Looking to buy Eagle or Sw 16

[runnerlk]

Hi new to the forum and looking for some guidance. I am looking to replace an Eastman 810CE with either a Sw 16 or eagle. My main motivation is go have a more comfortable neck. Have had the Eastman for 2 years now and love it except for the 1.75 " neck. I have played some ES-175s and they just do not cut it acoustically or quality and I think they are overpriced. I prefer a floating P/U and like the larger sizes 16-17.

 

My problem is that in the raleigh, nc area I have not been able to find any to demo. So looking to buy online with a solid return policy if not happy.

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Rock On,

 

Lou

[chico]

Lou,

Can't help ya with the questions you have cause I'm more of a solidbody/semi-solid body kind of player, but I know you came to the right place. Plus, we have some dealers here who will work with you. When you DO get a Heritage, and I know you will, you will be thrilled.

 

And I do look forward to the responses from members here who are big box players.

 

good luck and welcome,

chico

[Gitfiddler]

Welcome to the asylum, Lou.

 

The first place to check out might be the dealers listed on the HOC homepage. Wolfe's is the largest Heritage dealer, so that is a good starting place.

 

HOC Dealer Links

 

There are a few more who are HOC members not on that list (i.e. Mojo's Music in Illinois, J.Hale Music, etc.) that might be able to help you as well. Maybe they will chime in and work with you. (Be sure you get their cost to re-stock and re-ship if not satisfied!)

 

Sweet 16's are fantastic guitars, acoustically and amplified. They are in a different league than an ES175 in my opinion. Keep in mind that you can custom order many features, including the neck width at the nut, neck carve, scale length, wood upgrades, pickup in top or floating, HRW's etc., etc.

 

Good luck with your search.

[LaVonne]

Jeff at www.jhalemusic.com has a used Eagle. He occasionally has a used Sweet 16. That's where I got my used 16 about a year and a half ago. It's a great guitar.

[big bob]

the sweet 16 and the eagle are two different beasts.. the eagle is more like an acoustic in feel. the sweet 16 is a 575 with a spruce top, and a maple neck (more like an old es 175) I would say you should try to play one of each before you buy..

Think vacation to florida..

[Kuz]

Man where were you 6 months ago? I had the deals of the century going on.....

[Dick Seacup]

Man where were you 6 months ago? I had the deals of the century going on.....

 

Hard to believe that was almost six months ago, innit? Five months since the PSP. Time flies.

 

Welcome to The Club, runner! Good luck picking one...heck, just get one of each!

[runnerlk]

Great stuff guys. Spoke to Graham @ Wolfe today and I think i am leaning towards a Golden Eagle perhaps a used. Not willing to give up the acoustic sound so i think the sw16 or 575 are not options.

 

L

[tileman]

Here's the back of my sweet 16 I bought from Kuz.

[Kuz]

Here's the back of my sweet 16 I bought from Kuz.

 

I am starting to regret "giving" that one away.... argh!!!

 

I hope you are playing her a lot!!!!

[tulk1]

Here's the back of my sweet 16 I bought from Kuz.

 

 

That is just sick!! You got a steal on that guitar, no doubt.

[Windstring]

Runnerlk, Golden Eagles are wonderful guitars, as are Sw 16s. They are not radically different from one another, really just an inch in the "hips" and half an inch in "girth". Both of them are usually found with a 25.5inch scale length, which can be disconcerting for the ES-175 aficionado (24.75inch scale length). 575s, in various forms (with or without built-in pickups, maple or spruce tops, dot or block inlays, etc) are closer to ES-175s (same scale length) but the carved tops of the Heritage guitars generally give them a much sweeter acoustic tone. Having said that, age of the wood (even the plywood) also has an effect: old, "dry" ES-175s from the '50s really can sound wonderful even acoustically. Anyway, that is a digression. The real crux of an acoustic Heritage archtop is the sound: it tends to be louder and sweeter if the top is spruce and finely (read:thinly) carved. There was a period in the mid- to late 90s when there were some very thin (beautiful) tops carved at Heritage: to my (admittedly failing) ears, these sound the best. I wish you all the best in your HUNT for the perfect axe!

[runnerlk]

Runnerlk, Golden Eagles are wonderful guitars, as are Sw 16s. They are not radically different from one another, really just an inch in the "hips" and half an inch in "girth". Both of them are usually found with a 25.5inch scale length, which can be disconcerting for the ES-175 aficionado (24.75inch scale length). 575s, in various forms (with or without built-in pickups, maple or spruce tops, dot or block inlays, etc) are closer to ES-175s (same scale length) but the carved tops of the Heritage guitars generally give them a much sweeter acoustic tone. Having said that, age of the wood (even the plywood) also has an effect: old, "dry" ES-175s from the '50s really can sound wonderful even acoustically. Anyway, that is a digression. The real crux of an acoustic Heritage archtop is the sound: it tends to be louder and sweeter if the top is spruce and finely (read:thinly) carved. There was a period in the mid- to late 90s when there were some very thin (beautiful) tops carved at Heritage: to my (admittedly failing) ears, these sound the best. I wish you all the best in your HUNT for the perfect axe!

 

Thanks Windstring great info. I just came across a H-575 w/ single mounted P/U S/N R23501 Burnt Amber for a great price. Think I'll jump on it.

[Windstring]

Thanks Windstring great info. I just came across a H-575 w/ single mounted P/U S/N R23501 Burnt Amber for a great price. Think I'll jump on it.

 

Great choice! I hope you were successful. You may even have stumbled on one of the nice single "HRW four-point mounted" H-575s with a carved spruce (rather than maple) top. These are very nice because they have a great acoustic sound. Best of luck!