The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
  1. #1

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    Here's the story. Toty Viola The Toty Viola Website, an accomplished guitarist and Heritage endorser, asked Heritage to build a laminate guitar for his jazz playing. He and his friend, George Benson, designed it in 2012.

    A couple of years later Toty sold it due to his shoulder trouble. He switched to a thin guitar.

    The guitar is much like a ES-330 in design in some ways but not all indeed. The top and back are maple-poplar-laminate for feedback reduction and durability. The body is 16" across and 3" deep. The rims are solid maple.

    An internal exam of the body shows a thin center block that tapers then disappears toward the end pin. It is thinner than on my Heritage H-530.

    The scale length is 25.5" and this has a bonus fret bringing the total to 21. There is easy access to all.

    The neck is mahogany with a medium C carve. The fretboard is ebony with MOP blocks. The hardware is gold, and the pickguard is mahogany, an unusual choice.

    The binding is like that on a Golden Eagle all around.

    Another odd feature is that the frets don't have nibs. This guitar came from Heritage that way and had to be specified as such.

    The original pickups were Lollartrons. Those have been switched to Lollar Imperials.

    One of the most apparent features is the low action. Toty has his set ups done by some high master in Detroit. There are 12s FWs on it. The fret leveling, nut slot cutting and truss rod adjustment couldn't be better. A few of the bridge saddles have a touch of solder to get the height perfects. This won't matter to those who like higher action, but for those like low action without buzzing this is a dream come true. I've never said this about any guitar. It also has a wooden bridge.

    Bob Lafond (Rhoadsscholar) lived in the Detroit area. He called me because Toty was selling this. I bought it. A couple of years later Bob swapped something for it. Some time later Bob sold it to BigMike but later bought it back. Sometime later Bob bought it back or traded something. I got it back from Bob's sons very recently.

    Here are the pics indoors and outdoors. One of them is at Toty's house with George. Bob has a recording of George playing this. I don't know if I'll ever be able to retrieve it.

    Here are the pics: Flickr

    Heritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200819_211253-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200918_080542-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200918_081020-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200918_081618-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-img_1568-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-bigtoty-thumb-jpg-4de4431b9ebdf7f6f093b9bc0b132a74-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200918_081755-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-28577634_10155478965327239_181166307439155166_n-jpg
    Last edited by Marty Grass; 09-19-2020 at 01:01 PM.

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Ah, the mighty H530 'wide body' has made it back home. I've always loved the concept and amazing execution of that instrument.

    Play it in good health!

  4. #3

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    [QUOTE=Gitfiddler;1062357] I've always loved the concept and amazing execution of that instrument.
    /QUOTE]

    Totally - Long scale, 330/335 type body shape and mostly hollow with 3" of depth. What an awesome and unique design. Especially for those of us who love a 335 but want a little more pop and air for jazz playing and prefer a 25.5 inch scale. Hard to believe that combo is not available in any production instrument. (that I'm aware of).

  5. #4

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    Many thanks for sharing ! What a cool story ! Please keep them coming.

  6. #5

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    beautiful guitar...great story!

    that's ralphe armstrong playing bass in the benson pic...he was a teenager playing bass with the mahavishnu orchestra!

    congrats & enjoy


    cheers

  7. #6

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    That guitars seeking a forever home. So far it’s like a boomerang. Great looking guitar too with its Golden Eagle like binding. That makes it rare.

  8. #7

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    I changed the strings to Pyramid flats with round cores 12s. I took the pickups off and saw that they are Lollar Low Winds, which is more appropriate in my view than the Imperials I thought were on it. The pickups are potted, which I appreciate.

    I attach the photos for those who want to see inside the body of the guitar.


    Heritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120053-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120334-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120321-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120304-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120111-jpgHeritage H-530/555 Custom the second time around-20200919_120101-jpg

  9. #8

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    I remember when you sold this several years back. I wanted to buy it then, but didn't act fast enough.

    It is a very interesting guitar...with serious upgrade pickups.

  10. #9

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    That is a stunning instrument. The mahogany PG really works withe honey-colored body. Congratulations, and play it in good health!