Heritage Super KB (Kenny Burrell)

[helios]

For some time, I have admired the musings of various forum members regarding ownership of the Super Eagle/Super KB models by the Heritage company. I've finally said "adios" to this vicarious habit of mine, and made an acquisition!


This particular piece is a 2003 Heritage Super KB. As per the photos, it is blonde, and in pretty nice shape. The spruce top on the Super KB is most impressive to me, as the growth lines-per-inch (excluding the outer edge of the lower bouts) are 50+ in areas (see close up photo where the caliper is set to 1.000"). Even if if this doesn'tnecessarily translate to great sound, the top looks awesome! I've read Gibson saveshigh grade spruce for the Super 400's & Citations. Perhaps Heritage does the same for the Super Eagles & Super KB's ??

I'm 6'2", so the leviathan body size of the guitar isn't a bother to me (I'm just dancing with a fat lady, as was said of playing an 18" archtop). In fact, the body is more compact than I was expecting. I have never held a 18" wide guitar, so I didn't entirely know what to expect. I was anticipating a unwieldy animal, and it isn't.

I took a fairly immediate dislike for the stock pickups of the Super KB (too bright and beaming for me). I have replaced them with Lindy Fralin Pure PAF's. I like the tone now, however I'm stymied by an electrical "hum" I can't seem to isolate. It is partially mitigated by reducing the amp treble a bit. I've rechecked the electrical connections, and they seem to be grounded properly (I removed the existing assembly, and soldered together a new one) so I'm wondering if the cantilevered tailpiece has anything to with it (suggestions?). I've done this before with success, so I'm puzzled.


A Super Eagle acquisition would have spared me from having to shell out some extra $$ for KB's name, but I like the Florentine cut-away, so I'm happy. I'd have easily settled for a Super 400, but this Super KB much more in line with my wallet thickness. Playing is a hobby, and I must draw a line somewhere!
The guitar tone has a sumptuous quality (not entirely evident in my video), that is probably inherent to it's portly bottom. It's a keeper!
At any rate, here's a amateur video of me playing a few chords with it (I'd like to blame my playing on my crappy video recorder, but I can't!). Best wishes, Jeff

[Jabberwocky]

That's a really nice archtop, helios. Looks much nicer in Blonde than in other finishes. I'm a sucker for Blondes, I guess. Congrats and make nice tunes with it. May I ask you where you found it, please? You could PM me, if you wish.

Edit: You even showed the headstock with no provocation from yours truly The Kenny Burrell signature enhances its streamlined appearance. A friendly wind-up from a Gibson nutjob. Hope there exists at least one Heritage owner who has a sense of humour. Your dawg is ugly, in a good English Bulldog-like way. I don't know pretty but I sure do know ugly...in an appealing way. Like the definition of "cute". That's all I'm sayin'. I gotta explain myself lest the whole posse of thin-skinned Heritage owners come down hard on me like a ton of bricks or a posse of something. By the way, it is not ugly but you know what I mean.

[Jabberwocky]

Grounding.

Is there a ground wire between the metal endpin of the tailpiece and the jack?

[helios]

Grounding.

Is there a ground wire between the metal endpin of the tailpiece and the jack?

Hi Jabber,
Thanks for the comments-I may have to play with a bag over the headstock! The Gibson headstock IS nicer, but the Heritage is fine too. There are more important things to fuss over.

There is a ground wire from the jack to the tailpiece. I checked for ground continuity between all of the backs of the pots & toggle ground with the tailpiece. It's all good. I got a ISP Decimator II noise reduction petal because I don't want to take everything apart again to recheck it (not yet anyway). I'll wait for a rainy day for that. Jeff

[jazzbow]

I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous!

[helios]

A Couple More Photos:

[jazzuki]

Jeff. Only one word. STUNNING?

[xuoham]

Gorgeous !

Congratulations ("congrrrrrrrratulations" say jealous guys)

It really looks so mint ... ... !!! ...


A really happy grin at the end ! ^ ^

[tusculum]

Some years ago I owned then sold an identical instrument, same year and finish.

Heritage make a great guitar in the fundamental areas of the luthier's art - neck, body, playability, acoustic tone, articulation - as well as the aesthetic. My blonde English Bulldog is utterly gorgeous and bears a remarkable resemblance to this beautiful guitar.

But like helios I couldn't abide the stock pickups as they were too bright and over-powered for my concept of a jazz guitar. I had a similar concern with another Heritage (a 535) that I also parted with. I wonder if others agree?

As an aside, I am very satisfied with the floating pick up on my Heritage Johnny Smith (also a blonde and a remarkably light weight guitar that has extraordinary acoustic properties that amplify wonderfully).

I also observe no issues with the finger tail piece on the Heritage guitars or a Gibson Le Grand that sports same (and is an awesome instrument, much under-rated like the Heritage arch tops).

[whiskey02]

Nice nibs on that girl! Enjoy.

[Teddyfm]

Enjoy it! It really does look beautiful. I am going the swap the neck pup on my Super Eagle, HRW, to a Seth Lover one. The HRW sounds a bit brittle to me. Anyway, enjoy and keep playing and have fun with your splendid instrument!

Cheers
Ted

[Klatu]

What a fine looking instrument. If I recall correctly, you've been through a number of Heritage guitars including the laminate Kenny Burrell. I'd love to hear your thoughts comparing specs, sound, and build construction between the two.

[marshall]

Beautiful guitar! Congrats.

[Patrick2]

Gorgeous guitar. Congratulations your NGD.

Couple of things; the pups this guitar would have come with are HRWs. Not sure if you're familiar with what they are. They're a collaboration between Gibson/Heritage long time employee, Rendal Wall and Schaller. The HRW is for Heritage Rendal Wall. Supposedly (folk lore) Rendal and Schaller did some sort of magic with foo-foo dust and cyrogenics on the magnets to create the be-all, end-all of humbucker pups. I hated them for all the reasons you stated. However, if you still have them, there are fanatics on any of Heritage's 3 web site clubs that will pay as much as $300 for the set.

You are correct in assuming that Heritage selected its finest woods for the Super Kenny Burrells and the Super Eagles. But, keep in mind . . there were times when the best Heritage had to select from wasn't all that good or that special. Yours being built in 2003 was a time when Heritage had some really nice wood.

The level of comfort you feel in this guitar . . or, more appropriately put, the lack of discomfort as compared to a Super 400, is basically do to the fact that it's not quite as large as a Super 4.

Regarding the mysterious hum you're getting and previously stated concerns if the tail piece had a ground wire . . virtually every one of Heritage's guitars have the strings grounded with the tail piece. Check to see if the ground wire might have come loose or disconnected. But, if that was the case, the hum would go away as soon as you touched the strings. Could be a faulty pup? Did it hum with the original pups also?

As an aside, for a personal taste aspect . . those control knobs don't quite work, for me. But, that's unimportant. Because, unfortunately . . it's not my guitar. :-)

[helios]

What a fine looking instrument. If I recall correctly, you've been through a number of Heritage guitars including the laminate Kenny Burrell. I'd love to hear your thoughts comparing specs, sound, and build construction between the two.

Hi Klatu,
I no longer have the laminate KB. It had a great chunky neck profile, and was well suited for blues & jazz with it's floating block and fixed bridge, but I let it go to help fund the Super KB. Workmanship was great, as with the Super KB. Jeff

[helios]

Hi Patrick,
As always, I appreciate your insight. I was aware of the HRW pickup lore from previous posts on the topic, but what I didn't know is that they are sought after by some. I'll be sure and sell them on Ebay or something (I removed the entire assembly in-tact.

As you mentioned, it sounds like a tailpiece grounding issue (it did not hum when I got it). The hum does disappear when I touch the strings. The pickup Ohms are within spec (I don't know how to check for pup faultiness otherwise).

I knew the cream top-hats would raise some eyebrows (I confess they looked better in my mind than in reality). Maybe a matching cream pickup toggle knob will serve as a partial remedy. I don't like the "speed knobs"! Jeff

[barrymclark]

Wonderful! You have my envy!

[rio]

Wow, what a looker. A blonde beauty.

[Greentone]

A beautiful, 18" Heritage. Oh, by the way, the headstock is great looking, FWIW.

[helios]

Thanks to all for the comments! I'm thrilled to say that I fixed the hum I mentioned in my initial post. I found this fairly straightforward schematic from the Stewart MacDonald website, and followed it to the letter (I substituted with .047uF capacitor's however) . I took my time (this time). The Super KB sounds nice with it's Lindy Fralin Pure PAF's. No More hum!!! Jeff

[2bornot2bop]

2b approves of this post!! Mega congrats Jeff! It's about time another Super Kenny Burrell appeared on the forum. I've only seen a few SKB's in natural with duel HB's. Yours looks stunning. If it were me, I'd go with the light amber knobs which compliment the gold accents. Nonetheless, she's one fabulous archtop! Welcome to the 18" Heritage club!

[Steve Z]

Love it! Heritage blondes are always great finishes and yours continues the trend. Congrats!

[MarkRhodes]

That is a beautiful guitar. Unlike Jabberwocky, I'm NOT (generally) a fan of blondes, but this one does appeal to me.

[helios]

Thanks for the kind words! For what it's worth, I changed my demo video with a amateur version of "Four" by Miles Davis, which I just taped. Jeff

[rhoadsscholar]

Love Heritage Blondes and this one is no exception. 1st KB I have seen in blonde and I love it. Enjoy it. During the era yours was built, there was a premium charge for blonde guitars (as I recall). It will continue to age beautifully like a fine wine. ENJOY