The NFS H137 of PSP - Manny's Music

[DetroitBlues]

For those who were at PSP this year, there was the oddest (perhaps ugliest ever) Heritage H-137 hanging on the wall.

After seeing this rather unusual guitar on the wall, I asked about it.  According to the folklore, Manny's Music was famous for not allowing people who weren't buying a guitar to play anything hanging on the wall. 

This was a problem for someone wanting to try an amp or pedal, so the solution was to use this aftermarket painted yellow Danelectro guitar that someone traded in for use on demoing gear.  Didn't matter if you were someone off the street or a member of the Rolling Stones, you played this Danelectro if you wanted to try something out.

For years, everyone wanted that ugly guitar because it played so well.  According to an article, George Harrison offed $200 back in the early 70's to buy that guitar and was denied.

So what does this have to do with this odd H137?

We all know Heritage is partially owned by a corporation that bought the rights to Sam Ash and Manny's music.  The RnR HOF owns that yellow Danelectro now and has it on display because of its history.  The leadership team at Heritage decided to put their Custom Shop skills to the test and re-create that broken Danelectro with a Custom Core H137 painted up to resemble that beat up Dano.

Here's the article: https://www.culturesonar.com/rockeology-old-yellow/  

 

 

 

Edited August 4 by DetroitBlues

[MartyGrass]

Speechless.

[TalismanRich]

It definitely stood out from all the other guitars in Ren's  pickin' room.

[bolero]

If I'd known that, I'd have offered them $200 for it

[Blacker80]

It’s a great build and shows what they’re capable of with the Custom Shop. It was very light, too. 

[PunkKitty]

I wasn't aware that they bought the rights to Sam Ash. I thought a Mexican company bought them.

[TalismanRich]

Sam Ash is owned by a Mexican group.  They had bought Manny's in 1999 and closed it about 10 yrs later.   Eventually all the stores on 48th St closed up,   Rudy's  Manny's,  Sam Ash were all there.   The building were demolished around 2018 and now have high rises with a Hampton Inn  and Hard Rock on those sites.   If you go to Google maps, you can look at street view from the days when they were all there.

Manny's Music is now owned by Vista/Bandlab.   They bought the name, trademarks etc from Sam Ash in 2024.    They are mail order only, and sell Harmony,  Heritage Ascent and Ascent+,  Mono cases and Teisco pedals.

[brentrocks]

I would love to buy that

[DetroitBlues]

45 minutes ago, brentrocks said:

I would love to buy that

Hence the title, NFS.  It's going to a display case, most likely in someone's office.

[ElNumero]

On 8/4/2025 at 10:02 PM, bolero said:

If I'd known that, I'd have offered them $200 for it

Canadian or U.S.?

[ElNumero]

On 8/6/2025 at 8:05 AM, brentrocks said:

I would love to buy that

No, you would not!

[ElNumero]

On 8/4/2025 at 12:39 PM, DetroitBlues said:

For those who were at PSP this year, there was the oddest (perhaps ugliest ever) Heritage H-137 hanging on the wall.

After seeing this rather unusual guitar on the wall, I asked about it.  According to the folklore, Manny's Music was famous for not allowing people who weren't buying a guitar to play anything hanging on the wall. 

This was a problem for someone wanting to try an amp or pedal, so the solution was to use this aftermarket painted yellow Danelectro guitar that someone traded in for use on demoing gear.  Didn't matter if you were someone off the street or a member of the Rolling Stones, you played this Danelectro if you wanted to try something out.

For years, everyone wanted that ugly guitar because it played so well.  According to an article, George Harrison offed $200 back in the early 70's to buy that guitar and was denied.

So what does this have to do with this odd H137?

We all know Heritage is partially owned by a corporation that bought the rights to Sam Ash and Manny's music.  The RnR HOF owns that yellow Danelectro now and has it on display because of its history.  The leadership team at Heritage decided to put their Custom Shop skills to the test and re-create that broken Danelectro with a Custom Core H137 painted up to resemble that beat up Dano.

Here's the article: https://www.culturesonar.com/rockeology-old-yellow/  

 

 

 

The headstock was broke by a pissed off customer?

Edited 18 hours ago by ElNumero

[TalismanRich]

16 hours ago, ElNumero said:

The headstock was broke by a pissed off customer?

The headstock of the original guitar at Mannys was broken when the guitar fell off the stand.  Hey, it's just a cheapo Danelectro.  No great loss.   It's made from the finest old growth masonite pressed tonewood.