wrxplayer Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I'm close to buying an H535. I'm looking at a 2000 H535 in great shape and a like new 2009 model. Assuming they were both mint, would you go for the older or current guitar? In other words, should one expect a difference in craftsmanship/quality when comparing the older vs. newer instrument? Thanks.
duaneallen Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I would think that the quality would be the same. I have a 2000 535 and its wonderful. The new ones have been plecked, so that's got to be an improvement. I've had three Heritages so far, the 535 and two others from the 90s. I will say that all of them needed a fret job done straight from the factory. Although that was kind of lame, all three guitars were amazing after that. The new one shouldn't have this problem, however, I'm sure that the person owning the older one would have taken care of this problem (if it even existed) anyway. Good luck.
fxdx99 Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I've an 02 and 08 and don't think there's any difference in the outgoing quality of build or components. Frankly, play each for a while (ya know, even the old blind folded test) and pick the one that 'speaks' to you most. If net buys and you can't play them, pick the one in the finish you like the best...
Kuz Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Play each and see which one speaks to you, but due to increase pressure for better quality control, IMHO the newer ones are just a little better (on fit & finish).
FredZepp Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Oh , the older one ,2000, will most certainly be better. It's not getting any easier to find those premium woods, and now the older one has seasoned and mellowed. Just kidding.. Ok, they will be the same quality....I'd like to say that there would be a greater difference in any two pieces of wood than most other factors, but ...Heritage has always remained consistant in that area also. It does come down to which one speaks to you. Some people prefer the newness factor, where I like them with some miles on them...
pjoshh Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I agree with Kuz. With quality instruments the guitar chooses the player. Get to know them both and one should begin to choose you. Be careful though, you could fall in love with both!!! Best of luck Josh
barrymclark Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 My understanding is that none of the new instruments are being plek'ed.
Kuz Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 My understanding is that none of the new instruments are being plek'ed. This is true. I did hear that Jay Wolfe sends his guitars out to have them Plek'd, but I can't confirm or deny that.
golferwave Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Ren knows where to dig out those tonewoods. He and the other guys have many years worth of contacts to tap so I think they're still getting the quality they need. Like the others have said...play em, and the one that speaks to you and has the mojo you are looking for is the one to take home no matter the year of production.
smurph1 Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 I really believe that an older guitar has mellowed, and in some (not all) cases can sound better than a new one..But once again, trust your ears..They won't lie to ya..I'm just an old fart who loves old guitars..That's why i got my 85..It was really a no brainer for me..
Spectrum13 Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 I really believe that an older guitar has mellowed, and in some (not all) cases can sound better than a new one..But once again, trust your ears..They won't lie to ya..I'm just an old fart who loves old guitars..That's why i got my 85..It was really a no brainer for me.. If you have the option to play each one, all being equal, the new one will improve with age. The older one will have more settled woods and fret wear. I doubt Heritage had or will have anything like the Norlin period or a post J.P.
Gitfiddler Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Plywood gitfiddles do not mellow with age, only solid wood gits do.
Kuz Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 It is pretty much universally accepted that old wood it's mellow or better. It is the hours upon hours of PLAYING a guitar that will mellow it and have it open up. If someone found a '59 LP under the bed of their grandparents home and it was never played, it would sound new. I have asked a very well known luthier about this and he agreed. He said (mostly talking about acoustics) that 60-70% of the guitar's opening or breaking in will occur within the first 20-24hrs of playing. The other magic 30-40% will take 10-15-20 years. He also said if the guitar sounds bad from the beginning it will sound a little better with age. But if the guitar sounds very good brand new, it will sound incredible in 10-20yrs.
FredZepp Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 If someone found a '59 LP under the bed of their grandparents home and it was never played, it would sound new. I would hesitate to say that it would sound new, the wood and the finish will have gone through some changes through oxidation. ( and the finish plays a part in this also...) But I agree that the vibrations of playing the instrument will have done much more to mellow the wood. But then again, trees lead different lives... so one tree may produce a mellower wood from day one. You know those ones that sound great right out of the box. (I believe that you own some of those...) But that's why we buy Heritage..... happier trees, better guitars... I luv 'em all.... old and new.
DCA Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 Plywood gitfiddles do not mellow with age, only solid wood gits do. That makes sense to me. But I will add that my 2000's stock pickups have rounded out in a big way over the intervening decade. The bridge pickup in particular honked and squaked up a storm when I first bought the instrument (actually scared the bujeebers out of me the first time I smacked the selector down to the bridge position mid-song while playing at a gratifying volume: HONK!!). Several years ago I realized that I'm not choking back on the bridge tone pot to the extent that I used to. Actually, I raised the bridge pup just last month. The neck pup has become a bit less saturated and boomy as well, but to a much smaller degree.
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