Heritage Sweet 16 or Sadowsky Jim Hall

[sierra trekker]

I've been looking around for a good jazz guitar for a while.........done a lot of reasearch and have come down to perhaps these two choises. Both cost about the same...........one being laminated and the other carved. I'm looking for a real warm tone..........haven't played either one, looking for comments or suggestions. Thanks.

[mr. beaumont]

I'm still waiting for that poster who asks "I'm looking for a cold, brittle tone."

sierra, how "amplified" do you like to play? And I'm not toally familiar with that heritage model-- floated pickup or routed? then maybe I can give you an answer, or at least some steering...

[sierra trekker]

Not all that amplified........smaller venues but through some nice all tube amps. The Heritage is thier version of an L-4.......routed humbucker with a carved spruce top.

[mr. beaumont]

you got yourself a pretty nice dilemma to have there, then.

If you can get them at the same-ish price, I lean towards the heritage only because it seems like, with the carved top, you're getting even more for the money, and part of me strays away from playing someone else's signature model...I'd like to blaze a new trail and have folks talking someday about the "mr. b" model, y'know? But that jim hall is a sexy beast.

the guitar, i mean.

Either one would make a fine companion. If you can't play them ahead of time, this might actually be one of those times where "which one looks better to you?" is a viable reasoning.

I've actually had a lot of fun in my life living by that...ah, digression...

[derek]

Having played both, I would choose the JH. However, that is me. Question is, have you played'em both? You say not, so I would say do that, and I'll bet it will become apparent to you. Happy hunting.

[Bill C]

Originally Posted by sierra trekker

Not all that amplified........smaller venues but through some nice all tube amps. The Heritage is thier version of an L-4.......routed humbucker with a carved spruce top.

according to their website it has a floater not a built-in pickup

[sierra trekker]

Thanks Derek......that's the kind of input I need. I haven't played either of them........don't know where I could find one to play. And Bill, you are probably right about the pickup.

[Tom Karol]

What a delicious dilemma! Umm, how about both?

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I seem to recall someone here writing that Heritages tend to sound brighter than Gibsons, acoustically.

I like the minimalistic look of the SJH better, but they're both sweet guitars. Similar specs, too. The JH has a wider nut (1 3/4 vs 1 11/16) whilst the S16 has the longer scale (25 1/2 vs 24 3/4). That doesn't make the choice easier for me! I find it odd that the tone control is optional on the S16. Who doesn't want a tone control?

[Bill C]

In some respects these are quite different guitars:

routed humbucker vs floater
laminate vs carved
24.75 vs 25.5 scale

This is pure speculation but I wouldn't be surprised if the Heritage sounded and felt quite different to the JH ...

[wizard3739]

I have played them both and chose the Sadowsky because for me, it had a better jazz tone, a better neck and has no feedback issues. It is, IMHO, the best gigging jazz guitar I have ever owned.

wiz

[sierra trekker]

Thanks wizard for your opinion................what you expressed are really my three major considerations for the guitar.

[medblues]

Russell Malone has switched over to Sadowsky's (semi hollows ?) recently, he used to play Gibson L-5, Buscarino, D'Angelico before. I don't know if it is playability etc or endorsement deal (maybe both ?) I played a Heritage Eagle before but it didn't get my juices flowing acoustically or amplified. I am hoping to go and play some Sadowsky guitars in the near future to see if they are worth saving $3000 ?

[Flat]

I've seen Russell in print ads with a Sadowsky Semi-Hollow, but even more recently he seems to be playing a Sadowsky LS-17, their new 17-inch L5-ish model.

Sadowsky Guitars | LS-17

I've got a Heritage H-575 custom, and I love it dearly...but the Sadowsky Jim Hall really turns my head. (Of course, my 575 has dual routed humbuckers, so it's even more different than the SJH than the Sweet Sixteen is--which means maybe I can rationalize owning both someday? Now that would be livin'!)

[Steve Z]

Originally Posted by sierra trekker

I've been looking around for a good jazz guitar for a while.........done a lot of reasearch and have come down to perhaps these two choises. Both cost about the same...........one being laminated and the other carved. I'm looking for a real warm tone..........haven't played either one, looking for comments or suggestions. Thanks.

I have not played the Jim Hall model, but I did play a Jimmy Bruno model and it was fantastic. I have played a few Heritage models, but I really did not connect. That stated, I have several good friends who play nothing but Heritage archtops and think they fantastic. It all boils down to personal preferences. Buying a guitar model unplayed is a laborious decision process indeed .


----------------------
2007 Sadowsky JH for sale on The Gear Page Forum (TGP)

I was just at The Gear Page Emporium section (guitars for sale) and saw a 2007 Sadowsky Jim Hall (Vintage Amber (natural)) for sale... I am not affiliated with the seller and do not know him, just passing the info. The price has been reduced to $3000 +shipping/paypal. I am not surprised that the JH has not sold on that forum since most of the buyers on TGP only want Teles and Les Pauls.

The Gear Page


Cheers,
Steve

[derek]

Originally Posted by wizard3739

I have played them both and chose the Sadowsky because for me, it had a better jazz tone, a better neck and has no feedback issues. It is, IMHO, the best gigging jazz guitar I have ever owned.

wiz

I agree completely. The most notable S16 player I can think of is Mimi Fox. She doesn't do too bad with one.

[derek]

Originally Posted by Steve Z

2007 Sadowsky JH for sale on The Gear Page Forum (TGP)

I was just at The Gear Page Emporium section (guitars for sale) and saw a 2007 Sadowsky Jim Hall (Vintage Amber (natural)) for sale... I am not affiliated with the seller and do not know him, just passing the info. The price has been reduced to $3000 +shipping/paypal. I am not surprised that the JH has not sold on that forum since most of the buyers on TGP only want Teles and Les Pauls.

The Gear Page


Cheers,
Steve

Yeah, I saw that one also. The guy started out with a price of $3400. I thought that was crazy, since they come in at just under $4k new. A thousand off one that was in very good to excellent condition is a pretty good price if you like that particular color. I prefer the carmel burst and JH burst personally.

[Steve Z]

Originally Posted by derek

Yeah, I saw that one also. The guy started out with a price of $3400. I thought that was crazy, since they come in at just under $4k new. A thousand off one that was in very good to excellent condition is a pretty good price if you like that particular color. I prefer the carmel burst and JH burst personally.

I completely agree with you in all accounts. My favorite Sadowsky color is the Sierra Burst. As you stated, if Vintage Amber is a color one enjoys, then the guitar on TGP could be a good deal.

[sierra trekker]

I agree...... if the price went down a little more, I might consider, but I really like the sienna burst on all of Sadowsky archtops and I don't but these things everyday.

[derek]

Originally Posted by sierra trekker

I agree...... if the price went down a little more, I might consider, but I really like the sienna burst on all of Sadowsky archtops and I don't but these things everyday.

There is a very good reason you don't. People hang on to them. The market is soft this year, and guitar sales dip a bit in the summer, so if you are interested, this one is a good option, assuming excellent condition.

[Dookychase]

Is it possible to try these guitars with a return policy? Then keep the one you want?

Just a thought.

[Steve Z]

Originally Posted by Dookychase

Is it possible to try these guitars with a return policy? Then keep the one you want?

Just a thought.

Sadowsky allows for a 7 day satisfaction guarantee policy with full refund minus shipping charges (assuming guitar is returned in mint condition). The downside is that there are rarely guitars in stock and they must ordered.

To try a Heritage one would need to find a dealer that offered a similar satisfaction guarantee policy.

[Dookychase]

Perhaps Jay Wolfe in Florida might help. I think he's the biggest Heritage dealer, though I could be wrong.

Worth a phone call.

[Steve Z]

I was just surfing gbase.com and found this gorgeous 2009 in Caramelburst. The price is listed as $3295, but perhaps a smooth talker could get the price down some. I have never dealt with Golden Age before but there is a Campellone thread I started on this forum and one of our members mentioned he bought a guitar from Golden Age.


http://www.gbase.com/gear/sadowsky-j...9-caramelburst

[derek]

Originally Posted by Steve Z

I was just surfing gbase.com and found this gorgeous 2009 in Caramelburst. The price is listed as $3295, but perhaps a smooth talker could get the price down some. I have never dealt with Golden Age before but there is a Campellone thread I started on this forum and one of our members mentioned he bought a guitar from Golden Age.


http://www.gbase.com/gear/sadowsky-j...9-caramelburst

Mmmm, carmel!

[82Benedetto]

love that color.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Swee-eet!

[JohnW400]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Swee-eet!

Dude, you've got to stop with the sweets. First the Cherry Garcia and now this. I don't know whether to go to the bakery or the Ice cream store on the way home from work tonight.

This picture is looking really good

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

And I'm ready for the request for "Salt Peanuts".

[Squint]

HEY! HEY! HEY!!! No sexy food allowed!! My guts too big as it is and it's stiflling the vibration of the backs of my archtops!!

How about a nice, cool Heritage Golden Eagle for only $3200.00!!? (Free Shipping)