JeffGuitar Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 I’m the proud owner of a 2016 Heritage H535PM and I couldn’t be happier. I just picked up an absolutely killer guitar and had a fantastic experience buying it. I’ve been leaning towards getting a semi-hollow with humbuckers for about 6 months now but I just hadn’t played very many that I liked. I live in Tallahassee where we only have a GC and a local shop whose electric inventory is designed for entry-level players. So playing a bunch of semi-hollows wasn’t really in the cards for me. But over the past few months I’ve tried a few ES335s (studio, dot, epi-dot, etc.) but just didn’t really bond with any in particular. I tried a couple of ES339s but found that I really wanted a bigger body. I did my research and found that just about everyone who has a H535 loves it and swears that they’re just as good as the better 335s. (Not trying to dis any 335 lovers – I’m sure there are some great ones out there. And I never tried a CS ES335 but I don’t have that kind of money anyway.) But I didn’t want to buy one without ever having played one so I decided to make a trip down to Wolfe Guitars about a 5 1/2 hour drive. I called beforehand and found that they had two PM (plain maple top) 535s in stock and about 10 regular 535s (figured tops). I arrived at about 2:30 in the afternoon and played every single one of them for the next 3 hours. Graham was extremely helpful, gracious, and patient. He let me turn up, play a few different amps, and basically have the store to myself for the entire time I was there since nobody else came in. It was the exact opposite of being in a GC in which you usually can’t hear yourself and the hard-selling GC guy who knows nothing about the guitars. Every single one of the guitars was excellent but in the end it came down to these two for me, both of which were PMs (which saved me a few hundred bucks!). I loved the look and color of the one on the left but ended up going with the almond burst on the right because the neck was just a little fatter, felt more natural to me, and had the pickups I preferred – Seth Lovers. The tobacco burst had SD 59s which were great, but man oh man those SL’s are something else! The range of tone you can get from each pickup is absolutely mind-blowing. Never before have I played humbuckers that were that responsive and dynamic. I’m told that they’re a PAF-style pickup and if they’re even remotely close to what PAFs are, then I can understand why PAFs are the holy grail for lots of guys. The guitar is very resonant with just the right about of sustain for my taste. It’s lightweight and stays in tune remarkably well. The frets are perfect and the nitro finish looks so so good. I couldn’t be happier and definitely made the right choice in driving that far to pick just the right one. Had I selected one only from looking online, I wouldn’t have gotten this one and this is the one for me. He she is by herself in the case. I need to take some better pictures in proper light to show off the wood and finish.
RhoadsScholar Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Beautiful. Nothing like playing a bunch of guitars of the same model and picking the one that speaks to you.
pegleg32 Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 For some reason that finish really appeals to me. Glad you got a great guitar!!!!
Gitfiddler Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 You did good!! Real good!! Very Larry Carlton-esque. I was smiling for you while reading your post. Very happy for you. I think Wolfe still has some photos of your 535 on their site. See it you recognize it. Copy and paste from their to here so we see more of your beautiful Heritage Custom Shop H535.
Spectrum13 Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 We can tell it was well worth the trip! Any chance you will wake up at 5:30 AM crack open the case just to see if it was all a dream?
DLDTEX Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Glad you found your guitar. I like the 'old time' finish. Enjoy getting to know her. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
bolero Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Awesome!! I enjoyed reading your post...nothing quite like the experience of trying & buying a new guitar. Great to hear Wolfe's was accommodating...those are the kind of brick & mortar local businesses we need to support. You will not get an experience like, that buying a guitar online! +1 for Graham Zigaboo...or whatever his last name is he was great helping me buy a guitar as well. ( Thanks Graham, if you read this! ) Happy New 535 Day!!
TalismanRich Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Jeff, Congrats and finding the right one! That's the best way to find the guitar that really "speaks" your language. When you pick it up and it just feels right, it makes you WANT to play. Enjoy!
ElNumero Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Outstanding score Jeff! If you ever find yourself down in the New Port Richey area, holla at me, I have a sweet 535 AND 555 myself!
kidsmoke Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Very cool. We drink the kool-aid so much here...it's nice to hear someone come to the marque fresh, objective, clear eyed and with discretion, considering where to put their hard earned buck, and fall fully in love like you did. In my view, a 535 with Seths is what should go in the encyclopedia (anybody remember those?) under - electric guitar - it simply embodies everything that is right about the breed. I'm 6 years in to my relationship with a 535. Everytime i drop that strap over my shoulder it feels like home. Mines got Sheptones not Seths, I'd love to AB against Throbaks or Seths and see what's up, but I know i'm in good shape. Still smile to hear the thing everyday. Welcome aboard!
bobmeyrick Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 My first Heritage was a 535. I now have seven...
CJTopes Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 I dont think you'll be disappointed. Loved my 535.
JeffGuitar Posted February 14, 2017 Author Posted February 14, 2017 So happy to be a part of the HOC now - you guys show a lot of love here and that's so refreshing! I didn't wake up early the next day but I did crack the case open midway through my drive back to Tallahassee just to make sure it was still in there! Monabassonova, I'd love to jam with some other Heritage owners - I'll let you know if I'm going to be down that way. And you were right Gitfiddler, the one on their site was mine. Here are some pics, as requested.
DetroitBlues Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Congrats! I also swear by Seth Lovers in 535's. Sound perfect to me. Hopefully, you'll be able to make the trip to Kalamazoo this summer and have a bit of show and tell with us. I also think Wolfe spec'd out a great cost saving idea by using plain maple instead of figured maple as a cost saving measure. The wood pickguard makes a nice touch too. Welcome to the party!
ElNumero Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 The wood pickguard makes a nice touch too. What he said!!!
Stringman Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Nice Score!!!! Don't know how you could have gone wrong with either of those two guitars. My first Heritage was also a 535. It had been my goal for many, many years to own one, but couldn't justify it for a long time. Great guitars and well worth the price. Simply in a class of their own. Best of luck to you.
FranzMohamitz Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 This is an inspiring post for me! Thank you and congratulations on what looks to be an amazing instrument! Are there any better deals currently in exsistance than these Wolfe Guitar Plain Maple models? I am quickly seeing why so many people buy from him. Also, it was nice seeing that you posted about this wonderful guitar on another forum as well as here. I feel this is a great service to Heritage from you!
kidsmoke Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Also, it was nice seeing that you posted about this wonderful guitar on another forum as well as here. I feel this is a great service to Heritage from you! another forum? There are other guitar forums?
kennyv4 Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 That's fantastic. Great looking guitar and brought from a great guitar shop, congratulations.
Millennium Maestro Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 Congrats... These are the best bargain in the product line AND ... I can't agree more about the Seth Lovers.
JeffGuitar Posted February 15, 2017 Author Posted February 15, 2017 Franz, I'm telling everyone about this guitar! I'm happy to help spread the word about an excellent guitar and a great shop/dealer. I honestly think that they'd sell tons more if they were more available in stores to A/B with other semi-hollows. And those who write them off b/c of the headstock are just idiotic - I think we can all agree on that! I'm honestly still not sure how a guitar of this quality (build, components, USA-made) isn't around 3 or 3.5K. I can't think of too many other guitar makers out there who offer that kind of top-notch quality at that price point.
tulk1 Posted February 15, 2017 Posted February 15, 2017 We all love fancy tops. But plain maple can make quite a statement of its own. Beautiful guitar.
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