Incoming Johnny Smith

[MartyGrass]

I don't have much to say about this.  A friend of mine bought another Heritage Johnny Smith, one that was Jay Wolfe's personal one I got years ago but traded to BigMike.  As many may know, BigMike sold his 70 guitars to a music store in Chicago.  Two Heritage JSs were part of the collection.  My friend drove there and bought one but told me the other one sounded and played equally well but didn't have a rose on the pickguard.

I called the store in Chicago and asked about the remaining HJS.  I was able to make a purchase.

Most of BigMike's instruments are not yet posted on Reverb.  If you can buy an instrument now, you can save all the Reverb fees and negotiate a price.  The trick is to know what they have that they haven't listed.  I don't know what they are except a bunch of Gibsons.

Here's the HJS hanging on the wall.  It has a Heritage pickguard with Schatten volume and tone controls and a Kent Armstrong pickup.  As best I can tell, that's how Heritage made it.  We'll see.

 

 

 

[bolero]

Looking forward to the report

Lots of nice guitars hanging on that wall!

Edited June 22 by bolero
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[Gitfiddler]

I recall chatting with Big Mike about this Johnny Smith years ago.  As usual he was very excited to own it, describing how beautiful it was, etc.

He also mentioned he was planning on having Shatten vol/tone controls added.

I'm glad Mike was able to do a mass, no hassle sale of his large collection. 

As Marty suggested, if interested, contact the music store that has his guitars. 

[skydog52]

6 hours ago, MartyGrass said:

I don't have much to say about this.  A friend of mine bought another Heritage Johnny Smith, one that was Jay Wolfe's personal one I got years ago but traded to BigMike.  As many may know, BigMike sold his 70 guitars to a music store in Chicago.  Two Heritage JSs were part of the collection.  My friend drove there and bought one but told me the other one sounded and played equally well but didn't have a rose on the pickguard.

I called the store in Chicago and asked about the remaining HJS.  I was able to make a purchase.

Most of BigMike's instruments are not yet posted on Reverb.  If you can buy an instrument now, you can save all the Reverb fees and negotiate a price.  The trick is to know what they have that they haven't listed.  I don't know what they are except a bunch of Gibsons.

Here's the HJS hanging on the wall.  It has a Heritage pickguard with Schatten volume and tone controls and a Kent Armstrong pickup.  As best I can tell, that's how Heritage made it.  We'll see.

 

 

 

What store is this you speak of?

[MartyGrass]

The fastest way to get the info on the music store is to search for the American Eagle on Reverb.  

[MartyGrass]

Here's the shop.

 

https://reverb.com/item/83100142-heritage-golden-eagle-archtop-electric-guitar-floating-pickup-hard-shell-case

[skydog52]

9 minutes ago, MartyGrass said:

Here's the shop.

 

https://reverb.com/item/83100142-heritage-golden-eagle-archtop-electric-guitar-floating-pickup-hard-shell-case

Missouri via Chicago

[MartyGrass]

Two brothers own two stores.  They are very easy to deal with.  I called the Illinois store because most of the guitars are there.

[MartyGrass]

Arrived in good shape.  All is well.  A 1991 at 5# 8 oz.  The Kent Armstrong pickup seems hotter and fuller than the more acoustic sounding Floating #3.

Nothing to not like.

 

 

[Genericmusic]

[Gitfiddler]

@MartyGrass...Awesome!!!

[brentrocks]

The back of the guitar is looking at me funny

Seriously though, awesome Heritage man!!!

[pressure]

Fab guitar as are all Heritage Johnny Smiths. I like the volume and tone controls mounted under the pickguard.

[gpuma]

Pure art

😍

[LonelyLefty]

On 6/22/2024 at 8:49 AM, MartyGrass said:

I don't have much to say about this.  A friend of mine bought another Heritage Johnny Smith, one that was Jay Wolfe's personal one I got years ago but traded to BigMike.  As many may know, BigMike sold his 70 guitars to a music store in Chicago.  Two Heritage JSs were part of the collection.  My friend drove there and bought one but told me the other one sounded and played equally well but didn't have a rose on the pickguard.

I called the store in Chicago and asked about the remaining HJS.  I was able to make a purchase.

Most of BigMike's instruments are not yet posted on Reverb.  If you can buy an instrument now, you can save all the Reverb fees and negotiate a price.  The trick is to know what they have that they haven't listed.  I don't know what they are except a bunch of Gibsons.

Here's the HJS hanging on the wall.  It has a Heritage pickguard with Schatten volume and tone controls and a Kent Armstrong pickup.  As best I can tell, that's how Heritage made it.  We'll see.

 

 

 

Any left handed version in the bunch? Love the Maple pickguard.

[MartyGrass]

11 hours ago, LonelyLefty said:

Any left handed version in the bunch? Love the Maple pickguard.

Mike is not left handed, so I highly doubt it.

[nethanpaul86]

Congrats on scoring a Heritage Johnny Smith! It sounds like you got lucky finding another one from BigMike's collection at the Chicago store before they listed it on Reverb. The fact that it has aftermarket pickups and controls (Schatten/Kent Armstrong) is interesting – it may not be entirely original, but that could also affect the price you paid and the overall sound. Still a great find!

[MartyGrass]

The guitar was ordered as a custom from Mandolin Brothers.  It has two pickguards.  One has the Floating #3 and the other has a Kent Armstrong.

This is the fourth Heritage JS I own now.  All are very different.

One is rose natural 18" x 3", one is natural 18" x 3.25", and one is green 17" x 3".  The bracing is the same.

One has a KA rebuilt pickup, one has a 12 pole KA, two have the Floating #3.

[Gitfiddler]

Congratulations on a magnificent JS. 

Play it in good health.

[bolero]

Drool!!

Gorgeous bunch of guitars

[ElNumero]

Did Mike sell his collection to Chicago music exchange? I know they do buy large collections.

[MartyGrass]

14 hours ago, ElNumero said:

Did Mike sell his collection to Chicago music exchange? I know they do buy large collections.

No.  It's a different shop.

[nethanpaul86]

Your friend's acquisition of Jay Wolfe's personal Heritage Johnny Smith, originally traded to BigMike and now part of a Chicago music store's collection, led to your purchase of another from the same batch. Buying before listings on platforms like Reverb can save on fees and allow for negotiation. The one you acquired features a Heritage pickguard, Schatten controls, and a Kent Armstrong pickup, showcasing its unique history and craftsmanship.