Heatley Custom Semi-Hollow Tradition

Semi-Hollow Custom Heatley Tradition
http://www.heatleyguitars.com/tonyshollwtrad.htm

The Idea:

Not long ago I came up with an idea for a custom guitar. How I got to that point is another story but let?s just say that some experimentation with an inexpensive low-end guitar allowed me to develop the prototype.

I already own several fine guitars that have been acquired over the years that cover nearly every type of pickup configuration and body style, but after gigging with my plywood and pressboard concept axe and consistently receiving positive feedback from musicians and others alike, I decided to have a custom guitar built with the rationale that ?If a guitar made primarily of low-end laminates sounded great, how much better would it be if it were made with fine tone woods, hardware, and workmanship??

The Search:

I had no idea who to contact for this project. My Internet search for a custom guitar builder turned up many ?body painters? and ?neck bolters?. Even though my dream guitar was to have a bolt on neck, I needed to find someone capable of crafting a fine semi-hollow body to my specifications.

When I came across the Heatley Guitars web site www.heatleyguitars.com, I was immediately impressed with Scott?s tremendous craftsmanship and versatility. I found elements of my concept guitar in several of the other guitars in his gallery. Scott clearly seemed to be in a class by himself so after a few initial e-mails I gave him a call?then a deposit. J

The Specs:

? Single f-hole semi-hollow body LP shape with extended neck access.
? Flat, flame maple top on a mahogany body.
? String thru-body w/quality hard tail bridge.
? Bolt on, flamed maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard. 25? scale length.
? Mother-of-pearl crown inlay.
? 3 - 30-year-old Gibson ?black patent# sticker? mini-humbuckers.
? Master volume and tone controls with 5-way ?Strat? switching.
? Vintage style cherry burst.

The Result:

This Heatley Tradition, with its flawless workmanship and superior materials, brings the concept developed in the prototype to it?s full potential. It?s truly hard to imagine how anything built by hand could be so perfect in every way. The materials, build quality, and glass like finish must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. My Tradition has the stunning vintage LP look I wanted but with a much more versatile voice.

Experience has taught me that the true measure of any guitar is how it sounds acoustically. This guitar has a delightful resonance that even ?45-year-old, long time guitarist ears? can appreciate. It?s very bright and lively. The acoustic volume seems to swell shortly after a chord is played and it rings like a bell. It?s acoustic voodoo!

When I first played my Heatley I noticed that it had a different neck feel than the prototype?beefier frets and a bit more neck girth. After playing the Heatley for a few days, the prototypes neck felt ?wrong?.

As far as the electronics go, I?ve recently rediscovered the magic of old Gibson mini-humbuckers thanks to the fact that mini-humbuckers were the best fit to replace the pathetic pickups that originally came with the plywood prototype.

I can get convincing ES-335/jazzbo warmth from the neck pickup, good Strat-like quack from switch positions 2 & 4, and a nice clean Tele like pop from the bridge pickup. Add some overdrive and the bridge pickup?s tone is fat enough to deliver convincing ?full-sized? humbucker lead tones with the extra definition and bite that the mini humbucker provides. Even the middle pickup sounds great alone. (I?ve never liked the sound of the middle pickup in isolation on a Strat.)

This guitar is a tone sandwich. Nothing tricky or fancy - just a recipe for straightforward fabulous tone!

The Person:

Scott Heatley is wonderful to work with. His dedication to the craft shows not only in his workmanship but also in his willingness to go above and beyond what would normally be expected. I have nothing but the highest regard for