NGD: 2002 Heritage H-535 ASB

[kidsmoke]

Well, I'm unfortunately pretty swamped, so I haven't had much time to properly welcome this baby home, or clean her up, or take good photos, but I'm pretty stoked, and wanted to share with my similarly sick in the head brethren.

This is the last guitar I will ever buy.

A made in Kalamazoo, 2002 Heritage H-535 ASB (antique sunburst). This is constructed in the same manner as a 335, in the old Gibson plant, essentially, a custom shop to this day. But that's another thread. This thing is the real deal, made in USA, and I intend to play the bejeezus out of it for years to come. Laminated Curly Maple top and back, Solid maple rim, and center block, Mahogany neck, Grover Tuners, currently SD "Blackbacks" for p'ups (SD Jazz neck and C5 bridge, that's gonna change) Schaller straplock buttons, OHSC.

The neck is just stunning, deeper than my Washburn HB-35 that it replaces, not as "bat" like as some Gibson necks I've messed with in shops. Man, I love it. I'll have to figure out how to determine the actual specs so I have a frame of reference. I just haven't owned enough guitars to know exactly how to characterize what the radius may be.

Anyway, here it is.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/Heritage%20535/IMG_2958.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/Heritage%20535/IMG_2960.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/Heritage%20535/IMG_2961.jpg

[hubberjub]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Heritage. That's a beautiful guitar. I love my 535 and I'm sure you'll love yours too.

[Eric]

Congrats! That sure is a looker!

...

Oh, and


This is the last guitar I will ever buy.

wrong.

[progrmr]

....
This is the last guitar I will ever buy...

HAHA!

SWEET guitar though! What don't you like about the SD's??

[wingsdad]

Well, Tio, ya gone & done it ... :) Mucho Congratulatos (is that a word? It is now.) :applause
I can relate to how ecstatic you are, comparable to when I got my G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy...with this:

....This is the last guitar I will ever buy. ...
..Well, that's what I thought then, and I haven't actually bought a guitar since -- but I've traded others for others, sold some, and probably will sell or trade more... especially if I get a call that the right Heritage happens to have landed here to help me narrow my harem down further.

Really glad for ya, bro. She's gorgeous, and now you'll make her your own :socool

[kidsmoke]

yep, Wingsdad, you pegged in another thread when you said I was gassin' bad, and trying to figure it all out. Turns out she hasn't cost me a cent, but I did evacuate a fair amount of extraneous gear. I have some ideas for mods, which may run a bit of a tab, but well worth it for this baby. I'll tell you what. No buyers remorse, the neck........gawd, really a different beast than I've ever known.

I appreciate the encouragement, lads. Really happy with this one.

[oldguy]

Turns out she hasn't cost me a cent, but I did evacuate a fair amount of extraneous gear. I appreciate the encouragement, lads. Really happy with this one.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-- this is a great thing--^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ :)

Beautiful guitar, Tio. Being able to thin the herd and get one great guitar is cool. I'm glad for 'ya. (not so sure 'bout the "last guitar" thing)

[Tig]

Beautiful guitar, Tio.
Does she have an available sister? :drool:

[kidsmoke]

Beautiful guitar, Tio.
Does she have an available sister? :drool:

Actually, yes! This one is available locally, on consignment. Similar vintage, 2001. Appointed a bit differently, Hubberjub could tell you about the p'ups and bridge on this better than I, they were standard issue on these guitars for years.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/Heritage20USED20H53520PC20003.jpg

In my brief exposure to the brand and it's zealous fans, the best dealer, who carries an insane inventory, seems to be these guys (http://www.wolfeguitars.com/index2.php#/home/), they are Heritage and G&L centric, it seems. Selling what they feel to be the best, but not worried about the brand name written on the headstock, rather the quality in your hands and ears. Blackstar
distributors, also.

This is a link to their current 535 inventory (http://www.gbase.com/stores/wolfe-guitars/inventory?search=gs=y&pageindex=1&pagesize=25&sf0=5&sd0=0&sf1=12&sd1=1&sf2=7&sd2=0&dealerid=4adab851-71f2-4a0a-8985-2d0f12b5430f&model=h-535&grp=5)....sorry Tig, don't mean to derail an otherwise productive day!

[poodlesrule]

TK, I think the links above do not work as intended.
I can reach the site's home though... (Why am I looking this up...!??!?)

[kidsmoke]

TK, I think the links above do not work as intended.
I can reach the site's home though... (Why am I looking this up...!??!?)

links repaired.....to all our detriment. :D

[FrankenFretter]

Very nice. HNGD!

[NWBasser]

Wow!

What a beautiful guitar!

HNGD.

Like you, I think the neck is a make-or-break thing for a guitar. I'm glad you found a good one.

[MAXIFUNK]

Great Addition Congrats such a sweet axe!!

[Katastrophe]

*picks jaw up off the floor, procures squeegee for drool removal*

Gorgeous guitar, Tio. Congrats!

[kidsmoke]

follow up...I LOVE this freakin' thing. And I just realized, should I ever sit in at a tea party convention, I can avoid conflict on (probably only) one point. Manufacturing origin.

My guilar is handmade in Kalamazoo
My strap is handmade in Chicago
My amph is handmade in San Juan Capistrano
Kinda kewl....

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/Heritage%20535/P1110809.jpg

Having said all of that....i'll jump into Hell (http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php/12941-Hell-Guitars?highlight=hell+guitars) first chance I get...

[Katastrophe]

Did you get the tailpiece issue straightened out? That really is a beautiful guitar. Congrats again!

[kidsmoke]

Did you get the tailpiece issue straightened out? That really is a beautiful guitar. Congrats again!

Thanks Kat! For the time being...I went the Allman/Gibbons/Bonamassa route and simply top wrapped it. I like the looks and the bending, and the tuning is completely solid. Don't know that I'll need to make any other changes. Here's that thread, with pics
(http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php/18084-Top-Wrapping-a-tall-stoptail)