Heritage Unveils A Brand New Archtop - Heritage H-717

[mr. beaumont]

You can literally pull 2 Campellones off or Reverb for $13K and still take your Mrs. to dinner.

I'll be sticking with my well used 575 and continuing to feed my whole family


But the price of the Heritage didn't bother me...if they think they can sell some at that price, more power to them. I just think the design is clunky.

[Stringswinger]

Stupid Question Time: What's with archtops being made with no fretboard inlays? Is there some sort of benefit to it? Part of me is thinking that of I'm going to drop $13k on a new Heritage, I might want some fancy inlay for my trouble?

Jimmy D'Aquisto thought that more wood and less other stuff (plastic, shell, metal) would make for a better acoustic sound. Jimmy started the modern school of archtop luthery. It is interesting to see Heritage start moving in that direction.

My Michael Thames classical and my Shelly Park Gypsy guitar have no inlays or dots. They do have side markers. I find it easier to keep myself in the right place on the fretboard with dots at a minimum and I do like pearl blocks and nice binding, so I am not an adherent to the modern school of archtop luthery myself.

[spencer096]

My Michael Thames classical

oh my...he's an incredible builder. that must be a blast to play.

not to hijack, but if anyone hasnt heard of matt palmer, this is a good intro and an insane display of a thames guitar. vid should queue to 4:12 but isnt for some reason.

[Woody Sound]

Stupid Question Time: What's with archtops being made with no fretboard inlays? Is there some sort of benefit to it? Part of me is thinking that of I'm going to drop $13k on a new Heritage, I might want some fancy inlay for my trouble?

Count me as one who loves that look.

[Woody Sound]

I love Heritage guitars, but this is a design miss for me. The fretboard and finger rest a going for a sleek, modern look, and then they couple that with the gaudy laced Citation tailpiece...it just doesn't work for me.

Make the hardware black!

[nyc chaz]

I think it's an interesting development and I have several thoughts, even though I really have no dog in this fight:

-First and foremost, more than anything I'm just happy to see Heritage put out a major indicator of their continued commitment to the archtop guitar (Looking at their Instagram with nothing but single cut solid bodies, it's not hard to get worried!)
-I do find it strange to introduce a new model instead of bringing back classics like the Golden Eagle and Super Eagle. Maybe this is an indication of more good things to come?
-In terms of pricing: is it expensive? You betcha! Would I buy one? Nope. Now that we have that out of the way, comparing new gear to the used market isn't completely fair. The price of this guitar compares favorably with similar carved Benedettos.
-I agree that a Campellone Cameo is a heck of a lot of instrument for less money, but Campellone's wait list is long (if you can even get on it at all) and he won't be making them that much longer. Heritage can probably deliver one of these within a few months of order (faster than Benedetto too).

But if I was going to be purchasing a guitar in this price range, I'd be looking for a player grade D'Angelico.


Edited to add my favorite spec from their spec sheet: Nut Material ? Nut

I think most people,myself included would have been more excited like you said if the Golden Eagle was being produced again.For those wishing for Gibson to start making archtops again,if they did it would probably be just as expensive as this new Heritage model.

[deacon Mark]

Multiple layers of binding and inlay take more work. While Jimmy D'aquisto managed to do the trick no one else has really equaled him in the overall guitar that has less gingerbread. I am in the camp of the old school that like a bit of fancy stuff but nothing crazy. This to me is where most individual builders have failed. They might on the whole make a great guitar, but the ascetics do not add up. It is hard to say what is good or bad it seems whatever you happen to fancy. These days the traditional carved top really is what I like. Nothing beats a Gibson L5 or Super 400 although some are equal. Offhand the one that manages this the best is among Mark Campellone. It has the Gibson lineage but stamped clearly as a Campellone guitar. This Heritage I am sure have to digest it more sometimes things do change for me about looks on a guitar.

[QAman]

It’s nice to see Heritage extending the Custom Core Collection to include a carved Archtop. The guitar is quite attractive, but needs fingerboard inlays and something a little better than the Benedetto style pick-guard- that’s just not too appealing.


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[vinnyv1k]

This guitar reminds me of when the Gibson solid formed archtop came out. It was an exciting new model, but the price and the look missed the mark, and the new model was short lived. If Gibson brought back the L-5 this Heritage model would need a redesign to sell. Like already said at least Heritage still makes carved archtops. Kudos to that.

[Archie]

In my rule book, the end of a headstock cannot be narrower than the base of the headstock.
That metal tail piece will likely addd a lot of metal ringing to the acoustic tone (as does the Byrdland tailpiece), so not a design I would chose on an ‘acoustic instrument’.
The bracing will be interesting. That will determine the point of having a tuned top. If it's over braced, the sound will be more even but less impressive.
I assume the promo video is the only chance any of us are going to see or hear from this guitar again.
Another one for the great annals of archtop manufacturing.

Good to see Heritage pushing on.

[jazzloverfat]

... needs fingerboard inlays ...

Stickers? That's what I did with my classical xD


But on a more serious note, what is "tone-tapped spruce" ?

[jzucker]

Stupid Question Time: What's with archtops being made with no fretboard inlays? Is there some sort of benefit to it? Part of me is thinking that of I'm going to drop $13k on a new Heritage, I might want some fancy inlay for my trouble?

it's because many people prefer the look. I once said I'd never own a guitar without inlays but I have a bass and a heritage eagle without them. I'm eventually going to get dots for them.

[bluejaybill]

it's because many people prefer the look. I once said I'd never own a guitar without inlays but I have a bass and a heritage eagle without them. I'm eventually going to get dots for them.

Yup, I don't come from a classical guitar background, and I find that no inlays are a no go for me. Not really referring to the bling factor of fancy inlays, I just like nice clean ones for the most part. L5 squares, split blocks etc. Although I do have a Campellone Special with fancy inlays that have kinda grown on me...

[vernon]

I think the new one looks great, but I’m in the top 1% of the lower middle class… so, no, I won’t even be thinking about buying one. I’ve got a tele and a Soloway… I’m good.

[Woody Sound]

I think the new one looks great, but I’m in the top 1% of the lower middle class… so, no, I won’t even be thinking about buying one. I’ve got a tele and a Soloway… I’m good.

What does it take to get to the bottom 1% of the middle middle class?

[Stringswinger]

What does it take to get to the bottom 1% of the middle middle class?

I dunno, playing music for a living?

[GuyBoden]

Stupid Question Time: What's with archtops being made with no fretboard inlays? Is there some sort of benefit to it? Part of me is thinking that of I'm going to drop $13k on a new Heritage, I might want some fancy inlay for my trouble?

It's the side markers I need to see. Side markers in bad light with old eyes is my problem.

I play guitars without the fretboard markers, but all have side markers.

[skiboyny]

Heritage has a poor sense of style. They almost get it every time!

[Stringswinger]

Heritage has a poor sense of style. They almost get it every time!

I think the Golden Eagle looked pretty good.

[Mick-7]

But on a more serious note, what is "tone-tapped spruce" ?

Maybe like a syrup tapped maple? Or the same thing as torrefied?

Torrefied Wood — Pre-War Guitars Co.

[wintermoon]

Single bound headstock, 3 ply? body and yet another Gibson knock off tailpiece.
In case I missed it what makes this guitar different than previous Heritage guitars, a nicer case?
And how are they justifying the ridiculous price? I thought their lower price point was supposed to be one of their selling points.
At least they dropped the silly "the" from the headstock that Gibson discontinued 100 yrs ago.
Maybe one day they'll stop chasing Gibson and get an original idea.
But Henry Johnson's a good player, a couple friends of mine were in organist Jack Mcduff's band w him back in the day.

[jmgalich]

I like the look and am glad they finally changed that godforsaken headstock.

As far as the tailpiece, they really should have used the Liberty Bell from the American Eagle.

Attachment 121940

[Rickco]

Im a staunch Heritage owner and feel they were best bang for the buck of any top archtop maker. I have a background in manufacturing so I dont find the price of they're new archtop out of line or surprising but...a quick glance at reverb I can find many (even Gibsons) at about half the price not to mention several Golden Eagles that I would personally find more desirable, saw a Hutch 1 off L5 noncut for about half not to mention lots of early L7s, Deluxes, even L5s etc. I personally would not have any interest in any new production guitar and I suspect the new model will give them something to draw attention to their other lines and will have more value as a marketing tool than a profit generator. Although the top luthiers seen on this forum are booked out up to years some just as fine luthiers that have not been discussed here have shorter lead times and reasonable pricing, Lombardozzi and Goodman (and many more) come to mind pretty sure theyd build you something nicer than a 717 for less than $13k. I wish Heritage the best of luck, glad Im out of the "making stuff" business a lot of our products are being outsourced to "Asian?" low labor cost manufacturers.

[Doug B]

Maybe like a syrup tapped maple? Or the same thing as torrefied?

Torrefied Wood — Pre-War Guitars Co.

I was torrified when I saw the price!

[jeremiahzellers]

—> ooooooh!

—> 13 grand..

—> oh.