desperate for HFT 445 info

[owensf30]

Hey all,

One week into having my HFT 445 and still loving it. This guitar is so awsome its scary. I dont know if sitting in a closet for 20 plus years helped it but it sure didnt hurt it. I am a veteran owner of a lot of different dred style guitars and this thing is killer in stock config. loud, stiff, doesnt wash out when jammed easy to play and all this with a totally different look than martins and their many copies in the bluegrass world. What i need is info so i can spout it when asked about my guitar with the killer sound and crazy headstock haha. this guitar still has everything stock and i cant wait to sand the bracing inside and make sure the nut and saddle are bone (i dont think they are) i did install some ebony pins when i put new strings on it they helped a lot!!!! cant wait for the fossilized ivory ones to arrive. so please (I know im in the minority as an acoustic owner in this fine club) but if anybody knows acoustic stuff about my git like how many were made, why they stopped, whats it worth, or any other info or stories id love to hear!!! now , hows that for a run on sentence? thanks people!! Frank

[rjsanders]

Hey all,

One week into having my HFT 445 and still loving it. This guitar is so awsome its scary. I dont know if sitting in a closet for 20 plus years helped it but it sure didnt hurt it. I am a veteran owner of a lot of different dred style guitars and this thing is killer in stock config. loud, stiff, doesnt wash out when jammed easy to play and all this with a totally different look than martins and their many copies in the bluegrass world. What i need is info so i can spout it when asked about my guitar with the killer sound and crazy headstock haha. this guitar still has everything stock and i cant wait to sand the bracing inside and make sure the nut and saddle are bone (i dont think they are) i did install some ebony pins when i put new strings on it they helped a lot!!!! cant wait for the fossilized ivory ones to arrive. so please (I know im in the minority as an acoustic owner in this fine club) but if anybody knows acoustic stuff about my git like how many were made, why they stopped, whats it worth, or any other info or stories id love to hear!!! now , hows that for a run on sentence? thanks people!! Frank

 

Jim Deurloo told me (ca. 2001) they stopped making them (ca. mid-90's), because the last guy to do them retired. i've seen 445s go from $400 (mine) to over $1000. i'd love to see a 485 someday

[owensf30]

Jim Deurloo told me (ca. 2001) they stopped making them (ca. mid-90's), because the last guy to do them retired. i've seen 445s go from $400 (mine) to over $1000. i'd love to see a 485 someday

 

 

 

thanks for gettin back w the info. It really doesnt matter how much its worth i probly wont ever sell. its way cool to have one of these in my circle because they have such a killer punch which is great for bluegrass. you have to really work on martins to get this much sound. thanks again hear any else let me know! will have pictures soon!

[big bob]

the bird has a 475. sharp cutaway.

[big bob]

the bird has a 475. sharp cutaway.

[High Flying Bird]

the bird has a 475. sharp cutaway.

 

475 vs 445? The 475 has a slim neck profile which I like. Otherwise it has the same great punch and mellow tone. Heritage acoustics beg to have lead played on them. The individual notes really stand out.

[Steiner]

the bird has a 475. sharp cutaway.

 

B² - Did you just flip the Bird???

[big bob]

B² - Did you just flip the Bird???

Yea! it's on it's way to my house!!

[owensf30]

475 vs 445? The 475 has a slim neck profile which I like. Otherwise it has the same great punch and mellow tone. Heritage acoustics beg to have lead played on them. The individual notes really stand out.

 

 

you are so right bout the punch and the tone. you should hear a really good flatpicker rippin up some tony rice songs on a heritage acoustic. such a shame they're not being made today. they eclipse Martin dreds off the shelf. I cant believe one or two acoustic builders arent sending resumes' to Kalamazoo. I'm putting in a request soon!! ( probly wont be the first)

[Orangepicker]

I found a Heritage flat top a couple of years ago in Saunders Music in Youngstown, Ohio. I was on a vintage buying trip and went into this shop for the first time. I looked up on the wall over the counter and noticed that this sunburst deadnaught sid The Heritage on the headstock. The story was that there was a Heritage rep who travelled through there several years before and the owner bought 3 guitars from him. This guitar was 17 years old and still brand new hanging on the wall! To say the least I was amazed! He took it down and I could tell even with the ancient strings on it it had a great tone. I held on to this guitar until just a month ago. I had a customer come into my shop in Florida from Canada. I sold him the the second H-530 ever made that was in my shop and a couple of weeks later he called from Canada and said he had been intrigued by the Heritage flat top that I had and wanted to purchase it. He is now the owner.

 

As to the history of these guitars, they were not made by Heritage. I know this may come as a surprise but I am a Heritage dealer and a Larrivee dealer and I have confirmed this with both companies. They may have been built to Heritage specs but Jean Larrivee built these guitars for Heritage in Vancouver, British Columbia and shipped them to Heritage in the white where they applied the finish and hardware.

 

Mine was a great sounding instrument, great bassy bluegrass tone. I hope this helps

 

Dennis Weaver

Big Orange Guitar

[Orangepicker]

I found a Heritage flat top a couple of years ago in Saunders Music in Youngstown, Ohio. I was on a vintage buying trip and went into this shop for the first time. I looked up on the wall over the counter and noticed that this sunburst dreadnaught said The Heritage on the headstock. The story was that there was a Heritage rep who travelled through there several years before and the owner bought 3 guitars from him. This guitar was 17 years old and still brand new hanging on the wall! To say the least I was amazed! He took it down and I could tell even with the ancient strings on it it had a great tone. I held on to this guitar until just a month ago. I had a customer come into my shop in Florida from Canada. I sold him the the second H-530 ever made that was in my shop and a couple of weeks later he called from Canada and said he had been intrigued by the Heritage flat top that I had and wanted to purchase it. He is now the owner.

 

As to the history of these guitars, they were not made by Heritage. I know this may come as a surprise but I am a Heritage dealer and a Larrivee dealer and I have confirmed this with both companies. They may have been built to Heritage specs but Jean Larrivee built these guitars for Heritage in Vancouver, British Columbia and shipped them to Heritage in the white where they applied the finish and hardware.

 

Mine was a great sounding instrument, great bassy bluegrass tone. I hope this helps

 

Dennis Weaver

Big Orange Guitar

[tulk1]

LOVE Larrivee guitars. My singer has one that puts most Taylor and Martins to shame (well, we think so). Just a faboo guitar. But ... seems your version conflicts slightly with what the boys have told us at the PSP's. And with RJ's version, which is what they've been telling us. Is it possible that JL built one of the versions? Rather than all of the acoustics? Either way, seems to me that having a '90s Heritage branded Larrivee would be one awesome guitar to own.

[smurph1]

I found a Heritage flat top a couple of years ago in Saunders Music in Youngstown, Ohio. I was on a vintage buying trip and went into this shop for the first time. I looked up on the wall over the counter and noticed that this sunburst deadnaught sid The Heritage on the headstock. The story was that there was a Heritage rep who travelled through there several years before and the owner bought 3 guitars from him. This guitar was 17 years old and still brand new hanging on the wall! To say the least I was amazed! He took it down and I could tell even with the ancient strings on it it had a great tone. I held on to this guitar until just a month ago. I had a customer come into my shop in Florida from Canada. I sold him the the second H-530 ever made that was in my shop and a couple of weeks later he called from Canada and said he had been intrigued by the Heritage flat top that I had and wanted to purchase it. He is now the owner.

 

As to the history of these guitars, they were not made by Heritage. I know this may come as a surprise but I am a Heritage dealer and a Larrivee dealer and I have confirmed this with both companies. They may have been built to Heritage specs but Jean Larrivee built these guitars for Heritage in Vancouver, British Columbia and shipped them to Heritage in the white where they applied the finish and hardware.

 

Mine was a great sounding instrument, great bassy bluegrass tone. I hope this helps

 

Dennis Weaver

Big Orange Guitar

WOW!! You learn something new everyday..

[Orangepicker]

LOVE Larrivee guitars. My singer has one that puts most Taylor and Martins to shame (well, we think so). Just a faboo guitar. But ... seems your version conflicts slightly with what the boys have told us at the PSP's. And with RJ's version, which is what they've been telling us. Is it possible that JL built one of the versions? Rather than all of the acoustics? Either way, seems to me that having a '90s Heritage branded Larrivee would be one awesome guitar to own.

I believe mine was a 445 model. It was striped mahogany sides and back just like a natural top one that i saw in some of the gallery pictures. It had a spruce top and the top was almond sunburst. It was a good looking guitar, the pickguard looked like a leftover Mark series Gibson acoustic guard. It was thick black plastic. A friend has a picture of me playing the guitar at a gig but I never took a picture of it myself. I inquired about these guitars with BP at Heritage and he told me that Larrivee' built those for them. As he recalled, Heritage just did the finish work. I don't know whether there were any other models that Larrivee built for Heritage, I just asked Bill about my particular guitar.

 

Thank you,

Dennis

[tulk1]

I believe mine was a 445 model. It was striped mahogany sides and back just like a natural top one that i saw in some of the gallery pictures. It had a spruce top and the top was almond sunburst. It was a good looking guitar, the pickguard looked like a leftover Mark series Gibson acoustic guard. It was thick black plastic. A friend has a picture of me playing the guitar at a gig but I never took a picture of it myself. I inquired about these guitars with BP at Heritage and he told me that Larrivee' built those for them. As he recalled, Heritage just did the finish work. I don't know whether there were any other models that Larrivee built for Heritage, I just asked Bill about my particular guitar.

 

Thank you,

Dennis

 

That is so cool. Makes me want to get one, now. And we know they are rather rare.

[High Flying Bird]

I don't know..... The trim on my, opps, Steiner's 445 was for sure done at Heritage. Same with the 475. I have seen enough Heritages to know.

 

Hey, if it turns out I am full of shi... you know, so be it, it is to cool of a story.

 

Kenny, if I trip over a 445 any time soon you got first dibs. That beat to hell 445 I got a few years ago sounded just like Steiner's does.