Heritage D'Angelico New Yorker

**neatomic** · 11-23-2015, 08:00 PM

wow late to the party on this..but great story and great lookin guitar..a true beauty...love that vintage sunburst look

thanksgiving indeed! enjoy!

cheers

**Max405** · 11-24-2015, 11:14 AM

Thanks Vinny.

Look at this..

Heritage D'Angelico New Yorker-img_2483-jpg

John D'Angelico, He was an artist who just so happened to be a Guitar builder.

Video to come.

JD

**Max405** · 11-24-2015, 01:06 PM

Ive owned one of the Korean DA's. I thought it was a nice guitar. Playable all the way up to the last fret. They copied the "look" of the guitar reasonably well.
This Guitar is in a TOTALLY different universe. It feels like a special hand built instrument. Everything about it is substantial and done to perfection. The pickguard feels like it should cost $1000. You probably could use it as a surfboard if you wanted too. When you touch the body of the guitar (lightly tap, not hard) you hear something inside of the body that projects outward. The trussrod cover is a massive and heavy solid piece of white pearl-shell like material. It is carved and polished like a semi-precious gemstone. Its not a piece of aluminum.

The Only thing I hope to change on it will be the tuners. The Grover Super Rotomatics hopefully will be swapped out for Grover Imperials. but am not sure that is possible.

Has anyone ever done that before? If anyone has done it, let me know how the retrofit went for you. I know the hole for the existing Super Roto's are 13/32" and the hole needed for the Imperial is only 3/8". I was planning to shim it with a wrap of tape. The gear mechanism is held onto the back of the head stock by 1 screw on the super rotos and 2 screws on the Imperials. I wonder if the bottom screw hole lines up on both? And lastly, The washer on the Super Roto looks bigger than the cap that slides in the hole and over the protrusion from the gearbox body (through the headstock). I wonder if that will be a cosmetic problem on the front of the headstock?

Sorry to ramble. Any help would be appreciated.

Joe D

**vinnyv1k** · 11-24-2015, 01:32 PM

NO !!! Don't do it. The dimensions are different. The only thing that is the same is the knobs which can be bought separately.

**GNAPPI** · 11-24-2015, 01:48 PM

I've waited to post to this thread for many reasons. It's remarkable how many heart felt comments are made about a player, a guitar and its history. Just a nice read when so much in the world has gone to crap. Even though the HDA isn't mine, thanks to all of you for making my day :-)

"The Only thing I hope to change on it will be the tuners. The Grover Super Rotomatics hopefully will be swapped out for Grover Imperials. but am not sure that is possible."

Imperials have two mounting holes while rotomatics have one. If you want to keep the guitar so it can go back to the way it was...

**Stringswinger** · 11-24-2015, 01:54 PM

Keep the tuners that are on it Joe. They are better. Why downgrade performance for a more vintage look?

**Max405** · 11-24-2015, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

NO !!! Don't do it. The dimensions are different. The only thing that is the same is the knobs which can be bought separately.

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Keep the tuners that are on it Joe. They are better. Why downgrade performance for a more vintage look?

OK Vin and SS, I know you have my best interest in mind. I knew the dimensions were a little different, but I hoped one of the holes would line up and I just shim the existing hole to take out any potential play in the connection. I'll back off. Maybe I get a new set of Super rotomatics. I have an issue with tarnished tuners. But I'll get over it. Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

I've waited to post to this thread for many reasons. It's remarkable how many heart felt comments are made about a player, a guitar and its history. Just a nice read when so much in the world has gone to crap. Even though the HDA isn't mine, thanks to all of you for making my day :-)

"The Only thing I hope to change on it will be the tuners. The Grover Super Rotomatics hopefully will be swapped out for Grover Imperials. but am not sure that is possible."

Imperials have two mounting holes while rotomatics have one. If you want to keep the guitar so it can go back to the way it was...

Gary, I've wanted you to post to this thread too. You always bring great vibe to any post you contribute too. This post is no different.
This Guitar is really special. There is no hope for the majority of us to be able to afford one of the original 1500 some odd guitars that D'Angelico and D'Aquisto built. I wish I could. But for some strange reason, I feel like I stumbled across something just as special. There were only a dozen or so of these made by the legendary Heritage boys and I feel there is a rarity to them all there own. Now that The Heritage boys are nearing the end of there legendary run, these Guitars should have there place in the Pantheon of great guitars too. Not just my DA, but all the Heritage Guitars that were ever built. The same guys who built the great Gibsons that we all lust after built these amazing guitars too. And during there run, they were never able to elevate Heritage to the same elite status as they did with Gibson. But when the final Guitar leaves that old factory in Kalamazoo, that's it. Its over. For me, its nice to have a couple these to enjoy.
As for the player who owns this particular HDA, ahh, he's just some schlub wannabe who is having the time of his life copying Johnny and Joe on some really great guitars.

Thanks Guys, Joe D.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-24-2015, 02:39 PM

WD music sells the replacement knobs for cheap if the gold has worn off.

**Marty Grass** · 11-24-2015, 03:25 PM

Quit it!

Leave the tuners alone if they work, and they work! You want to gild the lily.

If you are bored, work on world hunger or a cure for cancer. Or just practice. But don't assault the guitar.

**Max405** · 11-29-2015, 10:01 PM

Hi Guys, Here is the video as Promised.

I hope you enjoy it. I recorded this at lower volume to avoid Clipping. You may have to turn up the volume a little.

Details:
Guitar into a Zoom G3. Flat EQ. No Amp simulation. Just a touch of reverb.

The Guitar is amazing (To Me). It is so warm sounding. My next set of strings will be TI Jazz Swing 13's. I have TI 12's now.

Thanks, Joe D

**Marty Grass** · 11-29-2015, 10:32 PM

Excellent playing, Joe. Really beautiful.

How are you supporting the guitar? Do you have a cushion on your leg? I don't see a strap.

I'd go for the heavier strings. This gets into the realm of opinion. But your pickup seems to be a lower output, which emphasizes brightness and diminishes mids. I'd be tempted to try a string with a hex core. These include Pyramid hexes, LaBellas, and Chromes. The first two seem warmer than Chromes to me. I'd go with 13s. Of course you could always try the TIs first and see what you think.

The round cores don't have as much string tension and don't drive the top of that big DA.

You've obviously put enough time into your new DA to be at home with it. I'm pretty certain that you are its first owner to give it some real playing time.

Excellent!!!

**Cunamara** · 11-29-2015, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Personally I hate fat necks. I wear a size medium glove. L5's,175's,Tal's,Brydlands,Guilds all feel good to me. I have played a fat neck 335 I did not like and some Heritages with very fat necks. I just can't play chords on fat necks period. Guess my hands are not big enough. Everybody wishes they had Tal Farlow hands. It all comes down to hand size. Big hands need big necks and vise versa.

At 6'3" I have hands that are proportional. I like wide (1 3/4) necks that are thin. I think some of one's preferences include not only hand size but also stretchiness.

**Max405** · 11-29-2015, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

Excellent playing, Joe. Really beautiful.

How are you supporting the guitar? Do you have a cushion on your leg? I don't see a strap.

I'd go for the heavier strings. This gets into the realm of opinion. But your pickup seems to be a lower output, which emphasizes brightness and diminishes mids. I'd be tempted to try a string with a hex core. These include Pyramid hexes, LaBellas, and Chromes. The first two seem warmer than Chromes to me. I'd go with 13s. Of course you could always try the TIs first and see what you think.

The round cores don't have as much string tension and don't drive the top of that big DA.

You've obviously put enough time into your new DA to be at home with it. I'm pretty certain that you are its first owner to give it some real playing time.

Excellent!!!

Hey MG,
I am supporting it on my leg. No cushion.
Thanks buddy for the nice words about the video. I love the song. Joe Pass was a brilliant player. No way I'll ever scratch the surface of his excellence. I am a very light player and this guitar has a sweetness to it that plays these soft tunes very well. It's pretty close to perfection.
Thanks, Joe D

**HeyNow** · 11-30-2015, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

Here's the Kalamazoo perspective on the neck fatness issue.

...

Here's the part where some get really honked off, especially Les Paul fans. There are those who believe a fat neck transmits string vibration to the top better than a thin neck. Better is a subjective term of course. Reasoning that supports this is very weak. Contrary evidence is stronger.

...

The prejudice for fat necks is mostly based on a peculiar bias that is an artifact of history. The old archtops had fat necks. Many of these are very well made instruments that came from premium woods that are definitely mature and have "opened up". It would be easy to mistake the source of their rich sound as coming from the neck. What belies this is that some old guitars (1960s Johnny Smiths for example) don't have fat necks and sound fabulous. Nonetheless, the myth persists.
...

Fat necks are also preferred for players that do a lot of bends e.g. blues and blues-rock players. They don't grasp the guitar in the classical fashion.

Beautiful guitar Joe. Glad it's still in the forum family and being played.

**citizenk74** · 11-30-2015, 12:43 AM

Nice playing, Joe. The Heritage D'Angelico has found a happy home. Play it long and well in good health!

**GNAPPI** · 11-30-2015, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Hi Guys, Here is the video as Promised.

I hope you enjoy it. I recorded this at lower volume to avoid Clipping. You may have to turn up the volume a little.
Thanks, Joe D

Joe, that git is in good hands. It's one thing to "acquire" a guitar, another to appreciate its beauty, but I think you got the big picture bro... play it till it hurts :-)

I'm sure Patrick is happy you have it. And DAMN YOU!! Yes I enjoyed the clip AND I now have "wish upon a star" stuck in my head!!! I'm going to have to go listen to the Carpenters or some such to purge it!

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-30-2015, 10:27 AM

Joe, I'm late to this thread, but better late than never. A couple of points:

1. The guitar is beautiful! Stunning. Special.

2. Your playing is beautiful. Stunning. Special.

So moving to see the right guitar in the right hands. Congratulations to all involved in the history of this guitar. It's found a home.

**Max405** · 11-30-2015, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Joe, I'm late to this thread, but better late than never. A couple of points:
1. The guitar is beautiful! Stunning. Special.
2. Your playing is beautiful. Stunning. Special.
So moving to see the right guitar in the right hands. Congratulations to all involved in the history of this guitar. It's found a home.

Hey Rob, Thanks buddy. Your new D'Aquisto will be doing some singing too.
I appreciate the nice things you said buddy, I really do.
JD

**2bornot2bop** · 11-30-2015, 07:16 PM

Joe, it's so great to see that guitar on a youtube video! Loved the performance. I'm with Marty on the string choice. It's essentially a Super Eagle acoustic. There's a lot more fat and warmth to get from that guitar with a heavier string choice. I use TI 14 Bebop rounds...completely differently tone than you're getting, and I'm only a finger picker. At any rate, great stuff...thanks for posting bro!

**neatomic** · 11-30-2015, 08:03 PM

honestly, i wouldn't change a thing..i listened to it 2x on headphones..and as i said- just about as perfect a classic warm tone as you'll ever hear..lush!...maybe go from 12 to 13's..but never leave thom jazz swings..those pure nickel flats are just right...perfecto..(with the added bonus they'll sound equally good 2 months from now...)

cheers

**rpguitar** · 11-30-2015, 08:28 PM

The lighter 12s react more softly to a delicate touch. You know what you're doing, Joe. Stay the course.

**Max405** · 11-30-2015, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Joe, it's so great to see that guitar on a youtube video! Loved the performance. I'm with Marty on the string choice. It's essentially a Super Eagle acoustic. There's a lot more fat and warmth to get from that guitar with a heavier string choice. I use TI 14 Bebop rounds...completely differently tone than you're getting, and I'm only a finger picker. At any rate, great stuff...thanks for posting bro!

thank you 2b. I agree with on the YouTube video. When I watch it, I can't believe it's my guitar. It's been 9 days since I touched any of my other guitars. I even played out with it the day after I got it! It fills the room with sweet music. What a guitar. Thanks bro.

Originally Posted by neatomic

honestly, i wouldn't change a thing..i listened to it 2x on headphones..and as i said- just about as perfect a classic warm tone as you'll ever hear..lush!...maybe go from 12 to 13's..but never leave thom jazz swings..those pure nickel flats are just right...perfecto..(with the added bonus they'll sound equally good 2 months from now...)

cheers

neatomic, thank you buddy. I will try the 13's. I am waiting for 2b to play the video on his superdupermegalopalus audio system. Dying to hear what he says.

Originally Posted by rpguitar

The lighter 12s react more softly to a delicate touch. You know what you're doing, Joe. Stay the course.

thanks for saying that. I'm afraid to change anything too radically about it because if it loses its sweetness I'm gonna shoot myself.

To all of the GREAT people on this forum who have encouraged me,
Once again, I need to say that you all have enhanced some of the biggest dream like experiences I've had. My whole life, even when I was playing KISS when I was younger, I always wanted to play complicated solo jazz stuff. I always wanted to take it as far as I can. I would look at these guitars at music stores in my area and Dream to own some one day. With a few lucky breaks in my life including a wife that I adore who wants me to be happy, I've got some good stuff. That would have been good enough on its own, but sharing it (not showing it off) with you guys has augmented the experience ten-fold.
I thank you all. Thanks for making me feel blessed with all this great stuff in my life.
Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart - Joe D.

**Max405** · 01-09-2016, 09:42 PM

Hey guys
here is a update. I did a little research on the guitar. It's special.
Prior to when these were made, a deal was struck with Jim Triggs. He was supposed to be the primary builder. That never happened. Instead, something magic was planned. Marty Turman, awarded Heritage with the order. Heritage was to build the guitars and send them to a very famous NYC luthier for fabrication of tailpiece, bridge and the famous pickguards. According to Jay Wolfe, The primary builder of my guitar at Heritage was JP Moats. Jay, and many others regard JP as one of the best luthiers ever. The famous NYC luthier who finished my guitar was Ronald DeMarino. The interesting thing about Ron, was back in the 50's he was a recording artist who used John D'Angelico to do repairs on his L5. He and John became friends and ended up spending a lot of time together in Johns shop. It was there, that Ron learned much from John about building guitars. After Ron's entertaining career was over, he used what he learned from John and became a prolific luthier in his own right. In fact, Ron was so good, he became John Lennons luthier here in the US.
Ever since I bought this guitar from Patrick's family, I sensed something was special about it. It's not perfect. It had a binding separation that I had Ronaldo repair. Unfortunately, Ronaldo added to the existing dings and scratches that he was supposed to fix. I buffed out most of them but I'd rather not risk burning through the very thin layer of lacquer, so I backed off. The guitar is 95% perfect and plays like the world class instrument that is was intended to be.
Thanks for reading my rambling..
Joe D new pics to follow..

oops, I forgot to add, the bridge was made by a young upstart luthier at the time, Cris Mirabella. All the facts about the NYC assembly/fabrication were confirmed by Steve DeMarino, Ron's son. Steve was patient and generous with his time with me. He learned much about restoration from his dad. Technics that were passed on from John D'Angelico himself. Steve is a great guy.