Heritage Sweet 16

**NSJ** · 07-30-2010, 02:42 PM

Andybody got the low down on these and where they fit in, in the psydo Gibson/heritage axe pantheon (ES 175/575 to L5/Golden Eagle)?

They look and sound real cool! I'd love to check one out, but it seems they are HARD to find used.

**randyc** · 07-30-2010, 04:36 PM

It's not that easy to make hierarchical comparisons between the two brands. I have a Golden Eagle and a L-5CES and they are very different - the Eagle is more similar to the L-4CES than the L-5. I also have a H-575 and it's not equivalent to an ES-175 - it's considerably smaller and has a solid top.

The Sweet 16 is close to the ES-175 in size but also has solid wood top as opposed to the laminate construction of the Gibson. I like the Eagle quite a bit but I think I'd like the Sweet 16 more - couldn't possibly be certain before playing one, of course. I bought the Eagle mainly because I love natural finish guitars and wanted to add a Heritage.

"Ingeneri" is a very well-informed Heritage owner who has several of the various models. He hasn't posted in quite a while but perhaps he may spot the title of this thread and add his considerable knowledge of the company.

Cheers,
Randy

**goshawk** · 07-30-2010, 04:53 PM

guitars n jazz has a customized used model posted on their website right now:

http://www.gbase.com//powered/gearde...6&item=2277334

**NSJ** · 07-30-2010, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by goshawk

guitars n jazz has a customized used model posted on their website right now:

http://www.gbase.com//powered/gearde...6&item=2277334

Thanks, I saw that, too, which prompted me to create this thread--I too adore blonde/natural guitars! Too bad it's in NJ--seems like a decent price.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-30-2010, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by goshawk

guitars n jazz has a customized used model posted on their website right now:

http://www.gbase.com//powered/gearde...6&item=2277334

I know folks are divided on the look of the "finger" tailpiece, but is it correct to call it a "Gibson" tailpiece? I thought it was made by someone in Germany (Schaller?) and just installed on some Gibsons, like Le Grande:

Buy Gibson Custom Le Grande Electric Guitar | Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend

**Tom Karol** · 07-30-2010, 05:45 PM

I played someone's Sweet 16 briefly a few years ago. It had 13-56 flatwounds on it. Very high quality axe. It played and sounded terrific. And of course, it looked ... well ... sweet! I think the owner has since sold it, but I don't know why or for how much.

**randyc** · 07-30-2010, 09:08 PM

Interesting comment on the string size, Tom, and leads me to remark that my H-575 (a small guitar by traditional jazz standards) actually likes even heavier strings, .014 on top !

None of my archtops feel quite so comfortable with these heavy strings (the H-575 is the smallest except for the "ancient" ES-330).

Cheers,
Randy

**jazzrat** · 07-30-2010, 09:16 PM

I could be wrong but isn't the Sweet 16 25.5 scale?
I've seen single pickup 575 Customs so I'm thinking
the scale length is the main difference....that and maybe some
upgraded woods.

**randyc** · 07-30-2010, 09:33 PM

No, you're right - I just checked the Heritage website and the body dimensions are the same as the H-575. My bad and thanks for correcting ! In light of that, I'll stick with the Eagle rather than the "Sixteen" - I like thicker body guitars (the L-5CES being my fave but maybe one of these days I'll be able to acquire a Super 400). Yeah, right !

**brian329** · 07-31-2010, 12:07 AM

I absolutely love mine, built in 1997:

Here with its cousin a modified Heritage Prospect:

**iim7V7IM7** · 07-31-2010, 06:34 PM

I have played one for about 9 years now. I play in with Thomastik 12-50s. It originally came with a floating pickup, but I never really adored the plugged in tone with it. I mostly play solo chord melody pieces at fairly low volumes. In 2008, I had Heritage modify it and install a 4-point mounted full sized humbucker which vastly improved the instrument's tone. I prefer the smaller size of the 16" bout to the larger 17" size typical on many archtops. It is 2-3/4" thick, has a 23-1/2 scale, ebony fingerboard and tap tuned spruce top. What was most surprising is that the routed sound board still had wonderful acoustic sound post-modification due to the 4-point mount (the pick-up is up off the sound board allowing it to still move.)

**brian329** · 07-31-2010, 07:32 PM

25 1/2 scale?

**randyc** · 07-31-2010, 07:36 PM

Brian, I noticed in the two photos of your 575 that you changed pickups (wouldn't have noticed it except for iim's post). Care to elaborate on your reasons?

Thanks,
Randy C

**brian329** · 07-31-2010, 08:51 PM

OK that's a Sweet 16 and a Prospect.

I replaced the pickups with Fralin P-92s. I don't care for regular humbuckers at all. I like the clearer sound on the bass strings, which is not as muddy to my ears.

P-92s are basically P-90s without the hum and the overly aggressive mids.

My Sweet 16 is also 1/2" thinner than usual. I didn't order it that way, but I liked it when I saw it in a store. It was NOS and a bit store worn...it had been there for 4 years, so I got it at a ridiculous price.

**randyc** · 07-31-2010, 09:13 PM

Oh yes, sorry, thought it was the 575 custom. Yes I like P-90s as well, I have an old ES-330TDC that I wouldn't part with for anything.

I made a series of pickup noise and hum measurements some time ago and posted the results here. The Fender Stratocaster was the worst, the p/u in my L-5CES was the best, the Guild was very good, too. (As I recall it was number 2 in the evaluation.) The Heritage was "OK", sort of in the middle of the performance range.

The Gibson P-90 was good for noise but not so good for hum nevertheless I've never noticed a problem with the guitar at any time in any venue (unlike the Strat).

Thanks for your comments,
Randy C