fxdx99 Posted June 19, 2009 Posted June 19, 2009 Think I've read about the similarities of 60s model Gs vs the Heritage evolved models. Which Heritage model is L5 based - is it the Sweet 16?
111518 Posted June 19, 2009 Posted June 19, 2009 The models don't line up with any precision, but I think the Golden Eagle is the Heritage parallel to the L5: top-of-the line 17" spruce- topped archtops. The Gibson Super 400 and Heritage Super Eagle are 18." The Eagle Classic is sort of like the L-7: less ornate 17" archtop. All this is of course my speculation ...which along with a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee (in most places).
DC Ron Posted June 19, 2009 Posted June 19, 2009 The Golden Eagle is 17" at the lower bout and closest to the modern L-5. Sweet 16 is 16" and closest to the L-4.
ingeneri Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 The Eagle Classic is closest to an L5-CES, with 17" bout, carved spruce top, mounted pickups, and, I believe, parallel bracing. The Golden Eagle is more like an old L5C or Johnny Smith. Like the Classic it has a 17" bout and carved spruce top. However, it has X-bracing and a floating pickup like the Johnny Smith. Unlike that guitar, it does not have a special 25" scale. Yoslate and I have the 18" Super Eagle, which is similar to a larger Eagle Classic and is to die for.
yoslate Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Yoslate and I have the 18" Super Eagle, which is similar to a larger Eagle Classic and is to die for. That's right...that's right! Matt knows whereof he speaks! Along with my wife, The Super is one beautiful girl, who's much better than I deserve!
DC Ron Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 The Eagle Classic is closest to an L5-CES, with 17" bout, carved spruce top, mounted pickups, and, I believe, parallel bracing. The Golden Eagle is more like an old L5C or Johnny Smith. Like the Classic it has a 17" bout and carved spruce top. However, it has X-bracing and a floating pickup like the Johnny Smith. Unlike that guitar, it does not have a special 25" scale. Yoslate and I have the 18" Super Eagle, which is similar to a larger Eagle Classic and is to die for. Exactly right. The Eagle Classic has parallel bracing and is like an L-5CES with a bit less binding. BTW, I've got a Super Eagle on the way with X-bracing and floating pickup. Photos shortly...
fxdx99 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks, guys! Very informative replies from ALL of you. From this, I went thru a Heritage catalog and see just what you're referring to. I'm 'kicking tires' as a friend has an L5 from the 60s that I REALLY like the sound of. I haven't asked him details yet as to specific year and model. It does have dual humbuckers on it, 17" lower bout, solid carved top. The Golden Eagle looks and sounds excellent, although I would like dual pickups so the Classic would make some sense... have been enamored with Supers ever since seeing 'slate's last summer, but have placed that up on the "someday when I can afford one" pedestal. That is if 18" wouldn't constrain my limited reach. Well, time to keep an eye out...
Kuz Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks, guys! Very informative replies from ALL of you. From this, I went thru a Heritage catalog and see just what you're referring to. I'm 'kicking tires' as a friend has an L5 from the 60s that I REALLY like the sound of. I haven't asked him details yet as to specific year and model. It does have dual humbuckers on it, 17" lower bout, solid carved top. The Golden Eagle looks and sounds excellent, although I would like dual pickups so the Classic would make some sense... have been enamored with Supers ever since seeing 'slate's last summer, but have placed that up on the "someday when I can afford one" pedestal. That is if 18" wouldn't constrain my limited reach. Well, time to keep an eye out... Randy, Just a thought. Why not buy my Golden eagle, have HRWs put in at the factory and you will have a better guitar and save thousands!
fxdx99 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Posted June 22, 2009 Randy, Just a thought. Why not buy my Golden eagle, have HRWs put in at the factory and you will have a better guitar and save thousands! John, you have a Golden Eagle for sale? (j/k) Ya know... not a bad thought, either. Have to ponder that - wonder how much to have that work done? Either HRWs or Seths or even Lollar P90s?... Would that type conversion 'wreck' the intent of an otherwise great model (surely impacts it as a stand alone acoustic instrument)? Interesting idea, tho.
fxdx99 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Posted June 22, 2009 Thinking a bit more on a Goldy Eagle conversion... while intriguing, modifying such a gorgeous guitar to that extent keeps formulating this mental image of the HOC welcoming committee at the next PSP event...
yoslate Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Thinking a bit more on a Goldy Eagle conversion... while intriguing, modifying such a gorgeous guitar to that extent keeps formulating this mental image of the HOC welcoming committee at the next PSP event... But...I don't see Kuz in that picture...? Whyzzat?
DC Ron Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 John, you have a Golden Eagle for sale? (j/k) Ya know... not a bad thought, either. Have to ponder that - wonder how much to have that work done? Either HRWs or Seths or even Lollar P90s?... Would that type conversion 'wreck' the intent of an otherwise great model (surely impacts it as a stand alone acoustic instrument)? Interesting idea, tho. FWIW, and I'm not an expert, but the GE conversions I've seen have only had the neck pickup set in. Probably because the cross of the X-bracing prevents an easy bridge pickup route. But Wes did pretty well with only a neck pickup in an L-5 and if it's good enough for him, well...
111518 Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Very pretty, DC. Randy: One tidbit. From mid60 until 68-9, L-5s and Super 400s had pointed (Florentine) cutaways and laminated backs. If your friend's L-5 is from the 60's, its construction is probably quite different than any of the solid wood/rounded-cutaway Heritage guitars. My friendly contribution to the discussion about model features .... My Eagle Classic has a floater and is X-braced, so I'm guessing the parallel bar/X-brace distinction for Heritage spruce archtops is not about the model but about whether or not it leaves the factory with a floater or mounted pickups. This is interesting, since Gibson went from the X to parallel bars on the L-5 and 400 before those guitars got pickups. If we are connecting specific models rather than locations in product lines, I would argue that the Golden Eagle is the successor to the Gibson Kalamazoo Award. I can't find any information about how it was braced. My 2 cents, of course.
DC Ron Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I 110% agree that the GE is closest to the Kalamazoo Award. When I bought my GE new at a show, the dealer had a Kalamazoo Award, and the GE was just flat out better looking. This one is supposed to be X-braced, and I'd bet they all are. Love the inlayed pickguard!
fxdx99 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Posted June 23, 2009 Randy:One tidbit. From mid60 until 68-9, L-5s and Super 400s had pointed (Florentine) cutaways and laminated backs. If your friend's L-5 is from the 60's, its construction is probably quite different than any of the solid wood/rounded-cutaway Heritage guitars. Yup, that's right, Larry - a sharp florentine it does have. I thought/assumed it was a 175 all this time until I asked him last week. Was surprised it was an L5 as I'd always thought of those as the 'Wes' version or as the acoustics w/o any cut away. Yikes, but it sounds good, tho.
Dick Seacup Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Totally off the subject (sorry for the hijack), but you made me think of it...what do you suppose the chances are they'd make a Tal Farlow with the curly binding in the cutaway. Mmmm.
Steiner Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 I spoke to Ren a few weeks back about dropping a couple HRWs into a spruce top Heritage jazz box. What I took away from the conversation was that the spruce topped fiddles equipped with a floating pickup were generally X braced while the guitars with twin pickups were parallel braced. I have a Golden Eagle an Eagle Classic as well as an H575 all with twin pickups. Ren was fairly confident that they all were parallel braced - SOK4I. From what I've read, the Eagles are very close to the L5, the H575 is an upgraded L4.
ingeneri Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 FWIW, and I'm not an expert, but the GE conversions I've seen have only had the neck pickup set in. Probably because the cross of the X-bracing prevents an easy bridge pickup route. But Wes did pretty well with only a neck pickup in an L-5 and if it's good enough for him, well... Not to piss on Kuz's potential sale. But this is exactly right, the X-brace would prevent the second pickup. Also, guitars with floating pickups tend to have thinner tops (and are more prone to feedback) than those supporting mounted pups. So a cut up GE, while almost certainly a great instrument, would be very different from an L5 or the single pup Wes version. I think the mounting and bracing make important distinctions, however, whether the florentine cut would affect the sound seems highly debated and IMO it's doubtful. The different cut mainly improves access to the higher frets. Though this is Heritage, so you could always order a customized Eagle Classic with the florentine cut or a single pup. then you just have to worry about aging the wood another 40 years!
Jazzpunk Posted June 25, 2009 Posted June 25, 2009 My Eagle Classic has a floater and is X-braced, so I'm guessing the parallel bar/X-brace distinction for Heritage spruce archtops is not about the model but about whether or not it leaves the factory with a floater or mounted pickups. This is interesting, since Gibson went from the X to parallel bars on the L-5 and 400 before those guitars got pickups. If we are connecting specific models rather than locations in product lines, I would argue that the Golden Eagle is the successor to the Gibson Kalamazoo Award. I can't find any information about how it was braced. My 2 cents, of course. Holy cow, that is one sharp lookin guitar! What's the story? Is this guitar pre-'Official' Heritage and still under the Gibby label?
111518 Posted June 26, 2009 Posted June 26, 2009 Jazzpunk: Check out Jay Wolfe's post about the connection between the Kalamazoo Award and the Golden Eagle: http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...?showtopic=5102
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