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What day can be better than NGD? I have been pondering the Heritage (Kenny Burrell) Groove Master for some time. I found this one used & reasonably priced, so I took the the plunge. Not to be confused with the Heritage Super KB, the KB Groove Master is a laminated 2.75 X 16 X 20.25" guitar with a 24.75" scale. This design incorporates a "floating" center block, which supports a fixed TOM style bridge. The center block is fairly thin, perhaps only 1/2" or so in thickness, and about 4" wide, running the entire length of the top of the guitar from the end of the fretboard, to the tailpiece. The block is secured by glue to the top, and it is not contact with the bottom (it is if fact difficult to see, as it is only about 1/2" thick as mentioned). The design exists somewhere in the pathway between a ES-175 and a ES-335, but retains a character of it's own. The guitar seems seems strangely more acoustic sounding than an ES-175, and brighter sounding as well. This may be due in part to an aftermarket Kent Armstrong pickup the previous owner installed. I could find no sound clips of this guitar anywhere! I have posted an amateurish video of me playing the Groove Master, for those who may wonder what one sounds like (Note--I ever played in public, I'd have to get one of those chicken wire cages like the Blues Brothers to protect myself). Hey, it's made in the USA!!! Jeff
Added Photo: Note-In process of transitioning to gold hardware
Last edited by helios; 02-05-2015 at 09:13 PM.
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08-24-2012 08:11 PM
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Earl, The guitar sounds great as do you. Have you considered a guitar with a Bigsby on it? It sounds like it might be right up your alley. Enjoy your NGD
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Congrats on a nice guitar. Sounds very sweet, particularly in the midrange.
Enjoy!
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Beautiful burst.. congrats
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The guitar came with a stock Nashville TOM roller-bridge, so it would have been easy to put on a Bigsby!
Originally Posted by Archtop Guy
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Thanks, the EL84 amp is a bit midrangey too! Originally Posted by Jonathan0996
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Thanks fellow Mr Northwesterner-I've noticed that you have some guitar eye-candy! Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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Those Heritage guys know what they're doing! Originally Posted by Spook410
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Really cool guitar , and well played in vid, enjoy
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Nice guitar! The 16" body and rounded cutaway really appeals to me. I'd love to find one in natural finish.
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They can be custom ordered, as I've seen them with several different options. I'm also pretty sure the price would be somewhere between $2000-2500 new. I did consider ordering one. The Heritage website photo shows custom features (gold hardware, ebony fretboard). See attached photos: Originally Posted by tgee
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Hi Keira, and thank you! I my next life, I'm going to be a world traveler too! Originally Posted by Keira Witherkay
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You are now the official ambassador to the Heritage Groovemaster on the web. Everyone whose curiosity moves them to research the guitar will come across your video and make their purchasing decision partly based on said video. Are you up to the challenge? Yes you are!
By the way, great playing!
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Thanks very awesome moniker guy! As long as Groove Master sales don't plummet as a result of my video, and the Heritage employees don't come after me with crowbars, I'll be fine. Originally Posted by Klatu
I was getting stymied by the curious lack of videos and sound clips out there for the Groove Master--I could find nothing! A bit surprising to me, as the guitar has a definite niche for those who want an American made acoustic sounding laminate with a fixed TOM bridge (I may like this ambassador thing).
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Congratulations! I have always wanted a Groovemaster. They are great.
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Helios,
What other guitars do you play besides the Groovemaster? Have you compared it to other Heritage models like the 575?
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Hi Klatu, Originally Posted by Klatu
Sorry for the delay in answering (I've been in Alaska for a few days). The only other Heritage guitar I've tried, is a Golden Eagle. A friend left one at my house for several months, and to my surprise, although a well made and beautiful guitar, I discovered that it tended to sound too bright and somewhat harsh to my ears. I decided to steer clear of floating pickup, carved top, 25.5' scale guitars--nothing wrong with them, just not for me. I prefer shorter scale, laminated, fixed bridge guitars (fixed bridge because I fuss over intonation). I would have been all over a H550, except for the 25.5 scale. I have a Epiphone Byrdland (I adhered the base of the bridge to the body), a Yamaha SA-2200 (ES-335 knock-off with Lindy Fralin HB's), and I also have a chambered L5S Warmoth (Because I always thought the 70's Gibson L5S was very cool).
So far, I'm really liking the Groove Master. One day, I may custom order another. Best wishes, Jeff
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It seems you prefer an electric archtop sound over amplified acoustic tones, and you've got a fine collection of electric archtops. The Yamaha SA-2200 is a guitar that I've always wanted to try because I have heard that it sounds every bit as good as a Gibson with comparable, if not better, build quality. Originally Posted by helios
I love both electric and acoustic tones, but I will say that it can be frustrating to get a good amplified tone from a floater while avoiding boomy sounds or feedback.
What is it that you don't like about the 25.5" scale length? Does it have to do with a brighter tone or playability?
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Can someone explain the raison-d'etre for the GM and Sweet 16? What are the similarities and differences, the philosophies behind each?
I know that the Golden Eagle is the H version of the L5, and the 575 is the version of the L4/175.
Where do the Groovemaster and Sweet 16 fit in? Thanks.
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Neither the Sweet 16 nor the Groovemaster have equivalents in the Gibson line. Originally Posted by NSJ
The Groovemaster shares some similarities with the Gibson 175 and the 135 in that it is a has a 16" lower bout, 24 3/4 scale, and laminate construction. It differs from the 175 in that its body is not as deep and it has a block in the body to support a screwing in bridge. It also differs from the 135 in that the block in the body of the guitar doesn't travel the length of the instrument; rather, it is placed under the bridge for support rather than as a sustain feature.
The Sweet 16 is a high end box that has more in common with the L5, Johnny Smith, or Byrdland than it does with the Gibson 175. The Sweet 16 is a fully carved 16" box with a longer 25.5" scale length. As far as I know, Gibson doesn't make any 16" guitars with 25.5" scales. The only Gibson that I know of that has some of these characteristics was a Chet Baker semi-hollow guitar that is now out of production.
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The Golden Eagle was Boomy and bright, and it didn't help that the pole pieces weren't adjustable, although the owner (my friend) really likes the guitar a lot (to each his own). Originally Posted by Klatu
A 24.75" scale is easier on the fingers (less string tension), and a bit warmer sounding to me. Also, I'm also not a huge fan of carved wooden bridges, as I've never seen/heard one the offered spot-on intonation. The Groove Master offers a nice blend of acoustic and electric and properties for my tastes.
The Yamaha SA-2200 is a nice alternative to the ES-335. I put in the Lindy Fralin HB's, because I thought the stock HB's were too bright. A couple of frets needed to be pressed/re-glued, but now it's perfect-everyone who plays it loves the tone and playability.
What have you got in your stable, my friend?
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looks and sounds really great! Great NGD
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First off, I'd like to make a confession. My name is Klatu and I have a guitar problem. Originally Posted by helios
Heritage Golden Eagle
Heritage Mahogany Eagle
Heritage 575
Hofner Jazzica (blonde)
Hofner Verythin Classic (blonde)
Hofner New President (aged vintage finish)
Epiphone Broadway Elitist
Epiphone 1946 Triumph (needs some work)
Eastman El Rey 2
Martin/American Archtop CF2
Dell Arte/John Kinard - Angelo Debarre Signature Model
I keep 4 guitars out on stands at a time in my living room and swap them out regularly.
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Love it! Originally Posted by Klatu
These are axes that begin with "H" this time. 
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Speaking of Heritage, I remember, a couple of years ago, the great NY/NJ based guitarist Vic Juris asking about where to pick up a Sweet 16.
Of all the Heritage axes, the Sweet 16 seems to be the most alluring. Along with the Prospect Std.
Vic has some nice guitars, of course. Many custom built. Wonder what he was looking for in the Sweet 16?
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A very special NGD: a custom build that brought my ideas to life.
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