Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..

**Max405** · 07-16-2016, 05:04 PM

Hi Guys,
You know you like a Guitar when a set of Thomastik-Infield Jazz Swings only last 1 month it. I've played this guitar and only this guitar for the last month. Honestly, I think I found the guitar I will be buried with. This guitar is everything all in one. The sound both acoustically and through an amp is the best I've ever heard. The Guitar plays like no other guitar. I like low action and I have this set at the lowest I've ever played and I'll bet that it could be lowered more without buzzing. The guitar is strong. It doesn't bottom out when you push it. And, the Guitar is absolutely beautiful to look at. All Heritage Johnnys are lookers (and all Johnny Smith Guitars are beautiful for that matter), but for me, this one just tickles my senses, every time I look at it. It is a 1994, that has been kept in absolute mint condition. So, all my button's are clicked. I'm done, stick a fork in me, I wont be buying another guitar for a long, long time.
I made this video of a song that I learned specifically for this Guitar. I wanted to play something with complexity and with a little space in between so you HEAR it. I hope you like it. Its a beautiful song. My Mother loved the Joni James version of this song.
Recorded with my usual setup, Guitar>Zoom G3 (no amp sim, flat EQ, touch of reverb)>Toshiba Qosmio USB port, Record volume set to 70. Recorded using YouCam6 and a simple Logitech webcam.

I hope you like it.

Joe D

**neatomic** · 07-16-2016, 05:14 PM

i can almost see the leaves falling!! ...worth the wait..smith-tacular...

enjoy

cheers

**neatomic** · 07-16-2016, 05:22 PM

ps- good ad for thomastik flats as well..for those that think they can't deliver a big bright bold acoustic tone!!..bravo joe D

watched 3x!

cheers

**Guitarbean25** · 07-16-2016, 05:23 PM

Preferred over the D'Angelico?

**neatomic** · 07-16-2016, 05:26 PM

different animals, no?

like asking to choose between your kids!! haha

cheers

ps- just put on johnny s moonlight in vermont cd

**QAman** · 07-16-2016, 06:11 PM

Joe,
Fantastic sounding guitar and beautiful playing as usual. Glad you've bonded well with this instrument - sounds like it's a real keeper and thanks for sharing your great experience.

**cgratham** · 07-16-2016, 06:33 PM

Hi Joe,
That's a great clip - beautiful guitar and even better playing. Love it. So happy for you. If you can rock a scarf with that goatee I'll vote you as hippest cat on the forum!

Congrats buddy.

Chris

**neatomic** · 07-16-2016, 07:04 PM

no real player's ever done..always in search of the magic

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-audiofile1-1_johnnysmith-jpg

dream on joe D!!..haha...& don't use your own quote for your sig!!

cheers

**Max405** · 07-16-2016, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by cgratham

Hi Joe,
That's a great clip - beautiful guitar and even better playing. Love it. So happy for you. If you can rock a scarf with that goatee I'll vote you as hippest cat on the forum!
Congrats buddy.
Chris

thank you Chris. A scarf? I don't think I could ever pull that off. No way.

Originally Posted by neatomic

no real player's ever done..always in search of the magic

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-audiofile1-1_johnnysmith-jpg

dream on joe D!!..haha...& don't use your own quote for your sig!!
cheers

But Even Johnny was done buying guitars..
I have always said this about that picture.. As soon as he figured out that he had a guitar in his hands, he's gonna be tearin it up!!

**rhoadsscholar** · 07-16-2016, 07:16 PM

Great playing Joe. Love the sounds you coax from that archtop and you couldn't have picked a better song. Between your great playing and Heritage Craftsmanship, I was amazed how well balanced the volume was throughout your performance. That special magic when you bond with a guitar.

**Marty Grass** · 07-16-2016, 07:27 PM

That's a beautiful performance. The strings are balanced and each note is luscious. Full but no mud.

The next time someone disses the Heritage #3 pickup, I'll refer them to your video. Really.

Question: TI 13s or 12s??

**Max405** · 07-16-2016, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by rhoadsscholar

Great playing Joe. Love the sounds you coax from that archtop and you couldn't have picked a better song. Between your great playing and Heritage Craftsmanship, I was amazed how well balanced the volume was throughout your performance. That special magic when you bond with a guitar.

RhoadsScholar,
thank you sir. You picked out a very important point. Balance. This guitar has great balance. I'll say it one more time. The pickup is amazing. It's a sin that so many of these get removed. They are low output. But they are more like microphones than pickups. I use the guitar through the Henriksen at a very comfy volume of 3-1/2. I plugged my Tal into it at that volume and almost blew up the house.
Thank you buddy. I appreciate the nice words. JD

**lawson-stone** · 07-16-2016, 07:47 PM

This is simply exquisite Joe. The guitar sounds like heaven, you're playing is of course always superb. Like taking a bath in pure Kentucky bourbon and branch water. Wow.

**Marty Grass** · 07-16-2016, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

where you been MG? You were the guy who made it all happen. I owe you MG.
My girl hands like the 12's.
My son is at a Force of Will Tournament, but when comes home, he will watch the video and be disappointed that I didn't nail the harmonic after the heavenly run.
Thanks again MG.

Those strings lack nothing in richness with your talent and equipment. I wondered if they were heavier. If I were you I wouldn't change a thing.

Bob Conti, who definitely knows his way around the archtop, states that with amplification there is no need to go heavier than 11s. But I don't think he can touch your tone in solo guitar with 11s.

**Greentone** · 07-16-2016, 09:01 PM

Joe,

That is an exquisite guitar. It is definitely in the right hands, too. Beautiful chart...and WELL played. You really sound like JS on that one.

I think you have definitely found YOUR guitar, there.

Don't stop playing the D'Angelico, but do keep playing the HJS! Wow does it work well with the Henriksen.

**hot ford coupe** · 07-16-2016, 10:17 PM

I had one of those and sold it. Another huge mistake I've made. I loved that guitar but had to have another one. Well at least it was one that I sold so I could get my DA.

**Stringswinger** · 07-16-2016, 10:23 PM

Joe,

You and I are now firmly Heritage believers. Which makes sense seeing as we are Gibson guys at heart, and Heritage archtops are essentially Gibson guitars of the highest order. I hope that my getting the DA2 from you was part of making the HJS happen for you. That video is awesome. The right guy got the right guitar for sure. You better keep this one because I really, really, really do not need any more guitars, and I would have a hard time passing that one up.

Here is a pic of me playing the DA2 at a wedding gig last week:

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-da2-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-da2-jpg

Gibson, D'Angelico and Heritage guitars rule!

**lawson-stone** · 07-16-2016, 11:22 PM

Hey Joe
If your DA is feeling neglected or unloved, I'd be glad to baby-sit for you, you know?

I don't think a single DA exists in the state of Kentucky. Might elevate the culture here considerably.

ON the other hand, I understand if you want to keep it close! ;-)

**Frank67** · 07-17-2016, 01:49 AM

Joe, this was just off the charts beautiful! Wonderful piece of music, super nicely and cleanly played, gorgeous sound. Man, if Joe Pass had had that sound on 'virtuoso', I might be able to listen to *and* enjoy it :-) r
I hear what you mean by 'balanced'. Every note anywhere on the neck is just clear and strong; the guitar is completely reacting to the nuances of your playing dynamics without ever getting boomy or plinky.
I also really dig that Heritage #3 pickup. I am absolutly amazed that a Zoom with no modelling and nothing but a bit of reverb added can sound that good recorded ... Makes one wonder about all the fancy, expensive equipment.
I am with you on 'this is as good as it gets'.
Never say never in terms of guitar buying :-) but I am glad that you dig this so much and that is a keeper for sure!
Cheers,
Frank

**Jabberwocky** · 07-17-2016, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

...

Here is a pic of me playing the DA2 at a wedding gig last week:

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-da2-jpg

Gibson, D'Angelico and Heritage guitars rule!

Now, that, that is the perfect picture of jazz. The shades, the suit, the socks, the shoes, the cap, the guitar, the man...And the sunshine! Purrrfect!

How do you keep those 18" balanced in your lap, Marc, without a guitar strap or guitar cushion?

I got dibs on Joe's HJS. You got to line up behind me, Marc. Just saying.

But Joe won't be selling this one, right, Joe? Keep it in your collection, brother. Never let it go. I'll find another.

**BigMikeinNJ** · 07-17-2016, 11:39 AM

I've been looking at Heritage headstocks for a while now and to me the Gibson headstock looks too big. It makes sense that the Heritage angles inward toward the top to accommodate the tuners being more in line with each slot in the nut...
Ya think ??

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-dsc01044-1-1-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..-dsc01044-1-1-jpg

**silverfoxx** · 07-17-2016, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Total Jazzcat ! Great pic.

Supercool Marc,
I guess you're fretting Ab13 / DbMa7 in this pic
maybe "Stompin' @ the Savoy" ?
That shot would make a great cover for a Jazz
magazine or an Album cover I suggest.

**Stringswinger** · 07-17-2016, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by silverfoxx

Supercool Marc,
I guess you're fretting Ab13 / DbMa7 in this pic
maybe "Stompin' @ the Savoy" ?
That shot would make a great cover for a Jazz
magazine or an Album cover I suggest.

Probably a D flat major seven. The reed player I play with pushes my skill set by calling tunes in odd keys, like D flat. It was probably something like Green Dolphin Street or Stella.

It keeps me on my toes for sure (and our bass players need a very strong ability to keep up).

**sgcim** · 07-17-2016, 02:54 PM

That was a flawless rendition of Johnny Smith's arrangement of 'Autumn Nocturne'.
You captured every nuance of the Master's performance of that on the 'Foursome II' LP he made on Roost.

Did you use the transcription they were selling at Chord Melody, or did you transcribe it yourself.

In any case, a great tribute to the most musical artist to ever pick up a guitar!

**2bornot2bop** · 07-17-2016, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Joe,

You and I are now firmly Heritage believers. Which makes sense seeing as we are Gibson guys at heart, and Heritage archtops are essentially Gibson guitars of the highest order. I hope that my getting the DA2 from you was part of making the HJS happen for you. That video is awesome. The right guy got the right guitar for sure. You better keep this one because I really, really, really do not need any more guitars, and I would have a hard time passing that one up.

Here is a pic of me playing the DA2 at a wedding gig last week:

Gibson, D'Angelico and Heritage guitars rule!

No way!!! The headstock people?! Heritage - built that!?

And you guys thought I was a Super Eagle fan just for fun! Beautiful photo fitting of a gorgeous guitar Marc! Submit that one to a 'guitar magazine'...that photo should be on a cover. I'd have loved being at that wedding simply to hear you play.