Heritage 535

[PUCKBOY99]

I know the LP-type Heritage guitars are highly regarded....how are the 535 (335) semi-hollows, anyone know???

I was looking at the Heritage homepage & these look like a pretty sweet axe.

[RiffRaff]

I had one for awhile, the wood selection, quality, playabiiity and tone were excellent - one of the best guitars I've ever owned.

[JacksonMIA]

I was in the store last year when Luke played one of them. They sound pretty good and look like they were constructed well. I didn't get to spend much time with it, though.

[tone4days]

i played one a few years back and really thought it was a first rate instrument

it'd be my first stop if i ever get in the mood for a full sized semihollow

t4d

[PUCKBOY99]

Thanks fellas.

Wolfe Guitars is a hop, skip, & a jump from me & I keep meaning to go up there....might stop in Thursday on my next day off.

[Luke Duke]

If Wolfe is that close....................WHY HAVEN'T YOU WENT ALREADY!!

The 535's I have played I've always felt were fantastic guitars. I don't like those HRW pups very much at ALL though.

Luke

[PUCKBOY99]

HAHAHAHA....he used to be by appointment only, but his full service store has been open for close to a year now.

It's not far, but semi out of the way........and I know I'll get in big trouble

I think I'm gonna drop in on Thursday; I'll just leave my wallet home

[Hoss]

sounds like fun!!!

im gonna be in lexington Friday, but at night! i still haven't made a pilgrimage to Willcutt...i know...im an idiot!!!

good luck and happy 535 hunting!!!

[PUCKBOY99]

Thanks Hoss....he carries a ton of Hamers too. I'm definitely trying out a Monaco or 2

[JeffB]

Not a big fan of the Heritage Paula copies, Terry. But the 335 styles I've played I'd actually consider over the real deal if I found the right one. Not sure what it is, but the few I've played I felt were much more on par with the Gibson versions than the LP knockoffs are.

[PUCKBOY99]

Yeah man, they seem to be a pretty sweet alternative to the big buck 335.

I had an Epi Sheraton II at one time, which was really nice....once you upgraded the crap out of it.

Nothing I'm running out to grab, but they sure seem nice & I love that tone.

[JacksonMIA]

I'm definitely trying out a Monaco or 2

The Monaco III is the one you should be looking at.

It's quite a bit different than the 335s with three P90s in it, but it actually is worth trying out. You can get a huge variety of sounds from it.

[PUCKBOY99]

The Monaco III is the one you should be looking at.

It's quite a bit different than the 335s with three P90s in it, but it actually is worth trying out. You can get a huge variety of sounds from it.

I said that because I know he wants one

[Fresh_Start]

Terry -

I love the 535 "Special" that I got from Wolfe Guitars: body bound front & back, full neck & headstock binding, wood pickguard, "antique burst", and S-D Antiquities.







Just MHO, but the headstock really needs binding to look good.

I must say that the nut left a lot to be desired. The slots were straight front-to-back, and at least one had a take-off point behind the face of the nut (dull sound). It was Corian, and a royal bear to get out for a bone replacement.

To be totally nit-pickin' the top of the pickups are not parallel with the strings front-to-back. Someday I'll fix that too...

Still, I'd had my heart set on a Gibson 335 until I toured their factory in Memphis and played a couple of top end ($3,000 to $4,000) models that just didn't sound that great. Ran across a used 535 in a pawn shop with good tone but a few features I didn't like. (I'd go with a T.O.M. bridge and avoid the Schaller "roller bridge" unless you get a Bigsby, again just MHO.)

I may not be much of a player, but this guitar sounds even better than it looks.

All that said, I stumbled across a used Hamer Newport two months after buying the Heritage and had serious buyer's remorse for a week or two. The Newport Pro comes with Seth Lovers...

Hope this helps!

Chip

[PUCKBOY99]

Hey Chip, thanks.....I knew someone around here had one but couldn't remember who it was.

That's a good looker ya' got there

I'm not familiar with the Schaller Roller bridge....what's the problem with that or is it just personal preference?

[Fresh_Start]

Hi Terry -

The Schaller roller-bridge version of a T.O.M. has round saddles mounted on a threaded piece that runs side-to-side. The pluses are that the saddles can easily be adjusted for string spread and they actually roll on the threaded piece when you pull/push on a Bigsby. The downside IMHO is less-than-perfect string to bridge connection. I played a 535 with this style bridge and thought it lacked sustain, but Scott Fitzpatrick had a sweet lookin' 535 goldtop with a Bigsby and kept it for a while.

BTW wasn't able to find one of those bridges in my usual parts places so it may have fallen out of favor...

Hope this helps,

Chip

[JOLLY]

but Scott Fitzgerald had a sweet lookin' 535 goldtop with a Bigsby and kept it for a while.

Fitzpatrick

[Scott_F]

I never was able to tame the Bigsby. If it had been a fixed bridge, I'd probably still own it.

[Jacques]

My Heritage 535 gives me a lot of pleasure. I do believe they get better and better through playing so don't judge them too hard on minor flaws. Mine had no nut problems at all. Won't they fix any nut problem in the shop before you buy it? I have the classic type which I describe on my website and a cousin of mine has a 535 with Duncan Seth Lovers and headstock binding which indeed gives it a bit more class. The Seth Lovers are quite different than the SD 59s I have and love but certainly worth trying if Mr. Wolfe has a 535 with 'em. What I find most rewarding is the ability to switch from great rythm guitar to good lead tones very fast. Very versatile indeed and more so than a Les Paul in my experience (if you're a busy man on stage playing rythm, singing, soloing etc.).
I have some sound examples on my site and I'm working on some more.

[Wattage]

Chip or Jacques is the body as deep as a 335? I have played a few but they were thinner than the Gibby, maybe it is a different model? Slightly different carve to the top as well no?