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Does anyone have any experience with Heritage? I've heard things about models like the Eagles.
I'm trying to get that nice, warm Wes-ish tone... and I can't afford something like an L-5.
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Welcome to the forum Owen. Start reading the threads on the top page about Heritage Johnny Smith guitars. Look around a bit at Heritage Golden Eagle and Heritage Super Eagle videos, see if the tone is what you are looking for. No one can tell you what YOUR EARS know already..
Big
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I would jump over to the for sale page and grab the Eagle Classic that is up at a great price. The Eagle Classic is the Heritage that is essentially an L-5CES with less ... hmm? ... exuberant inlay work. Otherwise, the construction is essentially the same (with allowance for the fact that Heritage uses a 3" body depth; Gibson uses a 3-3/8" body depth).
The Eagle Classic is capable of getting a VERY Wes/VERY L-5 tone. Ask around on the forum.
A best buy.
[full disclosure: I am a Gibson and a Heritage owner.]
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My H575 Custom is one of the finest guitars I've ever played. Incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. Great tone and playability as well.
Last edited by jazz.fred; 07-18-2016 at 12:58 AM.
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Hi Owen,
Wolf guitars typically sells Heritage Eagle Classic Customs new In the mid 3000's--roughly half the price of a new Gibson L5 Wes.
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That's a great deal Heritage. I posted a link to a 1988 floating pup GE. Not what the OP is looking for.
A Heritage has its own vibes. Work with it. Recognise it for what it is. Sounds good on its own terms but not an L5CES. Neither is a Buscarino Artisan nor a Benedetto Manhattan. Those guys don't get mad when you mention that. The goal is to play it and make music. That said, I wish it had a nicer headstock. But that is what keeps the price affordable. My problem really. Your gain.
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+1, a eagle classic or golden eagle with inset pub(s) is a gorgeous 17'' carved top archtop. It has commonalities with a L-5, but it is not an L5 clone nor is it meant to be. They are higher builds than L5s. An L5 is almost Les Paul heavy, does not have much acoustic presence but that signature fat, smoky electric jazz tone. Eagles are different but great in their own right. Both designs are great IMHO. With two setin pubs they have a nice, fat tone too. Here is an example.
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I LIKE the headstocks on Heritage guitars. I also like the headstocks on Gibson and Guild guitars. The Heritage headstock, however, makes the most sense in terms of function.
Let's be honest, though. In terms of pure design elegance, it doesn't get any more beautiful than a Gibson L-5CES. The lines, dimensions, etc., are all just about as perfect as they can get.
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Count me in as a big Heritage fan. Practicing jazz mostly on an H575 custom and and H525. Very fine instruments. I appreciate them for what they are, which seems to be well-thought out variations on traditional Gibson themes. The 575 (for example) isn't quite an ES-175, has it's own feel and voice. Which is working for me. While the H525 is helping me realize that the P-90 sound in jazz is one of my favorite sounds. For Wes sound, I'd be equally interested in L5s and the Heritage equivalent. Someday soon ...
MD
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I'm very happy of the 1991 Heritage H575 (not an Eagle one!) I recently got, very well made, excellent payability, amazing sound (I was looking for a classical jazz sound), and not so expensive compared to a jazz Gibson.
Find some Heritage to play, try.... and don't resist!
Cheers!
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I'm very fond of my Heritage Sweet 16 .....
As much as I want to add a Super 400 to my collection .... I have no plans to sell my Heritage to finance one.
I had a Golden Eagle some years ago .... some days I wish I had kept it ... but the trade turned out to be a good thing financially
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I really am enjoying mine. I've owned a Sweet 16 for many years, got tired of the long scale length (old fingers,) and switched to a 575 with a spruce top about a year ago.
Here's a sound clip recorded with the 575 direct into the computer (no amp)
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Thanks for posting that clip. I just ordered the same one with a 1.75 neck today. Can't wait to get it, but it will be a while for them to build it.
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Wow. That's going to be a nice guitar. Enjoy it, and please report in when you receive it.
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Any clip certainly won't be as nice as Van's, but I'll sure post. I hadn't realized that I could custom order one with the neck I wanted until learning on this Forum. It won't be an easy wait, buy my wife reminds me that even at 73 I haven't done well in the "delayed gratification" department.
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I was told to expect 2-3 months. But, it will be worth it. I loved everything I heard about the Heritage, but wanted a 1.75 neck. Now I get to pick that and several other things including the Pup as well as cosmetic things.
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That's my turn :
Nothing beats an Heritage, sounds like an Heritage, plays like an Heritage.
1 11/16" necks on Heritage feel like 1 3/4" on others...
Flats on an Heritage played acoustic sound louder than rounds on other guitars.
Heritage guitars have double the Gibson feel they inherited, for half the price.
I know what I'm talking about, I have 3 Gibson and 1 Heritage, and I hope the proportion will get reversed asap.
Sorry, couldn't resist 
, and Im not ready for the Pulitzer price
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Now owning 5 Heritage guitars (HDA, Super Patrick, Golden Eagle, H150 and Sweet 16) I concur.
You don't have to write volumes to get my nod...
Big
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Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 09-02-2016 at 05:57 PM.
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Heritage guitars are great. They are not overbuilt. The HJS's I've owned were/are guitars of a lifetime.
The Heritage built New Yorker I owned was spectacular. If the neck was a CH (eyelash) deeper, I'd still have it and I'd be doing cartwheels.
JD
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As far as I'm concerned, I'd buy a Heritage guitar before I'd even consider a Gibson. The only reason I'd buy a Gibson is if I had a gig where I needed a period guitar for appearances only like a reissue 1920 something L5. I had a chance to play the D'A II along with the Heritage made Gretsch Eldorado and they were both outstanding. I had to take the Gretsch because it was 5 Grand less than the D'A and I couldn't afford it. I have no regrets about that choice. My biggest 3 regrets are I sold a Golden Eagle, a Johnny Smith and an H575.
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They are lovely, pretty guitars, no nonsense company, real honest proud old school american craft - nothing not to like! They play superb and sound superb. To me they do not sound like Gibsons (at least their archtops). They are constructed similar to Gibsons, but are lighter builds and typically less deep, both of which affect tone. Some days I prefer the sounds of my Heritages, some day Gibson - but one things for sure - the Heritages are at least on par with the best custom shop Gibsons.
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No archtop but I've owned a 535 since 93, I'm definitely a Heritage fan.
My archtops are Gibson and Eastman, I am a fan of those as well, in fact there are weeks when I prefer playing a Fender. In my opinion they're all good. Which is the best depends on the day and the genre.
Last edited by ESCC; 09-03-2016 at 09:26 AM.
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Well I have owned a number of Heritages H535,H550,Roy Clark,Millenium Ultra. Very nice guitars, but not in the same league as my 2015 Memphis '63 Historic ES-335TDC Sorry but Gibson got it right again w/ the correct wood ply laminates, adirondack spruce braces, as well as all other correct original components down to the sleeveless truss rod, rolled binding, and MHS humbuckers. Gibson sure makes some big mistakes I agree, but when they get it right it's magical.
I actually compared my 335 to an original 1964 ES-335TDC and I found mine to be a bit better
Heritage builds basically late 1960's though 1979 Gibsons. And while many people like them I prefer the 1950's-1964 Gibson builds which to me are the Golden Era for Gibson design and builds.
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