TalismanRich

I just keep getting notifications that I got another badge. It makes me feel like a boy scout!

I've heard that the factory setup is typically the same as the old Gibson 335 specs... which are generally 5/64" for the low E string and 3/64" for the high E string as a starting point at the 15th fret. Relief is checked at the 7th fret with a capo on the 1st fret and pressing on the 15th fret. Nut height should be 2/64" for low E and A, 1/64" for high E and B. Since the old nuts were hand cut, things might be slightly off, especially with a guitar having 17 years of play wear. If you are getting any buzz on the first fret, it's easy enough to have the nut replaced. Depending on the player and the strings, you might choose different setup specs. As for fakes, it's unlikely you'll find any counterfeit 2006 Heritage guitars. Until 5 years ago, you could buy H535s and H150s for $1500 or less all day. Leftys are more rare, but would be much more trouble for a counterfeit factory to make. A year or 2 ago, I saw some ads on DHGate for fake Custom Core H150s, but that's because at the time they were commanding premium pricing. Those ads could have been pictures of real guitars that some factory used to sell their guitars. I don't even see those anymore, because the demand is so much lower than a faked Gibson. It's easier to sell a fake Murphy Aged R9 Les Paul than a Custom Core. Looking forward to pics of your H535. They are super guitars!

Here's a shot from an earlier PSP showing how the H530 is built. The 535 has the same style block as the 335 above.

MG is right on the money. If there was no binding, the guitar would probably be exhibiting some fret sprout which happens with the wood dries out and shrinks. That's one of the big advantages of having that binding over the edge. You'll never rip open your hand sliding up the fretboard!

Happy Holidays to all my friends on the HOC!

Even if it wasn't a Switchcraft jack to start with, using Switchcraft would in no way make it "non-original". Over the years, they used a lot of different parts. Just keep it the same type of jack, barrel or with a jack plate.

It says that Don had a store in Louisville. I wonder where the store was located. If he had it from 66 to 97, I should have run across it. I thought I knew most of the music stores, especially in the 70s. Durlaufs, Tillers, Music Center, Bizannes, and more. However, I wonder if his shop is now Steilberg String Instruments. They were the local Heritage dealer when I got my H-157 back in 2003. I don't know when Jimmy opened the store, but I know he did luthiery many years ago. It would make sense if Steilberg took over the dealership. I'll have to ask next time I'm in the store.

And I'm picking up badges left and right! I feel so special.

I got together with a couple of friends again this afternoon to play some tunes. Mostly I've been taking my H140. Once I took my G&L ASAT. A couple of weeks ago, I took my G&L Legacy. I like the way they all play. They sound pretty darn good, although the guys commented that the Legacy sounded "thin". Yeah, it's a SSS, so it doesn't have the beef on the bottom. I haven't taken the 157 or Millenium, and while I took the 525 once as a backup, it never got out of the case. Today, I took my H535, the one with the new machine heads. After playing for almost 3 hours, I have to say that if I had to pick a favorite, that would be it. I don't know what it is about that guitar, but it sounds good, to me, it plays like a dream, it's got great upper fret access, and it's comfortable to hold for 3 hours (well 2 3/4 after taking a short bourbon break). It looks sexy as hell with that nice Faded Cherry finish. There's nothing that guitar can't do. I even did some finger picking on Helplessly Hoping! It's a winner!

Absolutely. The forum is flying now.

Do you have a reputable local music store? They should be able to give you a valid appraisal. I would be hesitant to use someplace like Guitar Center, or a pawn shop. You might also contact a dealer who sells Heritage, like Chicago Music Exchange or Daves. They should have a better idea about special models like the 20th Anniv and the 357. You don't want trade in value, you want replacement value. Some shops might look at unusual guitars and price them as standard instruments. Pull out a picture of a Knaggs, and he says "looks like a Strat.... $1500" when replacing it might be 4 or 5 thousand. Having a significant investment in guitars means it's prudent to have a rider, spelling out exactly what instruments you have, including model serial numbers and pictures. A standard homeowners policy probably will have a limit of a few thousand dollars. Having a dozen guitars which are worth $2-3000 a pop means it could be a significant loss. With the way guitar prices have risen in the past 5 years, that guitar you picked up for $1000 might take twice that to replace today.

This one is still in my gallery, but it fits. Happy Holidays everyone!

I'm on a few boards that run Xenforo. They seem to run pretty well from a usability standpoint. I don't know if they have the same feature set at IPB, like the user gallery, etc. Likewise I don't know how much work goes on behind the scene either to keep things operating.

Nothing wonky here.... I just got my 1 year badge!!! Yippie. 😁 Now I need to go out guitar shopping for a friend that wants to get his nephew an electric guitar for Christmas. There's an Ibanez RG, a Kramer Baretta for around $150, an Epi SG Special for $160 and a used Gibson Johnny A for $5000 at the local MusicGoRound. That should give him a couple of choices, eh?

Thanks for getting things back up and running. Your efforts are appreciated!

And a newer one as well, with her H-150.

I ran across this one today... Joyann Parker kicking it with her H-535. And the lady has some pipes as well!

The guard you have and Schaller pickups are the same as my 2005 H535. Mine has a different bridge and tailpiece, but then Heritage used to do a lot of customized guitars. My 2003 has the Schaller bridge and tailpiece. Surprisingly, my 535 has the proper TKL case, but it doesn't have the Heritage logo like my others do. I think I remember Jay Wolfe would sell guitars without the Heritage labeled case as a money saving option. It would be the same case. I think Ed Roman did the same thing. I don't know of any real changes that would narrow down the year, other than when they moved to SD pickups, dropped the Schaller hardware or when they had to change from the stamped serial number to a written one (because the stamp wore out!). The serial number was always the definitive criteria. Things were pretty consistent until the company changed hands a few years ago.

Weird... I can't see the pic with any of my browsers.

Oh yeah, the couple of tuners that were problemantic felt really sloppy once I removed them. The new ones are smooth, a bit tighter than the old ones. They tuned up and stayed right on tune after a few bends to stretch in the new strings.

It took a couple of days to get to the project, but it was an absolutely simple job. I didn't even need to use the new mounting hardware, it was exactly the same so I just swapped out the tuner. It took more time that I planned because while I had the strings off, I got the Virtuoso polish out and gave everything a nice buffing, especially under the strings and around the bridge. A little toothbrush action to clean the gunk around the frets was needed as well. The keystones look nice. Stringing up will take 1/4 the amount of time it used to take. Mission accomplished.

The new tuners arrived Thursday late, but I didn't get home until midnight and didn't see them until Friday morning. Hoping to do some work on it tomorrow.

Even more unusual: U2's Edge has switched from his coveted Vox amps to Universal Audio's digital simulator. https://www.guitarworld.com/news/u2-the-edge-switch-to-universal-audio-pedals

Man, if you want a player, that's IT! People pay big money to make a new guitar look like that. Honest wear is different. It's not surprising that is plays and sounds good. Bad guitars don't get played like that. The refret would be of no concern, a guitar that has been played that much will have worn frets. New ones just give it more life. As for the refinish, this is one that DetroitBlues had. Before and after.

Probably the only two guys who REALLY could clarify this (especially the "Les Paul" writing on the label) would be Jim or Marv. I don't know if Rendall was there from the very beginning, maybe even before the incorporation. Certainly they would have known they couldn't sell a Heritage as a Les Paul. Anyone know what the label said on the prototype that hung on the wall for so many years at the bottom of the steps? Also, looking at the headstock, I'm still not convinced that there wasn't a repair done. However, if there was one, it looks to have been very clean and solid. I would pull the truss rod cover and check the wood underneath. $800 is a good price. It will need a good cleaning and polishing. The fretboard looks pretty gunky.