DetroitBlues

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.

That's a beauty! I rather like the satin look, gives it a rather vintage vibe. Congrats!

Nice work! Looks great!

I think for most gigs these days a 25W amp running into a 2x12 cabinet is all you need. I've enjoyed using a 50w with a 2x12 cabinet, but it's really not needed. I used a 25w Peavey Valveking into a 4x12 for a gig and I swear it was the best sound I ever heard (but that was 15 years ago and what was awesome then may not be today)

That's it?

So how's the rocking chair on the front porch?

Love to see real player wear on a guitar. She's a stunner.

That's a good question. I always assumed the Roy Clark was a single cut version of a 555., particularly when I see a full stop-bar tailpiece. Having never seen one other than the prototype, let alone play one, its hard to say what its made out of. For some reason, I'm thinking its a block of maple.

Those old gals sure age nicely. Wonder if they ever made any with beefy necks?

There was a little build up on the back side of the nut. I was able to fix it.

That guitar through a Marshall or a Marshall-esq amp sounds so good. I didn't even realize until a week after the gigs, I had my effects loop turned off. No delay, no reverb. Just wah, compressor, OD pedals.

Yes, thanks again Brent. While I only have a bridge pickup, it sounds great.

Good call.

There were no modulation effects in use (I didn't realize until after the gig the effects loop was off). Just a Timmy and Bad Monkey to push the front of the amp.

I'm sure Brent is drooling over this one.

What neighbors? The pond deserves a lot of love... so it is provided with "sonic" bliss!

I had one of those for the longest time until it eventually crapped out on me. At home, I'm usually using an interface to play through my iPad. My rig is setup for silent running....

I knew we searched for him for awhile, I thought this was the case. Great dude to know for sure. I remember him dealing with his mom's own health issues for awhile. RIP Smurph.

I believe the fretboard is a leftover fretboard meant for a Gibson SG from the 70's. There was a time Gibson used a mini-block inlay on a bound, ebony fretboard. I think this fretboard was from that batch.

When I first bought the guitar, I put in a set of used SD 59's in it. I sold it to another HOC member who had it for many years. A couple years ago, I bought it back sans the pickups. I put in a set of Railhammers I had lying around but I didn't like how they sounded. At the time a Heritage employee saw it on a visit two years ago. While an employee of Heritage, he couldn't afford to own one. So I lent it to him and he was going to restore it with OEM parts found in the factory. At the time he was either going to play it himself or possibly use it in a museum Heritage was thinking about. After 2 years, the museum never happened, and he never finished the guitar. I was asked if I'd take it back. The factory took the guitar, cleaned it up and put as much of the OEM parts back on it. The pickups they found wouldn't work, so they dropped in a brand-new set of SD's. Seth Lover in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. It very much sounded like the guitar when I purchased all those years ago from KBP810 who in turn bought it from Smurph. They also sent an API bridge and tailpiece (Advanced Plating Inc, same manufacture that supplies Gibson) The purge phase for me has ended but so has the desire to buy guitars. Since being in a band, I'm more focused on playing new music and being consistent with my sound. I really lost interest in all the latest gear videos, new offerings, and used gear marketplaces. To answer Bolero's question, Smurph got rid of it because he broke the headstock and had it repaired. Still he wasn't happy, so he sold it to KBP810 for cheap. The truss rod nut had a little buildup of glue from the repair and made it difficult to access. I found a tool that fits and am able to adjust it. It moves really easily which seems surprising for such an old guitar.

Access to the truss rod nut was a challenge. Typical sockets and wrenches didn't fit. I didn't want to use pliers, but I found a nut driver that had thin enough walls to turn the nut. Worked perfectly and turned very easily. I was happy it did. I also put an API Nashville bridge and tailpiece on it that was provided to me. Polished the frets, lubricated the nut, and cleaned the fretboard. She is ready to go. Played her again last night learning some new tunes for another band that plays more hard rock stuff.

Here’s a little video of her last night. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BNqEa7LHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr