With a little help...dating h 575

[robbg]

Hi! After a long period, I'm going to buy a Heritage Guitar again. In the pasta years I've had two h150 a h 535 and now I'm booking for a h575.

I found one here in Italy, but it is quite far away from my house, so I'm trying to get informations in order to decide if It Is a good idea to travel eight hours to go there. 

Is there anybody who can help me to date this Guitar? I don't know if the serial number is a H... or something else. I also noticed that It Is written just USA instead of Kalamazoo Usa or made in Usa.

It seems a old guitar and It Is a H 575 Classic Custom Shop. Thanks to everybody who will help me, and sorry for my spaghettish english! 

[big bob]

It looks to have a replacement neck. The headstock shape is odd and the serial number looks strange as well, almost looks stamped and no made in Kalamazoo. The neck joint also looks like the neck has been removed at some point. 

[robbg]

Thanks you very much for your note, I have had the same thought but I was not sure, and in addiction photos can make appear something that Is not real, I'm referring to the joint of the neck, the colour seems darker..

[robbg]

I found this picture of another 575 on web, It seems the same kind of serial number..

[TalismanRich]

Robbg

A Heritage headstock had a peak in the middle.  Yours has a dip, so either someone tried to make it an "open book" or maybe replaced the headstock after a break.  The black shading could mask a repair.   I've seen people add wings to the side and change the top to make is more "Gibson".  

I've also seen the letter in the middle like that before.   I'll have to check my 525 and see if it's that way.

Edited March 3 by TalismanRich

[robbg]

Thanks a lot... If there Is "only" a modified headstock or even a repaired headstock, the guitar could still be well playing (obviously with a different price), but a different neck would be a sort of Frankstein Guitar..The logo seems to me original, but the picture is cut just in the upper part. 

[TalismanRich]

Just an update,  I checked my H-525 and sure enough, that's where I saw it.   The W is above the number in the center.  

If this is one you're considering buying, I would definitely ask about a headstock repair.   I don't think it is a new neck, but possibly it was removed or reset at some point.  The logo on the front looks correct,   top shape is wrong  and the shading is suspicious.    The headstocks on the bigger body guitars are wider than the ones on the 150, 535 and Millenniums, so I don't think that's an issue.  

For sure, if there was a break, that will affect the pricing.  

 

[TalismanRich]

I would also ask for a closeup of the top of the headstock.   That might tell you a bit about any work that was done on it.

[robbg]

Grazie mille! La mia esperienza è che se una paletta rotta viene riparata bene, durerà per sempre, ma un manico resettato su quel tipo di chitarre, non lo so... forse influenzerà anche il suono. Comunque chiederò una foto della paletta dall'alto.

[robbg]

22 hours ago, TalismanRich said:

Vorrei anche chiedere un primo piano della parte superiore della paletta. Questo potrebbe dirti qualcosa su qualsiasi lavoro che è stato fatto su di essa.

It seems that Simeone had cut the upper part of the headstock in order to make it Gibsonish..

[robbg]

This is the label inside the F hole,but I can't date the guitar, I didn't find the WD or WA code, cany anybody help me please?  it is a custom shop or a Standard? I would like also to know if both versions are solid wood or Standard are laminated wood...

[LK155]

I believe serial# W03505 would indicate 2006, the 35th last day of the year, the fifth guitar of the day.

[robbg]

Thanks you for yor input, I gave a look at the list on the official website, but I couldn't find those letters.. 🤔

[Steiner]

2 hours ago, robbg said:

This is the label inside the F hole,but I can't date the guitar, I didn't find the WD or WA code, cany anybody help me please?  it is a custom shop or a Standard? I would like also to know if both versions are solid wood or Standard are laminated wood...

Heritage was at that time a custom guitar builder.  The guitar shown is not a 575 custom.  It is, however, a solid wood guitar through out; a stellar guitar for every style of music.  Treat her well and she’ll respond in kind.

[robbg]

Thanks you for your contribution. I know it's difficult to judge through a photo, but I would appreciate any opinion about the neck of this guitar that seems someway remove, or painted twice, I'm referring to that part brown painted,at the joint point of the neck to the body..

[bolero]

Hard to tell: wood shifts & moves around with the season, humidity, even geographical location. So any joint or boundary might end up with stress cracks like that on the finish over time.

You can't inspect the gtr in person? That would be best.

 

 

[bolero]

Or just ask for better pics with better lighting

[robbg]

Well, I agree the best thing would be to check directly the guitar , but I should drive  more than 8 hours to go there and back, so I'm trying to have more informations, before I leave.

I also asked an opinion to Heritage support, and Mike answered me immediately, they are wonderful! 

He told me that is difficult to judge from a picture, however it seems that heat, maybe fire or something else created a stress on the surface of that part, but it seems that the neck hasn't been removed or deeply damaged. He also confirmed that is a 2006 Guitar . I will try to ask new pictures and a video, however it all depends on the economic negotiation, at first it was a swap and some money to him with my Les Paul Deluxe of  first 70's that was highly modified, a great axe with Wizz Paf, but very hard to sale. Now, that I know all the problems of that 575, I think an exchange could be the only way to close the deal.