tsp17

I had the same experience but in reverse. Everyone is different…My first Heritage 25 years ago was an amazing 535. Gorgeous!!!! But just too big for me and didn’t sit right on my lap or against my body due to where the contours were. Got a 575MH and was in love. Now a 575 custom, 550 custom and an Skb. All feel ‘just right’.

Thx @skydog52 I played it this morning. I played it this morning. I was deeply rewarded. I’ll try to record some samples over the weekend and post them.

Serial No. starts with T, so looks like 2003 according to the chart. Also has a 011 stamped above the serial no., which I've always taken to mean it was number 11 from the limited run, but I've never tested that theory. @skydog52 @MartyGrass @Gitfiddler is that right? anyone else?

Great Pedal!!! I had one for a while. Loved it.

i have number 011. How many are out there in the wild?

Nicely done my friend. Again, you have a way of finding the great instruments.

some of the very coolest hippest Heritages ever have come through this shop. One of the ones I wish I'd never ever sold.....ahhh yes, the Duaneburst Custom H150....Even as an archtop hollow body loving jazz guy - I still pine for that one. I've never seen or played anything like it. One of our own here at HOC designed that masterpiece.

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

That says it all!

True that. From the newer H guitars I’ve seen/played in the wild (full disclosure- i have not purchased one manufactured under new management), QC and consistency has improved with modern methods and technology. They are very good guitars. However…. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky, but of the 10 or so Heritage models I’ve owned over time (i currently have three) and the dozens i have found in store or private hands and tried out of curiosity or thinking to buy, I have never played or owned a bad older one. Yes, even on the extra special ones and the keepers Ive spotted some inconsistencies or minor imperfections due to the nature of the process, or there might be a loose wire, faulty switch, or other fixable issue, but I’ll tolerate that (to a point) for the craftsmanship and overall human quality of the instrument. Maybe it is the appeal of the Heritage lore and history, maybe it is the community I’ve found with you all, but like most of us here at HOC there is something about the story and minor imperfections that come with the human artisan/craft touch that i love. I know it sounds romanticized, but It adds something, a warmth, a life quality, or some other better word descriptor that one might imagine. Besides, the more modern, slimmer necks are not for me. Maybe I’m just an old guy who prefers older styles. I have a Korean made Comins chambered/semi-hollow that is a superb instrument, flawless in many ways in terms of the fit and finish (Bill Comins does the final set up and QC check himself- a very good guy based on my interactions with him), consistency of the neck carve, binding, etc. but that one too has had problems with selector switch, tuners, and pickup wiring. Bottom line is that the H’s get the by far most play in my house and gigs. Plus i love telling the H story when people ask about the guitar - it happens at every gig. All of my Heritages are from decades gone by. None are made in the last 20 or so years. Just one person’s story…

Excellent! Love this one.

+1

Really nice.

Very cool!

surprisingly no. plays great, sounds great. action maybe a little bit higher, but not an issue.

Spot on. My 000-28 loves lighter strings. Heavier strings deaden it. Not nearly as lively.

Third party validation is good. Last night at the gig, someone who had seen us play before asked me if the guitar was new. She said it sounded different and really good. Nice to hear that the improvement wasn't just in my head. It feels like a fuller tone with more gravity, if that makes sense. Definitely no bends though. It is limiting in that way. Slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs only.

When i wanted to experiment with a heavier gauge to get a bigger sound on my SKB, i intended to go from 12s to 13s. But Thomastik doesn’t make a 13 in the GB line. So i skipped to 14s. Had them on my SKB now for a few years. I would have stuck with 12s on the 550 but didn’t have any left in the house. It was an adjustment at first- definitely, but once i got used to it, it was not a big deal. Going from one guitar strung with 12 to another with 14 you can feel it for sure, but it just takes a minute to remind yourself to give it a little extra oomph all around. On the other side- i tried heavier gauges on my Martin 000-18 and didn’t really like it. I found it much harder to get what i wanted out of heavy gauge on acoustic.

Since we are sharing H550 pics....My 550.

Right. Very little bending in my playing. Slides, and hammer on, yes, but almost no bends.

I’ve had 14s on my Super KB for years. No problem. But, your point is well taken.

Nope. Plays like a dream.

For years I’ve strung my H550 with Thomastik GB Flatwound 12s. They are expensive but last 3-4 times other strings and sound great, always. Very easy playing, consistent and great tone. I use 14s on my Super KB, but have never tried 14s on the 550 because the 12s sound so good, warm, round but also a little sweet. Very 60’-70’s jazz archtop. The band digs it. I went to change out the old 12s for a new set today….But…i was out of the 12s. Never thought to put 14s on the 550; that was all i had and the old strings were already half off. So….14s went on the 550. Wow. What a difference! The guitar sounds bigger in every way. A little darker, fuller and just more. I was really surprised that it made that big a change in fullness and voice of the guitar. Not as effortless to play, but not a huge change in fretting or picking force required, just takes a little more oomph all around. 14s will stay on and maybe be the norm for this 550 from now on. Gig on Friday, so we’ll see…

I wouldn’t dare lift 60lbs. Good for you for still being able to do it! Up until recently i was going with head/cab just to split up the weight. Around 40 lbs each. I’m very happy to have found a single combo package under 35lbs. Plenty loud for the venues i play at 35 watts.