Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 05:37 PM

Hi all,

I found a Heritage Johnny Smith recently. The label is signed by many people… but I could not make out Johnny Smith’s signature!

Can anyone make it out amongst the crowd?

Would love to know also if this was common practice at Heritage to have everyone sign, and even who all the signers are.

I attached a picture. Thanks in advance!

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7139-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7139-jpg

**deacon Mark** · 10-04-2023, 05:48 PM

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_2723-jpg

Can you post a picture of the entire guitar that would be cool. I don't know one signature could be johnny's from the side view. I know his signature too because he sign an old album of mine many years ago. I go look and then check the label in my Heritage JS it was one of last ones.

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 06:53 PM

I have a record he signed [not for me] and it's very legible.
I recognize most of those signatures but unless Smith just scrawled it quickly I'm not seeing it on that label

**sgosnell** · 10-04-2023, 07:22 PM

I wouldn't have expected Johnny Smith to sign the label of every guitar of his model they made. That would require a lot of trips to Michigan, and he had no part in the actual build of the guitars. I would be somewhat surprised to see his signature on any label, but I've been surprised before. I have no actual knowledge of any of this.

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 07:25 PM

I doubt he'd have to travel anywhere, they could've just sent him the labels.

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:05 PM

Thanks everyone. Here is a picture of the guitar.

It is a cool one, with factory piezo. But I found that the bridge has been pinned for it, which is a bummer. And it was shipped with 10s so I’m not quite getting the full effect.

There is also what looks like lacquer delaminating, I don’t suppose that was a known issue some years?

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7142-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7142-jpg

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 08:19 PM

"lacquer delaminating"

Pic?

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:24 PM

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7146-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7148-jpg

Heritage Johnny Smith signed by everyone but JS?-img_7145-jpg

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 08:26 PM

I'm no Heritage expert by any stretch but that's pretty severe.

**deacon Mark** · 10-04-2023, 08:29 PM

That is minor stuff guitar looks nice. How does it sound.

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by deacon Mark

That is minor stuff guitar looks nice. How does it sound.

Minor??

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:31 PM

Yeah I’m no expert either but it was not something I recall hearing about.

It was described as excellent condition, might be a candidate for a return. Along with the pinned bridge I’m not sure it’s that great! There were dead bugs inside it too, which was pretty gross.

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by deacon Mark

That is minor stuff guitar looks nice. How does it sound.

I think it sounds decent but it came with 10s, so it sounds a bit light to me right now. Would love if it had 12s. Even if I could live with the finish issues I suppose I am not sure about the bridge.

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 08:36 PM

Excellent?
I'd send it back yesterday, the fingerboard/binding edge isn't great but that headstock is nnnnnasty

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Excellent?
I'd send it back yesterday, the fingerboard edge isn't great but that headstock is nnnnnasty

Yeah it’s not pretty. I noticed that and the pinned bridge after initially posting. At that time I had hoped to learn more about the guitar. Too bad, I’d been interested in a JS for a while.

**deacon Mark** · 10-04-2023, 08:43 PM

I would send it back on the pinned bridge and would never accept that on an acoustic archtop.

**wintermoon** · 10-04-2023, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by DLQ

Yeah it’s not pretty. I noticed that and the pinned bridge after initially posting. At that time I had hoped to learn more about the guitar. Too bad, I’d been interested in a JS for a while.

Not the only one they made, another will surface if you're settled on that model only.
Pinned bridge or not I don't think I've ever seen a worse case of lacquer lifting like that headstock.

**DLQ** · 10-04-2023, 08:54 PM

This whole thing was probably doomed from the dead bugs upon opening the case!

**Woody Sound** · 10-05-2023, 04:19 AM

I once read from a handwriting signature analyst that large first letters followed by small letters indicates an inflated ego and yet an inner insecurity. (Not really accepting that, just noting it.)

**Litterick** · 10-05-2023, 07:37 AM

If you go to the Heritage Owners Club forums and search for 'signed', you should see several labels signed by employees and owners. You could also learn something about the signatories: Pete Farmer, Marvin Lamb, Bill Paige and others.

According to his official biography, Johnny Smith did sign all the labels, so yours might be unique.

**skiboyny** · 10-05-2023, 07:55 AM

It comes down to the price and the sound on this one. If it sounds great and the price is right you could live with a lot. Best of luck on whatever you decide.

**Woody Sound** · 10-05-2023, 08:59 AM

I would not hesitate to own this. I especially LIKE the addition of the piezo bridge. It looks like it's the Fishman.

**vinnyv1k** · 10-06-2023, 11:48 AM

If the bridge is pinned with perfect intonation that would be OK with me but my anal side would need a neck refinish.

Regardless if these issues were not disclosed not cool…..punt.

**Dennis D** · 10-06-2023, 12:34 PM

.......To me, the scariest thing about this and other Heritages I'd seen is how close that p/u is to the strings....

**Gitfiddler** · 10-06-2023, 04:58 PM

The issues noted are going to bother you more and more as the initial 'honeymoon' wears off.

I'd respectfully recommend returning it for a full refund.

Too bad. I love JS archtops.