Need Advice about Millenium H-158

[h1pst3r]

Hi Fellow Heritage owners!

 

I am a former H150 Ultra owner who just yesterday found this same H158 on the Guitar Center Highland Park site. I have been looking for years for this guitar and couldn't be happier that Lensman returned this bad boy!!!!

 

I'm in Boston and play in a couple of jazz ensembles. Though I have a "proper" jazzbox (solid wood, floating p'up) I have lamented the feedback issues and fragility of my vintage instruments when gigging. Alas, the H158 to my rescue.

 

With some UPS luck I should have the Millie on Friday.

 

Thanks for all the feedback from other 158 owners... I plan on playing the frets off this axe.

 

Cheers!

 

-Chris

 

 

 

Given that you've taken it for a spin...uh...just out of curiosity...how did it s-o-u-n-d? I've always placed a bit of a premium on that characteristic, when buying an instrument....

 

And that DC which Kenny posted pics of is stunning...traps...perfect on that guitar!

[tulk1]

Hi Fellow Heritage owners!

 

I am a former H150 Ultra owner who just yesterday found this same H158 on the Guitar Center Highland Park site. I have been looking for years for this guitar and couldn't be happier that Lensman returned this bad boy!!!!

 

I'm in Boston and play in a couple of jazz ensembles. Though I have a "proper" jazzbox (solid wood, floating p'up) I have lamented the feedback issues and fragility of my vintage instruments when gigging. Alas, the H158 to my rescue.

 

With some UPS luck I should have the Millie on Friday.

 

Thanks for all the feedback from other 158 owners... I plan on playing the frets off this axe.

 

Cheers!

 

-Chris

 

Hey Chris. First ... Welcome to the HoC. Second - Thanks for rescuing that H158. C - If we still had Karma points, I'd give you some for being such a humanitarian ........ Enjoy that baby.

[23rd535]

Congrats!

 

I actually had them take pics and email me (they were 5 megs each, yikes!) and box the guitar up for me I was about a minute away from buying it, then I found a good trade for a minty 535 which is what I wanted anyways.

 

I also found this thread and thought it was funny that it was the same Heritage I was considering. I was actually still considering buying it even after I got the 535 but am a little short on cash right now.

 

Congrats again, I hope you put her to good use!

[h1pst3r]

Hey thanks, Tulk!

 

The back story on this is that I am turning 40 in a month. I was kind of skimming ebay looking for my usual suspects "les paul hollow", "Heritage guitar", "Hollow guitar", "Archtop Guitar" looking for a thin-line laminate, Les paul or small 335 (like a Ibanez Sco) type jazzer -- of course with impossible nitro finish and hand-made -- you know the easy stuff to find at a reasonable price. Just doing some pre-birthday dreaming.

 

I have a stable of axes -- a couple of strats that I made (I used to restore old archtops as an avocation), a '69 gorgeous Harmony Brilliant Cutaway as my main jazz axe (see pic) and a unique late 80's Epiphone spotlight. Over the years I've had lots and lots of guitars, but never found my most desired: a les paul-type semi with F-holes. The closest was the Heritage H150CM Ultra that I had -- a sweet guitar but a little heavy in both tone and weight for a jazz ensemble.

 

Anyway, I find a carlo robelli on ebay that reviewed reasonably well and I figured if it had good bones could build it up the way I wanted -- it was $300 on ebay. So, the other night I begin the preamble to wanting a new guitar that my wife knows really well and indulges beyond what is normal (she's a cool chick). Anyway she stops me dead in my rambling tracks and says, "OK -- you're old, 40 happens once, I'm getting you a guitar, here's the budget, start looking, I love you." Whoaaaaa!

 

I was just about positive that it would be a early 80's Ibanez Joe Pass or George Benson. I played a JP-20 but hated the pickup placement. I played the Benson and really liked it but the overall feel and tone was too similar to my Brilliant Cutaway. However, the journey continued.

 

I came into work yesterday, hit up Daddy's used section and (thinking why not) Guitar Center's used section... same search string (Heritage, Archtop, etc). Wammo... Chicago store has... what... my dream Heritage, the guitar I had discovered while learning about my old H150CM... the H158. I know it's trite now... but it was a "shwing" moment! Called the store and talked to the manager who answered every question I had and then sent me a bunch of pics -- that's how I realized it was Lensman's axe from this thread.

 

Started to tell my wife and she just smiled and said "buy it now"!

 

Honestly I cannot believe that lensman had any issues with this beast -- the finish is quite unreal as you can see. With the snow I probably will need to wait until next week but I will be providing a big review and will post some sound files.

 

Great to be back in the Heritage family!

 

-Chris

 

[h1pst3r]

Hey 23rd -- thanks!

 

A story like yours reminds me that some owners find their axes because they are supposed to. 60 seconds away.... crazy.

 

Best on your 535 -- sweet guitar!

 

-Chris

*yup, same thing -- 5mb pics from Bill in Chicago.

 

Oh -- don't want to break forum rules or anything, but the Epiphone is for sale -- $525 (I redid the circuit and the pups are Fralin Alinico iV's -- very clean tone, sperzel lockers, and a new bone nut by Wolf at Berklee.

 

 

 

 

Congrats!

 

I actually had them take pics and email me (they were 5 megs each, yikes!) and box the guitar up for me I was about a minute away from buying it, then I found a good trade for a minty 535 which is what I wanted anyways.

 

I also found this thread and thought it was funny that it was the same Heritage I was considering. I was actually still considering buying it even after I got the 535 but am a little short on cash right now.

 

Congrats again, I hope you put her to good use!

[23rd535]

Hey 23rd -- thanks!

 

A story like yours reminds me that some owners find their axes because they are supposed to. 60 seconds away.... crazy.

 

Best on your 535 -- sweet guitar!

 

-Chris

*yup, same thing -- 5mb pics from Bill in Chicago.

 

Oh -- don't want to break forum rules or anything, but the Epiphone is for sale -- $525 (I redid the circuit and the pups are Fralin Alinico iV's -- very clean tone, sperzel lockers, and a new bone nut by Wolf at Berklee.

 

I mean, this was a week or two ago, before I got my 535, but yeah, I was VERY close to buying it before i found the 535.

 

looks like it's in good shape. little headstock rash is all I saw.

 

good luck with the snow/blizzard delivery!

[h1pst3r]

Got the H-158 -- whooaaa... what a sweet guitar!

 

Thank you Lensman for having an absurdly critical eye when shopping guitars. This guitar is perfect. Took it to jazz ensemble on Sunday (quartet with drums, bass, & trombone) -- and it just sang with liquid jazzy goodness.

 

Amazing range of jazz tones I can get with this (I play through a BF Princeton Reverb with ext. cab fitted with vintage JBL D120) -- easily can get the thick dark Wes or Martino, the punch and mids of Kenny Burrell, or the smooth brightness of Metheny. the pots are awesome; I'm able to roll off the volume without losing tone or definition. Incredibly well-made instrument. I am a very proud owner!!

 

However, the screaming Duane Allman tones were a nice surprise.

 

Question -- the label inside says "Heritage Guitars Custom Shop" does that mean it's a "custom order"

 

Thanks everyone!!!

 

Keep playing!

 

-Chris

[Spectrum13]

H1

 

Sounds like you are in love!!

 

Yes, The Millie can be a little L5 or a 150 depending on what pickup you select.

 

Enjoy your first Heritage....