skydog Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I know there are good ones and not so good ones in every model/every year, but was there a particular time when the wood was really flowing and some really great ones were produced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 the absolute best were madebetween 1985 and 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 + 1 on that ! Hopefully with the absolute bestest yet to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Haha what he said They've been consistently good in my experience Another reason I switched to Heritage from Gibson: they build a standard model of a guitar and do it well Unlike Gibson who dilutes the les paul line with oodles of price point variations and quality And then they invented the custom shop...which is a joke because that's how they should make all their guitars But I digress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y2kc Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 They all seem to be well made. I have three early ones and a new H-125 that is the cat's pajamas. They make a good guitar period. I agree that the brief period between 1985 and today are the golden years. Y2kc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericmusic Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 the absolute best were madebetween 1985 and 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitArtMan Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 the absolute best were madebetween 1985 and 2013 Beat me to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunote Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 If I had to say what the golden years were, I'd say it was the last eight or ten. I've read reports here that there were some years during the 90s where quality control got a little lax. I also prefer the SD and HRW pickups and tonepros hardware on recent guitars better than the standard schallar pickups and hardware on earlier ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 the absolute best were madebetween 1985 and 2013 Well said! Or any models that either Marv, Jim, JP, Bill or Ren had anything to do with would be GOLDEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark555 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Yes, we are in the golden years now, while the starters of the company are still there. Bolero, I am with you all the way on what you say about the Gibson Custom shop. What you get out of there should be what you get when you buy a Gibson, period. And, for the prices, they should be no more than the standard models. I had never thought of Gibson diluting their line because I don't pay any attention to their cheaper rubbish, for the same price I can buy far superior guitars from various makers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Stay away from the Heritages before 1985 and those produced after 1985 in Nashville. Just kidding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark555 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Stay away from the Heritages before 1985 and those produced after 1985 in Nashville. Just kidding. because the word is that they are only assembled in America....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 From what I see, right now, long neck tenons, the best hardware, the best pickup options, one piece backs, and some one piece tops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurph1 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 LOL.. Stay away from the Heritages before 1985 and those produced after 1985 in Nashville.Just kidding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yooper Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I guess we should ask someone who's played every model from every year. I suspect the answer will be something like, "Every guitar has its own characteristics, tone, touch, finish, and unique woods. The darn things have personalities and the same one can be perfect for some, but not for all." My personal perspective is they made me a perfect Eagle Classic in 1998 and it now has perfect Seth Lovers added to make it perfectly unique. The flaws are in my fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinesarchtop Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 It's all good baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundersteel Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 The H555 and two H575s I used to own were perfect. But every solid-bodied Heritage I've owned (one H157 and three H150s) has had some finish flaws; I believe they were made around 2006. It's not that they didn't play or sound good; they did. But I feel they pay more attention to detail with their semi- and hollowed body guitars than with their solid-bodied guitars. OK, flame suit on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 The H555 and two H575s I used to own were perfect. But every solid-bodied Heritage I've owned (one H157 and three H150s) has had some finish flaws; I believe they were made around 2006. It's not that they didn't play or sound good; they did. But I feel they pay more attention to detail with their semi- and hollowed body guitars than with their solid-bodied guitars. OK, flame suit on! Sorry Eric, I can't agree with this statement. 3 of my 4 150s are flawless. Mine are circa '04, '06', 07, 08. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Sorry Eric, I can't agree with this statement. 3 of my 4 150s are flawless. Mine are circa '04, '06', 07, 08. Would you please ship me the one thats not flawless? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Would you please ship me the one thats not flawless? Ah, no! It is the P90 GT, which was my first 150. It had some finish checks and that could have happened during shipping. That 150 sounded SO good I had to buy 3 more!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundersteel Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Sorry Eric, I can't agree with this statement. I'm happy that most of your guitars are flawless. I'm sure ones owned by some others are flawless as well, as I've seen. Unfortunately, I haven't had the same experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I'm happy that most of your guitars are flawless. I'm sure ones owned by some others are flawless as well, as I've seen. Unfortunately, I haven't had the same experience. Every guitar I own has the same dang flaw! Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 As time goes on, I predict that the so-called Heritage Golden Years might be the time when all of the original founders were still building guitars. 1985 - ???? In the meantime, enjoy the fruits of their labor. Order your special custom made guitar from the masters on Parsons Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soybean Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 One thing that is definitely better recently is the fret leveling (due to the Plek machine). Heritage used to have mediocre fret finishing. However, some of the real early heritages had superior mahogany neck wood. Early Heritage also used to sometimes use very flame-y maple on lower models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalismanRich Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 One thing that is definitely better recently is the fret leveling (due to the Plek machine). Heritage used to have mediocre fret finishing. However, some of the real early heritages had superior mahogany neck wood. Early Heritage also used to sometimes use very flame-y maple on lower models. ... but they don't use no stinkin' Plek machine! I heard that they even sold it. I don't think it had been operational for about 7 or 8 years. Some dealers (like Jay Wolfe) can do the Plek adjustment. As good at a Plek job can be, its not the only way to bet a superb playing guitar. My 140 plays great and it was never pleked. My 150 had a nut issue and some fret buzz. The 525 was Pleked by a luthier and it is sweet. But as much as I love my Heritages, none of them is close to my Melancon, which is impeccable and was all hand done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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