Considering Custom H157

[RickFinsta]

I'm going to wait and get something custom... got a line on a Robin Avalon that's too good to pass up and I can't afford that and the H-157 I linked right now so you guys are cleared hot. LOL

 

Millenium Maestro, now you're just being a tease.

 

I'll make some calls and see what kind of price and build time I'm looking at for a Heritage.

[RickFinsta]

So now I discovered that the H-170 exists... uuugh!

 

I stopped in a local dealer to get a quote yesterday, and they had a H140 and H150... but the H140 had a Bigsby and the H150 was weight relieved, so other than the shape there was no good reference for the difference between the two models since the H150 was actually lighter than the H140. While I'm waiting to hear back from him, here's what I've asked for (and I will be getting a few more quotes as well):

 

H-140

Maple Neck, Ebony Board, Square Inlays, single bound. I want to specify the neck profile if possible (go to the factory with a few examples?)

Solid (one or two piece doesn't matter) Mahogany body w/

Plain Top, Single Bound front and body contour back.

Headstock black with inlayed Logo and single binding.

Nickel Hardware

Pickup delete (I'll supply a set of Rio Grande humbuckers).

I am considering either a Teal Green Metallic color with White Binding (black pickup rings and pickguard) or a translucent teal (maybe a little burst, more opaque around the edges? I'm open) with cream binding, cream rings, and cream pickguard. I'm open to suggestions (and price pressure!) on color/finish but I would like something that looks a bit different from everything else. Gibson's Teal Blue Candy or Fender's Teal Green Metallic (from '90s USA Strats) come to mind for a solid finish. Not sure what's even available for solid color, much less cost.

And now I'm going to ask for basically the same thing but in an H-170 as well. I want something unique, and different than my other guitars, and I found I was originally just looking for a clone of my '79 LP Artist.

Thanks for the help, gentlemen, and I'm still open to suggestions since I might not know what I should be asking in the first place!

[Millennium Maestro]

The H-170 has a deep set neck(19th fret) with excellent fret access. Strap pin is usually in the neck heel. Excellent guitars but be aware they have a different play position and feel.

 

Special colors have to be approved by the boss!

[RickFinsta]

I just got all tingly when I found this:

 

http://www.mygear.com/items/view/23432

 

Make that more greenish and slap a creme pickguard on it and we're in business. What's the cost for that TP-6 style Schaller bridge? I didn't know such a thing existed until now but I love my TP-6...

[davesultra]

Wow! That sure is pricey! Nice, but pricey.

[RickFinsta]

Thanks to the multiple vendors who have taken the time to speak with me as I constantly change my mind. Seriously, time is money (I worked at a guitar shop for a long time) and I know how much it costs to entertain tire kickers and dreamers. The wife has given the blessing, and I've officially stopped shopping for a Robin Avalon. I'm waiting to hear back on custom finish options - oddly enough this seems like it might be the hardest part of the process.

 

Anyone with custom inlay experience - if I source an inlayed fretboard will Heritage install it, or do they simply have them done by an outside shop? If I can get a teal metallic color I think I'd like something like this instead of blocks if it wouldn't add significantly to the cost.

 

Star Inlay

 

Lead time doesn't bother me - I've got plenty of guitars to play, and in fact the longer it takes the more I can afford!

 

The more I think about it the more I want this with a maple neck and ebony board, and some block or start inlays:

 

 

Something I can absolutely play and beat the hell out of.

[DavesNotHere]

Thanks to the multiple vendors who have taken the time to speak with me as I constantly change my mind. Seriously, time is money (I worked at a guitar shop for a long time) and I know how much it costs to entertain tire kickers and dreamers. The wife has given the blessing, and I've officially stopped shopping for a Robin Avalon. I'm waiting to hear back on custom finish options - oddly enough this seems like it might be the hardest part of the process.

 

Anyone with custom inlay experience - if I source an inlayed fretboard will Heritage install it, or do they simply have them done by an outside shop? If I can get a teal metallic color I think I'd like something like this instead of blocks if it wouldn't add significantly to the cost.

 

Star Inlay

 

Lead time doesn't bother me - I've got plenty of guitars to play, and in fact the longer it takes the more I can afford!

 

The more I think about it the more I want this with a maple neck and ebony board, and some block or start inlays:

 

 

Something I can absolutely play and beat the hell out of.

I did custom star inlays on my two Heritages. I worked out what I wanted with Marv and he sourced them "from them boys in Kentucky". When I get home I'll post some pictures.

[TalismanRich]

I did custom star inlays on my two Heritages. I worked out what I wanted with Marv and he sourced them "from them boys in Kentucky". When I get home I'll post some pictures.

 

"them boys in Kentucky" is Bryan England's Custom Inlay in Caneyville Ky, west of Elizabethtown Ky. They do superb work.

 

[MikeChandler]

so would it be rude for one of us here to hit the buy button on that guitar? I mean... it's a killer deal, and I want one. That one is the cheapest I've seen...

[DavesNotHere]

This is the star fretboard on my 150. It's actually the second one Heritage did for me, the first being on my 357.

I told Marv I desperately wanted star inlays on my board, and he replied in only the way Marv can “Dave, have you ever seen a guitar with star inlays? If that's what you want..... we can do that, but consider this...” He then suggested the inlays in the photo. I decided on putting the star silhouette on the first three inlays, one star for each of my sons.

Hmmm, I just reminded myself that I need one more custom Heritage.......

 

 

[High Flying Bird]

The H-170 has a deep set neck(19th fret) with excellent fret access. Strap pin is usually in the neck heel. Excellent guitars but be aware they have a different play position and feel.

 

Special colors have to be approved by the boss!

Have it cut thin and it will be an SG. Dig it!

[RickFinsta]

so would it be rude for one of us here to hit the buy button on that guitar? I mean... it's a killer deal, and I want one. That one is the cheapest I've seen...

 

If'n you're talking about the White H157 I linked earlier I say go for it! The store owner was really good about communications and answered a lot of my questions. I just decided that I wanted something with a maple neck and a bit lighter - I cleared you guys wallets-free on that days ago! LOL

 

As for the stars, the picture I linked is from Custom Inlay; I thought I had read Heritage used them. I wouldn't do those stars with a traditional color (I'd do Blocks) but for the modern metallic finish I think it would work really well. I don't care for trapezoidal inlays - for me it's always been blocks or dots. I *really* like the birds and waves inlay, with maybe a bird of prey truss rod cover?

 

http://shop.custominlay.com/Bird-and-Waves-Inlaid-Fingerboard-MOP-Ab-2-177.htm

 

But I think it is maybe a little over-the-top? LOL

 

I'm waiting to hear back if my tastes aren't traditional enough for the gentlemen at 225... if I were going traditional I'd do something like this but to make it "mine" I'd do a one-piece swamp ash body and maple neck with the rosewood board:

 

[Jim W]

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.

 

We have a 157 that was ordered with a "tummy cut"; just not bound on the back.

 

[RickFinsta]

Woah - is that how big they make the cut or is that a fat-man special? Also looks like it is in the wrong place - needs to be closer to the three-way control cavity. I wondered how they made a cut fit with the elongated cavity - maybe the answer is they don't?

[Millennium Maestro]

Woah - is that how big they make the cut or is that a fat-man special? Also looks like it is in the wrong place - needs to be closer to the three-way control cavity. I wondered how they made a cut fit with the elongated cavity - maybe the answer is they don't?

Your belly cut will be dramatically smaller with the thin 170 body.

[RickFinsta]

The cut I was thinking of would be about 5" wide, centered on the lowest part of the top (as you're wearing the guitar), about 1" down and .75" towards the front. Very minimal, but would run right up against the control cavity on a Heritage (which I do appreciate the elongation having wired several LPs in my time).

 

Like this:

 

 

I'm only 5'9" and about 170 so I actually need it as a rib relief because punk rocker or not, I wear my guitar like a civilized human being - up above the waist!

 

Quote from the local shop is in - very attractive. Looks like what will cost me the most is the visual upgrades like the MOP logo inlay or headstock binding. Waiting on the other quotes to come back next week and then it is time to decide if I'm going metallic or translucent.

 

Maybe time to buy the pickup set as well...

[RickFinsta]

Well, there was shipping damage to the H535 I sold so a large chunk of the funding for this just went into limbo until the buyer and insurer can hash everything out. I'll reach out to the dealers individually but looks like this is on hold for a while.

 

Feeling pretty down here. Wife still wants me to go ahead but the bank account says otherwise for now.