Heritage Mods?

[gtrjoe]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and been enjoying reading the content. I'm gtrjoe1901 on YouTube and I currently have an '08 H137 single P-90 - TV yellow & a '21 Custom Core H150 finished in beautiful dark cherry burst.

I am curious how members feel about changing some hardware on the fiddles to make them more like Gibson's?

I added a pick guard on the H137 & the person I got the H150 from changed (from original ad) "swapped out the tuners for locking tuners (no drilling) originals included. I also swapped out the truss rod cover and pick guard for a Gibson style (originals included).

Thanks for your thoughts & time. My Best ~ Joe

 

[Spectrum13]

It's all good! Make it unique, make it better.

 I have six with upgraded pots and caps, bridge and tailpiece, pickup rings, truss rod covers, pickups, toggles strap locks.

Not once was I banned from this forum.

You got a couple of beauties, huba huba on that 150

[gtrjoe]

Good to know ~ Thank you!!

Yeah, the 150 is stunning, I got real lucky.

My Very Best ~ Joe

 

[bolero]

 

Agree with spectrum: make them your own. There's some threads here with ppl talking about stuff like that.

And nice gtrs, congrats! Gorgeous custom core H150 there!!

[DetroitBlues]

Common thing to do to Heritages.

That 137 is killer, rare to see them with a single pickup.

[rockabilly69]

Both of those guitars look great, I especially like the Jr, that pickguard looks great on it!!!

[gtrjoe]

Great info gentleman, much appreciated. I like the look in a timeless/classic sense. 😎

The H137 was a great find and it's a great sounding fiddle. I did change the pick guard to tortoise shell for fun...Here she is in action with that pick guard.

 

 

[TalismanRich]

If the reason for changing stuff is just to make it "more like Gibson",  the my answer is a resounding "NO".  Adding a pickguard to the 137 is good because it serves a purpose.  Changing tuners to locking ones serves a purpose.   Changing electronics can also serve a purpose.

Changing the pickguard to an ugly Gibson style is wrong.   I think the Heritage guard is far superior, I like how it flows with the shape of the body.   Adding a Poker chip is just pointless.   It's a worthless piece of plastic.  Maybe in 1952 it let people know that up was for "rhythm" and down for "treble", although to me, that doesn't even make sense.   You play rhythm, you don't play treble!  Seriously,  does anyone even look at a poker chip to decide what setting to use?

If I wanted it to look like a Gibson, I could buy a Gibson.   I bought a Heritage.

 

 

[TalismanRich]

On the other hand, one of these poker chips might be an improvement!   I'm partial to playing Mary Ann most of the time, but Ginger can be fun.

[Heritage1970]

45 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

If the reason for changing stuff is just to make it "more like Gibson",  the my answer is a resounding "NO".  Adding a pickguard to the 137 is good because it serves a purpose.  Changing tuners to locking ones serves a purpose.   Changing electronics can also serve a purpose.

Changing the pickguard to an ugly Gibson style is wrong.   I think the Heritage guard is far superior, I like how it flows with the shape of the body.   Adding a Poker chip is just pointless.   It's a worthless piece of plastic.  Maybe in 1952 it let people know that up was for "rhythm" and down for "treble", although to me, that doesn't even make sense.   You play rhythm, you don't play treble!  Seriously,  does anyone even look at a poker chip to decide what setting to use?

If I wanted it to look like a Gibson, I could buy a Gibson.   I bought a Heritage.

 

 

I agree. That being said- great looking guitars and to each their own. They're your guitars, so do whatever you feel like to make them right for you and how you like them. Personally, if I want something to be like a Gibson, I'll get a Gibson. A Heritage is a Heritage and I think it's cool that they have their own things- hardware, etc, that set them apart from Gibson. I've just never been big on swapping out anything, period. I had a big conversation with Warren Haynes about this and he's the same way. We both agreed: if he picks up a guitar and it's not doing it for him, he just goes for a different guitar- no thought about swapping pickups, etc. Just moves on. I've always been the same. I just have this weird feeling of "that's what the guitar was born with" - you either like it or you don't. But I know I'm in the minority. And again- that's just me- everyone should do what makes them happy if it's your guitar. 

[Spectrum13]

2 hours ago, TalismanRich said:

I

 Adding a Poker chip is just pointless.   It's a worthless piece of plastic.  Maybe in 1952 it let people know that up was for "rhythm" and down for "treble", although to me, that doesn't even make sense.   You play rhythm, you don't play treble!  Seriously,  does anyone even look at a poker chip to decide what setting to use?

 

 

 

Rich,

  What is your take on adding speed knobs that go for 0 to 11 rather the stock ones topping out at 10?

[TalismanRich]

Some of my guitars have top hat and reflectors.     I like speed knobs, but they make me play too fast sometimes.

Going to 11 is probably a good thing, but I have trouble reading those little numbers when I'm playing!   I have to stop picking,  lift the guitar up,  put on my reading glasses and set the volume.    It tends to mess up the rest of the guys.  They think I forgot the song!

[Spectrum13]

12 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

Some of my guitars have top hat and reflectors.     I like speed knobs, but they make me play too fast sometimes.

Going to 11 is probably a good thing, but I have trouble reading those little numbers when I'm playing!   I have to stop picking,  lift the guitar up,  put on my reading glasses and set the volume.    It tends to mess up the rest of the guys.  They think I forgot the song!

So that's a no. Have you considered adding the little gismo you install under the knobs with that pointer to determine by feel where you are in the taper on the pots? For smaller gigs it could be used like governor.  

[Kuz]

Here is what I always add/mod to my Heritage guitars (current and in the past);

-Throbak Pickups

-RS Guitarworks 500K pots and reissue Luxe Bumble Bee 250k caps

-Faber locking ABR-1 bridge, Aluminum stoptail with Faber locking stoptail studs

-Kluson (or the same looking Grover Deluxe) tuners

-Poker chip (rhythm and lead)

-Metal pointers under the volume & tone knobs

Edited 13 hours ago by Kuz

[rockabilly69]

11 minutes ago, Kuz said:

Here is what I always add/mod to my Heritage guitars (current and in the past);

-Throbak Pickups

-RS Guitarworks 500K pots and reissue Luxe Bumble Bee 250k caps

-Faber locking ABR-1 bridge, Aluminum stoptail with Faber locking stoptail studs

-Kluson (or the same looking Grover Deluxe) tuners

-Poker chip (rhythm and lead)

-Metal pointers under the volume & tone knobs

Luxe Bumble Bee 250k caps??? Do you mean .022 uf caps?

[nuke]

Why not just buy a Gibson?  

Not trolling, but what made you get the Heritage instead of the Gibson? 

My first Heritage was a '98 H150 (I bought used), which was a special dealer order with Seymour Duncan 59's and tune-o-matic tail and bridge (Nashville type) instead of Schaller pups and hardware and jumbo frets. Heritage put some weird value pots in it (basically the same as Norlin era late 70's Les Pauls, 300k and 100k). I played it for almost 20 years like that. Eventually, I had to replace the output jack, so put in the excellent Dimarzio 30% taper pots at the same time (500k and 250k). Much better. Then I put Faber locking ABR bridge and locking lightweight aluminum stopbar. Then I put on a set of Gotoh SG301 locking tuners in place of the heavy Grovers. That shaved a significant weight off the guitar, 8.8lbs now, vs a bit over 9lbs.  More balanced and comfortable now. The Faber stuff is great, and is more functional change than stylistic change. Locking hardware and tuners are awesome at string change. 

Not long ago, I bought a virtually unplayed 2001 H535. It had the typical Schaller hardware and HRW pickups. I liked the Faber stuff so much I put it on the H535, along with a set of Gotoh SG301 tuners. (the Rotomatics had gotten stiff due to lack of use). I put the Faber inserts and bushings in and holy cow, did that ever bring the tone out! I was stunned how much difference that made to the 535.  I just refretted it with the same Dunlop 6100 wire too. Turns out it had some of the worst factory fretwork I've ever seen. Explains why it was unplayed so long. But now, it's a forever guitar. I love it, hands down. I've compared it with a Collings I35LC with Throbaks (excellent guitar) and I am totally happy with my 535. I even put a CNC'd nylon nut on it, because they work so much better than bone. 

I didn't mind the stock Schaller hardware, but I'm much more used to the conventional tune-o-matic when I play. Just more comfortable. 

I also own a very killer Gibson, a Custom shop 60th anniversary 1960 Les Paul v2. It is a stunner of a Les Paul as well. I know what a great Gibson should be. (where I learned the value of Nylon 6/6 nuts - which were original on all the 'bursts from the 50's and 60's)

So I ask, why do you want to change your Heritages?  

Are you:

Correcting something? 

Changing something for practical purposed?

Changing something to suit your playing style as it evolves?

Changing something for aesthetic reasons? 

But I would suggest if you want it to be a Gibson, find the Gibson you want and get that. 

There are enough, minor, but important differences, that a Heritage isn't and never will be a Gibson.  My H150 is never gonna be a Gibson Les Paul, and my H535 is never gonna be a Gibson ES335, but that's OK. 

[gtrjoe]

Nuke ~ It's just a "new to forum" question to see how members feel in general.

I have 9 Gibson Les Paul's ~ check my video's you'll see a lot of them. 4 CS, 3 Modern, 2 Epiphone's and  partridge in a pear tree!

Hell - I met the man himself at the Iridium in NY.

Thanks for the info though, at 60 years old ~ I'm good.

My Best ~ Joe

 

[gtrjoe]

[rockabilly69]

43 minutes ago, gtrjoe said:

check my video's you'll see a lot of them. 4 CS, 3 Modern, 2 Epiphone's and  partridge in a pear tree!

Hell - I met the man himself at the Iridium in NY.

Thanks for the info though, at 60 years old ~ I'm good.

My Best ~ Joe

 

Where are the videos?

Twenty years ago I went to see Les Paul at The Iridium, and on his break, I hung out with him a bit. While we were talking, the girl that I went with told him that I was pretty good guitarist, and surprisingly, he asked me if I wanted to jam, but I didn't have my guitar wth me, and I'm not really a jazzer so I opted not to. I realized later that many rock/blues guitarists have jammed with him, and it went well, so I kinda regret my decision. Another funny thing was, that night he was trying out a new bassist (his regular bass man was sick). The new bassist was quite a good looking girl, and he was making a lot of jokes about why he should hire her full time. It was a fun night.

Edited 12 hours ago by rockabilly69

[gtrjoe]

My Video's

[rockabilly69]

10 hours ago, gtrjoe said:

 

Both good looks, but I think the black looks a bit more rock and roll, and I think it would look even more so with black tophats

Guitar sounds good in the video, do you have any original music on video? 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by rockabilly69

[ElChoad]

It's your guitar, make it YOURS. I have 4 single cut guitars. None of them have pick guards or poker chips. I hate covering up beautiful flames with a cheap piece of plastic. Just a personal preference. I put in whatever pickups I think make the guitar better. I always add locking bridges and tailpieces. All the original pieces are set aside and bagged to go with each guitar. Want it original? I can arrange that.

[nuke]

6 hours ago, gtrjoe said:

Nuke ~ It's just a "new to forum" question to see how members feel in general.

I have 9 Gibson Les Paul's ~ check my video's you'll see a lot of them. 4 CS, 3 Modern, 2 Epiphone's and  partridge in a pear tree!

Hell - I met the man himself at the Iridium in NY.

Thanks for the info though, at 60 years old ~ I'm good.

My Best ~ Joe

 

Welcome!!!

I'm almost 60 myself. Just playing devils advocate a bit, not trolling you.