PacerX Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I agree. There were many guitars I was interested in buying, until I saw the obviously crooked tuners. How hard is it to line them up? Don't they use a template? ***SIGH*** A CNC mill will put the holes in the right place (particularly the anti-rotation screw hole), day in and day out, no matter what. Crooked carved neck heel bottoms? Gone. Poorly placed pickup mounting rings? Gone. Oh yeah... I forgot. The "magic" in a guitar is making sure the screw holes for the pickup mounting rings and tuner anti-rotation screws are put in by "hand"... using a fixture, of course... and thereby inevitably putting a significant percentage of them in the wrong place.
Spectrum13 Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 What Tully said 100% and I trust this forum helps bring both reality and transparency to the process. Annual production of some 1200 a year with retailers in most states and countries like Turkey does not leave much room for your local dealer to carry a few examples of each popular model much less something like a Millie Eagle. Jay has a substantial investment and arguably the best selection but most of us need to travel several hundred or thousand miles for that selection. I posted a few weeks back if the factory produced any kind of inventory on speculation but I assume most all production would be what is ordered by the Retailers. Would this not be either what the shops thinks it can sell plus customer orders and customers custom orders? I am thrilled to be able to custom order a Heritage and surprised at how accommodating they can be considering how dogmatic (pain in the A$$) a person I am. While I hope for the best as I open the box (coming directly from the wholesaler?) I trust that the odds are very favorable, the product will be sensational and made but people who will stand behind their work. While the process is not perfect, I see no other way this could be accomplished.
JeffB Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Forgot to add that if any fault is found with any purchased guitar whether custom ordered or not, it will be rectified to the customers satisfaction. I ordered a PRS SAS for myself. I asked for a maple fretboard but it turned up with a rosewood fretboard. Bothered me no end. > I sat down with it and played it for a while and figured I could live with it. Glad I did. Some time later another customer ordered a rose fretboard and got a maple fretboard. He decided to keep it. Hes glad he did. Its not just Heritage that gets things wrong. Every one does. Amp companies, guitars companies, motor vehicles companies, clothing, push bikes, engineers, doctors and juries. Its the human condition. I can live with it.
cosmikdebriis Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 #2 and #4 We seldom open a box for a custom ordered guitar. I stand corrected... Though I'm quite surprised... I would have thought you (the business , not you personally) would have checked it over before it got to the customer. I can't help thinking that it would be to Heritages AND the dealers benefit to look at these things before they're handed over. Problems like this can damage both the manufacturer and the retailers reputations. Of course it would be better if there weren't any "issues" in the first place Regards the cheap tuner incident.... How about... > Don't use a Heritage though... You wouldn't want to get blood all over it... ;D
LH575 Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 So, I feel I must clear something up with this thread. The guitar is a beautiful guitar, it plays really nice and sounds great. The body is near perfect, the neck is near perfect. The only real issue with this is the neck binding. All else can be corrected. It just comes down to the binding. Maybe we should turn this into a list of things that Heritage needs to triple check before a guitar leaves the factory. I am sure that someone there reads these posts from time to time. The guitars that they make are beautiful instruments, in sound, playability, and appearance. It seems that the only gripe people have with them is their QC. Well, let's tell them what we see and maybe they'll listen. I don't know. I dig the company and the dealer that I work with. Hate to bash them when I know they produce a quality product.
pro-fusion Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I've never seen that particular binding flaw on any guitar I've ever owned with neck binding. I've seen it on plenty of unbound guitars (particularly Carvins) where the clearcoat goes right up to the edge of the fretboard. I'm going to guess (as you have) that it's an issue of the binding not being thick enough, coupled with the inevitable fretboard shrinkage due to climate etc. I have seen guitars with cracked binding at the fret slots, but not where you can see the actual fret tang itself. Unfortunately, I'm guessing that the only possible repair would be to replace the entire binding, which would be a very invasive process. I don't remember these types of QC issues on the guitars of yesteryear, Gibson, Fender or anyone else. But I was just a kid and certainly wasn't looking that carefully. In the world of G-word type guitars, there seem to be issues all around. We all know about the occasional problems with QC at Heritage, but they're miles ahead of production Gibsons, where they don't even bother to crown the frets or apply the finishes evenly. Custom shop Gibsons are better, but they're stupidly expensive--and I played a VOS '61 SG a couple of weeks ago that had good QC but was a tone-dead POS otherwise. The ESP Edwards knockoff '61 I bought a couple of months ago for $600 blew it away tonally. Guess you just have to live with some of this stuff...
Spectrum13 Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Pro-fusion my guess would be the frets were a little too long. I second the Edwards. My 355 type has perfect fret work and the carved top while heavy, improves (built October 2007) with age.
pro-fusion Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Had I not gotten my H-555 from Brent, I would have gone for one of those Edwards 355 knockoffs myself. They just make you want to crank out "The Thrill Is Gone," eh?
brentrocks Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Had I not gotten my H-555 from Brent, I would have gone for one of those Edwards 355 knockoffs myself. They just make you want to crank out "The Thrill Is Gone," eh? since you brought it up...how is that 555 treating you? ;D
pro-fusion Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 since you brought it up...how is that 555 treating you? ;D Very nicely, thank you! In addition to being a fusion monster, on a high gain setting it sounds *dead-on* like Alex Lifeson's tone from Hemispheres and Permanent Waves. And that's a very good thing. Those HRW pickups sound good for everything, including metal. I need to take some pics of it, along with the rest of my little 'collection'. My wife finally got us a decent digital camera, so I don't have any excuses anymore, do I? ;D
SouthpawGuy Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 #1 and #3 Totally agree #2 and #4 We seldom open a box for a custom ordered guitar. Mostly because its the customer's wishes. Its theirs, they conceived the ideas and agonized over colour, and appointments. We let them know when its on its way and when it arrives. The privilege is all theirs and we enjoy the unrapping ceremony as much as they do. Some times, rarely, they ask us to open it and check its to their spec's and search out any flaw's. If we find any thing wrong they still have to see it and either accept or reject it. The customer commissioned the work. They have to sign off on it. They have to be kept in the loop at every stage. Its theirs. If the customer lives in another state, chances are we will never see the guitar. It will be shipped direct to them from the manufacturer or wholesaler. It will have been checked by the wholesaler. If the out of state customer finds fault it is then sent to a reputable luthier to be assessed and repaired. The bill is sent to the wholesaler and then, as far as I know, the manufacturer. I personally wont accept responsibility for anyone else's shoddy workmanship. I didnt as a carpenter on multistory buildings and other projects and I sure as shit wont as a sales assistant. If I built the guitar, Id be all over it. #5 Agree 100% Sorry if I came off a bit grumpy Had a $15au dollar tuner thrown at me today cause it didnt work.( I had no part in the manufacture of this tuner) Irate customer: "you sold me a piece of shit tuner, it doesnt f****** work" leans back and throws. Good straight pitch. Aussie fast bowler. Mild manner sales guy: (rubbing forehead resisting urge to smack irate customer) " No, you bought a piece of shit tuner. I wanted to sell you the good $30 or $50 tuner." He threatened more violence on me and the store. We have his details in our data base. Moron. I wouldve just given him another anyway. Now I have to stalk him and hunt him down in my own time as well. Sorry for the hijack. I feel better now :angel: tully ... it's good to rant every once in a while ! As for this ... Now I have to stalk him and hunt him down in my own time as well. ... that's easy, just buy a large doberman and teach it to dump in his front garden. Regards. 8)
LH575 Posted January 9, 2009 Author Posted January 9, 2009 Update: I talked to Heritage today. The guitar will be sent back tomorrow. They were happy to take care of the shipping. They will evaluate the issues. They confirmed that the only issue that can't be resolved is the neck binding. They will evaluate. If it turns out that the binding splitting, as it is on this guitar, is a normal and expected thing for new H575s, I'll accept it. If not, then a rebuild or new stock H575 would be a possibility. One step at a time though. There is no rush to this. The main reason that I ordered it custom was to have a (in my eyes) "perfect" guitar built by the "masters" to have and to hold on to for years. One thing to keep in mind, for anyone who orders H575s. The binding on a H575 neck is .040". On the 555 and 157, the binding is .080". So, it's thinner to begin with on a 575. Again, thanks for the replies!
LH575 Posted February 20, 2009 Author Posted February 20, 2009 Update: No update. :afro: Finally getting the guitar sent back this week. Just giving this topic a little bump. bump.
Dick Seacup Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Who put the bump in the bump-bah-bump-bah-bump?
LH575 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Posted September 3, 2009 Update. Final update! The guitar went back and Vince graciously offered to rebuild it. Rather than making it a crazy custom job, I opted to ask for a standard configuration with only 3 exceptions - gold hardware, Lollar humbucker sized P90s, and upgraded wood. It was delivered this week. It is perfect. Plays, looks, and sounds great!
tulk1 Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 Update. Final update! The guitar went back and Vince graciously offered to rebuild it. Rather than making it a crazy custom job, I opted to ask for a standard configuration with only 3 exceptions - gold hardware, Lollar humbucker sized P90s, and upgraded wood. It was delivered this week. It is perfect. Plays, looks, and sounds great! That is one gorgeous specimen, right there!!
pegleg32 Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 Man, I just read this entire thread for the first time. You did have some trials and tribulations, but I'm really pleased that Vince, Ren, and the Heritage folks came through in the end. I just ordered 2 Heritages sight unseen, and I was beginning to worry. I will stop now. By the way, that is one gorgeous guitar you have there.
peterbright Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 Update. Final update! The guitar went back and Vince graciously offered to rebuild it. Rather than making it a crazy custom job, I opted to ask for a standard configuration with only 3 exceptions - gold hardware, Lollar humbucker sized P90s, and upgraded wood. It was delivered this week. It is perfect. Plays, looks, and sounds great! Great news!
yoslate Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 Well played, LH! That must have been a very frustrating ordeal! You're to be commended for your patience, and, particularly, your faith in The Boys! I think you had the resolution we were all hoping for: everybody wins. I hope that guitar serves you well and that you keep it forever. It's a beaut!!
Mikenov Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 Fret tangs only pop through binding when you get fret sprout due to improper hydration of the instrument. I don't have a room humidifier in my basement a several of my bound guitar necks have this going on. This is VERY common. I don't really know the age of the instrument or where ther finger pointing is but if the binding was on there with no cracks and they are starting to apear that's what is happening. This may or may not be a Heritage issue. The rest is covered by the warranty for sure and I would bet they would address it. I have dealt with Ren on a guitar repair and he was super cool. I drove him the instrument, a three weeks later is was done and I got to inspect it when I picked it up. They will make it right but I would expect push back on the fret issue because it is going to be hard to determine who is at fault.
Jazzpunk Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 You are one understanding customer. I have to say that the end results look to be worth the wait as that is one fine lookin' guitar! How are those Lollars? I've been thinking about picking up a second 575 and outfitting her with p-90's myself ever since ingeneri described his p-90 575.
LH575 Posted September 4, 2009 Author Posted September 4, 2009 Yeah, definitely worth the wait. JazzPunk - the Lollars are nice. I have a Duncan P90 on a ES125. The Lollars sound similar to that, not quite as dark maybe. I dig the sound of a P90 and a full hollowbody. I went with the Humbucker shape in case I ever want to swap them out, plus you can adjust the height easier than a real P90. Here's the description from Lollar: http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant....mbucker-pickups What they say about them is pretty accurate.
Kuz Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 No P-90s (except maybe vintage originals) sound as good as Lollar p-90s. I have 3 guitars with Lollar p-90s and everyone is KILLER!
Jazzpunk Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 Aw man, you guys are giving me bad 575/P-90 GAS!
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