New Heritage H-535s

[len]

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I could not find a post that related to my question. I am considering purchasing a Standard H-535 and I'm wondering if the new H-535s, especially those made in 2025, that are built with CNC are as good as the old ones where human beings did that work. Again, apologies if this has already been covered

[TalismanRich]

The guitars that I have played at the factory were every bit as good as my 2005 535.   

I don't think you'll find CNC robots making the H535s.   I believe that they might be rough carving the necks (not sure if this is absolutely true), but putting together a semihollow body is a multistep process that doesn't lend itself to CNC manufacturing.   The top and back are a 3 piece laminated sandwich that is then steam pressed in a form that gives it the arch.   The center block is a solid block with the pickup areas cut out, and there is a piece that matches up to fill the gap between the top and block.   Then you have kerfing that is applied to the rim before the top and bottom are glued.  The pieces are then assembled by hand to form the body.

Rough cutting the neck profile means that the starting shape should be more consistent in terms of thickness and curvature, but there is still a lot of handiwork to finalize things.    If you've ever watched someone hand rolling a neck, there can be a lot of variation.   It doesn't take a lot of sanding to go from a fat to a thin neck.   In the past it was all done freehand, checking it with a pattern every so often.

If you think about it,  the old duplicarver was a primitive "cnc" machine, minus the computer.   It's akin to the patterns that someone like Hillerich & Bradsby uses when carving baseball bats.   A CNC just follows a computerized form to cut the wood. 

 

 

 

[len]

Thanks so much for the answer, Rich. I purchased their Ascent+ model earlier this year, and the playability of that guitar, especially considering the price, is so good, I now want to upgrade to a Standard as a Christmas present to myself. Since I'd prefer to buy new, mostly because I like the idea of helping a great company, l just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be making a mistake buying new instead of something prior to the Bandlab ownership.  I took the tour in 2017 and was so impressed by the guys building the guitars, that I've wanted one ever since. So again, thanks so much for the answer.

[MartyGrass]

Thanks so much for the answer, Rich. I purchased their Ascent+ model earlier this year, and the playability of that guitar, especially considering the price, is so good, I now want to upgrade to a Standard as a Christmas present to myself.

 

You sound like me.  My wife would say that since I like the Ascent+ so much, I should stick with it and shut up!

[TalismanRich]

While the Ascent and Ascent+ lines are good entry levels, they aren't made in the same factory as the standard and Custom Core ranges.

Len, you should join us for this year's PSP, and see the way things have changed.   While many things are still being done "old school",  there are some improvements,  like the spray booth where the air is filtered (no dust to get on the finish, and safer) and the PLEK machine to make sure the guitars have consistent setups.   

Heck, you might just find the exact guitar you want while you're there!

Edited 8 hours ago by TalismanRich

[len]

I promised my wife a trip Marty. Bribery always works with her. Thanks Rich. I will see what I can do about attending PSP. From what I've read it sounds like a good time. 

[DetroitBlues]

1 hour ago, len said:

I promised my wife a trip Marty. Bribery always works with her. Thanks Rich. I will see what I can do about attending PSP. From what I've read it sounds like a good time. 

You can buy direct from the factory show room, usually at a discount too, so you'll save some money there.  I bought my H150 that way 2 years ago. 

Plus, you may find some unique one-off's you will not find in any store too.

Back to the original point, rough cutting of solid bodies and necks are all that CNC work does.  The CNC's are heavily used for the Harmony guitars, so you'll see a lot of them on the machines.

[len]

Thanks DetroitBlues. I think I have my wife convinced to go; she enjoyed Kalamazoo the last time we were there.