Chino Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Hello all! Thanks in advance! New to all of this so please excuse my mistakes or if this has been discussed before and I missed it. I am about to order a custom H-155M (2016 millennium). I would like to get your opinions on f holes, no f holes or 1 f hole. Does a chambered millie w/o f holes fall in between a solid body and a semi hollow? Is it the 'sweet' spot between the two? What about 1 f hole? I'm under the impression no f holes will be slightly warmer?
tulk1 Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 The NFH Millie will get you closer to a chambered H150 than a semi-hollow. Especially if you get a mahogany body with a maple cap. As opposed to the traditional all maple Millie. However, you can still feel the top trying to move air, much like one with FH will.
goSteelers Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Even the most hollow sounding Millie " falls in between a solid body and a semi hollow". A Millie (even with with two F holes) is not a semi-hollow, it's a semi-solid. A true semi-hollow, like an H535, is made by gluing separate thin pieces of wood together (using kerfing). Millies are not made that way. They are made from a solid block of wood that is routed out. The walls and back are not nearly as thin as a true semi-hollow. The net result is that even the most hollow sounding Millie configuration is still much less hollow sounding than a true semi-hollow (in my opinion). I don't know what sound you are looking for, and I have never compared a two hole Millie to a no hole Millie, etc -- although it kind of makes sense that a two-holer would sound the most hollow. If you are looking for that wonderful hollow sound, I would go with two f-holes. But it still won't sound as hollow as an H353 or Prospect. I would love heritage to make a true hollow or semi hollow Millie size guitar. I love the sound, but I find even a Prospect body uncomfortably large. Something like the Gibson ES-Les Paul, but from Heritage, would be great -- Id' buy one in a minute.
bolero Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 I believe some of the millies were made 535 style, with laminates & archtop/back? and the millenium eagles were made more like the larger hollowbody jazz gtrs, with archtop/back you may be able to order a new gtr like that, if so inclined
hinesarchtop Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 I really liked the trans purple double F hole one at namm. It sounded great clean, or with some gain . I really want one!
Spectrum13 Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 sballachino I have a no fhole 155 all maple. Best I can add to this discussion would be on the bridge it is like a weight relieved LP so not as thick as a 150. The bridge is closer to a small hollow without "thunk". The only one f hole known example appears to be the white one displayed at NAMM. My guess is if you plan to play at high volumes, the f's would tend to feed back more. I have a prospect which is quite a different animal from the 155. As we are into 2017 I can understand why they decided to no longer use a name associated with the turn of the century.
Gitfiddler Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 I owned a non-F hole Millie and it was very close to my 150 sound-wise, but as others have stated, a bit less thick-dark. With F-holes the tone should be more open, almost, but not exactly like a 535. Jazz cats dig the open tones that only F-holes can deliver, especially with flatwounds. Rock/RnB/Fusion cats like that thump and scream that only a solid body guitar can deliver. What kind of music will you be playing?
hobokenheritage Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 The Millie I've got (a 2005 with the carved back) has 2 f-holes, but it has the sustain, sound and feel of my H140. That may not be the case with most Millies though, since I've read some comments here saying that thier Millies are lighter than a 140, and mine is heavier than most of my Heritages.
ElNumero Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 My Millie DC is a semi hollow not a semi solid as goSteelers said.
RhoadsScholar Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 I love the MILLIE design for what it is. ON the bridge pickup, the pickup is mounted into a solid piece of wood so it give you a 150/157 sound. The sustain block doesn't go all the way through to the neck pickup so it floats and underneath it is hollow. Because the top is so thick (thick but solid wood), it is not quite a hollow body, but I like the controlled feedback I can get from the neck pickup (for classic rock). I have had 155's without the f holes and Millie Ultra Standard with F holes and solid mahogany back and sides. A 155 is a fine guitar but I prefer the Maple / Mahogany combination. At present, I have 2 of these. One with F holes and one without. The one without doesn't have feedback issues for higher gain stuff. I do love it for those few times i practice Jazz. I also have an H 535 but my Millie without Fholes fills a Les Paul void on the bridge pickup, the millie with FHoles sits between a 150 and a 535. I definately prefer the combination of Maple and Mahogany though . You have a great decision to make and picked the right guitar My favorite heritage design
goSteelers Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 I believe some of the millies were made 535 style, with laminates & archtop/back? and the millenium eagles were made more like the larger hollowbody jazz gtrs, with archtop/back you may be able to order a new gtr like that, if so inclined A few months before the company was sold, I asked if they would make a true semi-hollow (separate pieces of wood, with kerfing, not routed out), and the answer was no. Even the dealer didn't think they would, before they even asked. If they had made them in the past, you think they would have said yes -- the jigs, forms, etc would already exist. So, it's kind of curious if there are some genuine semi-hollows out there -- I would have to ask, are you sure? The give away would be the kerfing -- you should be able to see it looking inside the F holes. Perhaps it's worth asking the new management.
Chino Posted January 30, 2017 Author Posted January 30, 2017 Thanks to everyone for the replies. Very helpful and informative. I was most concerned that a millie with f holes would be better suited for jazz. I'm more interested in classic/hard rock. F holes or not it seems that this is a very versatile guitar that can do all well. Getting ready to order. They are offering 2016 prices if ordered before Feb. 1...including ultra top which came std in 16 but will not on 17 models. Hardest decision now is color....
kidsmoke Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 My Millie DC is a semi hollow not a semi solid as goSteelers said. I believe some of the millies were made 535 style, with laminates & archtop/back? and the millenium eagles were made more like the larger hollowbody jazz gtrs, with archtop/back you may be able to order a new gtr like that, if so inclined I'd like to hear from a dealer on this...or Pete if he hops on. I had a long discussion with Jim Duerloo about the millie. It's his design entirely. He developed and said the only alteration, at that time, was the cutaway or f-hole options. This was the year Skydog picked up his orange florentine cutaway orange millie at PSP. I really don't think there has been a departure from the basic construction. That would contradict Jim. This is the basis of the "semi-solid" nomenclature, and it's accurate
FranzMohamitz Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 Thanks to everyone for the replies. Very helpful and informative. I was most concerned that a millie with f holes would be better suited for jazz. I'm more interested in classic/hard rock. F holes or not it seems that this is a very versatile guitar that can do all well. Getting ready to order. They are offering 2016 prices if ordered before Feb. 1...including ultra top which came std in 16 but will not on 17 models. Hardest decision now is color.... Congratulations! After finding out that I can get one with no F holes and the regular mop logo for only $2400,I too am very close to ordering as well. I believe this to be an outstanding price for such a nice instrument!
golferwave Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 Congratulations! After finding out that I can get one with no F holes and the regular mop logo for only $2400,I too am very close to ordering as well. I believe this to be an outstanding price for such a nice instrument! It's great to see more folks looking at and ordering these fantastic instruments. After you receive and start playing it you'll be even more impressed with the value, especially when you get to choose your finish and options.
HANGAR18 Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 This is the basis of the "semi-solid" nomenclature, and it's accurate This ^^^ is exactly what I was going to say.
holyroller Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 How much would a purple 2017 be? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
bolero Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 I'd like to hear from a dealer on this...or Pete if he hops on. I had a long discussion with Jim Duerloo about the millie. It's his design entirely. He developed and said the only alteration, at that time, was the cutaway or f-hole options. This was the year Skydog picked up his orange florentine cutaway orange millie at PSP. I really don't think there has been a departure from the basic construction. That would contradict Jim. This is the basis of the "semi-solid" nomenclature, and it's accurate aha, you are right!! I just pulled out my old laminate & arched top/back millie to check....it is indeed based on that central body piece, and there is no kerfing a la 535 it is a P serial #, so pretty early on in millie production
RhoadsScholar Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 A wise choice. I would recommend loading it with SD 59's. The perfect match for a Millie for Classic rock. The potted pickups allow you to squeeze more volume out of the Millie as it is still an all solid wood guitar (vs. Laminate).. Keep us posted on your build. $2400 for the best guitar in the Heritage lineup IMHO is pretty darn good
RhoadsScholar Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Don't know if you pulled the trigger but the No F holes with a maple top and mahogany back and side (what used to be the Millie ultra ) would be the best option for Classic Rock with a Millie (IMHO). Maybe Millinium Mastro can chime in but I believe he would agree. He is the most substantial Millie collector and dealer I have come across and will certainly give you a deal on the millie you desire (he may even have a used one that meets your needs) Can't go wrong there.
Chino Posted February 1, 2017 Author Posted February 1, 2017 Don't know if you pulled the trigger but the No F holes with a maple top and mahogany back and side (what used to be the Millie ultra ) would be the best option for Classic Rock with a Millie (IMHO). Maybe Millinium Mastro can chime in but I believe he would agree. He is the most substantial Millie collector and dealer I have come across and will certainly give you a deal on the millie you desire (he may even have a used one that meets your needs) Can't go wrong there. Thanks for info. Good to hear your take on the Millie. That's exactly what I was looking for. I already pulled the trigger... ordered a Mille without f holes. Ultra maple top, mahogany back, sides & neck, SD59's, split block inlays. Went with the traditional Heritage MOP logo on headstock vs the new "H". Most difficult decision turned out to be the finish! Ended up going with Neptune Bluebusrt. Back & sides will be black opaque. Chrome hardware. I never would've considered the blueburst but my dealer had done one in the past & showed me pics. It was stunning imo! I'm very happy with final decision! So now the wait begins! They are saying approximately 10 weeks.
bsck1 Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 What fun! Exactly what you want. Hope the build time flies by for you, though the anticipation is a wonderful part of the process too. As previously noted by others, pictures upon receipt please!
Millennium Maestro Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Congrats! I want pictures! This is what a Millie Ultratop Neptune Blue looks like, out of my inventory.
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