Guitar Makers in Kalamazoo, short documentary

[bolero]

Saw this doc on PBS featuring both Heritage and Kal-Tone guitars:

web link

https://www.pbs.org/video/guitar-makers-in-kalamazoo-ljajem/

[Steiner]

Does Heritage make a semi-hollow with a solid top? 
 

PS - Nice snatch bolero.

Edited October 4 by Steiner

[MartyGrass]

Heritage has made thin bodies with solid tops but not as a sustained model.

I don't know the worth of a solid top over a full center block with mounted controls and two pickups on a thin body.  Maybe.  I don't recall such a model.

The Gibson Johnny A used solid woods in a small hollow archtop.  I really couldn't hear a difference in recordings with this design compared to a weight relievied H-150 or Gibson Les Paul Supreme.  But that's just me.  I know people who hear things that I have no idea what they're talking about.

[Spectrum13]

Does a H155 count?

[Gitfiddler]

Heritage described the construction of the Millennium models as "semi-solid"...

Here's an old HOC thread that discusses it:  

 

[TalismanRich]

I must say, that's one fine looking Millennium and a fine looking amp as well in that discussion..... Fine!   😁

[Spectrum13]

19 minutes ago, TalismanRich said:

I must say, that's one fine looking Millennium and a fine looking amp as well in that discussion..... Fine!   😁

If you think that Milly is fine, Gitfiddler has an Eagle that would surpass it, but he is a modest kind of guy.

[DavesNotHere]

Thanks for posting this Chris. I hadn't seen this one. Whoever that Pete guy is, he seems to know a thing or two about guitars. 

[MartyGrass]

Here is a Millie DC.  It has a lot of maple- the back, top and neck.  Upper register access is easy.  It balances well enough.

A consideration with a blue guitar is that it will very slowly have some yellowing emerge.

The original owner swapped out the HRWs with a set of PRS pups, which sound very good.  I have the HRWs sitting in the case pocket, but so far have not had the urge to install them.

From an aesthetics point of view, a well done burst is grand.  Black is elegant.  I like block inlays.

I got a Les Paul Supreme earlier this year from a friend.  There are similarities to the Millie series.  The Supreme has solid woods with a lot of body hollowing, so both the Millie series and the Supreme are fairly light.  The Supreme is less "neck heavy", but in neither is that a real concern.  The Supreme has no back cavity cover.  PIckup and harness work is doable but challenging.

The better return on your dollar investment is the Millie if you plan to keep it.

I'll add a little controversy.  Of course every element in the signal chain and instrument affects the tone.  I play the blue DC through four amps.  Each takes the same instrument but sounds different.  The Supreme is most like the chambered but has no back plate.

  

I wish I had kept my Millie Eagle 2000.  I had a lot of time with that guitar.  I don't even remember why I traded it now.  Oh well.

[DetroitBlues]

I always loved the Millie... but there were 2 different models referred to the Millie.

H155 and H158.

I'm sure some of you can correct me, but the 158 was first and had round back and maybe some sort of center block that isn't glued to the top and back and the H155 is sort of like a flat-back version that centerblock is glued like a H535?

Maybe I'm a bit fuzzy here...