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Post by RoelFromHolland on Oct 1, 2002 9:50:11 GMT -5
Hello everybody !
I'm considering to buy a hollowbody guitar to suit my jazz-needs.
I can buy a Heritgae 575 for about 2000 Euro and a Guild X-150-D for
1800 Euro. Both are new. Which one is the best choice ? Personally I
think the Heritage is a better deal because it has a massive top, back
and sides. Any recommendations ?
Cheers,
Roel
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Post by jdonah on Oct 1, 2002 11:20:05 GMT -5
IF you have any plans of ever selling your new Jazz box, then I might recommend the Guild. Heritage guitars, albeit being known for their superior quality, are also known for their terrible resale value. Having said that, I'd go with the Guild for that reason only. Quality, playability, and tone-wise, both guitars equally rival the famed Gibson ES-175. IMHO that is...  |
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Post by jdonah on Oct 1, 2002 11:40:01 GMT -5
One last suggestion... and I know it sounds like I'm a Washburn salesrep, BUT I have a Washburn J6.. Basically an L5, ES-175, X-150D, H575, and the various other names... The guitar is simply awesome... if you have the means to try one out, go for it... I think you'll be delightfully suprised.. My only gripe is nothing.. I originally wanted the J10 which has the floating pickup, but I got such a good deal on Ebay for a used one. Don't let the name Washburn scare you or the fact that it is a Korean made guitar... I was just as delighted as you may be skeptical when I first played one...
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Post by Robert G. Denman on Oct 3, 2002 23:09:35 GMT -5
Hello,
Are you familiar with the history of Heritage guitars?
The Gibson Company occupied their same plant on Parsons Street in Kalamazoo since the founding of the
company. When Gibson moved to Nashville, they left a
whole bunch of experienced luthiers behind in Kalamazoo. These guys were good at making quality
archtops that Gibson was noted for.
So, they pooled their resources and bought the old
plant from Gibson and started Heritage Guitars.
Their workmanship is excellent as they borrowed
from the Gibson archtop experience.
Johnny Smith, the great classic jazz guitarist endorses
Heritage, and they built him the Johnny Smith Model
which was originally offered by Gibson. This guitar
is one of their top of the line models. I would love
to have one.
They have a website that is interesting. I hope the
company will do well.
Keep on pickin',
Robert
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Post by jdonah on Oct 5, 2002 10:37:57 GMT -5
I am more than willing to bet that the Heritage name will fall by the wayside before the decade is over... Not enough "popular" guitarists use their guitars.. Anyone who knows anything about guitars knows that Heritage does in fact make a superior guitar to the Gibson, BUT 90% of the guitar playing population are too naive and to timid to spend over $1000 on a guitar which such little exposure... This is the sad, but true story of capitalism in America today...
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Post by BobMc on Oct 18, 2002 9:38:56 GMT -5
While it is important to consider the resale, the Heritages I've played have been of higher quality. A customer of mine just got a Heritage Sweet 16 and it is fine fine fine. I've owned 2 Guild archtops over the years (both CE100 Capris), and loved them, but I haven't played a 150.
BTW, I always bring and use a strap when trying out archtops. Helps in evaluating balance.
let us know what you decide
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Post by RoelFromHolland on Oct 18, 2002 9:44:23 GMT -5
I bought the Heritgage H575. I A/B'ed it with a Gibson ES 175 which was twice the price and the Heritage was the winner; both in tone and in workmanship.
Cheers,
Roel
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Post by shawn on Oct 18, 2002 18:17:52 GMT -5
Hello, Are you familiar with the history of Heritage guitars? The Gibson Company occupied their same plant on Parsons Street in Kalamazoo since the founding of the company. When Gibson moved to Nashville, they left a whole bunch of experienced luthiers behind in Kalamazoo. These guys were good at making quality archtops that Gibson was noted for. So, they pooled their resources and bought the old plant from Gibson and started Heritage Guitars. Their workmanship is excellent as they borrowed from the Gibson archtop experience. Johnny Smith, the great classic jazz guitarist endorses Heritage, and they built him the Johnny Smith Model which was originally offered by Gibson. This guitar is one of their top of the line models. I would love to have one. They have a website that is interesting. I hope the company will do well. Keep on pickin', Robert I saw the Johnny Smith signature guitar and I was reawlly interested. Has anybody played the guitar? If you have seen my review for my ES-135, it sounds a little too bright for me. The Johnny Smith signature model (Which I found at Guild's website) intriged me... Does anybody know how much they run? How they sound? Thanks. |
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Post by jazzalta on May 10, 2004 20:59:45 GMT -5
"Anyone who knows anything about guitars knows that Heritage does in fact make a superior guitar to the Gibson..."
"... 90% of the guitar playing population are too naive and to timid to spend over $1000 on a guitar which such little exposure..."
Wow. Amazing claims! My response is obvioiusly late but I just discovered this great little albeit quiet forum. Regarding the Heritage/Gibson debate, I find it actually silly that people state one that guitar is "better" than another re sound-wise. There is clearly no way to measure the subjective nature of sound. I do not know of anyone who has ever had a Gibson ES-175 trade for a Heritage 575, barring major manufacturing defect.
Gibsons are expensive yes, but tarring all of Gibsondom by claiming Heritage are the superior product is clearly the more naive attitude.
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Post by ashaffer on Aug 23, 2004 14:38:44 GMT -5
I agree that you cannot say a Heritage is "better" than a Gibson or any other guitar as a blanket statement. Each guitar has its own sound and build quality and these things are widely varied, especially on a handmade instrument. I have owned many hollow bodied Gibsons and played many others and they have varied from individual guitar within a specific model/type. I currently own 3 semi hollow or hollow bodied Heritage guitars both solid and laminate tops. I feel lucky to have three that are very nice player guitars, but would never say that any of them would necessarily be "better" than any other brand until I played the specific guitar in question. Just depends if the "magic" is there.  |
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Post by davem on Oct 8, 2004 9:36:42 GMT -5
I have a Heritage H-575. I had it custom made and did a tree of life inlay on an ebony fingerboard. I also really like the HRW pickups. I like the sound much better than the stock ones in the ES 175. I haven't tried the guild so I cannot comment on that guitar. But I could not be happier with my Heritage. I would definitely buy another Heritage guitar.
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Post by jazzalta on Oct 8, 2004 13:13:47 GMT -5
Hi davem. Regarding the sound of your Heritage over the Gibson, you are the first I've met that would make that claim. However, you obviously like that sound so to each his own. I'm more of a traditionalist ala Joe Pass, and so of course I love my ES-175 with the '57 classic humbuckers. But like I said in an earlier post sound is subjective.
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