Is This A Legit Serial Number?

[Bikesandguitars]

Attached photo of the rear headstock of what appears to be an H150 with gold hardware.  The serial number doesn’t look right.   

[LK155]

Hmmm.  I had a 'W' serial number Heritage once and under the 5-digit number it had:

     MADE IN

KALAMAZOO, MI.

       USA

Not the same.  More pix of the guitar might be useful.

 

[Bikesandguitars]

Thanks, LK155.  Here are body and headstock.  

[Bikesandguitars]

There’s some info online about a fire in 2006/2007 that had some effect on serial number formats and stamps.   Just wondering if this is an actual Heritage. 

[Steiner]

I'd venture that the headstock (neck?) has been refinished.

[heritagefan]

That serial number does not look legit.  The stamps that were used never looked that clear, and the USA was always part of the 'Made in Kalamazoo,' transfer.  That being said, the lopsided head stock sure looks handmade.

[kennyv4]

I would send an email to Heritage along with a couple of photos.  They are really good about answering questions.

[davesultra]

I’d wager it’s legit. There’s not much of a market out there for counterfeit Heritage guitars. Have you pulled the control cavity cover off and look for a sticker?

[Bikesandguitars]

8 minutes ago, davesultra said:

I’d wager it’s legit. There’s not much of a market out there for counterfeit Heritage guitars. Have you pulled the control cavity cover off and look for a sticker?

No, I haven’t.  I don’t own it - yet.  It’s an online sale. The seller has a good reputation but he’s in Puerto Rico so no way to inspect unless I buy. 

[TalismanRich]

I seem to recall similar serial numbers over the years with just the USA, and with the letter above the number.   That being said,  the numbers don't look like the standard font of the serial number stamp used by Heritage.   

I would ask the seller to pull the cover from control cavity and send you a photo of that.     I'm guessing the guitar is legit but as Steiner said, it might have been refinished. 

 

Update:  I was just browsing Reverb and there are a couple of other guitars with the same font from the 2006-2007 era.   Here's a screenshot.

[Bikesandguitars]

28 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

I seem to recall similar serial numbers over the years with just the USA, and with the letter above the number.   That being said,  the numbers don't look like the standard font of the serial number stamp used by Heritage.   

I would ask the seller to pull the cover from control cavity and send you a photo of that.     I'm guessing the guitar is legit but as Steiner said, it might have been refinished. 

 

Update:  I was just browsing Reverb and there are a couple of other guitars with the same font from the 2006-2007 era.   Here's a screenshot.

Thanks, TalismanRich - I saw that too.  The guitar in question is missing the “Made In Kalamazoo” reference.  It just says “USA”.   I wonder if there was a period where they just didn’t stamp the Kalamazoo ID.   If there was, why? As a former Michigander with connections to K-Zoo, I like the Kalamazoo part!    However, I also like the guitar, the gold hardware and the price! 

[Bikesandguitars]

Here is the inside of the cover plate.  Apparently, it’s an “Ultra”.  That seems like a good thing, right? 

[TalismanRich]

That tag is legit, and yes, an Ultra is an upgraded top 150.

I wonder if our resident Puerto Rico member GPuma is close  (or is it his?)

[golferwave]

I have a 2007 that has the X over the numbers.  Yours looks to have been done around December 1st. There was a fire at the factory during that time frame and they were trying to finish guitars under less than desirable conditions and some guitars are missing details that were usually there.  Enjoy your H-150, she's a beauty!

[Bikesandguitars]

Thanks everyone.  I submitted the question via Heritage customer service link.  I’ll let you know what they say and close the chat.  Thanks again! 

[StephenK]

Looks good to me.

[HANGAR18]

12 hours ago, Bikesandguitars said:

Attached photo of the rear headstock of what appears to be an H150 with gold hardware.  The serial number doesn’t look right.   

I think it's okay.

[yoslate]

I'd bet the rent money it's the real thing.  Don't think it's been refinished; finish crazing looks normal, natural.  Burnt Amber is a really nice color!

[AP515]

That cover plate is pretty good evidence for authenticity.  She's a beauty.

[houndhome]

If it's an Ultra surely it should have HRW pickups,with a black dot on top of the selector switch,

and twin adjustment screws on each side of the pickups.

This is certainly the case on my H150 Ultra,serial U34701,which does have the full "made in kalamazoo Mi

USA under the serial number.On the basis of the photos this is not a genuine Ultra,perhaps the description on

the photo of the cavity plate is not from the same guitar.I think that I would be very wary.

[Bikesandguitars]

Hi All,  Thanks for everyone's knowledge and input!   I sent pictures of the guitar in to Heritage.  Here’s what they had to say: 

“Thanks for sending that in. I had Ren take a look and he said sometimes they did indeed leave the factory sometimes without the Made in Kalamazoo stamp. He says it could have happened for any number of reasons but it looks correct here.”

So... if anyone has a “Made In Kalamazoo” stamp, I’d like to borrow it for a minute, please.  ?

[myoldfriend]

Looks entirely legit to me - here is a pic of the first Heritage I owned (and foolishly, what else, sold):