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Considering a 2001 H-157, but concerned about the Schaller tailpiece and pickups


minervadreaming

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Hello all!

 

I'm in the market for an H-150 or H-157, and found a black beauty H-157 for $1599 - not a bad price!

 

However, after looking into the deal and at the guitar, I'm a bit concerned. Turns out that it's a 2001 and has the Schaller pickups and tailpiece (see picture for tailpiece).

 

I won't be able to play this guitar before purchase. I just played a brand new one and it took my breath away, but that was with either SD or Seth Lover pickups and the tonepros tailpiece that I believe they now use.

 

Any advice?

post-8438-0-37506300-1487885178_thumb.jpg

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Outstanding guitars... I would suspect the 2001 to have a fast / skinny neck... The new necks are slightly larger

I really like the Shaller pickups in mine, I don't beleive you will be disappointed. With that bridge it is very easy to swap pickups, the Shaller bridge adjusts saddle laterally for string spread and forwards backwards for intonation, another great feature.

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Schaller makes a Gibson style bridge and tailpiece that would be a drop in replacement.

 

There is no problem with the old style though... What are your concerns?

 

When he was six, he believed that the moon overhead followed him... by nine he had deciphered the illusion. Trading magic for fact, no tradebacks. So this is what it's like to be an adult. If he only knew now, what he knew then...

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Outstanding guitars... I would suspect the 2001 to have a fast / skinny neck... The new necks are slightly larger

 

I really like the Shaller pickups in mine, I don't beleive you will be disappointed. With that bridge it is very easy to swap pickups, the Shaller bridge adjusts saddle laterally for string spread and forwards backwards for intonation, another great feature.

 

Interesting, good info to have, thanks!

 

Schaller makes a Gibson style bridge and tailpiece that would be a drop in replacement.

 

There is no problem with the old style though... What are your concerns?

 

 

Through the bit of research I've done today, I have some concerns where people have called this particular hardware "tone sucking" at the extreme, but with many disagreeing. We all know how subjective something like that is!

 

I think the other concern is that I just have a lot of familiarity with both SD 59s and Seth Lovers, which would be the options in a newer H-157, and no experience with the Schallers. If anyone can provide their personal anecdotal experience with the differences that I'd be seeing from the Schallers to the newer pickups, that would be very helpful.

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The ONLY thing about an earlier Heritage is that it will most likely be set up for short leg pickups. That means you can't necessarily drop in a long legged Seth Lover without a bit of wood work in the pickup route. If you absolutely HAD to put in a set of Seths, you could also order them with short legs. I was able to put a set of Alnico Pro IIs in my H140 without modifying it, but my H157 wasn't deep enough for a stock Seth Lover. The only reason I changed out the H140's Shallers was because that particular set ('87s) just seemed to be really dull sounding. They didn't sound anything like my 157 or 535's Schallers.

 

As for the Schaller hardware, I don't have a big problem with it. It's on my 157, my 140 and my Mille 2000LE. It can be changed out if you don't like it, but as for being an "extreme tone suck", I don't hear it. Some people don't like it because it doesn't look like the original Gibson stuff. Others think that Nashville bridges are total junk and should immediately thrown in the trash and replaced with ABR hardware. I'm sure there are people who can hear the difference between painted ball ends and plain brass ones. Its the internet after all, and everyone is an expert.

 

BTW, this is my 2003. Its a sweety and has Schaller pickups.

 

H157%20shined%20up..jpg

 

Here's the Mille with Seth Lovers.

Millennium%20%20LE%20%2322.jpg

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That 157 is beautiful, TalismanRich. Stunner!

 

I actually just realized that I have a JB and a '59 here that I'm not using, so I could always throw those in. I'd want to get them covered with the gold covers to make it match and all....unfortunately, there won't be any haggling on the price, but I may just jump on it anyway.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

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I don't think there is anything wrong with the hardware or pickups on that guitar. If you want crunch turn up your amp or one of your stomp boxes. Schaller pups are clean as it should be -the amp is made for gain. You can't clean up a dirty pick up...

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The Schaller hardware is well engineered, but one thing is undeniable.... the Schaller Hardware is heavier, significantly than Nashville hardware. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but I did replace the Schaller and Nashville hardware on my guitars to Faber hardware. For me, Faber is the best in the business.

 

At the price you are quoted, I would buy the guitar and change the hardware later if you want to.

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The Schaller hardware is well engineered, but one thing is undeniable.... the Schaller Hardware is heavier, significantly than Nashville hardware. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but I did replace the Schaller and Nashville hardware on my guitars to Faber hardware. For me, Faber is the best in the business.

 

At the price you are quoted, I would buy the guitar and change the hardware later if you want to.

Sounds like I need to perform a weight comparison between the Shaller and Tonepros(I beleive they are very close... I do believe the Faber to be lighter though

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Interesting, good info to have, thanks!

 

 

Through the bit of research I've done today, I have some concerns where people have called this particular hardware "tone sucking" at the extreme, but with many disagreeing. We all know how subjective something like that is!

 

I think the other concern is that I just have a lot of familiarity with both SD 59s and Seth Lovers, which would be the options in a newer H-157, and no experience with the Schallers. If anyone can provide their personal anecdotal experience with the differences that I'd be seeing from the Schallers to the newer pickups, that would be very helpful.

I can't really comment on the Schaller pickups, I'm currently using Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbuckers. They went in very early, though I'm still tempted by ThroBaks or something else.

 

I think if you want to try out the Schallers, you really need to replace the potentiometers and wiring. I think the original wiring can really bog down any pickup.

 

I eventually ordered an RS Guitarworks 50's style wiring harness and that made a huge difference.

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That Schaller hardware works well enough, I just find it ugly

 

and those tailpiece's weigh nearly as much as the solid iron bumper my brother welded onto his pickup truck, in 1979

 

easy enough to swap out pups and hardware

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I swapped out every Schaller pickup on every Heritage guitar that I own. It seems that a lot of people really like them. I do not. If you folks like the Schaller pick ups a lot, I have a bunch of them for sale. Cheap....

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  • 4 weeks later...

I'll be honest and say that those old boxey looking Schaller tailpieces are quite possibly the most unattractive guitar parts ever created. I will never understand what compelled Heritage to use them for so long.

 

Just my opinion, not meant to offend.

I agree, they are well engineered and functional but not attractive IMHO. I installed a Gotoh for about $20 on my 157. I left the bridge though, had no issues with it.

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Thanks again for the feedback, all. I took the plunge and ordered the guitar!

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/The-Heritage/H157-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc

 

I thought the price was good enough, as others have said, that if I want to swap out some hardware it won't be a huge deal.

From the picture, it looks like the switch tip may have a white dot on it. Or, it may be a reflection.

 

If so, the pickups will likely be the custom HRWs. A highly sought after upgrade to the stock Schallers.

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