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I’ve been eyeing a 2007 SE custom with a single PU and one thing throws me, a bit. It’s sporting a maple top instead of spruce. Was this a customers preference, possibly, or was there a specific era/version that used maple instead? Also, would the top being maple be more compressed sounding than spruce? I feel like it might lack some of the acoustic singing properties. I hope to go try it out in a few days but figured I’d grab up some intel beforehand.
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09-12-2019 10:16 PM
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A maple top Super Eagle would definitely be a customer's custom order, as well as a single pickup and H550 style pickguard. Also, SE's typically had a Cupid's Bow at the termination of the fretboard.
Heritage would do almost anything a customer wanted on a custom build, as long as it fit their basic model designs before the new ownership took over a couple of years ago. Ask the seller to take a photo of the inside label. It may (or may not) identify it as a custom.
Others can speak to the differences of a carved maple top vs. carved spruce top. It is a beautuful archtop!
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From what I have seen and learned so far (looking for a SE myself) this looks much more like a H-550 model with some extras thrown in. An Eagle model has all solid woods and the Golden Eagle and the SE also have multi-layered binding all over. From the looks of it this is a 17" model whereas the SE has a width of 18" .
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I emailed the seller for more confirmation but it sure looks like a H550 after comparing the two models.
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Custom H-550, IMO. See above for the "bling" on a Super Eagle.
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That is a seriously sweet 550.
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Here is the description. Seems like they have it mislabeled, for sure. Everything I’ve looked at that resembles it screams H550. Haven’t heard back from them yet.
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H550's are ply, not solid carved like Eagles. Pricing should be MUCH lower if it is truly a 550.
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Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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Jay Wolfe has or had a maple-topped thinline Golden Eagle made for him in 2000:
"In 2000 I asked J.P. Moats to please locate some highly figured maple for a special Golden Eagle I was lusting after. He called me & said he found some gorgeous Fiddle back AAAA Maple and I sent him the specs- Antique Natural finish, 2.25 inch rim depth, dual Seth Lover humbuckers, Bigsby w/ Chet handle, special Pickguard and all the guys signed the label. It sounds terrific. I just Plek'd her 4-18 and shot these pics. They really created a Masterpiece instrument for me, and I appreciate it so much."
Maybe he wants to sell it?
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Another thought...Ask the seller to look for an arch in the top of the guitar in question.
H550 tops and backs are completely flat. All Eagle tops are nicely arched.
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That's a single pickup H-550, which should be a great guitar. The headstock inlay, lack of cupids bow, the maple top, and type of tailpiece give it away.
You can tell it's a 17" guitar by the shape and the distance from the f holes to the rim.
Here is a pic of 3 Super Eagles. Note the f hole-to-rim distance and the more rounded shape. Ignore the Super 400s.
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Originally Posted by Marty Grass
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About $2K.
Gibson Thin line Guitar Models
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