ryanm74 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Hello all, I have owned Heritage guitars for several years now, but I just joined this forum today. I love my H157 and H150, they caused me to sell my 1974 Les Paul Standard that I had for 20 years. My question is about Heritage acoustic guitars. I know they made full on regular acoustics when the company started (at least that is what I have found so far) but I cannot find any information about them. Were they made in Kalamazoo? Were they solid wood guitars or laminate? Were there several models? If anyone can provide any information, I would be very appreciative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Heritage Acoustics were made in Kalamazoo. There is something about another company that made the body and Heritage used their own necks. There are a few different models, if you look on the top of the forum there is a photo gallery that shows you the different models. There aren't that many examples on this forum since they were not massed produced. Keep in mind Heritage is more of a custom shop then an assembly line factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chico Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 welcome ryan. i own a HFT 445 which was made in the early days. mine is a factory reject on account of a broken neclk that was reglued and a split in the spruce top. if i could only own one of my Heritages it would be the one. the tone is to die for. plays great, stays in tune with itself over time. heritage had to make acoustics and mandolins in the early days to be considered a 'full line' guitar company, but soon realized their niche was the electric boxes and H150 H535 styles and that is what they concentrated on. there are pics of mine in the gallery. others on this list have them too. once in a while they come up for sale on ebay but the price of them has gradually creeped up over time. if you can get one, go for it. you won't be sorry. sure I'd like to have a Martin D35 but till then my HFt 445 is the one I'd keep above all, even with it's flaws. others will have more background. how bout some pics of your Heritages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfan Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Was Larivee involved with the bodies? Recall reading that here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbp810 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I've had the pleasure of owning two - first was an HFT445 that Detroit Blues now owns, the second is a H450 I picked up from Brentrocks (who hasn't bought a guitar from Brent?) Here is the 450 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 There is one soon to be on the HOC FS, right Detroit Blues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Interesting Abe Wechter sig. on that label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Was Larivee involved with the bodies? Recall reading that here. Yep! That what we were told at PSP3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Flying Bird Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Interesting Abe Wechter sig. on that label. Good eye! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Flying Bird Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I gave my left... never mind, for this one. It is an H-475, one of 5 or 6 built. It is a second but Marv Lamb couldn't tell me what was wrong with it, while holding it in his hands. I knew when I got it that I would never play the 445 I bought new from Mr. Walker. I sold it to Steiner. It is probably the best looking specimen of all the 445s. The H-475. Dibs are Lydia's. When they read the will this one will be hers. The Firebird and 535 are going to be sent with me into the afterlife. Gate way 225 Parsons St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I have a Heritage 575 custom acoustic. It's a 16" bout, 25.5 scale, Solid mahogany rim and one piece back. Solid tap tuned spruce top, rosewood binding, ebony fret board,3 1/2" body depth. This baby has it all except a cut away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drfie Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Interesting Abe Wechter sig. on that label. I didn't know Abe worked at Heritage. I thought he was with Gibson and then struck out on his own before Heritage started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 There is one soon to be on the HOC FS, right Detroit Blues? Not unless you stole it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsmoke Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Archtops are 'Zoo builds, and flat top acoustics (400 series) are Larrivee bodies with Heritage necks. Larrivee bodies were built by Jean Larrivee in his British Columbia plant. He only builds solid wood acoustics, never laminate. He also builds for a dovetail joint, not the bolt on style, a la Taylor and Bourgeois. Much debate as to one being better than another sonically, but the bolt on sure makes for an easier neck reset, but that's for your grandkids to worry about. Larrivee guitars are top notch acoustics. Very sensible decision on the part of Heritage to take that approach, in my opinion. With the neck appointments such a visual characteristic of an acoustic, and with the skill and care that Heritage puts into fit and finish, I think the Heritage acoustics would be a real unique high quality guitar to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsmoke Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I gave my left... never mind, for this one. It is an H-475, one of 5 or 6 built. It is a second but Marv Lamb couldn't tell me what was wrong with it, while holding it in his hands. I knew when I got it that I would never play the 445 I bought new from Mr. Walker. I sold it to Steiner. It is probably the best looking specimen of all the 445s. The H-475. Dibs are Lydia's. When they read the will this one will be hers. The Firebird and 535 are going to be sent with me into the afterlife. Gate way 225 Parsons St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Bird, I would love to hear this beauty. WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsmoke Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I've had the pleasure of owning two - first was an HFT445 that Detroit Blues now owns, the second is a H450 I picked up from Brentrocks (who hasn't bought a guitar from Brent?) Here is the 450 Good Gawd, this one too. Flame maple slope shoulder dread, is that what I'm seeing? Holy crap guys, these have got to sing. SOOOO jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I got the porn!!! Much thanks to Sir High Flying Bird - copyrights too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 more porn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Damn the one that got away..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Flying Bird Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Linkage: http://www.ronwarren.com/hft445/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 wow...beautiful bunch of guitars in this thread, thx for the pics!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Linkage: http://www.ronwarren.com/hft445/index.htm That's the butt shot I was looking to see. You don't see mahogany stripped like that too often. Thatt's some beautiful wood and beautiful shots Bird. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Mmmmm, those butt shots always give me wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totonka Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Just for comparison sake, here's mine. I absolutely love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 My 445 is definately not a closet queen, in fact it really appears more like Willie Nelson's Trigger than these pieces of art. But it sure sounds awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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