Heritage Custom Build

[Jim Soloway]

My new Heritage custom build arrived in northern Washington last Wednesday while was in the midst of dealing with a family medical crisis. I finally got the opportunity to drive down and pick it up yesterday. Here are some facts, photos, and some initial impressions.


This is really the guitar that had wanted to order the first time with Heritage and somehow I just didn't quite have the nerve to make this big a departure from their standard options. A year later I was much more comfortable with my ideas.


Like the first guitar Heritage built me, this one is based on an H575 but with a 25.5" scale length. Other features in common with the first one are: all solid woods; locking Hipshot tuners; a chunky C shaped mahogany neck; 1 11/16 nut width; a single Dimarzio 36th Anniversary humbucker in the neck position; an X-braced top; unbound sound holes and neck, a black headstock veneer with inlaid logo; custom inlaid knurled rosewood knobs (made by David King); a rosewood fingerboard; and an "Old Style burst" finish.


But this one is much more heavily customized and some of the changes are profound. Probably the biggest changes are 2 1/4" rim thickness (down from 2 3/4") and different body woods (the top is spruce and the back and sides are mahogany while the first one has maple top, sides and back). Cosmetic changes include no fingerboard position markers (side markers only); no binding on the peg head; black tuners and of course the finish looks quite different because of the change in woods.


After letting it settle over night I finally had a chance to play it for a while this morning and the voice is very different from the first one. The volume is much lower than the first one. It is definitely not a cannon but I really wasn't looking for one. The tone is warm and sweet, the note separation and the string to string balance are outstanding. The low end doesn't boom and the whole guitar responds very well to a light touch. It's a wonderful guitar for playing finger style and a real joy for solo guitar.


My favorite flat top guitar has always been the 1950's Martin 00018. It's not nearly as loud as some of their larger guitars but it's better balanced, really comfortable to play and it really shines when it's not pushed too hard. That's exactly what I had in mind when I first conceived the ideas for this guitar and Heritage has pretty much nailed it.


Part of me wishes I had had the nerve to go all the way with my original ideas on the first guitar but it seems like I had to get a little more experience with the arch top process before I was ready to really trust my instincts. Only time will tell if this feeling will last but right now I feel like if I were to have a signature arch top the only change I would make to this guitar would be to go with a 1 3/4" nut width rather than 1 11/16. Other than that, this is probably as close as I'm likely to get in terms of tone, feel and cosmetics.


I'll start doing some recording and videos with this guitar in a few days but for now here are some first photos.

[AlainJazz]

Beautiful Jim. Believe it or not, I even like the headstock. Looks much nicer unbound. Congratulations.

[mr. beaumont]

What a great looking guitar. It's very Jim Soloway, for sure

I say it over and over but...it bears repeating...Heritage knows their way around a sunburst as good as anybody in the biz.

[fws6]

Congrats !

Can you post a pic of both your custom builds together ?

PS I remember when you had the problems with your playing position last year, I suggested to have the rim replaced with a thinner one... Hope this thinner rim works out exactly as you had hoped !

[Jabberwocky]

That turned out well. Congrats on a new Heritage.

Hope the family crisis has resolved itself. Play it in good health.

[Pat Clare]

Jim, very nice guitar!!!!!

[Woody Sound]

But this one is much more heavily customized and some of the changes are profound. Probably the biggest changes are 2 1/4" rim thickness (down from 2 3/4")

1/2" thickness is a huge difference, I'm sure it'll be MUCH more comfy for you. I just switched from a 2-1/2" to 2-3/4", only 1/4" diff, and it's a big adjustment.

[Hammertone]

Wonderful!
Congratulations - I look forward to hearing you play it.

[iim7V7IM7]

Jim,

i hope it takes you to the music....

kudos,

Bob

[2bornot2bop]

Looks fabulous Jim! Love your color choices on each guitar.

[skykomishone]

That is a very sweet guitar. Congratulations. Like the others, I look forward to your post with samples of the sound. Thanks for sharing!

[Skip Ellis]

Great guitar, Jim - congrats!!!

[docbop]

Beautiful instrument and like the spec's you came up with. I've been playing thin body more and really like the playing position.

Enjoy!

[rob taft]

Jim, Very nice looking guitar. I like the understated look. I hadn't really thought of Heritage as a custom builder. Yes I know they are a small company that hand builds guitars but I didn't think one could stray far from the their basic models. I looking for something like this but with a 1 7/8" nut width.

[Drifter]

Congrats! Very much looking forward to hearing you play that beauty.

[Jim Soloway]

Beautiful Jim. Believe it or not, I even like the headstock. Looks much nicer unbound. Congratulations.

I agree about the lack of binding on the headstock. I have the binding on the first one and I don't really care for it. With the veneer and inlay, it has a really nice stark black and white charter to it and that gets highlighted by the black graphite nut. I hadn't actually seen this configuration in person but I had a hunch it would work.

What a great looking guitar. It's very Jim Soloway, for sure

I say it over and over but...it bears repeating...Heritage knows their way around a sunburst as good as anybody in the biz.

Thanks and I definitely agree: Heritage does burst finishes as well as any can and they pull it off no matter what the wood is.

Congrats !

Can you post a pic of both your custom builds together ?

Here you go. Half an inch makes a very real difference.

That turned out well. Congrats on a new Heritage.

Hope the family crisis has resolved itself. Play it in good health.

Thanks and sadly, no it isn't over yet and given the age and health of both of my parents, it may not end well. It's been a pretty tough few weeks.

I looking for something like this but with a 1 7/8" nut width.

I've talked about this with the folks at heritage for someone else who was looking for something like the 1 13/16th's nut width that we used for our finger-style guitars and I was told that their maximum is 1 3/4". So there are at least some limitations on the custom features available.

Looks fabulous Jim! Love your color choices on each guitar.

Thanks Greg. Without your encouragement I may never have gotten on to this particular path so I now tell my wife that it's all your fault.

And thanks to all. It's a tough time right now and some warm words and encouragement go a long way even if it's just about the distraction of a new guitar.

[rob taft]

Jim, Thanks for the information regarding nut width. I also wish you the best with regard to your family situation. I look forward to hearing you play this guitar. rob

[Bluedawg]

Very nice

Best wishes for you and your family

[Jabberwocky]

Hang in there, yah, Jim. You are there for your parents and that is what matters to them, that you are there for them. All my best wishes to your parents and to you. Please take good care.

[SamBooka]

I am sure the excellent photography does not hurt but I have to admit that the headstock does look so much better on that one for some reason.

WEar her in good health!

[Little Jay]

Very pleasing to the eye and I can imagine she sounds great too.
Very traditional looking, I like that.

I wish you strength in the family situation, hope it turns out well.

[ninjasan]

Great !
congratulations Jim !

[Archie]

All the best Jim

And I like the understated styling you have on this one.

[Greentone]

Now _that's_ a guitar! Enjoy that beauty.

[mikeSF]

thinking about you and your family.
The guitar is beautiful - cant wait to hear a clip!