Blunote Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Just registered a couple of days ago & had been lurking for a few days before that. The reason: I'd been looking at electric guitars, had fallen for the tone of a Millennium Ultra Std and needed some more information before taking the plunge. Well, today I took the plunge. My story: While I still feel young, I'm sure most of you would consider me pretty old (50-ish). I'm a native Michigander and bought my first acoustic guitar in 1977 from Elderly Music when they were located in East Lansing. I played for a couple months then put the guitar away while I focussed on studies, drank beer, and chased girls. I've graduated to drinking scotch (on a low carb diet), still have the sweetie I caught 29 years ago, and picked up that old axe 18 months ago -only this time, I couldn't put it down. I suppose that with less testosterone coursing through my veins, I'm more in touch with my inner-artist. For whatever reason, I feel like I've found that puzzle piece that has been missing my whole life. So, I now have a Gibson Jumbo A/E, and traded my original guitar back to Elderly for an 000/OM Blueridge that I travel with. My job has me working overseas in Switzerland so I spend most of my spare time playing it (only the good Lord knows how much bar tab this has helped me avoid). At any rate, As a life-long Michigan native, Elderly Instruments has become a particularly special place to visit when I'm home. So, last week, I made my way there to peruse their offerings. Whilst I was appreciating the medley of stringed offerings I heard the voice (yes, that voice) and turned to find a man and his elderly father playing the most amazing, creamiest sounding Les Paul sized guitar...and all I could say was "Thats the the sound I've been looking for". It was the aforementioned Millennium Ultra STd. But, being more expensive than I intended, not knowing much about Heritage Guitars, and not knowing how to keep the expended amount from aforementioned Sweetie, I was unable to commit. I'm pleased to report that the first two issues have been resolved in large part by visits to this site. I also love the fact that Heritage, and Elderly are Michigan companies. The third? Lets just say Swiss bank accounts come in handy.
Spectrum13 Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 "I played for a couple months then put the guitar away while I focussed on studies, drank beer, and chased girls. I've graduated to drinking scotch (on a low carb diet)" Too bad you wasted your youth on that "studies" part, I approve of the rest! "My job has me working overseas in Switzerland" - Again, how lucky can you get! all I could say was "Thats the the sound I've been looking for". The hills are alive with the sound of Millie. "being more expensive than I intended", not knowing much about Heritage Guitars, You got a deal. Something that can go from a Burst to a L5 in one instrument, please. Happy to have you on the forum. Before they say it, please post a shot of that ultra top and let us know what pickups you have in it.
pegleg32 Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Welcome to the HOC Blunote. There are actually a lot of us old guys here, I guess we aren't swayed so much by flash and glitter, and thus gravitate towards the old fashioned quality of Heritage guitars. I'm sure several of the guys will exchange notes with you about the Milly, I haven't owned one yet, but it appears to be a very fine guitar.
High Flying Bird Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 There are actually a lot of us old guys here...... That's the truth. At this years factory tour the fart contest got really ugly. Later on we took turns chasing kids off of the Henderson's lawn. Blunote, you can't go wrong with a Heritage. I put my guitar down for about 10 years and started back. I got to go into Elderly's for the first time this July. Wow!
golferwave Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Welcome to the HOC and congratulations on your new Heritage! I purchased my first new Heritage, an H-150CM from Elderly in 1996. A great bunch of folks there!
ronalr Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Welcome to the HOC and I am one of the oldies but goodies here also (59) and we need pictures when you get that Millie
GuitArtMan Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Welcome and I'm shocked no one has beaten me to the usual HOC greeting:
FredZepp Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 I just wanted to mention... nice introduction. Welcome to the HOC. Doesn't the Ultra in the guitar name mean that it's got a nice top, and likely to be especially photogenic..... We can't pass up the opportunity to see another Heritage beauty when the possibility presents itself.
Kuz Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Great story, and while I'm a little younger, I too have the obsession for playing. Many will say I have a nice collection of guitars, but I don't view the stable that way. Each guitar I own has a different voice, a different color to offer to the tonal picture. Don't be surprised if this Milli is not your last Heritage. Actually, there are few, if any around here who only own one. So while I may not be the most interesting man in the world,.... I say, "stay GASSY my friends!"
fxdx99 Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Hi blunote, welcome to HOC - nice intro. We share some common history - I bought my first guitar from Elderly in 73, traded it in a year later for a strat that I still have. It was Elderly's catalog a few years ago that I found Heritage - thought their 535s were just too good to pass up. Like Kuz says, once you start... I've 4 Heritages now. Stay clear of this site should you not want to follow the multiple Heritage route... not good for those of us so easily swayed by extraordinary instruments priced at as a tremendous value. Those blueridge's are pretty amazing guitars - sound really good, very Martinish.
Millennium Maestro Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 I WANT TO SEE PICS OF A MILLIE!!! LETS GET IT ON, EH!!
Dick Seacup Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 From one Michigander to another, welcome to The Club, blunote! If you ever find yourself up around Midland (read: lost in the wilderness) and want to talk Heritage and/or scotch, let me know. Now, for the obligatory:
yoslate Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Welcome, Blunote! Great intro. You'll fit right in here! And congrats on the Millie. Don't own one of those, but I've played a few. Fabulous instrument!
Jazzpunk Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Blunote I'm confused! Did you purchase the Millie or still in the 'lusting after' stages?
mark555 Posted December 31, 2009 Posted December 31, 2009 Don't be surprised if this Milli is not your last Heritage. Actually, there are few, if any around here who only own one Welcome, and by the way, I am one of the 'few'. So I am in that more exclusive clique of players here... Until I can afford a 150CM that is...
smurph1 Posted December 31, 2009 Posted December 31, 2009 Nice Intro Blunote..I loved the line about the Swiss bank account!! (Gotta get me one of those)..I lived in Lansing from 1955 to 1978 so i remember when Elderly was in the basement in East lansing..Welcome to the Cult..(I mean club)
Blunote Posted January 1, 2010 Author Posted January 1, 2010 Blunote I'm confused! Did you purchase the Millie or still in the 'lusting after' stages? I definitely bought it. But I've just gotten back from a couple of days in Chicago with my girl; first unsupervised nights alone with her (without kids) since we started having children nearly 18 years ago. T'was absolutely terrific! Among other things, we went to the Green Mill on the North Side and listened "Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan" -a truly amazing gypsy jazz guitarist. Now that I'm back, I'll need to figure out a way to go collect my new acquisition, slip in to the house with it and see if I can't get it to assimilate with my other possessions so that it by the time she realizes it's new, it will have been around long enough to be grandfathered into the next general amnesty I negotiate with her. I'll post pictures when I can.
mars_hall Posted January 1, 2010 Posted January 1, 2010 I definitely bought it. But I've just gotten back from a couple of days in Chicago with my girl; first unsupervised nights alone with her (without kids) since we started having children nearly 18 years ago. T'was absolutely terrific! Among other things, we went to the Green Mill on the North Side and listened "Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan" -a truly amazing gypsy jazz guitarist. Now that I'm back, I'll need to figure out a way to go collect my new acquisition, slip in to the house with it and see if I can't get it to assimilate with my other possessions so that it by the time she realizes it's new, it will have been around long enough to be grandfathered into the next general amnesty I negotiate with her. I'll post pictures when I can. Sounds like a plan. Work it!
Lionheart Posted January 1, 2010 Posted January 1, 2010 I was only in the Green Mill in Chicago once, but I can tell you that it was one of the best musical experiences of my life. That room has so much mojo.
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