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In the 60's I road my Raleigh from Bergen Cty NJ to Province town Mass and back because my Schwinn had a bent frame. Now I doubt (if I could find one) I could even lift it, delivered papers on it also.
Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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06-19-2025 01:10 PM
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Ah, one thing I forgot to mention ... I'm very picky on color/finish ... I don't like (for jazz guitars) black or red. And would really need to fall in love to go blonde/natural. Originally Posted by andrew
And yeah that Heritage Eagle was one that I linked in my original post ... definitely interested. (It turns out, in searching the forum, that this exact guitar was owned and discussed in a long thread by a forum member.)
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The new Heritage Eagle Classics are fantastic instruments. Probably the best value in terms of quality for your money. The one I had was absolutely perfect in every way, and I only sold it to fund a Benedetto.
I've never played an L5. I do have a Super 400CES from the late 60s.
Like another person has suggested, I would urge you to check out some Guilds. If you're gonna spend L5 money, you might as well check out all the good stuff. I love Guilds, especially the Benedettos. Also, Campellone makes nice Gibson style stuff. I have one of his guitars and it's nice.
Good luck.
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Whats most important is how it fits, the Heritages are (generally) thinner body enough that it matters to some, also lighter in weight but most important is which neck. To me the generally thinner necks of the Eagles are very comfy and playable others find them to thin. The older I get the more these things matter. If its CES (mounted pickup) buy the one that fits the best and use the tone control...everything mentioned sounds great when played well.
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I hear you. I have a nearly 50 year old Gibson L5 CES - 1977 - and despite the bad press the 1970s L5 CES guitars receive, this one - which is blonde - plays very well. Plug into a good Fender valve amp and the best Wes Montgomery/Hank Garland tones are there. ( Incidentally - I trialled a 2012 black L5 CES and it was a bit dead - not cheap at £12 000 either!)
I also have a 2023 Heritage Eagle Classic which is beautiful but in it's own place. I didn't buy it to replicate the L5 CES sound. My other archtop is a 2010 Dupont Be Bop from Cogac, France, which is incredible as well - it is very resonant. They all play very differently. If you want an L5 CES save your money and get one
.
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"Many people said the same thing about the rear-end styling of the 1980s Alfa Romeo 75, "Milano" in the US".
So what did the OP end up going with? Lots of great advice here-whatever it is, don't be afraid to play out with it!
to 213 Cobra:
I've been a Alfa fan for many years. I adored my 74 GTV with Webers, Shankle cams and headers. Absolutely one of the most beautiful and fun cars ever.
However around 1988 in my position of Re-Recording Sound Mixer in Hollywood, I needed 4 doors to take clients out to lunch, etc. I sold the GTV and went over the Barham hump to the Alfa dealer on Lankershim (Ironically on the same block as Dante's then) and bought a Alfa Milano (75) Verde. Recaro seats, phone dial wheels (Speedline) 5-speed manual. I can only say it was one of the most awesome vehicles I ever owned. My ex- wife ended up with it in a divorce and totaled the Milano.
A few years later I bought a GTV6 and loved it very much. Oh yeah and a 82 Spider (best year) and a 164-not a good car!
Apologies for the off topic Alfa stories.
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All beautiful cars. Even the Milano, criticized for its angular tilt-up rear end styling, was a soulful road dancer, competent and entertaining sports sedan, especially in the context of the times. The earlier Giulia Coupe, though -- just one of the most beautiful and simple compact designs of all time. Originally Posted by SierraTango
"Many people said the same thing about the rear-end styling of the 1980s Alfa Romeo 75, "Milano" in the US".
So what did the OP end up going with? Lots of great advice here-whatever it is, don't be afraid to play out with it!
to 213 Cobra:
I've been a Alfa fan for many years. I adored my 74 GTV with Webers, Shankle cams and headers. Absolutely one of the most beautiful and fun cars ever.
However around 1988 in my position of Re-Recording Sound Mixer in Hollywood, I needed 4 doors to take clients out to lunch, etc. I sold the GTV and went over the Barham hump to the Alfa dealer on Lankershim (Ironically on the same block as Dante's then) and bought a Alfa Milano (75) Verde. Recaro seats, phone dial wheels (Speedline) 5-speed manual. I can only say it was one of the most awesome vehicles I ever owned. My ex- wife ended up with it in a divorce and totaled the Milano.
A few years later I bought a GTV6 and loved it very much. Oh yeah and a 82 Spider (best year) and a 164-not a good car!
Apologies for the off topic Alfa stories.
Phil
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I'd almost say listening to Rich for tone samples must come with the caveat
that he's expert in dialing in tone on the guitar and amplifier. Very few people
can do that like him IMO
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He’s also very good at making playing at his level look way easier than it is. Originally Posted by joman50
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Audience dont care... but the way it responses to you inspires you and the audience does care much for it
I had a washburn j6s and the real thing too, the recorded audio wasnt too different, but the sensation in your hand was big difference: the way it responses to your different touch, the attack, the sustain. Night and day...
Now comparing the j6s and the l5 wes the only difference was the attack...
What i mean is, you should choose the one that makes you funnier to play. Tje rest is not very important.
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Show us pix of your L-5CES!
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Here's my two cents. GE sounds like 65%-70% L5 and 30% -35% Eastman AR805CE
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Any guitar with the specs of an L-5 and set humbucker will sound 80% there.
You can ask also Mr Wu to build you a copy for far less than an Heritage Golden Eagle, i had one, and it was great. I regret selling it although they paid me very well for it.
You have to be respectful of the specs, body size, solid carverd wood, i guess the ebony freatboard is not that important. Set humbucker.
Where is the 20% remaining? Gibson guys knows how to carve the wood to make a great electric tone, crappy acoustics on any L-5 CES, but the amplified tone is heaven. Other builders, while great sounding acoustically, lack the fatness of the Gibson.
My opinion, i performed better with Mr.Wu guitar than with my L-5 Wesmo, cause it was 3/4 nut width, and it was lighter and more comfortable.
You dont need an L-5 to be your best version. The weight and dimensions might be against you even. So amplified tone, while being the goal, is not the only thing.
One pickup vs two pickups is a decision you must have done before purchasing, if not you will regret afterwards, they are night and day, not in terms of tone but in playability and that influences tone: 1 pickup is far more unstable and dynamic. 2 Pickups more controlled.
I prefer 1 pickup, all the times, all the way.
Sadly there is no Eastman offer at 25.5 scale. WHY?
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So what did you end up with? still looking? Originally Posted by gavinashun
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I won't be unique here with my thoughts. The L-5 doesn't have a signature sound. I have owned a 1920s model and played many newer ones. The necks and the acoustic and amplified sounds vary. The top carve and the spruce densities alse vary. Then there is the whole amplification system and the strings. Originally Posted by Cunamara
I personally knew/know a few of the Kalamazoo builders who carved the tops on L-5s and Johnny Smiths. They would see each guitar as close to unique due to natural and man-induced factors. If I were to ask about tones of a model, they would likely say they need to examine the specimen personally. Aaron Cowles would say that each instrument has its own voice.
All that said, the strings, pickups, player technique, and amp are huge factors.
I've listened to Kenny Burrell play his Gibson and his Heritage. They both sound like Kenny Burrell.
I will confess that I get a very positive feeling seeing the Gibson headstock. That's been true since I was a kid. Putting that aside, which is almost impossible to do, the instruments from both factories are grossly similar. There will be those who got Heritage lemons. I can tell you that Gibson has also produced them. If any doubts that, a candid discussion with the Gibson repair section will shed light. A friend of mine, Pete Moreno, did Gibson warranty repairs for decades. He also worked for Heritage part time. I can't tell you which company had a higher average in problems, but I can say with great confidence that neither were infallible.
Humans being what we are, we will have strong opinions about politicians, beer, cigarettes, and those we are attracted to. I am an example. I lived in Kalamazoo from conception to early adulthood. I've been to 225 Parsons Street many times and knew/know employees there. Gibson is part of my DNA, but rationally Heritage is on the same level.
This often devolves into a debate or emotional argument. Been there, done that. It goes nowhere. But I will concede that probably my favorite instrument emotionally is a Gibson ES-345 in cherry made just a few years ago. This model is what I played in late childhood and in my teens. Just looking at the inlays gives me warmth and a sense of home. That means something.
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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