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I got back a Super Eagle from BigMike today and reunited these guitars. While there are many sets of fingerprints on these babies, a friend of mine in New York owned all of them sometime.
There are obvious similarities. Let me note the differences.
Pickups: anything goes.
Depth: Usually the Super 400 wins by 3/8". However the thinnest one of the group is a Super 400, and one of the Super Eagles is only a hair thinner than the full depth Super 400.
Top/back area: Super 400 wins. It's about an inch longer and is wider in the upper bout and waist.
Conclusion: Both Gibson and Heritage are capable of coloring outside the lines when building their models. Gibson has been less willing than Heritage, which is very much a daily occurrence at Heritage, but Heritage has raised its prices a lot for custom builds recently.
IMO, the quality of build is the same, at least in the ones I have.
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05-19-2017 07:30 PM
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Awesome. You and Big Mike could open an archtop museum.
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What an amazing collection of archtop beauties. Glad to hear Heritage is holding its with the Gibson's. First hand experience.
I don't think I have ever seen so many big bodied archtops in a single picture. Tough decision every day to decide which one to play.
That collection will always be a good excuse to frequent Kalamazoo.
Enjoy Mark...Last edited by rhoadsscholar; 05-19-2017 at 11:39 PM.
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Amazing photos, the likes of which I haven't seen the days of Patrick!
Is there any of them that stand out to you in terms of tone?
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Ah, oh, mmh, ... that is just simply amazing Mark! What a gorgeous collection of big archtops! Congratulations! That florentine super eagle is a mouthwatering beauty. But they all look amazing and I bet due to the wide range of pickup configurations there is a huge array of sounds available!
Are you comfortable playing 18" guitars? For my body size and the way I approach the instrument 17" is the sweet spot. I can do 18" but it is never fully relaxed. That is why my 70s Super 400 (two humbuckers) and my custom super eagle (one floater) do not see the playing time that they should.
Anyways - wonderful collection - and I know that is just a small fraction - enjoy and play them in good health!
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Marty,You clearly do not have cats.With those straps hanging like that. I'm afraid to hang mine without the straps!
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Hmm. They all sound different amplified, as you can easily imagine with the various pickups. And there are no dogs.
The surprise that comes to mind is how good the Super Eagle with P-90s sounds acoustically. The top is typical in thickness to a L-5CES or a Super 400, but it is pretty loud and full spectrum in tone.
The double pickup Super Eagle is similar but has a thinner top.
Originally Posted by helios
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Frank,
I'm okay with an 18". Within a couple of minutes I don't notice the size.
I was taught a long time ago to use a strap and to sit with an open lap with big guitars. A stool can work but a somewhat tall chair suffices. Sitting on the couch with the knees up would be crowded.
Originally Posted by FrankLearns
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If you place the waist of the guitar on your left leg and cock the neck up, a la Joe Pass, even a 19" guitar is comfortable. Holdover from banjo playing.
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The photo angle/lens makes the CC pickup Super 400 look like it has a 19" body. Both of the single pickup SE's caught my eye. On a side note, Patrick once said, order a custom SE with a florentine cutaway and NOT a Super KB because you'll save some money! Originally Posted by Marty Grass
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Marty,
Nice wall art.
How do you feel the extra size of the Super 400 affects electric tone compared with the Super eagle?
Also, how do you feel the TOM bridge affects the tone, particularly on the Super Eagle?
Finally, what TOM is being used on the Super eagles? I'd be interested in trying one on mine, but would want you keep the bridge base from Heritage and not have to switch to a generic StewAmac bridge.
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wow, I didn't know that. Cool. OC smith had one of the greatest voices of all time (little green apples) he performed on that sound track too.. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
Last edited by Max405; 05-20-2017 at 04:43 PM.
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Note, these are the dimensions you require: Originally Posted by ingeneri
Marty,
Nice wall art.
How do you feel the extra size of the Super 400 affects electric tone compared with the Super eagle?
Also, how do you feel the TOM bridge affects the tone, particularly on the Super Eagle?
Finally,
what TOM is being used on the Super eagles? I'd be interested in trying one on mine, but would want you keep the bridge base from Heritage and not have to switch to a generic StewAmac bridge.
2.9" (2-29/32) 73.6mm spacing Post Spacing
2.09" (2-3/32) String Spacing (E-E)
6-32 bridge posts
12 inch radius
Basically, a Gibson ABR-1 bridge will do (not a Nashville)
This works great:
https://www.faberusa.com/product/3027-abrh-bridge-gloss-gold-natural-brass-saddles-2/Last edited by helios; 05-20-2017 at 05:09 PM.
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This is also how they teach students to play classical guitar ... usually also with a foot stool to elevate the left foot a few inches Originally Posted by Greentone
I like playing my guitars with a strap even when sitting so that I'm holding them in the "classical" position ... its easy to play a Super 400 like that
I want to try a 19 inch someday ... LOL
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+1 bluedawg
I sit on an office chair to play and put my left foot up on its base/leg.
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That's what's one the SE. The TOM makes the sound a little brighter and gives some more sustain. That may not be what you want, but it may be exactly what you want. It's not a big difference. It does help dial in the intonation.
Originally Posted by helios
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I can't give a credible answer. There are too many variables in play. Pickups and strings are the first that come to mind. I'm sure there's some difference in amplified tone, but it's not as huge as some other things.
Originally Posted by ingeneri
Marty,
Nice wall art.
How do you feel the extra size of the Super 400 affects electric tone compared with the Super eagle?
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Hi Guys, I'm Steve, and I'm kind of in the same boat.
I recently switched from sax to guitar and I'm really interested in getting a full sized archtop like a 400 or super eagle. My concern is the size. I'm 5 8'' on a good day and I'm just wondering would one of these be too big. Ive checked a few guitar shops near me and none of them have any large guitars for me to tryout. Any thoughts? All are greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Are you mice or men..? Just get the biggest, fullest, widest guitar you've money for and adapt! You don't hear me complaining, and I'm shorter than all of you burly brawlers. I play a 16" hollow-body, but would donate a kidney in exchange for a huge acoustic old Gibson. Ninnies..!
(for that autist I already put on ignore: the tone of this post is called "ribbing", or "joshing", and meant half-serious, half-affectionately)
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I offer my honest opinion after years of deliberation on this very topic of guitar size choice. I'm being respectful but possibly insensitive. Size isn't a major consideration for most people.
The Super 400 was not built for big people. It was build for people who want a big sound. Choosing a guitar is not like being fit for a suit.
Unless there is some disability or the person is of an unusually small size, the Super 400 will fit. You adapt to the size of the guitar and learn to hold it.
One of the tiniest players, Kaki King, masters full sized guitars.
Maybelle Carter was quite small and slung her L-5 mightily for decades, hours a day. Chips Moman was not a large man but look at him smile holding his treasured Super.
Having said all of that, the Super 400 may not be what you want, especially since most people use amps! The Super 400 is a demanding mistress. The 330 and the 335, even the 175, are far more forgiving.
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Yes, you said it better than I did. The only thing that worried me a while ago was that one might progress slowlier when not at full height yet, due to the neck, but then found that was unwarranted. Originally Posted by Marty Grass
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Great advice MG.
I remember being afraid of the 18" HJS that you rescued. In a very short period of time, it became the best guitar I ever played.
But as I contemplate maybe playing out again, I have been thinking about the guitar that I'd be comfortable holding and performing on stage with. And because I wont bring the big brown couch onto the stage, an 18" guitar of any depth would not be my choice. A stocky dude with short arms should be thinking, Mmmm.. what does George Benson use on stage..
Joe D
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