Heritage Groovemaster

This is a new 2008 Kenny Burrell Groovemaster. Like the classic Gibson ES-175, it is a 16" laminate maple archtop, ma and a 24.75" scale rosewood fingerboard. However, there two major modifications: 1) as with the H575 the depth has been reduced to 2.75", and 2) there is a floating center block. This increases sustain and reduces feedback, but unlike a semi-hollow body (H555 or Gibson ES-335), the bolack does not go all the way through the body and the guitar remains fully hollow. The block allows for a tune-o-matic bridge to be installed in the top, instead of the traditional floating bridge, to improve intonation and sustain.

Unlike the other 16" maple laminates I've played (Epi Joe Pass, new ES-175, and even a 1954 ES-175) this guitar doesn't sound tiny or dead when amplified. Of course, the floating center block severaly reduces any acoustic volume. This is an electric guitar. I customized my Groovemaster with PhatCat pickups (humbucker sized/shaped P-90 single coils). Using my solid state Jazzkat amp with flatwounds, the neck pickup produced a warm 50's Herb Ellis sound. With the tone knob dialed back I got that early Jim Hall sound. The bridge position created a brighter blues sound. Plugging into my Fender tube amp, I immediately got that bright but full Blue Note sound.

The finish is a beautiful antique sunburst and flawless. The action was nice and low and the intonation was perfect (Jeff Hale did the set up). You can feel the difference from the PLEK machine Heritage has been using in recent years.

It's as durable as a hollow body can get. I use this guitar when facing poor weather or extreme temperatures, and leave the carved tops safely at home. The strap botton was installed as part of the set up by JHalemusic. The finish, as with all Heritage guitars, is the older nitro. This thin finish improves tone, but is easier to scratch. There are always trade offs in life.

I haven't dealt with Heritage directly. They went through a tough time following a fire at the plant. This led to a reorganization of the company and the introduction of a new partner. All of this upheaval delayed my order for several months. Jeff Hale was excellent in keeping me updated on the situation and Heritage did seem very good abotu responding to his inquiries.

I've been playing 27 years, and performing jazz for 17 of them. I also own a Heritage Super Eagle and a Vestax D'angelico New Yorker. I've previously played an Korean Epiphone Emperor Regent and a 1975 Les Paul.

This is a great guitar, but I wouldn't replace it if it was stolen or lost. This guitar tends to sustain more like a semi-hollow body, whereas I prefer the plunk of an old archtop. However, if I could only have one guitar, this would be a great jack of all trades. It's a professional level instrument at a reasonable price that can be very flexible.

Neck - 17 degree peghead pitch; one-piece mahogany neck, Kenny Burrell name above truss rod cover
Fingerboard - 24 3/4? scale rosewood fingerboard with 20 frets; Pearl block inlays.
Body - Single round venetian cutaway; hollow body with laminated, arched carved curly maple top and back; solid curly Maple rim; Cream bound pickguard and peghead; with f-holes.
body size: rim thickness - 2 3/4? body width - 16? body length - 20 1/4? Electronics - One Heritage Premium HRW pickup (4-point mounted); one volume, and one tone control.
Hardware - Individual nickel plated machine heads; nickel plated Heritage bail tailpiece; adjustable bridge.
Includes Heritage Deluxe Archtop Hardshell black case

I play jazz : Herb Hellis stuff, Kenny Burrell solos, Chord melody standards, ballads, blues jazz etc...
It suit my style perfectly

For the moment I use it with a Fender Pro Junior 15W all tubes
I turn down the tone of the guitar and up the volume,
I get a rich, woody, warm and round jazz tone

Bought in the ebay Jeff Hale Store 1290 US $
Set up not very good, my luthier in Paris (Francois Guidon)
made a good set up for me : low action without buzz, neck straight
I asked him to change the bridge for me for one mounted on a rosewood base. And to put 12/50 Thomastick Swing flatwound strings
It's now perfect !

The neck is the easiest ans sweetest neck I know.

Guitar from 2005 , get it used but no flaws, dings... like mint condition. Like new !

elctronics and all hardware works fine

Light weight for this hollowbody and much more confortable than a Gibson 175 which is thicker

I will take care of it :
in the case, with humidifier etc...

Not yet

I've been playing for nearly 5 years.
It's my best gear
I've compared my Heritage with the Gibson es 175 of a friend
mine plays louder and nicer unplugged and when plugg in the same amp, it's very similar (feeling, sound etc...)

The owners of Heritage compagny themselves each had in excess of 25 years of hands on experience in making guitars. They have nothing to proove. Huge experience and a lot of care in the manufacturing of each instrument.

If you want a Gibson like Gibson used to make in the past, you must buy an Heritage guitar.
Cheeper and as good as Gib even better sometimes

This a new model Kenny Burrell Groovemaster. This guitar is the same size as the discontinued 516 which is smaller 16" across lower bout.
The guitar is thin at 2 3/4". It also has a rounded cutaway and not sharp as a 575. The Groovemaster has a laminated flamed maple top and back with solid flamed maple rims. It's creme color single bound on the top and back. The pickguard is black but is made of wood and not plastic. It's shape is different being more elongated Gibson like and is also single creme bound. The neck and headstock is mahogany and is single creme bound. The headstock has the Heritage decal and a Kenny Burrell signature. The tuners are Sperzel but not the locking type. I like the shape of the buttons. The neck shape on my guitar is comfortably rounded and a little on the wider side. It didn't take me long to get accustomed to it. The frets are medium rounded and easy to play. This guitar has pearl block inlays and not dots.
My guitar is aged blond and the flamed wood looks good. The guitar has 2 humbucking pickups and two volume and tone knobs. The input jack is at the endpin position. I like this position better and use a right hand jack. The original Gibsons were like this and it is actually a better location for the input jack. There's more wood located there and you won't get a guitar with a cracked rim.

My guitar came with the Seth Lover 1955 pickups so this was an upgrade. It sounds awesome and is very versatile for a jazz guitar like this. I can get mello jazz tones and when I open the treble a bit it can sound like a Gretsch but still with a full bodied bass tone. I really like the sound of these pickups cause it still retains a slight acoustic quality to it. I also didn't mention that this guitar has a Shaller tuneamatic bridge that is screwed into the body. This feature gives the guitar more sustain than usual for a jazz guitar. I haven't really had much problems with feedback issues. On the other jazz guitars that I've owned I use duct tape to cover the upper F-hole. It works on a gig. I remove it everyday and only use it if I have to. I have just used the guitar as it is since I took it out of the case. I have played many gigs since I received the guitar without any feed back problems and just love the tone of the guitar.
Around the house I just play it acoustically and it sounds good. I only plug it into an amp when get to the gig.
I do not use any effects and many times plug direct into a Mackie mixer with no DI. If I use an amp it will be my 200 RMS Evans played clean with no distortion. No effects, no DI, no distortion.

I lowered the action on the guitar a bit after receiving it. It plays low and does not rattle anywhere. I am using Elixer 11-49 strings and I like to use this gauge cause it stays in tune better and is easier on my fingers. I attach my strap to the headstock like acoustic players do. I find no flaws with this guitar. Although not overly expensive, it is a very good playing and sounding working guitar.

This guitar is withstanding live playing and I use it without a backup. Why do I need a backup. If the guitar can't cut it on a gig, leave it at home. The strap button is very durable in fact the one at the endpin is oversized because it doubles as an input jack. You might have problems attaching a thick leather strap to it. I just use a thinner cheaper strap. This guitar is dependable and comes with a heavy duty hardcase.

No occasion to bother factory reps.

I've been playing for 50 years. I also own a Rainsong JZ1000 which I alternate with. I'm pretty much a no frills player, I don't like to use effects and extras to change the natural sound of the guitar. i really like the sound of this guitar with the upgraded pickups. i haven't payed much attention to the guitar other than it sounding good and playing very easily. i had a Gibson ES175 and it felt like a tank compared to this Groovemaster. I've owned the best Gibsons and this is a more practical jazz guitar with excellent tone and that's all that matters when you're playing on stage.
The dealer was very helpful with any few questions that I had. This guitar is one of my favorite working guitars that deserves to be played until it turns to dust.