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FWIW, found out the other day that the new Pro Series from D'angelico (somewhere between the Standard and USA series) will be made by Heritage and unveiled at NAMM.
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12-06-2014 08:56 PM
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Sweet. We need more USA made archtops to give Gibson a run for there money. Still waiting to see what the new Guild guitar company is going to do.
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That sounds really cool.
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Wow. How could that be bad?
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The dozen or so that they made back in the early nineties were great and the woods are probably coming into there own right about now.
JDLast edited by Max405; 11-14-2015 at 11:33 PM.
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Really? Great, but unusual.
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Probably not a bad deal for Heritage; gives them a more varied source of revenue. I hope this doesn't diminish their own archtops, though. Seems to me they have developed quite a buzz for their archops. Perhaps the market is so small that it doesn't matter.
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I wonder how the pricing will work out with two layers of corporate structure to feed?
How much more will a (Heritage-built) D'Angelico NY-DCTP need to cost relative to a Heritage 535, for example? I would guess that the build cost would be pretty similar.
And if the new Pro Series will be made by Heritage, to what extent will these USA-made guitars cannibalize the D'Angelico "USA Series"?
All the same, it will be fun to see how this develops. Some well-made D'Angelicos for a fairly reasonable price, hopefully? It's all good by me.
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didn't heritage make d'angelico copies before vestax?
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And they agreed to use the D'Angelico headstock? I don't believe it ;-)
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They did. The project was scuppered after a few, don't know how many, made their way to the market.
Originally Posted by fritz jones
Don't forget the stairstep tailpiece. Originally Posted by AlainJazz
Last edited by Jabberwocky; 12-07-2014 at 05:29 AM.
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Patrick, We need you. Tell us what's true wise sage.Is Heritage going to produce the Pro series and does that include the top of the line carved guitars also? Is Mr. Baker out? Originally Posted by teleman3726
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At the 2010 Summer NAMM I talked with luthier Bill Comins about the US handmade D'Angelico line that was planned to be coming out soon. I played the prototype at the Summer NAMM and it was really nice. My understanding, from what I can remember when I talked with Bill, is that he is making the body/neck and Heritage guitars is going to be doing the finished. That partnership didn't work out.
Based on previous attempts for D'Angelico to work with Heritage, it doesn't surprise me if this is true.
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I would like to see Vestax D's made again. Those were great axes at a great price.
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Those have never stopped production. Vestax never "made" anything. Vestax was a distribution company. Those made in Japan D'A's have continued production in Japan under a no USA distribution policy. But that doesn't stop one from buying one new from a Japan retailer. One can go on line to Japan websites and observe new made in Japan D'A's daily. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
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Why did they stop sending them to the USA ? Thanks for the Vestax correction. I had one of those Japan made D's and am very sorry I sold it. It had a Vestax label inside the f hole so I assumed they made it.
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The last time I was out at Heritage, I saw a semi-hollow double cut away (H535 type) Heritage . . with a beautiful D'Angelico head stock on it. It was sitting in Willard's (Willard does all of the final sanding and buffing) rack waiting to be buffed out. It was done in a translucent wine red color. Obviously it had no hardward at all on it and no electronics in it. But, it was routed for dual humbuckers. When Jim Deurloo saw me looking at it . . our eyes met, and before I could get a word out he said . . . "don't ask!!" . . so I didn't. But, IMO, to see a guitar like that with a D'A head stock is sacriligious. John D'Angelico built arch tops . . not dual humbucker semi hollw guitars. Oh . . I know there were the 1 or 2 odd ball exceptions. I was equally upset when I saw the Stromberg line up also. It's like someone just realeased into the market a ghost built 1963 split window coupe Corvette. It's a mortal sin!! But, that's just me.
I'm not sure what the plans [if any] are for additional Heritage built D'As at this point. But, Hertitage is in a state of needing additional work . . additional orders. They're down to completing around 800 guitar per year, with many of those going to Asia. The Japanese absolutely love Heritage guitars. I think they'd ghost build just about anything right now just to keep the business up and running.
I can say this . . I'm thrilled to have the two Heritage built D'As that I have. They're wonderful guitars. When Art Valdez, Triggs, Heritage did the replicas, the intent was to capture the true essence of John D'Angelico's craftsmanship . . more so than it was to profit on his name and his reputation as the original master. I do agree that another venture by any other boutique luthier or even a production plant, will only further dilute and diminish the brand.
But, we beat this subject to death in another thread a while back . . didn't we??
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Thank you Patrick
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I think that ship has sailed. When I got back into guitar a few years ago from playing bass, I saw the DA's and was kind of shocked to see them. Since then to me they are just good production guitar with cosmetics of something they have nothing in common with. I'd rather buy a XYZ guitar that's equally as good and not some marketing scheme. I feel the same with all the brands Fender has bought over the years and are just a old name on new guitar. Originally Posted by Patrick2
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Can't say I disagree with your sentiment. Were the two I bought not made by Heritage, I probably wouldn't have bought them. But, I feel a certain connection to Heritage and its people . . and I know how these guitars were made. I look at them as tributes to THE master. As such, I feel privileged to own them. Originally Posted by docbop
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It was about 2004 when Vestax and the builders parted company. A rumor suggested D'A cancelled their contract to export to the states, but okay for them to distribute to Asia. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
Japan D'A's are on ebay frequently. Several have been posted in the for sale pages of our forum here over the past 6 months. A nice blonde Vestax D'A was listed here just weeks ago.
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Yeah, well that reply post is useless without pics! Originally Posted by Patrick2
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well, someone is going to make those guitars. guess they are trying to stop be a niche thing and actually make a go of it. and that means guitars people might actually want and something between $1,200 and $10,000. i'd like to see how they turn out; which models and configurations and such . especially curious about the price point. you'd figure they'd essentially be heritages with improved aesthetics. we'll see.
heritage has been ghost building for a while, no? gretsch was the first thing that comes to mind, though they refused to make cat eye f holes, for some reason. they are craftspeople, and they have to eat. not super bothered by it. and i'm guessing that anyone who buys a d'angelico these days isn't doing it because of the history, unless they are spending five figures. sometimes people just want cool guitars.
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I remember when people were ordering Japanese Fender so much Fender USA forced all the dealers to stop selling to US. Then people started ordering Japanese Fenders from Australian dealers, but got to be too expensive. The Japanese guitars were really well built and they had a few models not available in the US. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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Hey even John D'Angelico himself copied the L5 design. I hope Heritage does it. I wouldn't pay $10K for one but I would certainly pay $5-6K for a hand carved one made by Heritage. Original or copy let us face it, they are super cool looking archtops. Best looking headstock design ever. Not to mention the tailpiece and pickguards great looks too.
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