Help me ID these guitars

[jrmintz]

Hi all,

 

A friend has asked me to sell these guitars for him, but I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what they are and I don't want to misrepresent them. I thought the flametop was an H-140 because of the dot markers, but it has a bound fingerboard and the peaked pickguard from an H-150. I assumed the black one was an H-157, but has a Heritage card in the case that says, "H150 spec." hand-written on it. I suppose the card could be from a different guitar because the black one was bought used from a dealer who might have switched cases without realizing there was something in the compartment, but that seems unlikely. Can anyone tell me exactly what these are?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[SouthernCanuck]

The easiest way to be sure would be to open the control cavity on the back, and look at what is written there - should give the detail that you're looking for.

 

S_C

[jrmintz]

Thank you, I'll do that.

[tulk1]

Just as a WAG I'm going to say the top one a Special. And the black one is a 157 Custom with HRWs.

[jrmintz]

We have a winner! The top one is indeed an H-150 Special. The black one just says H-157 on the control cavity cover. What does HRWs mean?

[tulk1]

We have a winner! The top one is indeed an H-150 Special. The black one just says H-157 on the control cavity cover. What does HRWs mean?

I was looking at it on my phone and thought the 157 switch cap had a white dot. I can see on the computer that it doesn't. HRWs were Heritage's own pickups, made by Ren Wall. They were designated on the guitars by a switch cap with a white tip.

[jrmintz]

Thanks for that, indeed there is no dot and I don't know what the pickups are. Is there a difference between an H-157 and an H-157 Custom?

[tbonesullivan]

All Heritage guitars are "custom", so it would matter what exactly the options are. The black H-157 looks to have a flamed maple pickguard, and possibly other options hidden by the paint. That sure is a nice "Black beauty" though, even my dislike of gold hardware can't keep it from wanting it.

[jrmintz]

Well, that could be arranged....;-) It is a beautiful guitar with a flame maple pickguard.

[Gitfiddler]

Thanks for that, indeed there is no dot and I don't know what the pickups are. Is there a difference between an H-157 and an H-157 Custom?

 

 

Since there are two pickup adjustment screws per side, the p'ups are most likely Schallers. There will be a label under each pickup to be certain.

[Jim W]

 

 

Since there are two pickup adjustment screws per side, the p'ups are most likely Schallers. There will be a label under each pickup to be certain.

HRW also have the two screws I believe, but without the dot I would agree schallers.

[tulk1]

I picked "H-157 Custom" because my Custom had gold hardware and a matching flamed maple pg. Other than that, it was pretty much indistinguishable from other H-157s - in hardware/etc.

[Gitfiddler]

I picked "H-157 Custom" because my Custom had gold hardware and a matching flamed maple pg. Other than that, it was pretty much indistinguishable from other H-157s - in hardware/etc.

 

I never knew that there was a 157 'CUSTOM'. I guess I need to check under the hood of my 157 when I get home. DOH!

[TalismanRich]

Thanks for that, indeed there is no dot and I don't know what the pickups are. Is there a difference between an H-157 and an H-157 Custom?

 

The H-157 is a "comparable" model to the Les Paul Custom. The upgrades over the standard 150 are the multiply binding on the body and pickup, the fully bound headstock, wooden pickguard (not plastic), the block inlays (vs traps or dots), the diamond inlay in the headstock, and the gold hardware.

 

I agree that most likely it has Schaller humbuckers, as those are the only pickups I know of that can accomodate the dual mounting screws on each side. They are medium output standard PAF style with Alnico 5 magnets.

[tulk1]

 

I never knew that there was a 157 'CUSTOM'. I guess I need to check under the hood of my 157 when I get home. DOH!

Hmmm, well ............. in the spirit of complete and honest disclosure ................ I just checked and it didn't say Custom. Dang it!! It said Classic. Thats what I get for going on "memory", something that is becoming less and less reliable every day.

[jrmintz]

Thanks, gents.

[bobmeyrick]

The pickups on the H157 could indeed be HRWs, even if there's no dot on the switch tip - when I bought my H535 (from High End Guitars in the UK) it came with HRWs but a plain switch tip. The dealer was able to supply a suitable tip, but if you pull the pickups they should be labelled as HRWs, which do use two mounting screws per side (they are based on Schallers, after all).

 

The H150 is a Special - I have one, and they are slightly thinner than a regular 150 or 157. The body is poplar (I think) with a maple cap. Mine is a goldtop...

 

Before, with Schaller p/ups and hardware.

 

 

After, with SD P-Rails and Nashville bridge and tailpiece.

 

[jrmintz]

The H157 is gorgeous, but I must say I think the H150 is beautiful and it sounds great. I've been thinking about buying it from my friend myself. However I have some work ahead of me convincing my wife what a great idea that is...