Aaaannnnd the H-137 is back! Heritage Custom Core Collection H-137 Announced

[tbonesullivan]

Well, just got this in the old email. I guess the prayers have been answered, though I kinda miss the "limed mahogany" color, but I guess people really want TV Yellow to look like an old TV yellow guitar.

https://heritageguitars.com/pages/core-collection-h-137

[DetroitBlues]

Looks really familiar....

Edited November 7 by DetroitBlues

[rockabilly69]

Stoptail and ABR looks plain wrong on a Jr/Special style guitar, and frankly, I think that pickguard looks goofy! They should follow the contours of the body better. I think the pickguard that forum member Cryoman made for these guitars is the shape that Heritage should go with. Using this kind of pickguard would give Heritage their own identidy/uniqueness. 

I also think the color is too banana yellow instead of the cooler wheat colored yellow of the vintage Specials. Right now this is a competitive market for Jr/Special style guitars as Gibson USA is making great versions of these for a low price. I think this is a fail.

Edited November 7 by rockabilly69

[DetroitBlues]

1 hour ago, rockabilly69 said:

Stoptail and ABR looks plain wrong on a Jr/Special style guitar, and frankly, I think that pickguard looks goofy! They should follow the contours of the body better. I think the pickguard that forum member Cryoman made for these guitars is the shape that Heritage should go with. Using this kind of pickguard would give Heritage their own identidy/uniqueness. 

I also think the color is too banana yellow instead of the cooler wheat colored yellow of the vintage Specials. Right now this is a competitive market for Jr/Special style guitars as Gibson USA is making great versions of these for a low price. I think this is a fail.

Gibson does have an historic run of the Jr/Special.... Priced comparatively to this Heritage model.  I am assuming, but this new design is closely related to my design inputs for the HOC Limited Edition H137.  

I'll be thankful I have my H137 HOC LE, to me its the closest thing to an original from Kalamazoo.

Edited November 7 by DetroitBlues

[rockabilly69]

11 minutes ago, DetroitBlues said:

Gibson does have an historic run of the Jr/Special.... Priced comparatively to this Heritage model.  I am assuming, but this new design is closely related to my design inputs for the HOC Limited Edition H137.  

I'll be thankful I have my H137 HOC LE, to me its the closest thing to an original from Kalamazoo.

Yes they do have a HIstoric version, but the new USA versions are GREAT and way less money, $1800 with hardshell case before any discounts! And the TV color is the best I've seen in years. I absolutely love mine! 

I had a 1955 LP Special here at the house, and frankly this one sounds just as good!

 

[rwinking]

That is a lot of money.....

[rockabilly69]

5 minutes ago, rwinking said:

That is a lot of money.....

you ain't kidding. 

[DetroitBlues]

18 hours ago, rockabilly69 said:

I also think the color is too banana yellow instead of the cooler wheat colored yellow of the vintage Specials. Right now this is a competitive market for Jr/Special style guitars as Gibson USA is making great versions of these for a low price. I think this is a fail.

 

I did see these in person, the color is actually the same as mine.  Looks really close to an original as I had the fortune to see one of those in person too.

However, the price just isn't right.  And where is the binding on the neck?

17 hours ago, rockabilly69 said:

Yes they do have a HIstoric version, but the new USA versions are GREAT and way less money, $1800 with hardshell case before any discounts! And the TV color is the best I've seen in years. I absolutely love mine! 

 

The Historic version is $4100 while the Standard Line is $1800.  I think, and only guessing here, is the 137 is limited production, so they won't mass produce them along with the standard core line.  My assumption is they will only make them upon request, driving up the cost.  So making them a custom core model would make sense I suppose.

[rockabilly69]

3 hours ago, DetroitBlues said:

I did see these in person, the color is actually the same as mine.  Looks really close to an original as I had the fortune to see one of those in person too.

However, the price just isn't right.  And where is the binding on the neck?

The Historic version is $4100 while the Standard Line is $1800.  I think, and only guessing here, is the 137 is limited production, so they won't mass produce them along with the standard core line.  My assumption is they will only make them upon request, driving up the cost.  So making them a custom core model would make sense I suppose.

Doesn't make sense to me.

I can't see one thing about the the custom core that is better than the USA Les Paul Special. To me "Limited Edition" only means something when you're getting something extra which I'm not seeing here. As a matter a fact  think too many things wrong with the Custom Core Special. 

Specials need wraptails it's part of the sound, the ABR/Stoptail is just plain wrong to me.

No binding

The custom core pickguard looks ridiculous

The big headstock with the big inlay doesn't fit with the simple aesthetic of the Special

And to me the color looks off but I'll take you're word that it looks better in person

The only thing that may make it worth a little extra cash might me the lightweight mahogany. 

I thought the limited edition model that you had input on was a way better deal, but it wasn't good enough to make me part with my cash, as I didn't like the tuners (I did like the knobs on them though) or the lack of a pickguard. 

 

Edited November 8 by rockabilly69

[DetroitBlues]

59 minutes ago, rockabilly69 said:

Doesn't make sense to me.

I can't see one thing about the the custom core that is better than the USA Les Paul Special. To me "Limited Edition" only means something when you're getting something extra which I'm not seeing here. As a matter a fact  think too many things wrong with the Custom Core Special. 

Specials need wraptails it's part of the sound, the ABR/Stoptail is just plain wrong to me.

No binding

The custom core pickguard looks ridiculous

The big headstock with the big inlay doesn't fit with the simple aesthetic of the Special

And to me the color looks off but I'll take you're word that it looks better in person

The only thing that may make it worth a little extra cash might me the lightweight mahogany. 

I thought the limited edition model that you had input on was a way better deal, but it wasn't good enough to make me part with my cash, as I didn't like the tuners (I did like the knobs on them though) or the lack of a pickguard. 

 

The tuners on the HOC LE were the closet I could get them to use for to resemble the originals.  The tooling for the holes required a standard hole configuration unfortunately.  I can say, four year later, the guitar still rocks.  Heading back to the stage in a couple of weeks.

[rockabilly69]

4 hours ago, DetroitBlues said:

The tuners on the HOC LE were the closet I could get them to use for to resemble the originals.  The tooling for the holes required a standard hole configuration unfortunately.  I can say, four year later, the guitar still rocks.  Heading back to the stage in a couple of weeks.

Well I bet it rocks just fine, two P90s and a slab of Mahogany, you can't go wrong. That's what really counts, and you didn't pay $3299 for yous!!!

[TalismanRich]

I don't know that they could use a pick guard similar to the one on DB's HOC 137.   It's almost exactly the same a what Gibby is using on the USA model.   They don't need another Gibby lawsuit.    It might have been better to just leave it off.  

I don't know if using a stoptail/bridge vs the wraptail is another way to distinguish itself from Gibby, but I don't remember any issues with the old H137 with the wraptails.    It would just mean additional inventory but that shouldn't be a huge deal.   Order a dozen, and do a run.  They mention enhanced sustain, but I think a good wrap can be solid as well.

The headstock is part of the Custom Core identity.  I can understand them using it, but it shouldn't add a lot to the cost structure.

I also think $3300 is a bit pricey.    $2750 +/- would be more in line.   You don't have the carving to deal with, binding, or any of the niceties of the 150 or 535s.

Its nice that it doesn't have the poker chip.   It's a worthless piece of plastic.  

 

[rockabilly69]

52 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

I don't know that they could use a pick guard similar to the one on DB's HOC 137.   It's almost exactly the same a what Gibby is using on the USA model.   They don't need another Gibby lawsuit.    It might have been better to just leave it off.  

I don't know if using a stoptail/bridge vs the wraptail is another way to distinguish itself from Gibby, but I don't remember any issues with the old H137 with the wraptails.    It would just mean additional inventory but that shouldn't be a huge deal.   Order a dozen, and do a run.  They mention enhanced sustain, but I think a good wrap can be solid as well.

The headstock is part of the Custom Core identity.  I can understand them using it, but it shouldn't add a lot to the cost structure.

I also think $3300 is a bit pricey.    $2750 +/- would be more in line.   You don't have the carving to deal with, binding, or any of the niceties of the 150 or 535s.

Its nice that it doesn't have the poker chip.   It's a worthless piece of plastic.  

 

They should use a pickguard like member cryoman made for people around here, like the one I posted above. I prefer wraptails on these guitars, not only do they have a good feel, I think they have a unique sound. Using a stoptail and an ABR won't distinguish them from the pack, it's been done before. For that kind of money, I think they should use really good parts. Like Throbak P90s, Music City wraptails with locking studs, and some good tuners, and some hide glue and a non sheathed trussrod (if that's not being done). Make a better guitar than Gibson for less money than their overpriced custom shop models. Seperate from the pack with higher quality, and a resonant platform for those P90s, and I for one, would support them. As for the Custom Core headstock, it's like lipstick on a pig so to say. I really like it on the H150s, but It's too much for the simplicity of these guitars. This should be a hotrod not a gussied up Cadillac. My 2 centavos! FAIL

Edited Saturday at 12:36 AM by rockabilly69

[RJLII]

It’s supposed to look like this!

 

 

[rockabilly69]

43 minutes ago, RJLII said:

It’s supposed to look like this!

 

 

That's the pickguard that I like, but I would like to see with soapbar P90s (easier to adjust height), and binding. For my tastes, I also would like some stock black tophat knobs and a music city comppensated bridge. That said, your guitar looks ready to rock. You got any clips of you rocking on it through that amp it's sitting against? I bet that's a great combo!!!

Edited Saturday at 01:50 AM by rockabilly69

[DavesNotHere]

I love my HOC 137. You did a great job with the specs on this one Josh!

(I also love my 120 with the original Bill Lawrence pickup)

 

 

 

[bolero]

So it's only available as a custom core model?

Maybe they'll do a regular run too, more basic & less expensive

I sold my yellow H137 right before DB spec'd out that HOC edition, wasn't about to buy another. Looks good with the neck binding.

[RJLII]

11 hours ago, rockabilly69 said:

That's the pickguard that I like, but I would like to see with soapbar P90s (easier to adjust height), and binding. For my tastes, I also would like some stock black tophat knobs and a music city compensated bridge. That said, your guitar looks ready to rock. You got any clips of you rocking on it through that amp it's sitting against? I bet that's a great combo!!!

Unfortunately no. This one is long gone as a result of some horsetrading with Brent. I appreciate the Soapbar comment. I had to buy a pack of shims from Lollar to get these pickups set properly. It sounded great. I wish the neck had been a bit fatter.

[ElNumero]

On 11/7/2024 at 12:09 PM, DetroitBlues said:

Looks really familiar....

But not really. Traditionally the 137 has always had a wrap around bridge/tailpiece. This “new” version looks like an H150 sans the carved maple top.  Personally I don’t like it. Glad I bought my ltd edition 137 six years ago. 

[big bob]

I believe these two korina 137’s were the first two Heritage custom shop guitars!

[big bob]

[bolero]

Hell yeah!

Gorgeous pair of twins

You don't see a lot of flamed mahogany around

[bolero]

Oops those are korina aren't they?

[brentrocks]

This was a recent acquisition.  Kinda fits the topic.
Im sure the new CC 137s will be well into the $2000s???

I only paid 1400 for this LPS and it’s fabulous!!!

 

[Kuz]

I got this beauty used from Willcutt's a couple of years ago.  Like new, not blemish anywhere.  Did I say it came with Throbak P-90s that are just f'ing INCREDIBLE!!! She was under $3K.  I think my LP Jr/137 tones are covered.   

Heritage has lost it's way.  No way a Heritage 137 slab guitar (with a stupid tuneamatic & stoptail??? wtf???) should cost over $2500.  

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:44 PM by Kuz