View Poll Results: state your VISUAL PREFERENCE
- Voters
- 60. You may not vote on this poll
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I prefer the Gibson LeGrand
38 63.33% -
I prefer the Heritage Golden Eagle
12 20.00% -
I cannot decide
10 16.67%
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Not sure which looks nicer, the Le Grand or the Golden Eagle, both customized with a maple pick guard. The LeGrand with a P90 by Pete Biltoft, the Golden Eagle with a Dommenguet Jazzbucker.
Of course this is depending on individual taste, wifey prefers the Golden Eagle, i myself cannot decide.
What about you?
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02-13-2021 07:34 AM
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Both look posh! I like the wilder grain on the back of the eagle but the even flames on the grand are also special.
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Finger tailpiece classes up any guitar, in my unimportant opinion.
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Both lovely instruments but I prefer the Legrand. The headstock and tailpiece designs are key differentiators for me.
The maple pickguard replacement on the Legrand is distinctive but I prefer Gibson’s original tortoise shell design.
AKA
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I equipped the electronics on the maple and on the original pickguard with a chinch connector so i could swap them within five minutes when required.
Originally Posted by AKA
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No contest for me. Anytime I see the heritage headstock I have to look away! I wish I could remove that prejudice from my mind but I just can't shake it.
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Maybe the fact that the Golden Eagle sounds so terrific has changed my original prejudice und i became more tolerant. Actually at this point i can even see elegance in it ;-) Originally Posted by skiboyny
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I like them both and I have no problem with the Heritage headstock. I prefer the woods used on the Gibson, but not enough to choose it over the Heritage.
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Nice! Originally Posted by JazzNote
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That's really the best reason anyone needs. That's what it's supposed to be about. Originally Posted by JazzNote
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I would be bursting with pride to own either, let alone both! And that Twin Reverb is the icing on the cake! May you live long and enjoy both of these (and many others) pinnacles of the luthier's art.
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Yeah, if I was stranded in a canoe I would prefer the Heritage.
Just kidding. Both are gorgeouso!
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They both are fantastic blonds but realistically the Heritage is much less money so possibly a better deal depending on what the Legrands are fetching. Given you wife likes the Golden Eagle might be quite telling. I say this because my late wife never played the guitar but always said my 49 D'angelico has the best sound. I ask her what about it made is seem better and she said............well all the notes are just..........even and I can hear the melodies easier.
Good day in Illinois would be to have those 2 blonds to sit and play, given the high temperature for today is 5 degrees and going to -8 tonight.
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Beautiful pair. I happen to know how good that Golden Eagle really is - and it makes sense why your wife likes it. It’s a real good one.
Glad to see your still enjoying the guitar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I like the Gibson, except for the metal saddle. What's up with that on an acoustic archtop?
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For the record, I'm extremely uncomfortable with evaluating a musical instrument solely on appearance. Surely, jazz is a very stylish music, so appearance cannot be entirely ignored, however ignoring tone and playability is a dangerous path. We may as well be talking about endtables.
I voted for the Heritage because they've preserved the Epiphone cloud inlays. It is my hope that this is a clue to the tone of the instrument. Maybe they're trying to tell us they've tried to incorporate the even more classic Epiphone midrange bark. I'd love to play both.
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It's all good, looks like a Citation with the wood pickguard. Originally Posted by JazzNote
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Originally Posted by skiboyny
lol, the infamous Heritage headstock strikes again!
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Intonation. Originally Posted by Bebop Tom
One can soften the "ping" sound of the metal bridge with the tun-o-matic with rubbery bridge pieces (I forget what they're actually made of). Then you can have your cake and eat it too. I really wish wood bridges would intonate better.
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That Heritage headstock is going on me. Remember no more Gibson archtop tops.......so some wealthy dud step in and make Heritage the successor.....I would but the deacon is not managing Hedge Fund’s
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It was factory equipped with this saddle and i didn't feel it necessary to replace it as it sounds great anyways. If i ever find some spare time i might experiment with a wooden saddle ..... Originally Posted by Bebop Tom
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I didn't intend asking anyone to evaluate them, was just wondering which of them looks more appealing to others :-). Originally Posted by Kirk1701
Evaluating most other qualities is something which can only be done effectively when playing the guitar and actually feeling how it responds to one's own touch.
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So why do you not just refrain from wasting your own energy by posting into such a thread? Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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I think they were initially made of nylon, probably still are. Actually i do have a bridge on a L7 equipped with those, maybe i should swap them to check what the difference would be, but the LeGrand sound "good enough" with the metal inserts ;-). Originally Posted by Donplaysguitar
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Wow, stunning. Is that a single coil pickup on your Gibson? That must sound really nice. What do you have wrapped around the strings between bridge and tailpiece and what is it's benefit?
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Either one would do me just fine. But I am with SS on this one, I just prefer the woods on the Gibson.
What a beautiful guitar.
JD
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are the f-holes on the heritage really that much larger than the gibson..or is that some camera angle trickery?
if so i'd think there would be major differences in acoustic tone
my vote would be to combine the best aspects of both guitars into one!
mr. campellone??
hah
cheers
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Why, yes, they are that much larger. The photo is a good representation of the difference between Johnny Smith f-holes and Golden Eagle f-holes. It's just another one of many The Heritage affronts to good visual design. I should know - I own several of their ornately decorated archtops and must constantly avert my gaze while enjoying how great they feel and sound. Originally Posted by neatomic
The size difference is even more apparent when comparing the f-holes on the Gibson ES-175 and L-4C/CES to those on The Heritage H-575 and Sweet 16. Those Gibsons have perfect-sized f-holes as opposed to the egregiously Brobdingnagian f-holes on the H-575 and Sweet 16.Last edited by Hammertone; 02-14-2021 at 02:36 PM.
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- “Brobdingdanian F-holes” Wouldn’t you like to see that on a guitar spec sheet!
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Yes, it's a single coil P90 type by Pete Biltoft and it does sound very nice. It provides more clarity than the slightly warmer sounding KA12 pole humbucker which is still attached to the original pickguard. Originally Posted by Bobbyjr
Long ago i noticed that i got irritated by strange sounding overtones produced by the tailpiece when playing acoustically. These unpleasant sounds largely disappear when attaching a piece of velcro over the strings in the area between bridge and tailpiece.
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The two guitars have distinct differences in sound and it's great to have both possibilities at hand. The only downside is that sometimes it gets hard to decide which one to take to the gig. Maybe this problem would be solved when having just one combined "version", but since i love both of them i wouldn't give them up voluntarily ;-). Originally Posted by neatomic
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Thanks for sharing these pics. Both are examples of the higher end offerings from both makers - and each contain desirable attributes. I can see why it's hard to chose at times. They both offer an excellent , but different playing experience that's easy to admire. I am also a proud owner of both Gibson and Hertiage instruments and thoroughly enjoy them both. Originally Posted by JazzNote
Its not about a competition....its about making music and experiencing the great alternatives these builders have provided.
Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk
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Headstock is the clincher for me, i will take the gibson.
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Love a new word to use....thank you Hammertone!
I just looked it up and its "Brobdingnagian" unless you're Canadian.
And my beloved post-war L-7's have borderline Brobdingnagian f-holes.
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Well-played, and correction made - so much for my memory! Or perhaps I was thinking of Jerry Sokoloski, a true "Brobdingnadian." Originally Posted by zizala
The Johnny Smith f-holes were a new design for Gibson, and have only ever been used on the JS, Citation, Kalamazoo Award and Legrand models, AFAIK (any others?). I don't see the design of the L-5/L-7 f-holes as overly large by comparison, just less elegant. Your post-war L-7 f-holes should be the same as those on almost all 17" Gibson archtop f-holes from @'38 forward.
The most appropriate comparison is really between the Gibson Kalamazoo Award and the Heritage Golden Eagle. since the Golden Eagle is based not on the L-5 but on the Kalamazoo Award, and copies most of that model's features:
-similar eagle & branch inlay idea on headstock, but a variation on the original style;
-same trc material but ...;
-same scale;
-same neck construction (5-piece maple w/mahogany strips, ebony board, 20 frets);
-same body dimensions (Rim Depth - 3”+/-* | Body Width - 17” | Body Length - 20 1/4”);
-similar tailpiece, but a variation on original style;
-wood pickguard w/floating pickup attached to it (the GE guard shown is a replacement that is better-looking than the original);
-ebony bridge w/inlaid base;
-same JS f-hole design but ... wider, with some wider than others.
Differences:
-cloud inlays and cupid's bow on fretboard instead of K'zoo blocks and end;
-MOP instead of abalone for inlays
-something about the headstock...
*Kalamazoo Award literature says 3 1/8" rims, but for sale ads typically say 3"Last edited by Hammertone; 02-16-2021 at 04:44 AM.
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Both are beauties, but if I had my choice, I'd go LeGrand.
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I'd be honoured to play either.
From a purely visual design stand-point the Gibson wins easily for my tastes. As mentioned before: headstock, f holes, woods, but also giant 'H' tailpiece and slightly gaudy headstock inlay. Actually, I'd like the Gibson even more if it didn't have the diamond 'Custom' inlay in the head. The ol' flower pot is sweeter. I also prefer the look of the tulips over imperials.
And to my eyes anyway, Gibson is a better designed logotype than 'The Heritage'. Now that I've typed it, it seems a bit awkward. Is 'The Heritage' even grammatically correct?
It's just personal taste. I also prefer herringbone to hounds-tooth.
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By far The Heritage.
It has the pretiiest headstock in the world, period.
Now if you want to start a discussion on f-holes size, it's up to you, but The Heritage wins again !
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Congratulations on owning these two fine instruments.
The inlays got me and made me go with the Gibson. For me, they are very close aeshetically.
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Good auld sarcasm... Originally Posted by 339 in june
The Heritage headstock gets you pulled aside in a security scan for possessing a dangerous weapon sharp enough to put one's eyes out. TSA won't let you take it onboard. Your bass player gets nervous, your drummer feels the negative jibes, the sax player worries if you are going to ram it up his ass while he takes a solo. It is just bad juju all round.
Jazz is as much about style as it is about the music. You don't show up at a jazz gig wearing sweats. Do you think The Heritage goes well with your Brioni? The Italians would be offended.
No true Italian would be seen playing The Heritage. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
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Well now, that's offensive sarcasme, is anyone sarcastically indicating that he is no true Italian? Lorenzo Petrocca with Heritage Sweet 16 "nuages" - YouTube Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
This may become dangerous - Italians are known to be hot tempered and he's been a boxer before becoming a jazz guitar player ;-)
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It's not sarcasm.
I'm really convinced Heritage headstocks are beautiful and the fruit of good engineering (nice, simple and efficient)
And I'm not an Italian.
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I am forgiven for pointing out the obvious. Originally Posted by JazzNote
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The great trombonist/arranger Phil Wilson played most gigs in sweats. There is often hardly any less stylish musical performance than a jazz show, especially with Miles gone. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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Both! The wooden bridge would be a better fit for LG also. Heritage has more of punch in my opinion, like sort of an L5. Legrand is more sensitive, more like D'Angelico.
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Yes, the GE is more punchy, but i wouldn't really compare it to the sound of a modern L5. If I remember right, when I bought it it was mentioned that it's close to the old L5 sound (probably prewar L5 sound). It has the brighter voice of the two and with the Dommenguet PU it is literally able to naturally cut through "anything". The LeGrand sounds closer to my 2003 L5CES, but with brighter overtones than the L5. The low register is smooth and much more dominant than on the GE. Originally Posted by Epistrophy
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That must be true! GE is brighter. I used to tame the sound with JS113 set to make it darker when I still had a GE, it was even for sale here for some time. I still use that string set in my GJS. Somehow I never got used my former GE although I played it a lot. Even my teacher told me I don't know how to play it back in the years. Ended up selling it. GJS does it for me, that's all I need. Originally Posted by JazzNote
Last edited by Epistrophy; 03-13-2021 at 07:16 AM.
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What was a huge improvement in Both Johnny Smith and Golden Eagle was to put a tone control under the pickguard, I decided to keep the original black floating pickup in my Golden Eagle. I usually have the tone control wide open to cut it through the mix, no matter the type of guitar I play. With an amp I soften the sound and sometimes I don't use treble at all.
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Those are beautiful Jazz guitar photographs JazzNote! Well done!
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