H Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I didn't really consider this when I bought my 170 but I couldn't recall that body shape being made by Gibson. I stumbled across an image on the web yesterday and thought WHOA!!!! Is the Gibson Spirit II the 'ancestor' of the 170? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIP Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I didn't really consider this when I bought my 170 but I couldn't recall that body shape being made by Gibson. I stumbled across an image on the web yesterday and thought WHOA!!!! Is the Gibson Spirit II the 'ancestor' of the 170? yes I think you are rite. the Gibson Spirit was the 1980's version of the slab body DC LP Special and Junior, available with one or two humbuckers. It was first an Epiphone model, but at the time it was the end of the Norlin era and they were struggling financially, so they then decided to market the Spirit as a Gibson guitar, the first Gibson Spirit's had the Gibson logo applied directly over the Epiphone logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod65 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 (sorry, I'm feeling lazy too ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 This one is a Gibson Spirit II XPL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 :this_thread_is_useless_without_etc (sorry, I'm feeling lazy too ) Just had a further look around. It seems the Gibson model had an Explorer style headstock - can't find a decent resolution pic right now - but look at the Epiphone model! It IS the 170!!! Gibson Epiphone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Current H-170 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod65 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 oooh yuk! sorry I asked! never a good idea to have a symmetrical body shape with an asymmetrical headstock, IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mgoetting Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Current H-170 They still haven't updated the specs for the 2nd edition. Body Size : Rim Thickness - 1 1/2” Body Width - 12 1/2” Body Length - 17 1/4” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIP Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 The Explorer shaped headstock was used on the last model Gibson Spirit, first ones did not have it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIP Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 here is a photo of a early Gibson Spirit ! also came as a 2 pickup version the Spirit 11 it was the later Spirit XPL that had the Explorer headstock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 The Explorer shaped headstock was used on the last model Gibson Spirit, first ones did not have it Yeah, so far the ones that I've found pics of , they have the asymmetrical shape when they have the Gibby headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111518 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Another candidate for precursor to the 170 is the Epiphone Genesis, designed in US, supposedly by Gibson director of marketing Jim Walker, and made in either Japan, or Taiwan, depending on who you read, in 79-81 (You see these sometimes with the claim that they were US made, but they were not.) These were all mahogany bodied, carved top, quality guitars, and had the three knob/toggle layout, if not exactly like the 170. I think all these designs must have been influenced by the Yamaha SG2000, which was the first full depth, deep cutaway guitar that I remember from this late70s/80s period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Genesis_Gibson_Image_1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIP Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I also think that the Gibson Spirit was big influence on the development of the Gibson Les Paul Standard DC and the PRS guitars, there is a Gibson Custom Shop LP Standard DC Pro from the late 90's that has a similar shaped headstock shape as the Heritage was a very nice well built guitar very similar to the Heritage 170 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I also think that the Gibson Spirit was big influence on the development of the Gibson Les Paul Standard DC and the PRS guitars, there is a Gibson Custom Shop LP Standard DC Pro from the late 90's that has a similar shaped headstock shape as the Heritage was a very nice well built guitar very similar to the Heritage 170 I like that one... I tried to buy a Epiphone Spirit , made in Kalamazoo, a short time ago... but it fell through. It was nice. ( I agree on the origin of the LP Std DC....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I think they were aiming more for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mgoetting Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I think they were aiming more for this There's a couple of slices of heaven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 this is probably the reality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 This one is a Gibson Spirit II XPL not to be confused with this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 not to be confused with this Naner !! It's a killer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoNameBand Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 not to be confused with this Are those "Lipstick" pickups, ie; Danelectro style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Are those "Lipstick" pickups, ie; Danelectro style? they were, now they are gone, replaced with BG pups vintage 60's single coils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueox Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Interesting thread. It looks like the Heritage H170 has more rounded cutaways on each side of the neck versus the Epiphones. All in all, the H170 is one classy guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark555 Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 On a personal note, the 170 pictured is by far the best of the bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfan Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 This topic with the references to Epliphone got me thinking about "lawsuit" guitars , did a few searches,some interesting stuff out there. Evidently there where some really good copies of Gibson and Fender made in Japan in the late 70's and 80's. Found this Yamaha on e bay, looks like the 170. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueox Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 To me, the Yamaha looks much different than the H170, with the Epiphone and Gretsch guitars shown here coming the closest. To their credit, Yamaha was trying to offer a thick double cutaway with a typical Gibson control/pickup setup in hopes of pulling in some LP players, but it was an uphill battle. The Heritage H170 is still at the top of the food chain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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