New (to me) 147

[111518]

So, my impulse buy/teaching guitar arrived yesterday. I live so far out on the tundra, that I don't get to see many guitars, much less Heritage guitars, and I certainly have never seen one exactly like this: ebony board with traps, bound headstock with inlay, pickups appear to be antiquities (won't know for sure til I get a chance to pull them.)

 

I won't have a chance to plug it into a real amp and play until next week, so about all I can say at the moment is that it is very resonant, nice, full neck carve, seems to be set up well (though light for my taste --10, maybe even a 9 on top), and I ...(sigh)... I think I'm in love.

 

Couldn't get a decent full guitar picture ...light is too bad, as is the photographer, but these will have to do for now.

 

[yoslate]

Nice looking plank, Larry! Very nice! Bound headstocks are such a nice touch! Ebony and traps, too! Love the feel of the ebony board on my 150! Congrats on a really nice acquisition!

[FredZepp]

That is a sweet 147 , no doubt !!!

What year is it?

It has nice features, great looks, and the Kalamazoo mojo... I believe that you have a real winner there.

Many here will be lusting after that one. Congrats on a wise choice.

[JohnCovach]

Beautiful guitar!! Now the question that always creates a stir around the ol' HOC: to pickguard or not to pickguard?

[Kuz]

Gorgeous guitar, I vote no-guard!!!

[Kuz]

Gorgeous guitar, I vote no-guard!!!

[blueox]

Your guitar really stands out against the bedspread. You can make a lot of music with that one. Congrats.

[zookroo1]

Wow, that's a really nice one! And pretty rare I think, at least to me. Play her in good health!

[slider313]

Larry, congrats on your new guitar! If it plays as good as it looks, it's a win win. Is the logo mother of pearl? Belly cut on the back?

[111518]

Thanks, guys. Glad you share my impression of this guitar. I wouldn't have predicted that I would fall so hard for a cherry sunburst ...I really think it has a lot to do with nostalgia for the cb LP deluxe I had when I was 18. My Deluxe wasn't a great guitar, but being 18, and a guitar player, and having a Paul was pretty cool, at least as I remember it. I was looking for something a little different and even "showy," I think I lucked into a looker that also promises to be a player.

 

As for questions... serial number starts with "N", best as I can make out. What year would that make it? I've never paid much attention to the year of Heritage guitars. I think the seller said 90s.

 

As for guard ...nah, even if it was a homely Paul, I've never liked the look of guards on this type of guitar. I don't like es type guitars without guards, but I don't like Paul's with guards. It didn't come with a guard, and it was never drilled for a guard.

 

It did come with the original schaller roller bridge, but not tailpiece or pickups. I'm pretty sure, by the look of the covers, that the pickups are "aged" nickel, which says Seymour Duncan Antiquities to me, but there are probably other makes doing similar covers? Anyway, I don't think antiquities were around in the 90s, so that tells me the pickups must be replacements, but the seller thought they were original. I have antiquities in my 535, and I think they are a very useably-voiced 'bucker, so that's a good happenstance.

 

The inlay in the headstock is MOP. the picture doesn't do it any justice at all --does make it look m-o-toilet seat, but it's actually very rich pearl, both "The Heritage" and the little "aprostrophe." Is this the standard 157 inlay? I should know that, but I don't.

 

No belly cut ...but it seems thin to me. I have a little jr. that I actually play a fair amount, so it is similar in size, but of course the 147 is heavier and more substantial, though very light for a Paul.

[ronalr]

Great looking guitar..congratulations on a sweet find.. will be interested in your sound review after you amp up.....

[FredZepp]

serial number starts with "N", best as I can make out. What year would that make it? I've never paid much attention to the year of Heritage guitars. I think the seller said 90s.

That makes it a 1997. a good year indeed...

[fxdx99]

That's a really great instrument, Larry - congratulations. I've always liked cherry-burst and the dark ebony neck decked out really makes that a stunning guitar. Looking forward to your impressions once you get a chance to plug it in.

[mark555]

A really nice looking guitar, good for you, I hope you get a lot of pleasure and enjoyment from it.

[High Flying Bird]

 

I can see an old hippy playing this guitar between his legs like a sitar, sitting on the magic carpet. The cat's scratching post doubles as a bong. Dig it..... dig it.....

 

Hit a little Blue Sky on it for me tomorrow while the church bells are ringing everywhere.

[brentrocks]

What a great looking vintage Heritage!!! with that top, i say no PG

[big bob]

Quite nice, hold on to that one.

[pegleg32]

That's a beauty alright. I'm glad you decided to take the plunge. I'm sure your students will benefit also!!

[111518]

I can see an old hippy playing this guitar between his legs like a sitar, sitting on the magic carpet. The cat's scratching post doubles as a bong. Dig it..... dig it.....

 

Hit a little Blue Sky on it for me tomorrow while the church bells are ringing everywhere.

 

Just wish I could live the "gone to Carolina" part...

 

So you noticed my scratching post. That's one of those projects that is pretty much the story of my life. Couldn't believe stores were getting 50-60 bucks for scratching posts, so, off I go down in the basement to find some scrap plywood for the base, a piece of scrap 3" PVC for the post, bought a 3" end cap, drilled a hole in it and used a bolt and wingut to fix it to the plywood. So far, so good ...couple of bucks invested, got a sturdier structure than you could buy.

 

Then, start to buy rope to wrap the thing, and search for adhesive that will actually secure rope to PVC.

 

50-60 bucks, and a day's work, later, I've got my scratching post.

 

I will say, that was 12 years ago, and this generation of cats are just beginning to pull a couple of the wraps of rope loose, so, it's held up pretty well. I made a spiral rope cap for it, but these cats like to knock the cap off and bat it around the room --two toys for the price of one.

 

Thanks again for the kind words about the 147. It goes off to school tomorrow --first lessons of the semester. Hope it makes a good impression on the kids. I guess I'll even have to let them play it, though that's not going to be easy.