd honestly rather work with just due to ease of having the shop a few minutes from work, but they don't seem to be as savvy about the custom order process and honestly I'm not sure if they can touch the pricing or some options. For reference, I've got a 1993 Robin Ranger (7.8lbs) with just about the best neck ever put on a guitar, and a '79 Les Paul Artist (10.7lbs.) with the 5-ply maple/walnut laminate neck and ebony board. I'd like to get a Heritage as close to that LP neck as possible. Think a D shape with a wide flat on the back and about .820-.850" at the nut and .950-.980" at the 12th fret? I'm not talking an Ibanez neck but I can take a little more thickness if the flat is nice and wide. I hate mahogany necks on anything that doesn't say "Martin" on the headstock... they never felt right plugged in but feel natural with an acoustic. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else... I didn't care for the neck of my H535 at all - it was fine for jazz work but I haven't played a jazz gig for over a decade. Not uncomfortable, just not my thing. Plus tons of feedback problems through my Boogie MkIV on the lead channel... Anyways, the more I read about this the more I am a bit confused as to what I'm really looking for. I think I want the weight of a 140 but with the ebony board and inlays of the 157, and since I'm getting a belly cut I am not sure that the 157 makes sense since I'd be doing a read binding delete at that point. I'd like: Under 9lbs (under 8 if possible!) Mahongany back with belly cut and no binding Plain Top (no flame or quilt) with Vintage Wine Burst, multi-ply binding, black wood pick guard w/ white binding and a black plastic pick guard so I can swap back and forth. Maple Neck, Ebony board with MOP block inlays - maybe split blocks if it doesn't cost too much more - and long tenon maybe? Single white binding. Multi-ply binding on the headstock and the inlayed MOP Heritage logo Gold hardware, and I want the tailpiece to be swappable with a TP-6 Pickup delete since I'll be supplying Rio Grandes, and I'd like series/parallel switching with push/pulls and modern wiring. If the pickups/wiring are any significant cost, I'll just buy it stock and rip the guts out and throw them on ebay and install my own stuff but it would be cool to say it was all "factory custom." So do I do an upgraded H140 or a downgraded H157? It sounds like I'm really looking for a H147, eh?
Polo Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 The dealer I've been talking to is a "big one." Get 3 quotes.
RickFinsta Posted January 24, 2016 Author Posted January 24, 2016 I was going to get quotes from Wade's Guitar Shop, Cream City Music, Dave's Guitar Shop, and Wolfe. I am guessing Dave's and Wolfe have a lot more experience with custom shop orders than the locals.
FredZepp Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 I didn't care for the neck of my H535 at all - it was fine for jazz work but I haven't played a jazz gig for over a decade. So the issue with that one was more shape/ shoulders than thickness? Under 9lbs (under 8 if possible!) Are you open to LW ( chambered)? or must be all solid...? ( I would think that they can hit 9 or a little less in a solid.. ) '79 Les Paul Artist (10.7lbs.) with the 5-ply maple/walnut laminate neck and ebony board. I'd like to get a Heritage as close to that LP neck as possible. That sounds doable.. I've got a '78 3 pu LP Custom w 3 pc maple/ ebony board, one of my favorites also.
Conneazoo Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 Get 3 quotes. This. Good luck on your order and have fun with it. Sounds like it'll be a super cool guitar.
Steiner Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 I can't tell you how consistent Gibs*n was with their profiles in '79. I too have a '79 Artist; fun guitar. I'm certain Heritage can replicate mine. The trick is to contact a dealer with a great interactions with the factory and will get you what you want rather than sell you what they have... I recommend PMing: Millennium Maestro who has already chimed in above And / or Skydog52 Both are members here, have impeccable character and deal with the factory often. Happy hunting!
Millennium Maestro Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 Curiosity killin the cat.... What Rio Grande pickup combo are you using?? A good dealer will have the experience to advise you with your concerns, there are a few ways to help control weight and the sub 8# will require additional work and expense. You surprised me about the 147 comment, they are not a very common model from the 90s. Robin and Rio Grande have a business connection, my 90 Robin has a super slim kick A neck. Once again have fun, the options are plenty!
RickFinsta Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 Yeah I worked at Wisconsin's only Robin dealership back in the 90's. I just spoke with Dave Wintz about an old RG pickup last week or so. I'm also chasing down a '93 Ranger that is a few serial numbers off from mine which we *thought* was a one-of-a-kind, and Bart has as NOS in the original shop (Rockin' Robin). I'm a player, not collector, but having the sister guitar to mine (which is rather storied as it was stolen and recovered, along with some other stuff) new old stock never sold from the original store is mighty tempting. That might throw back my custom Heritage budget by a year or so... I'd throw a BBQ bucker in the bridge and Tallboy in the neck. I didn't know there *was* a 147. I just figured if the 157 was an upgraded 150 then if you threw an ebony board and some more binding on a 140... add seven? So am I maybe just looking for a H147 with a maple neck and back cut?
Spectrum13 Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 Marv & Jim built a 147 for me with a back cut and a three piece maple / korina neck in 2013. A little smaller and thinner than a 157 and with a maple cap and korina body, it's under 8 lbs.
RickFinsta Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 Wanna sell it? That actually sounds like the ticket if I go this route. Thanks again for all the help, gentlemen, and I'll be in touch with a few of you once I get the go ahead from the CFO (wife).
Gitfiddler Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 You can order almost any configuration of a 140/147/150/157 from Heritage. All it takes is your imagination and a few phone calls to make your dream guitar become a reality. There are some VERY custom solid body Heritages owned by HOC'ers and elsewhere.
RickFinsta Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 Is 9lb. 12 oz. heavy for a H147? Asking for a friend.
tulk1 Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 Is 9lb. 12 oz. heavy for a H147? Asking for a friend. For an H147 -- I'd say yes. Since it's a smaller version of the H150, now. Should be considerably lighter, within reason. 9lbs, 12oz is H150/157 territory for sure.
RickFinsta Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 With the understanding that it will likely be snagged if I talk about it here, that's fine because it will make a decision for me. I found what I believe to be a mid-90s H147 or H157 being advertised as a H140. It is the aged white Les Paul Custom look. Plenty road worn which I like (because I can play it without worry), and at a great price. It seemed a bit heavy and doesn't have the sharp lower cutout so I think it might actually be a H157? Maybe I can ask him to measure the thickness at the binding? Another question - would I be murdered by one of you fine gents for putting a belly cut into something like that leaving the back binding all messed up and wood exposed? The edge of a LP hits me in the ribs, so I'd at least have to hit it with a cornering tool or cabinet scraper I think.
tulk1 Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 Mid-90s H140 would still have a Florentine cut. So, if the guitar you're looking at has a "softer" horn, it's an H150/157 - 157s generally have binding front/back, ebony FB, different inlays. Once it's your guitar, do with it as you please. But .......... yikes!!
RickFinsta Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 Yeah it's a 157. EDIT: I'll spill the beans: http://www.thunderroadguitars.com/1995-the-heritage-h-140/ If none of you have bought it in a few days I'll probably snag it up to tide me over until I do a full custom. I love how gold wears off when these things are actually played hard.
Gitfiddler Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 If you pour a bucket of fish blood in shark infested waters...you are bound to attract a few sharks. Just sayin'...
Millennium Maestro Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 Thats a spectacular deal! H-157 White... only 999$ You spilled more than beans
TalismanRich Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 That one is a bit of a rarity. You don't see many white Heritages out there. Definitely a 157 and at 9lb 12oz, it's right in the same range as my 157. I would think VERY long and VERY hard before taking a saw to it to put in a belly cut. It would be hard to match up to an aged white finish if you did decide to have it finished, it would screw the binding up on the back, kill any possibility of resale. The splinters would be killer too! You could buy the white one, then look for a used H140. They are lighter and thinner and they play great. It should be pretty easy to get your money back out of the 157 at that price.
Millennium Maestro Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 The edge of a LP hits me in the ribs, so I'd at least have to hit it with a cornering tool or cabinet scraper I think. You definitely want a H-140, I am not even going to bait you with a NEW slim 157 I have with Mini Hum Rio Grandes. This attached photo is a Slim Goldtop 150 with VIP wiring, Weight of 8lb 2 Oz
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