bolero Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Anybody else get the notification about H-555's being back on the menu? They look good: https://heritageguitars.com/pages/core-collection-h-555 1
V23505 Posted February 5 Posted February 5 I was very happy to see this. I had a custom-order 2015 in faded cherry, which I stupidly sold, and very much miss. It was a great guitar, and I've every confidence the new version will be as good. GAS officially triggered here! 1
DetroitBlues Posted February 5 Posted February 5 (edited) I’m glad they brought them back. Expensive, but that’s not surprising. Using the same custom shop hot Alnico 5 pickups as the H157’s. Love it! Edited February 5 by DetroitBlues
Gitfiddler Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Awesome! I pulled my 2007 H555 out for a quick comparison In addition to the new larger headstock shape, these new H555's have 5-ply binding around the body (one more than previous models), and 3-ply around the headstock (2 more than before). Interestingly, the f-holes are now unbound. Still, I'm glad to see Heritage bring back its blingy triple nickel semi-hollow. Here's my '07... 1
skydog52 Posted February 5 Posted February 5 (edited) I was a little disappointed. I always loved the inlays and binding everywhere. This is a H-555 Edited February 5 by skydog52 1
DetroitBlues Posted February 6 Posted February 6 On 2/5/2025 at 7:19 PM, Gitfiddler said: Awesome! I pulled my 2007 H555 out for a quick comparison In addition to the new larger headstock shape, these new H555's have 5-ply binding around the body (one more than previous models), and 3-ply around the headstock (2 more than before). Interestingly, the f-holes are now unbound. Still, I'm glad to see Heritage bring back its blingy triple nickel semi-hollow. Here's my '07... Expand I wonder if the F Hole being unbound was an oversight?
DetroitBlues Posted February 6 Posted February 6 On 2/5/2025 at 8:09 PM, skydog52 said: I was a little disappointed. I always loved the inlays and binding everywhere. This is a H-555 Expand I had just about forgotten what the OG’s looked like.
bolero Posted February 6 Author Posted February 6 I like them but always thought it was weird they used block inlays higher up on the neck. If they'd pointed them at the ends like a spear instead of square, it'd look better & match the rest IMO. I think these look good with the blocks I also like the bound F holes, it pops the shapes out of the darkness. Didn't the originals have maple necks too? That was something else that set them apart from the 535 1
pressure Posted February 6 Posted February 6 You mean like this Millie. My first Heritage Custom Shop build from 2011. 3 1
TalismanRich Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/6/2025 at 8:06 PM, bolero said: Didn't the originals have maple necks too? That was something else that set them apart from the 535 Expand Originally, the 555s had 3 piece maple necks, but I think that changed in later years. The 2005 catalog still says 3 piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard.\
Spectrum13 Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/6/2025 at 11:52 PM, pressure said: You mean like this Millie. My first Heritage Custom Shop build from 2011. Expand Your builds were stellar, so well thought out and tasty 1
golferwave Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/6/2025 at 11:52 PM, pressure said: You mean like this Millie. My first Heritage Custom Shop build from 2011. Expand That is an incredible guitar. Pride of ownership in all of your custom builds.
JeffB Posted February 7 Posted February 7 I really like the OG inlays and F hole binding. I think they were beautiful looking guitars. Im sure the new ones will be great guitars, I just like the original aesthetics more. 1
DetroitBlues Posted February 7 Posted February 7 Guess there was a lot of cost saving measures here to bring back the 555. Easier inlays, regular mahogany necks, no bound F-Holes. They've made them closer to the G brand design that OG Heritage design. This is pound for pound a direct copy of the ES-355 Gibson makes today. Mahogany neck, unbound F-hole, and full block inlays. Other than artist models, the newest ES-355 does not have a stereo output or varitone selector. I did make a comment that Heritage missed the opportunity to use a bound Tortise pickguard instead of solid bound black.
TalismanRich Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/7/2025 at 2:36 PM, DetroitBlues said: Guess there was a lot of cost saving measures here to bring back the 555. Expand At $4800, I don't think there needs to be a lot of cost saving. Certainly not the lack of bound f-holes. They could have done a single binding there. That said, I wouldn't leave it sitting in the case just for having them unbound. Something that I've always wondered is if a 3 or 5 piece neck is more stable than one piece mahogany, in terms of twisting or even needing less adjustment. 1 1
DavesNotHere Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/5/2025 at 8:09 PM, skydog52 said: I was a little disappointed. I always loved the inlays and binding everywhere. This is a H-555 Expand Agreed. 1
DetroitBlues Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/7/2025 at 2:52 PM, TalismanRich said: At $4800, I don't think there needs to be a lot of cost saving. Certainly not the lack of bound f-holes. They could have done a single binding there. That said, I wouldn't leave it sitting in the case just for having them unbound. Something that I've always wondered is if a 3 or 5 piece neck is more stable than one piece mahogany, in terms of twisting or even needing less adjustment. Expand How much more does it cost to make a 555 over a 535? Little extra binding and inlay work. Cost savings over previous design. No laminated 3/5 piece necks, no small split diamond/arrow inlay work. No binding on the f-holes (I've been told that was a very difficult process)
Spectrum13 Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/7/2025 at 6:43 PM, DetroitBlues said: How much more does it cost to make a 555 over a 535? Little extra binding and inlay work. Expand It's bling Josh! Reminds me of what dads told us in the 60's and 70's about choosing a muscle car. If you want the big horses, you got to feed them. 1
pressure Posted February 7 Posted February 7 On 2/7/2025 at 2:52 PM, TalismanRich said: omething that I've always wondered is if a 3 or 5 piece neck is more stable than one piece mahogany, in terms of twisting or even needing less adjustment. Expand I have asked that question myself and have not gotten an answer. For what it's worth Heritage 5-piece necks need truss rod adjustments.
bolero Posted February 8 Author Posted February 8 On 2/6/2025 at 11:52 PM, pressure said: You mean like this Millie. My first Heritage Custom Shop build from 2011. Expand Ohh....you have impeccable taste, my friend! 1
DetroitBlues Posted February 10 Posted February 10 On 2/7/2025 at 11:12 PM, pressure said: I have asked that question myself and have not gotten an answer. For what it's worth Heritage 5-piece necks need truss rod adjustments. Expand I've more or less was thinking the multi-ply necks meant less chance of a headstock break.
MartyGrass Posted February 10 Posted February 10 The old H-555s had maple necks. Some were single pieced and some were multiple. 1 1
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