NGD - H530

[kennyv4]

Rob, as long as your going with the Bigsby, take a look at the Vibramate Spoiler. It is a easy no tool install item that makes string changes a breeze. I put one on my H-535 that came with a factory installed Bigsby.  It does a great job.

[Rob2020]

Thanks for the tip about the Vibramate Spoiler - I'm already aware of those.  I was thinking of trying the "use a capo to hold the string down" method first.

[Rob2020]

Does anyone have a suggestion for where I could purchase a pickguard for the 530?

Would this work? https://reverb.com/item/4488284-custom-late-60-s-es-330-style-guitar-pickguard-fits-long-neck-verison-3ply-black

[Rob2020]

13 hours ago, MartyGrass said:

I put a thicker shim under the neck pickup.  This elevates the magnets and bobbin.  The screws can be lowered.  It seems to minimize the volume drop with string bending.  That's a very easy mod to make next time you change the strings.

 

I've ordered a set of shims directly from Lollar.  Looking foward to really dialing in this guitar.

[MartyGrass]

1 hour ago, Rob2020 said:

Does anyone have a suggestion for where I could purchase a pickguard for the 530?

Would this work? https://reverb.com/item/4488284-custom-late-60-s-es-330-style-guitar-pickguard-fits-long-neck-verison-3ply-black

Probably works.  It takes a little finesse to drill where the bracket goes.

 

There are some pickguards that attach by the screws in the P-90s so there is no drilling needed.

[Rob2020]

thanks; I'll poke around a bit to see what I can find; but I'm confident that my guitar tech would do a fine job with any drilling

[MartyGrass]

1 hour ago, Rob2020 said:

thanks; I'll poke around a bit to see what I can find; but I'm confident that my guitar tech would do a fine job with any drilling

I'm sure your tech can tackle beveling out the pickguard hole.  There are smaller pickguards that mount to the P90 dogears with the existing screws.  Most people use the pickguard as a finger rest anyway.  If you can find one of these smaller ones you don't have to drill the wood.

OTOH, a pickguard is another chance to add elegance, so go big!

 

[MartyGrass]

Inspiration:

 

 

[Rob2020]

beautiful - humbuckers and fully hollow?

[Rob2020]

I expect that the inexpensive guard that I've ordered from Reverb will be a bit flimsy and not up to par.  That's ok -- I'll use it as a template to trace a nicer guard from WD Custom Pickguards -- probably either #05F Faux Tortoise Shell, or #09 B/W/B/W/B.  https://www.pickguards.com/wd-custom-pickguards-material-details.html

[MartyGrass]

On 11/2/2020 at 3:12 PM, Rob2020 said:

beautiful - humbuckers and fully hollow?

Yes.  That was from a time when it was easy to get Heritage to make almost guitar you wanted.

[Rob2020]

Those were the days, right?  But as a new-comer to Heritage guitars, I'm just glad there is a Heritage guitar company making guitars in Kalamazoo in 2020. I work for a Fortune 30 company and I know what the corporate world is like and what we have here is pretty miraculous.

[Spectrum13]

Back in the day one could order a custom wooden scratch guard.  I thought this was going to be black/ebony but they did a burst.

 

This might be what your 530 would look like if.....

[Rob2020]

quite lovely

[myoldfriend]

Nice collection there... With those 3 you should be able to cover a lot of ground ?  Enjoy the 530 - that’s a stunner!

[Rob2020]

10 hours ago, myoldfriend said:

Nice collection there... With those 3 you should be able to cover a lot of ground ?  Enjoy the 530 - that’s a stunner!

Thank you very much!  

[DetroitBlues]

On 11/2/2020 at 9:42 AM, Rob2020 said:

Thanks for the tip about the Vibramate Spoiler - I'm already aware of those.  I was thinking of trying the "use a capo to hold the string down" method first.

That’s what I’ve done in the past.

[DetroitBlues]

On 11/3/2020 at 8:26 AM, Rob2020 said:

I expect that the inexpensive guard that I've ordered from Reverb will be a bit flimsy and not up to par.  That's ok -- I'll use it as a template to trace a nicer guard from WD Custom Pickguards -- probably either #05F Faux Tortoise Shell, or #09 B/W/B/W/B.  https://www.pickguards.com/wd-custom-pickguards-material-details.html

Try Pickguardian.  They can make exactly what you want....

[Rob2020]

Thanks; I'll check that out.

I wonder why the 530s don't come with a pickguard -- isn't that standard for Gib-son 330s?

[Gitfiddler]

Just now, Rob2020 said:

Thanks; I'll check that out.

I wonder why the 530s don't come with a pickguard -- isn't that standard for Gib-son 330s?

Rob, congratulations on your H530.  They are very cool guitars.  I owned the very first production model (#1), and I also wished it came with a guard.  I only sold mine to fund an archtop, but miss that sweetheart 530 tone. 

I second the recommendation for Pickguardian.

Play it in good health. 

[Rob2020]

Thanks for your kind words.

I took a look at Pickguardian's website and it's appealing to me.

I'll be sure to posts pics after I have the pickguard and Bigsby installed (which will be a little while).

[Rob2020]

On 11/3/2020 at 9:53 PM, myoldfriend said:

Nice collection there... With those 3 you should be able to cover a lot of ground ? 

For having three electric guitars, I'm wondering if it would make more sense for me to sell the Jazzmaster and have the Tele (single coil, solid body), the 530 (P90s, hollow body), and hmm let's see what would make a perfect trio?

[barrymclark]

Beautiful! Love the finish!

[Spectrum13]

10 hours ago, Rob2020 said:

For having three electric guitars, I'm wondering if it would make more sense for me to sell the Jazzmaster and have the Tele (single coil, solid body), the 530 (P90s, hollow body), and hmm let's see what would make a perfect trio?

We have all been down this road. It is a slippery slope. Guitar porn leads to bank account damage. You have been warned.

[DetroitBlues]

On 11/3/2020 at 4:52 PM, MartyGrass said:

Yes.  That was from a time when it was easy to get Heritage to make almost guitar you wanted.

Its still easy, just no where near as cheap.