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While looking around at the Joe Walsh auction, I threw "heritage guitar" into the search bar & found these guitars with descriptions like: "A Gretsch Model G410M Synchromatic archtop guitar, solid maple top, one of 10 made by Heritage in Kalamazoo MI, natural maple finish, serial number 96410M5, one pickup, split hump block inlays, Imperial tuners, Chromatic tailpiece, Synchronized bridge and gold hardware." "A Gretsch Synchromatic GGP415M electric guitar, Carved maple top, blonde finish, one floating pickup, Chromatic tailpiece, Synchronized bridge, gold hardware, split hump block inlays and no case. One of only 10 guitars made by Heritage Kalamazoo, Michigan." Here's a link to 6 of the 10: https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/search?query=heritage+guitar&page=1 All are listed as sold. Randy Bachman probably had his dirty fingers on them :D Does anyone here own one of them, or the other 4? They were built in the early 90s apparently.

And of course Katie in finish sanding.

Yeah, I got one of those ES-135 too. It's never really "taken" to me. I guess after 30-years, I could sell it. But it was a birthday present to myself, long ago.

How many of the folks in the video have we met? Ren, Pete, Curly, Marv, Arnie, Bill. There are several that I've seen through the years but didn't get names. The rack from the prototype room should have been donated to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Here's an article I ran across a while back. I never saw the "passing of the torch" headstock before. https://the-guitar.com/a-heritage-of-guitar-making/

$50,000

That makes sense: those others would have been custom orders I have a Gibson ES-135 that has balsawood center block

Its rather interesting that although the factory no longer looks like this, they still use footage on their webpage showing the old factory. If you look closely, you'll notice the setup tables, wiring tables, tooling and fixtures all in the original basement floor space used to make the guitars. Ascent Collection | Heritage Guitars If you're looking at that link, it's for Heritage import Ascent lineup which is offering a 10% discount.

All, I've confirmed from the source that Heritage as of today only used Maple center blocks. Enjoy your PSA of the Day!

Yup

My Heritages from the pre-Meng era are all custom shop.

Up until ten years ago, they were all custom shop guitars.

With good tone controls, I really don't bother with pickup changes/swaps these days. I roll the volume/tone controls back for whatever I'm playing, add them back if I need a better cut through or gritter tone. That being said, I'm perfectly happy with Seymour Duncan. Consistent and well-balanced. My H150 has SD59's, my H140 has a Seth Lover Bridge and '59 Neck. The last time I really did any pickup swaps was for My H535 had Seth Lovers (just because I wanted less feedback/squeal for higher gain). Changed to Railhammers, which ended up sounding too clean as they are designed for ultra-high gain, drop tunings, didn't work well for typical classic rock, country, and blues. Because of the low cost, I ordered a custom bridge pickup from Red Rocks; an A3 overwound wax-potted humbucker. Probably the last pickup swap I'll do now that I have become fond of the use of volume and tone controls. The in-house built 225 Humbuckers probably sound great and just a slight twist of a couple of knobs will coax whatever sound I'm chasing in my head. Just no need for it these days. Now going back to the OP, you picked another beautiful guitar Larry. I'm up for adoption, so if you need an heir for your collection, I'm your guy.

Supply and demand, the HRW's have a historical significance, but they don't have a tone-snob-quest type of background like a Gibson PAF or T-Top pickups. There is little demand for them unless you're one of the few if you know, you know camps. I myself have played them, but at the time, I really was too inexperienced to know much about the quest for tone. Long story short, maybe $250 to $400 a set if you can find the right buyer.

Hey Brent, The last HRW I bought was in July for $150. That was for 1- so I guess I'd say about $300 for a set. I'm always looking for more so let me know if you have any you're selling!😁

51.50 and a pack of smokes!

What’s the going rate for a set of HRWs these days? What’s your thoughts?

yeah, I have an '01 535 with the HRW's. I absolutely love the pickups. I'd never change them. The SD59's in my '98 H150 are not my favorite, OK though. They don't bug me enough to spend money changing them.

Agreed! I think the standard Les Paul guard looks clunky.

They are currently listing the guitars as Custom Shop Core Collection, which is the "high end" spec (lighter weight mahogany, 225 pickups, 50s C shape neck). Guitars that are "Custom Shop" exclusives like Sweetwaters, appear to be dealer spec'd guitars, much as Wildwood does with Fender and Gibson. If you want to buy enough guitars, I'm sure they'll happily make 25 or 50 with your choice of pickup, color, etc.

I started getting confused by seeing guitars listed as Custom Shop, while others were Custom Core, and while others were just regular Heritage guitars without either of those two "Custom" descriptors. I wonder if they are phasing out the Custom Core branding or perhaps maybe separating the Custom Core to mean big beefey neck carves while Custom Shop would refer to more normal medium or 60's style neck carves. I haven't figured it out yet.

It's my '59.

When I think of the H525, that’s my first thought. Lonesome George

That thought did cross my mind But my budget is very tight. I’m going to ask Dave to try to buff the matte to black on the back and rim if possible. And then just do a gloss SILVERBURST on the top.