What’s happening at Heritage on September 25th?

[MelodiusThunk]

I have now heard from numerous sources that there will be a major announcement made by Heritage on September 25th. I have also noticed that Heritage has discontinued the current iterations of the H300 and H335. Does anyone know what may be going on? I've heard rumors of a possible headstock design change. But those are just rumors and as of now are unsubstantiated. 

[Jimbob]

I was at the Heritage factory three weeks ago, and I didn't catch any talk about anything happening on the 25th. Speaking of headstocks, though, I did notice that some of their new standard models are now sharing the same headstock design as those found on the Custom Core models. I asked Mike about that, and all he said was "yeah, many of the new models now have the newly-designed headstock." That's about all I've got.

[TalismanRich]

They couldn't have discontinued the H300 and H335 because there are no 330 or 335!   

Are you thinking H-530 and H-535?   I just picked up an H-530 from the factory a month ago.   They had both types of guitars hanging on the wall of Ren's pickin' parlor.

[MelodiusThunk]

There is definitely something happening on the 25th. Maybe they are changing the headstock designs of the 330 and 335 to the Custom Core designs. 

[MelodiusThunk]

19 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

They couldn't have discontinued the H300 and H335 because there are no 330 or 335!   

Are you thinking H-530 and H-535?   I just picked up an H-530 from the factory a month ago.   They had both types of guitars hanging on the wall of Ren's pickin' parlor.

Yes, I meant H-530 and H-535. I’ll see if I edit that in my original post (unfortunately, it appears I am not able to edit my original post. That being said, I think it is fairly obvious what was meant). The current iterations of the H-530 and H-535 have definitely been discontinued. I am not sure how picking one up a month ago or them hanging on a wall in a guitar shop refutes this fact.

Edited Thursday at 05:14 PM by MelodiusThunk

[Spectrum13]

They are coming out with a full acoustic flying V and line of banjos, or the bespoke program will be back.   My guess. 

[bolero]

A flying V banjo would be pretty cool!

[MelodiusThunk]

25 minutes ago, Spectrum13 said:

They are coming out with a full acoustic flying V and line of banjos, or the bespoke program will be back.   My guess. 

 

[MelodiusThunk]

I was asking because I have two new H530s arriving tomorrow. If the headstocks are going to be changed, I want to refuse shipment. 

[29er]

I noticed that both the 530 & 535 are discounted when I was checking out the Dave's Guitar Shop site.

[Steiner]

2 hours ago, MelodiusThunk said:

I was asking because I have two new H530s arriving tomorrow. If the headstocks are going to be changed, I want to refuse shipment. 

Wait a week.  I NEED a Heritage bespoke banjo!  Do Dah…

[MelodiusThunk]

26 minutes ago, Steiner said:

Wait a week.  I NEED a Heritage bespoke banjo!  Do Dah…

Like in my statement that you quoted, they are coming tomorrow. I do not have a week. And what does "Do Dah…" mean? 

Edited Thursday at 08:45 PM by MelodiusThunk

[skydog52]

Shouldn't affect what you are getting.

[Jimbob]

On 9/18/2025 at 3:43 PM, MelodiusThunk said:

Like in my statement that you quoted, they are coming tomorrow. I do not have a week. And what does "Do Dah…" mean? 

Just curious, but did your guitars arrive today? And if so, what headstock came with them?

[Spectrum13]

On 9/18/2025 at 4:43 PM, MelodiusThunk said:

Like in my statement that you quoted, they are coming tomorrow. I do not have a week. And what does "Do Dah…" mean? 

All the Do Dah Day.....

 

  Boomers know!

[DaveCTOK]

This is probably not it... but... I also got a very sweet 530 not too long ago that had been hanging on the wall at that same Pickin Parlor mentioned above.  It was discounted a bit more than other recent discounts because there was no pickguard (being a slightly older iteration... maybe previous year's model, I think), and I was told that one reason for the extra discount was because they no longer wanted to send that model of guitar out without a pickguard.  I suspect that's a pre-existing change or policy that has nothing to do with whatever may happen on the 25th, but who knows.  I'm very much hoping that the announcement is not a discontinuation of the Standard series.... (I've read some speculation on Facebook and/or here that they might be considering doing that, but I think it was just speculation by fans like us).   The 530 that I got is absolutely delightful, and probably my new favorite guitar.

Edited Saturday at 01:39 AM by DaveCTOK

[TalismanRich]

Ah!   so you're the guy who snagged that guitar.   When I talked to Mike on that Wednesday, he said it was gone.   I got the Antique Sunburst that was hanging next to it. 

I thought about the possibility that they might suspend the standard series and concentrate on the Custom Cores.   In that case,  I'm glad I grabbed my 530 when I did.   I'm enjoying the lighter weight when I standing for 2+ hours,  and it's very comfortable to play, just like the 535.  I've play a few times through my Princeton, and it really sounded good going through my Strymon Iridium when I was jamming with some friends.   

 

 

[bolero]

Maybe they are going back to using wood pickguards?

[TalismanRich]

13 minutes ago, bolero said:

Maybe they are going back to using wood pickguards?

Yeah,  that's part of the new "sustainable sourcing" initiative.   

[DaveCTOK]

On 9/20/2025 at 8:36 AM, TalismanRich said:

Ah!   so you're the guy who snagged that guitar.   When I talked to Mike on that Wednesday, he said it was gone.   I got the Antique Sunburst that was hanging next to it. 

I thought about the possibility that they might suspend the standard series and concentrate on the Custom Cores.   In that case,  I'm glad I grabbed my 530 when I did.   I'm enjoying the lighter weight when I standing for 2+ hours,  and it's very comfortable to play, just like the 535.  I've play a few times through my Princeton, and it really sounded good going through my Strymon Iridium when I was jamming with some friends.   

 

 

     Yup!  Bottom middle!  If it helps... 😉  I am indeed really enjoying it!  (your sacrifice was not in vain).  The light weight is the first thing that really stood out when I picked it up in the showroom, and I definitely appreciate that it's easier on my back as well as being delightful to play.  There was a bit of rattle on some high notes, and while there I asked Mike, ":...maybe it's just my imagination," I said, "but does it sound like there's a bit of a rattle or buzz or something there?"  (or something like that), and he noticed it as well, saying that it wasn't my imagination, and that they would have no problem correcting the issue if I was interested.  They were either going to tighten something up on the existing bridge, or replace it with a newer style bridge.  I think in the end, he said it had something to do with saddle(s?) initially being filed too low, but in any case, they fixed the issue in-house before sending it out, and I enjoy playing it immensely.  I suspect it has something to do with feeling the vibration of the hollow body and hearing some of the acoustic sounds while also hearing it through the amp, but there's something almost... somewhat ethereal that isn't present when playing other guitars.  If it hadn't been for the extra discount on it, I am quite sure I would not have gotten one (spending money is not an easy thing for me, even if I have some saved up for just that purpose), so... for what it's worth, my sincere thanks for your delay.  I'd originally only intended to consider getting one of the H-150s with P-90s, hoping to play one of them while there and get a feel for it.  It was a surprise that the 530 (with the buzz fixed), turned out to be my first choice, and it's not something that I would have ordinarily considered.  Yes, super cool and all that, but not even really on my radar for ownership since even the 150 seemed a bit of a stretch (back to the whole thing about spending money not being easy for me).  The crazy end of the story (and full disclosure?) is that with the recent rollbacks on prices, and additional discount, I felt like it was just too good of a deal not to also get the H-150 P-90 that I'd tried out in the showroom as well (back to the "even if I have some saved up for just that purpose" part).  Maybe it's a learning experience for me, but I can honestly say I'm very glad I got them both, and I feel it was well worth it.  
     Also, after thinking a bit about it... I'm fairly optimistic/hopeful that the announcement would be something other than a discontinuation of the Standards.  I mean... there's plenty of other stuff that they could announce, right? 🙂  Hope you are enjoying your 530 at least as much as I am enjoying mine!

 

 

[TalismanRich]

OK, here's the deal.    Next PSP, you bring your 530,  I'll bring mine.   You pick a song and let me know and we'll jam on it!

When mine showed up, it had been sitting in the Fed Ex truck and temps were in the mid 90s.  It took a few days for things to settle in.   The low E string was buzzing, but a truss rod tweak and bridge adjustment to get it back to 5/64" pretty much cleared that up.    It rings nicely now.    Interestingly,  it sounds quite different from my H-525, even though both are maple laminate tops with Lollar P90s.     I don't know that the pickups are the same version, as the guitars were built many years apart.  

I took the 530 to jam with some friends, and it pretty much sat on the neck pickup the whole day, just some knob twisting and hitting a couple of pedals over 3 hours.

[MelodiusThunk]

On 9/19/2025 at 7:40 PM, Spectrum13 said:

All the Do Dah Day.....

 

  Boomers know!

Well, I am not a “boomer.” The only thing I know about “All the Do Dah Day” is its use in the racist minstrel song “Camptown Races.” So, it would be great if you could let me in on its meaning.

[MelodiusThunk]

On 9/19/2025 at 6:57 PM, Jimbob said:

Just curious, but did your guitars arrive today? And if so, what headstock came with them?

I refused shipment on the guitars. I do happen to know that they had the same headstock as in the listings that you see for them online.

[Spectrum13]

20 minutes ago, MelodiusThunk said:

Well, I am not a “boomer.” The only thing I know about “All the Do Dah Day” is its use in the racist minstrel song “Camptown Races.” So, it would be great if you could let me in on its meaning.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=3df9ee326b7783b3f88e96ee2619cc8438de3f88e22551946cb7018f9fa23639JmltdHM9MTc1ODQ5OTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=3a257823-0e11-6dbe-2e53-6df80f386c57&u=a1L3ZpZGVvcy9yaXZlcnZpZXcvcmVsYXRlZHZpZGVvP3E9YWxsK3RoZStkb28rZGErZGF5JiZtaWQ9RDU3QTFBOENDNkI3NzMzNkQxQkNENTdBMUE4Q0M2Qjc3MzM2RDFCQyZGT1JNPVZBTUdaQw

[MelodiusThunk]

10 minutes ago, Spectrum13 said:

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=3df9ee326b7783b3f88e96ee2619cc8438de3f88e22551946cb7018f9fa23639JmltdHM9MTc1ODQ5OTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=3a257823-0e11-6dbe-2e53-6df80f386c57&u=a1L3ZpZGVvcy9yaXZlcnZpZXcvcmVsYXRlZHZpZGVvP3E9YWxsK3RoZStkb28rZGErZGF5JiZtaWQ9RDU3QTFBOENDNkI3NzMzNkQxQkNENTdBMUE4Q0M2Qjc3MzM2RDFCQyZGT1JNPVZBTUdaQw

I don’t understand? That’s just a link to a cartoon character humming and singing a racist minstrel song. Can you just stop beating around the bush and explain in words what was meant in the earlier post?