Heritage H-150CM

1992 Vintage Sunburst Model: Virtually identical in this category as a Gibson Les Paul, but Heritage uses top quality components (i.e. the hardware blows a Gibson away!)
Mine came stock: Schaller pick-ups and Grover tuners.

I should probably point out that the selling feature of this instrument to me was the amazing look of the flame: I've simply never come across a Gibson that looked anything like it: bloody knockout!

For blues/rock with a tube amp, this guitar sings. I've read numerous reviews about how people dislike the stock Schaller pick ups, but it really should be noted that the pick ups don't "suck" , they are simply going to give you a different sound than the Duncans. I'll try to avoid the subjectivity of this category by describing what the difference is with the Schallers, they are a bit punchier and brighter, not super fat and mellow like Gibsons or Duncans. The Schaller sound, to me, is still very musical and pretty, and I've been told that they actually sound more like a real '58 Les Paul. (I can't verify this, though.)

To be honest, I prefer the Schaller's because they remain very clear with chords, and still deliver warm, gooey lead tones.

I give Heritage points for offering the option to switch to Duncans at the factory, unlike Gibson, where you take what they give you.

This category is where the Heritage stands out head and shoulders above Gibson, Gretsch, etc...

I can't really go into too much detail here, other than to simply say that these instruments are rock solid. Gibson might be lucky to recieve a "3" rating in this category after comparing to my 150.

No flaws, no cut-corners, no b.s. Wonderfully constructed, American hand made instruments. 'Nuff said.

I've had it for 5 years, and only had to replace the jack once. I play this thing out, and it's identical night after night.

Extremely dependable.

I haven't had any problems, but I'm confident that when I want my custom semi-hollowbody built, they'll take damn good care of me.

I've only been playing for 7 years, but I've come across very few instruments that can hold a candle to this one. I've played some gorgeous PRS guitars, but none of them sound anywhere near as nice as my 150.

If you're thinking about a Gibson Les Paul, don't hesitate, buy a Heritage 150.

I'm not sure how much longer Heritage will be in operation: those fellas are getting really old. Take advantage of what is hands-down the best value available today for a solidbody electric.

I won't give it a 10, because not the 150, nor any guitar deserves it, but this is truly a killer instrument.

This is made in Kalamazoo MI, USA. Right in the original Gibson Guitar Factory, made by some of the same people who worked with the late Ted McCarthy. These guys do it for the love, and you can tell. This is a 1991, Black with Creme binding, all mahogony w/ a thick, carved maple cap and the thickest slab of rosewood fretboard (22 frets) I've ever seen. Pickups are standard issue H/H Shaller (I'm going to replace them very soon). The body is absolute classic Les Paul, but a nicer neck and great fret work. Tuners are solid Grovers, nice ones. The nut appears to be a plastic material. Another thing I would replace, with Tusq from GraphTech. Bridge and tailpiece are the really nice Schallers, something they do very well is make these. This is a standard issuing, with some niceties, some things that need to go. just so you'd know, I'd rate a Gibson about a 5 here. That bridge is Hell to play with. They ought to put on the Schaller stuff on their equipment (they make a standard stop-type as well as the fatty w/ rollers)

Acoustically, this thing is really beautiful. Sustains forever-and-a-day, as is it should. Has a really throaty bass and bell-like highs. But the Schaller pickups suck. There also seems to be a grounding issue as well. Haven't come across a Les Paul that didn't have that, much less most guitars. The pickups are very lack luster. I'm going to pop in a Rio Grande Genuine Texas for the Bridge and a Seymore Duncan SH-59 for the Neck. If you're shopping for a Heritage, get the up-grade to the Seth Lovers for a hundred bucks. Otherwise, this guitar is very well suited for all sorts of playing styles. Gibson standard issue pickups are wreched as well, if this came to me with better pickups, it would earn an 8 if not a 9... but it gets...a 7, maybe a 6

This guitar came to me used, and it's a bargain for what I paid. he set it up pretty nicely and I'm not getting any buzzing. Try "Where Were You" by Jeff Beck, you'll know you need a set up with that tune. The fret work is nice on this, could use a polish, but for an 11 year old guitar, it's pretty damn good. The finish is a nice Nitro-cellulose, binding is done well. My only niggle is that they put finish up to the surface edge of the fretboard (unbound neck). While not an unusual practice, it makes a future fretjob a real pain in the @$$. So does binding. The Schaller hardware is made from their own propritory alloy and isn't plated, as far as I know. No rubbing or oxidizing at all. Overall, it's nicely done. Machine heads could've been lined up just a hair better... but these guys at Heritage are old enough to be my Grandfather...

This one is very comfortable to play. It's a tad lighter than some others that I've played, from Heritage and otherwise. She's pretty solidly built. The mortising of the joints aren't pulling, the bridge isn't askewed. The only thing I'd do is replace the strp buttons here. They're pretty standard, slip-off-when-you'd-least-expect-it. I'm suprised that they aren't using the Schaller ones here. G&L does... once I've done to what I want to this gutar, this could very easily become my main axe, replacing my Washburn CTS for many situations. All of my guitars, I screw around with... this is a solid beauty.

I've visited the factory on parsons Street before and they are the nicest bunch of crumugeons you'll ever meet. I've heard good things about them doing fixes for customers out of warranty, but i don't have experience with them in that regard.

I'm a Blues/Rock player, non-pro, who likes his toys. I tinker with them, customize them and otherwise make it my own. If this were lost or stolen, I would be rather upset and get another, no hesitation. This guitar captures what you are looking for in a Les Paul or other fine insturments. It's a great axe, just not a 10, yet, but it has the possibility of being one. To get a 10, for me... I'd hate to think of what it would cost. I most certainly would get another Heritage, maybe a nice 'burst of some kind...semi-hollow... excuse me, I'm drooling on my keyboard.

This is a 2002 made in the USA Heritage guitar. You know all the features it has. It has a killer Flame Almond Sunburst top. I would give the top a near 9. The grain is tight and is top notch. It has the Gibson style bridge tailpiece.

I play blues and classic rock. I run it thru a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with celestions and svetlana 6l6GC tubes. This guitar smokes on blues leads and especially on bends. With the treble p/u it screams!!
The p/u are pretty quiet but not hush quiet. With the neck p/u it sings the blues with clarity. When you do Clapton(Mayall days) type double bends each note retains clarity but also blends well together.
Running it thru a tube amp, you can really get sensitive rolloffs with the volume knob. Surprisingly backing off either tone control yeilds a very warm wood resonant sound. On clean, it sounds like a bell. On clean and bridge it twangs and snaps like SRV. Lots of versatility surpriingly from a les paul setup. Will def have to change the p/u to duncan 59's n Alnico just to see. Totaly suits my style of musi

Actually the action was too low from the factory. Jacking it up really allows for more sustain and the ability to dig into your bends.
Everything is clean and wel put together. The fret work and the edges could be better and more consistent. Not bad but not super great.
The finish is very clean and well done. Hardware is installed properly. The neck is dead straight as are the frets.

This one is gonna be a workhorse! It's a pretty one that is also very functional. The tuners to my surprise are very good as they are are grovers. Always stay in tune! The soldering is also very clean on the inside and is very professional.

I ordered from Ed Roman guitars. Talk to Jon Sabo. He is very helpful and is very cool. It was very well packed and their service is super great. Would recommend highly.

Been playing for 9 years. I owned a Epiphone LP. The heritage puts the Epi to shame. Which is a fair statement and is expected. However it reaaaaly smokes Gibson in every facet especially quality of construction. Gibson Lp's seem so shoddy and souless. rarely will you find a gibson with the tone, Looks, build all in one. The heritage has this hands down. Id' rather have an epi than a gibson sad to say considering the price vs quality. I love this Heritage!!! WOuld definitely consider another model from them maybe a hollow body. The smart people will pay less and get more with heritage. The dumbasses will pay for gibson which is good since it keeps heritage on top in their niche market. for 1400 you get alotta bang for the buck that will last a lifetime.

After many months reading reviews and comparing information, I decided to take a trip to the Heritage dealer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The following are my findings and features:
22 frets
Old Style Sunburst
mahogany body
beautiful flame maple top
Two HRW humbuckers
Grover tuners
Neck was fat but very comfortable
Came with Heritage hard shell case
other assorted "Les Paul" features

Has what you need!

I would say that my style is heavily influenced by Clapton, Gibbons, and Duane Allman. I plugged this guitar straight into a used Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr. that they had in the studio room. I thought that the combination was absolutely wonderful. The sounds that were produced made the hair on my arms stand up! It was so rich and full, very much like a very fine Les Paul. I loved the tuning stability of this guitar compared to "real" Les Pauls made by Gibson. I was also thrilled at the HRW pickups, they have some real old school mojo going on, I just don't know if they are worth the $320 upcharge per set? You can get Duncan Antiquities for $220 per set and save the extra $100, or just get Duncan 59's for a $100 per set upcharge.

I can't comment on the factory set-up because the guitar was set up by the technician at the shop before I played it. The finish was stunning, very deep and rich looking. The pickups were absolutely fab, but once again the upcharge is a little steep. Very fine quality.

N/A, didn't purchase yet.

The people at Heritage may be the best part as I have called and ask some pretty stupid questions, and they have always been more than helpful and very polite. The only thing that I don't like is that the instrument only comes with a one year warranty, which is a little strange, but I suppose if it is a manufacturing defect it should be noticeable in one year's time. Still 2 points off.

I have been playing for about 4 years and frankly probably don't deserve this instrument, nor do I need it right now, I'm only 21. However, this instrument is probably the finest craftsmanship I've ever seen, and would be willing to say that I'd never need a backup or any other guitar. The shop that I went to was extremely high on the price, which is ridiculous at $1720, and they had no explanation why EM Shorts (KS)or Jay Wolfe (FL) could sell them for $1350, so I told them that I wouldn't be purchasing from them, as they were unwilling to negotiate. Overall, this is the finest guitar I've ever had the chance to play, and I'll probably get it sometime in the future, when I'm more deservant and more financially sound.

This guitar was made at the historic,former Gibson Guitar factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1999. It has 22 frets, a solid mahogany neck and body with a thick maple cap. The fret board is a nice dark rosewood with real MOP crown inlays. This guitar is your basic Les Paul shape with an electronic configuration of two schaller pick-ups with two volume and tone controls, one set for each. The maple top, bound in white ivoroid, is amber translucent in color and faintly flamed. The chromed tuners are non locking Grovers'. It has a Gibson tune-o-matic bridge and the guitar came with a Heritage hard shell case.

I like rock, pop and country music and the sound is adequate for this. Right now I am playing the guitar through a Gorilla CG20R until I can afford something nicer. The amp is adequate for practice; it has reverb and if you tweek the knobs just right you can get some distortion out of it. The sound of the pick ups is fine if you like the sound of the classic old Gibson Les Paul guitar. Personally, I probably will change the pick-ups for a more modern set up.

I wasn't pleased with the factory set up; although the action was alright, many of the frets buzz and it is difficult to bend the strings in the higher registers. I will have some fret work done. There is one minor finish flaw where the neck joins the body, otherwise the glossy finish is impeccable and nut, saddle, bridge and other hardware is of excellent quality and well fitted.

I believe that this guitar will handle just about any situation. Everything about it seems durable and you just might want to pass it down to your kids. The finish is instrument grade nitrocellulose and dings more easily than the poly finishes you find on guitars of a lesser quality. The strap buttons are solid, but a bit small and can fall out of the strap holes. Get strap locks or something comparable for insurance. Finally, this guitar is very heavy so make sure you have a strong back.

I spoke with a number of the luthiers/owners of Heritage Guitars and found them to be quite affable and open to suggestions. Because I wasn't happy with all the fret buzz, I sent it back to the factory to be corrected, after all, it does come with a one year warranty. When I got the instrument back it seemed as though nothing had been done and there was no note of explanation. That was disappointing.

I am going to try to balance my following remarks. In my opinion, if you want a new Les Paul buy a Heritage instead. You'll get a better guitar (that is hand made) with better materials and for a much better price.
As for Mr. Roman, I found him grumpy at best, not at all user friendly for the faint of heart, be warned. Mr. Roman does get points for the amount of information on his web site, though and he did live up to the agreement that he had posted on his site, at the time. He stated that if you can find a Heritage at a lower price at any (and I believe the wording was: authorised Heritage dealer) he would beat the price by $100.00. I did find a very low price and submitted the proof to him. He told me that, that particular dealer wasn't an authorised dealer, but he gave me the price break anyway and he gets points for that. On the other hand, when I finally got my guitar it came without a receipt, so I contacted Mr.Roman yet again and he sent one out. The guitar wasn't exactly as I had ordered it. Mr.Roman blamed it on the factory. The guitar came with the tune-o-matic bridge instead of the stock schaller bridge. When he told me this, the stress in his voice sounded as though he was ready to do battle, but he offered the bridge and the Heritage hard shell case at his cost, I agreed to the deal, feeling that it was fair. Mr.Roman does get points for the lady in the shipping department, she was extremely nice and pleasant to work with. Mr.Roman shouldn't deal with us peasants. In closing if you don't like dealing with grouchy people show elsewhere, you can still get an excellent deal if you're willing to do the research. These are my opinions and I stand by them. Robert Weaver

Brand new 2001 heritage 150 standard with a gold top, real abalone inlays, grover tuners, changed bridge to a tone pro's stop tail piece by the dealer Ed Roman of World class guitars. Its basically a Gibson Les Paul standard but better.

Has a beautiful sound. I always see how a guitar plays unplugged first and this one was really loud and clear. When u plug in the sound is very thick, deep and really clear.

Ed gave me a free set up right there at the store. The set up was perfect and straight.

Id defenately play it live, cuz guitars are built to be played not worshiped.

Ed gave me a free 2 year warranty, so im not worried

A perfectly balanced beautiful guitar. The neck is one of hte best ive ever played. Better than a gibson les paul. Perfect

Typical Les Paul features

This guitar ROCKS! I was hoping it would compare equally to a Les Paul, but it surpasses all the Les Pauls I've tried, though I do like Gibson LPs

Okay, here's where the rubber hits the road. I tried several Gibson Les Pauls when I was guitar hunting and I was suprised at the lackluster workmanship of most current Gibson LPs. The inlay work is sloppy, the action was off, and the guitar just didn't seem like it was worth $2,000+
The Heritage LP, on the other hand, is far superior in this regard. The action is great and the inlays speak volumes on the craftsmanship of the people at Heritage. The top is properly bookmatched and the guitar looks great overall.

My primary concern, however, is how a guitar sounds, and Gibson LPs sound great. Fortunately, the Heritage not only keeps pace, but to my ears sounds better than the Gibson LPs I tried. Nothing against Gibson, but the Heritage is better and less expensive.

This guitar is solidly constructed and will last a long time. My only concern is whether or not the tailpiece and bridge will erode the way many Gibson tailpieces and bridges do. Time will tell, but it looks like they're solid metal, not alloy with a chrome coating.

Some people like Gibson LPs and some prefer the Heritage LP. I just like good guitars. Go out and try both and decide for yourself. Don't follow the hype.

My choice is Heritage.

Outstanding guitar

1999 h-150cm made in my home town, kalamazoo mi 22 fret, 2 vol - 2 tone 3 way selector, twin humbuckers, transperant black, rose wood fret board, with a custem heritage case.

there great people

i recomend a heritage to anyone. they dont make every model out there but i will tell u that u can make these things do anything and they still sound great. super heavy duty guitars. ive had nothing but smiles sence i bought this guitar and made many friends with it too.

This is a 1992 150, beautiful solid top, 2 volume, 2 tone, 2 humbuckers, etc.

Great sound, with bite on the bridge and roundness on the neck pickup.

This is essentially a Les Paul Standard with expected features from Kalamazoo. No surprises.

Very dependable guitar.

I have played for 35 years, own several other guitars. Would recommend the instrument.

Les Paul

This is an update to a review I submitted back in October, I've since updated or upgraded my Heritage with a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbuckers. I replaced the Seymour 59's the guitar came with, God what a great investment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pickups were expensive (about $120 each) but well worth the price. I think Heritage should offer these pickups as an upgrade, they really bring out the overtones hiding in the solid mahagony body. The $$ I saved buying a Heritage rather than a Gibson more than made up for the investment, I encourage all you Heritage owners to give these pickups a try!!!!!

I am the proud owner of a new 1999 Heritage H-150CM. It is basically a Les Paul Standard. It has a mahogany body and neck, dark rosewood fretboard, and a carved maple top. My guitar's top is flamed, bookmatched, and looks like tiger stripes! It has the standard Les Paul electronics (3-way selector switch, tone and volume controls for each pickup). The humbuckers are either Schaller or ones made by Heritage for the guitar. I'm not sure about their origins and neither was the dealer. The roller bridge and stop tailpiece are Schaller. It comes with nickel Grover tuning machines. It has the standard 24.75" scale length and the neck is meaty, but not baseball bat-like at all (very comfortable and playable). As far as Les Paul features, it has them all and more (I'll get to this later). It has Mother of Pearl trapezoid inlays, cream binding on the body and neck, and standard Les Paul sized frets. At any rate, try getting a Gibson Les Paul Standard with a flamed maple top for what I paid!

First, I want to say, "Wow!" This thing is so sweet. The tone just pours out of the guitar. It has unreal sustain, it's fat (or phat), and it simply sounds wonderful. In my head, I am now Jimmy Page (only younger and more handsome...LOL). I don't know how to describe what I hear other than to say brawny, masculine, full, etc., etc. Playing clean, this guitar is throaty and vocal. Distorted, the guitar growls, especially on the bridge. The neck pickup is excellent for what it does (i.e., rhythm work), but for solos, the bridge pu is godlike. Creed, Led Zep, GnR, Aerosmith, Godsmack,and so on are just so easy to do now. Going back to a Tele or a Strat makes me feel like I'm playing an electric banjo.

I play hard rock, classic rock, metal, some blues, a touch of jazz, and I actually have a little formal training in playing the classical guitar. This guitar can handle all of these musical forms quite nicely (except for parts that should be played on a nylon string classical guitar). Playing live, I use a Marshall 2550 Jubilee 50 watt combo and at home I play through an Allen Class Act combo. I don't like using lots of effects, but I do infrequently use a Boss DS-1, a Dunlop wah pedal, a delay, and a chorus. The guitar is never noisy, even in loud, high gain settings. The pickups don't squeal or buzz--they just crunch and roar. These are excellent pickups.

I used to be a die hard single coil player. After many years of playing, however, I decided that I wanted to fill up more sonic real estate. The H-150CM does this for me. Also, I got so fed up with the single coils buzzing all of the time. There were a few places that my band and I played where the lights, equipment, and other things made my single coils buzz, buzz, buzz... incessantly. The humbuckers are absolutely dead quiet. Oh, and you'll never get the "icepick through the forehead" tone out of this guitar that you will from something like a Tele. Don't get me wrong, a well-made Telecaster is a terrific instrument, but I would only use it for playing country music at this point in my life. I have no dislikes with the sound of the guitar. It is magical.

This guitar had been sitting unplayed for a long time in the corner of the music shop with three other H-150CMs and it needed a bit of a set-up. Basically, the dealer allowed me to put on new strings, tweak the truss rod, and intonate it before making a final decision. Once set-up, the guitar was delicious. After adjusting it, it felt like a pawnshop prize only without the wear. With a capo at the first fret, the action is 5/64" at the 12th fret which is perfect for me. There is a very slight buzz on the wound strings playing at the first fret when playing more aggressively, but it is not audible through a clean amp setting. Two points off for the slight buzz that isn't audible through the amp.

The top is properly bookmatched, the pickups were right on, the strings pass directly over the polepieces, and all of the hardware is properly mounted and works smoothly. The tuners, by the way, are really smooth and steady. The instrument does not go out of tune at all. A guitar built by human beings will never be able to get a ten rating from me in this category.

The electronics on the guitar are excellent. I get no crackling when switching pickups or rolling the tone and volume knobs.

The roller bridge is superb and easy to use. Setting the intonation was easy, the bridge feels smooth, and the tone is not compromised in the least by the fact that this is not an ABR-1 bridge.

This guitar will and does withstand live playing. I feel that the hardware will wear well and last a long, long time. The finish will wear, but that is the nature of the nitro beast. The strap buttons were very solid, but I replaced them with Schaller straplocks before taking the guitar out of the store. By the way, it is a heavier instrument. This is the tradeoff for the tremendous tone and sustain. I am a big guy and I have no problems gigging with it, but some of my more nimble friends may be put off by the weight.

I would depend on it, but I plan on taking care of it. In all honesty, due to its set neck, I would be less inclined to abuse it than, say, your run-of-the-mill Stratocaster simply because the Strat neck can, obviously, be replaced easily.

I never gig without a backup, regardless of the guitar.

The warranty is only one year. This seems like a short warranty period to me, but I don't anticipate any problems. I did not speak with Heritage, but I did talk with a gentleman from Lasar Music Corp. (the sales and marketing company for Heritage) and he provided some helpful information and was very friendly. A couple of points off for the one year warranty.

I have been playing guitar for about fifteen years. As far as guitars, I own (and don't laugh) a Peavey Wolfgang Special (my backup), a Fender Jag-Stang (a gift and also a backup), a couple of classical guitars, and a few junk guitars. I have owned Strats and Teles in the past, but I have gotten rid of them recently.

The H-150CM is a tremendous instrument and a great value. I do tons of research on all of my purchases and I really don't give a rat's ass about having Gibson (or Fender or whatever) on the headstock. I played twenty to thirty different Gibson Les Paul guitars at different stores (I even toted around my Allen Class Act through which I played the guitars). The only one that even remotely compared--no exaggeration--to the Heritage was a Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Figuredtop Reissue that I had an opportunity to play when I was in Chicago several weeks ago. That was a beautiful guitar, but I would have had to sell a kidney and my firstborn to purchase it. Several of the Gibsons, however, suffered from inconsistencies that I believe are unacceptable (substandard fretwork, poor finishes, inaccurately mounted tuners, bad binding work, etc.) and which I found on guitars that had already been set-up by the respective dealers. FWIW, from what I have heard, this guitar was crafted by people who were building Gibson guitars when Gibson's current luthiers were still living with mom and dad.

I love the gobs of tone that I get from this instrument and the vibe that it gives off. It is well-made and will last as long as I take care of it. I wish I could have another one or two just like it so I wouldn't have to take time retuning for alternate tunings during a gig.

This guitar fulfills a dream for me. I always wanted a Les Paul Standard (especially a vintage one), but I wasn't going to pay the money for it and because of the cost, I certainly wouldn't gig with one. I had reservations about buying the Heritage (at first) because of a concern with resale value. Let me tell you though, resale value is irrelevant to me because this guitar will either go to my kids or be sold by my executor at my estate sale. It is simply *that* good. Do yourself a big favor and try one before making the final decision on that Gibson...I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

This is a 1998 H150CM vintage sunburst heritage, basically a les paul. The pickups are Seymour Duncan SH1's, the top is a lightly flamed maple and the body is solid mahogany, grover tuners and schaller roller bridge and tail piece, the neck width and feel is the same as a 59' Les Paul reissue, came with a hardshell heritage case.

I play mostly classic style rock and blues, my amp is a mesa boogie rocket44 and for effects I have a standard crybaby wah and a nano verb reverb unit. The guitar plays excellent, very smooth action and the pickups are damn near identical to vintage Gibson PAF's. Wonderful overtones and very clear and prominent tone in all three pickup configurations. It sounds great for clean country riffs but the guitar really comes alive when the volume and the drive get turned up! Very versatile. My only issue is the schaller tailpiece, changing strings is a pain - the strings don't go through the tailpiece - instead the sit in plastic retaining saddles and slip out constantly when I restring. I'll change this soon or pick up some locking tuners to eliminate string slack. The guitar is also heavy, 11 pounds worth!!! Hanging on to it all night is a challenge in itself. But the sound and playability make it my main guitar, it really sounds fantastic.

The set up on the guitar was okay when I bought it but the frets needed polishing - this could be due to the fact that it sat in the case at the music store for a year, I don't know. The top isn't perfectly bookmatched but then I paid significantly less for the guitar than some of the other highly flamed 8+ tops I've seen on other heritage models so I'm more than satisfied. There are some minor finish flaws in the binding (bleed) and some scrap marks near the binding and the neck joint. Other than that everything is very solid and unless someone is looking at the guitar carefully they wouldn't even see these minor flaws. The pickups were adjusted fine, I haven't moved them, I know some of these guitars suffer from switch noise and jack noise but mine hasn't had any of these problems and I play it everyday.

This guitar will outlast the pyramids, it's built rock solid, the hardware is bomb proof and I hope the finish wears!!! It's got an old cellulous type finish which will wear but that's the beauty of these guitars - they look better worn. I've been playing the guitar for over a year, everyday and I see no appreciable wear, it's my main guitar and I have no fear it will fail during a gig.

I called Heritage about a month after I got the guitar because I screwed up and lost one of the rollers on the bridge, I wanted to buy a couple of replacements, they said "no" and sent me an entire set!!! Plus the guy talked to me for about twenty minutes, guitars, amps, settings, life, family - what a great company. I also asked about the top and asked if it could be replaced with a highly figured top, they said no problem send it in with and for about $300 they would completely redo the top and make it a work of art. Now I only paid $850 for the guitar so the offer was very tempting, but the more I played the guitar the more I like how it sounds, I don't want to change anything so it stays the way it is. The warranty is for as long as I own the guitar - I think. But I figure it will last longer than me anyhow so I'm not worried about it, maybe my grandkids will send it in for a refet some day!

I've been playing for a long time, I've had many guitars - some cheap and some expensive, I still have a strat but don't play it much. This guitar falls right in the middle cost wise of the other guitars I've purchased but is by far and away the best value of any guitar I've owned. The workmanship is good, the looks are great but most of all this guitar sounds awesome - in a good amp there is no style of music you can't use it to play - not many guitars meet that criteria. If it were stolen I'd drop a load, I couldn't replace it - new heritage CM150's start at around $1,200 and go up from there. I love the way it plays and I love the way it sounds, my left shoulder hates how heavy it is. I wish it came with locking tuners. After owning a heritage I wouldn't think of going back to Gibson products, there really is no need. These guitars are every bit as good if not better and at significantly lower prices - you will save enough to buy a good amp. My next buy is a 535.

The H150-cm is very similar to a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Mahagony back and neck with a carved maple top. The top is very flamey and pretty, although there are a few mineral marks, which I actually like. It makes it look a little tougher. The fingerboard is rosewood and average sized Les Paul frets. The position markers are real mother of pearl, as opposed to Gibson's plastique or whatever it is. The tuners are Grovers and the Bridge and the tailpeice are made by schaller. The pickups are also the schaller version of P-A-F/'57 style. Everything else sxcept the headstock is Gibsonish.

I play this guitar through a Matchless Chieftan 2-10. THe tone is very unique. It doesn't sound exactly like a new Gibson standard, but it does sound great. It has a warmer sound. It sounds great distorted... nice sustain... ZZ top, Zeppelin, etc. It has a woody vibe. I've been told it sounds more like what a 57-58 les paul sounds like than a new Gibson. It really sounds good... I really like the Schallers... warm and woody.

THe finish is lovely... kind of an orange burst... with a very nice flame top. the mahogany back and neck is very beautiful as well. It's a real looker. It was hard to analyze the set-up in the store because the strings were so old. I do all my own set ups so I don't mind a poor set up, as long as you can get it right. This guitar had some fret problems, and I did have to get the frets dressed before I could get it to play good. Close action, with minimal buzz. I called the factory to get their settings. I set it up a little higher than they recommend and I set the pickups quite a bit lower than the way they do at the factory. After getting the frets fixed, It plays perfectly.

No problem here, although the cord jack feels like the plug sits a little loose inside. I've read where others have had trouble with heritage jacks, but so far it's ok. One of the strap buttons was stripped, but I have good reason to beleive it was the dealer who wrecked it. It was an easy fix.

I think it only has a one year warranty. I have called the Guys at heritage several times with questions... always friendly, always happy to help out. They are a great bunch of folks... and there attitude comes through in the fantastic guitars they build.

I've been playing for about 35 years. I've owned several other Les Pauls, Gibsons. My current other guitars: Fender Custom shop Strat, and Gibson Country Gentelmen. I like them all about equally. Between the three I can get any tone I desire. I love this Heritage and plan on buying other Heritage models in the future. The prices are good, the quality is great and the vibe is unbelieveable. I've never had a nicer sounding Les Paul, or one that played this good... and I've liked my other ones!

Basically a Les Paul copy (Two Humbuckers, 3 way switch, independent volume and tone controls). Mahogany body with a killer quilted maple top. Ditched the ugly pickguard, endpiece, and bridge, replacing with a Tune-o-matic. Pickups are "Smooth Golden 50's", which I guess are standard for all 150s. I, personally like the necks on Heritages better than those on Gibson's, but everyone has their own preference. Definitely worth the money to get the quilted top and replace the bridge. Even with these additions, a lot cheaper than any Les Paul I could find.

I got this guitar a couple a weeks ago, and it sounds great so far. I play mostly blues and the humbuckers provide a real meaty sound. I've only been playing for 6 years, so I don't have the best ear for sound, but this guitar competes with any guitar I have tried.

Had the dealer grind down the frets a bit, as I had heard that Heritages are known for less than perfect fretting. Settings were all great from the dealer. Again, I love the feel of the neck more than anything else.
And the finish. Wow! _Killer_ amber quilt on this thing. It's definitely worth the couple hundred to get a quilted top. I think it looks infinitely better than a flamed top (though I still like those too)
My only complaint is that the tuners and tailpiece were a little tarnished. Can't seem to get a shine on them yet. Oh well, I'd rather have a great sounding guitar than a great looking one.

Haven't had any problems yet.

No dealings yet

I have only been playing for a few years now, but I play quite often (for a college student) I also own an epiphone LP Custom (nice, but nothing compared to this guitar) If it were stolen, I would probably shoot myself. I spent a large portion of a summer's wage on this guitar and have been completely satisfied. I originally set out looking for a good deal on a LP, but found a better deal in what I think is a better guitar.

1997 model. Basic Les Paul setup - 2 humbuckers, 3 way switch, seperate tone and volume controls, bound body and neck, neck feels thinner than Les Paul and that's a good thing as I have fairly small hands, chrome hardware, came with HSC.

This is definetly a blues/vintage rock guitar, though I do play punk and some alt rock. Play it through Crate GX-212+ and Zoom 1010 processor. I'm contemplating changing the pickups to Seymour Duncans. My first guitar was a Strat so the tone of this is much deeper and richer. I like the jazzy tone I get through the neck pickup

Set-up was a little high for my liking but that was easily adjusted. Had to adjust the pickups down a bit for the lower string action. This guitar has a natural finish and I must say that the top is beautifully bookmatched. Got several "wows" whne friends first saw. A few nicks but this was hangin in the dealers showroom for a year, but the nicks are only noticeable close-up. Only other flaw is that a few frets could have been filed a bit better.

Had it for two months and no problems yet. I've been playing for about two years, don't think I'll join a band so I won't have to worry about live playing. Seems very solid and dependable.

Sent an e-mail about changing pickups and got next day response.

Took up guitar at age 41 and have been playing for two years. I like my Strat and will never part with it but I really have fallen for this guitar. I think it's better than a Les Paul for about half the price. Anyone see the CNN report about Gibson losing market share to competitors like Heritage? Need I say more about this guitar. I would buy another if it were stolen or lost --- in a heartbeat. Would love to buy a Heritage 535. Can you help me convince my wife???

My Heritage is a 1995 model that is basically only a Les Paul but much, much better.I'm not sure what pickups come standard with all heritages but mine has a seymour duncan pearly gates(neck position) and a seymour duncan Duncan distortion(bridge position). The finsih is what i call a "orangeburst". Even though it is probalby meant to be a cherry sunburst it turned out to be a more orangish tint instead of cherry. The neck is very smooth and thin. I love the neck much better than the Gibson. The Gibson is fatter and it seems the guys at heritage payed more attention to getting a more comfortable neck. The other features are 2 volume and 2 tone pots and a three way-switch. Again very much like a LP.

For playing mainly blues rock and occasional jazz this guitar is very good. The Pearly gates ahs a thick mean brawny sound to it and the Duncan Distortion has a tight trebley sound that is very good for playing hard rock. But the main tone of this guitar is in that pearly gates it doesn't get much smoother and have more sustain(other than a PRS) than other guitars. At times though this guitar is a little to brawny sounding to me but it still sounds wonderful.

I have found two flaws in the guitar. The three way switch that came with crapped out and the input jack crapped out too. Considering these are electrical parts, i am not surprised this happened but i do not like that this happened and am unhappy about it. Otherwise the guitar is good to me recently. The electrical stuff happened about 2 and 1/2 years ago and the guitar has not failed me since. I do not remember the original set-up because since then i have had many set-ups done on the guitar to suit my needs and have done individual tweaks to it(like raising action for slide playing).

the guitar is solid except for the few electronic problems. I would not gig without a backup(this is also my other guitar that i use primarily). the finsh is still very shiney and all.

I have never dealt with Heritage directly but the guitar store (Music Loft/Indoor Storm) are very helpful any time. Especially thanks to Eddie Berman there. For the Music Loft/Indoor Storm i give them a 10

I've played other Gibson LP's and other humbucker equipped guitars. To me this is one of the best guitars on the market. I'm not just comparing this guitar to intermediate or beginner level guitars, I also own a PRS McCarty and a Strat. I love this guitar it is very playable and has a very good sound. Forget that it doesn't say Gibson on the headstock and just play. These guitars are wonderful.

Brand new, 1999 model. I just got this one a week ago, after waiting a long, miserable six months. It's basically a Les Paul. (Only better, IMHO.) Mahogany back and neck, two-piece flame maple top. Cherry sunburst, of course. I ordered mine with an ebony fingerboard, and it's got a single binding around the headstock, so it's kind of a cross between a LP Standard and a Custom. I also got an "upgraded" flame top. (Highly recommended!) I'd ordered Seymore Duncan Antiquity humbuckers, but the factory forgot to have my dealer ship the pickups to them. That was quickly solved, and the Antiquities absolutely KILL! Heritage uses Grover tuners as standard equipment, and a Schaller stop tailpiece and adjustable bridge. (The bridge saddles are individually adjustable side-to-side.) The fretboard inlays are very nicely figured mother-of-pearl, with just a hint of green abalone shell color from certain angles. Standard Les Paul 24 3/4 scale length, and I think the neck has the thin "1960" profile. (Or maybe my hands are just big.) It plays like a dream, anyway. The price included a nice hard case. I didn't rate this catagory, because you all know what features Les Pauls have. No coil taps or phase switches or whammy bar, just the basics. Why mess with perfection?

I've heard that Antiquity pickups are the closest thing you can get to original PAFs without a second mortgage. I have no frame of reference to compare them, but the Duncans sound, and look, fabulous. (If you like old, grungy-looking vintage pickups. I do.) The pickups can be a bit microphonic since they're not potted, but not too bad. Plenty of vintage growl! The guitar has tremendous sustain, as you'd expect. (Just watch Spinal Tap.) I suppose mine has a bit brighter sound than an old original flametop because of the ebony board, but I like it. I'm playing it through a little 15-watt Matchless amp, which actually sounds better at low volumes with my Strat. But with the volume knobs pinned, there's just enough crunch to make me want a Marshall really bad. Of course, you can order these guitars with just about any kind of pickups/electronics you want, and get whatever sound you like. That's the advantage of hand made, small volume builders.

The action was a bit higher than I liked, but it was simple to fix. I had to adjust the spacing of the bridge saddles a bit, too. As for "non-adjustable" stuff, the guitar is perfect. The fit of the inlays in the fretboard is incredible. Not a hint of gaps or fillers anywhere. The nito-cellulous laquer finish on the body is flawless. The flame maple top is just flamey enough to look "authentic", and is gorgeous. I could sell tickets! I don't believe Heritage used any grain enhancers, they just let the wood speak for itself. I think the factory toned down the red color of the sunburst on this guitar so it wouldn't look too gawdy with the ebony board; it's a very nice, rich burgundy color, with the maple faintly visible through it all the way to the edge. The finish looks like you could dive in and swim around. Groovy 50's-style "bonnet" knobs. Heritage has to make a few minor changes from an actual Les Paul so they don't get sued: The headstock is narrower, the pickguard is shaped slightly differently, and the plastic pickup surrounds are black instead of the white you're probably used to. I think the body width is just a hair narrower than a Gison, too.

Just got it. Everything seems to be very high quality, and the craftsmanship is superb. But of course, they guy who made this guitar has been building them in the original Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan since 1959, so I expect he knows what he's doing. (No kidding! All three of the guys who do the actual guitar building at Heritage started there as apprentices 40 years ago! They probably swept up the sawdust after somebody else made Jimmy Page's '59! But, I digress . . .) This guitar seems built to be as reliable as a stove bolt. Excellent switchgear and pots.

One year, non-transferrable warranty. (Yeah, like I'd ever sell it.) I spoke with one of the owners by phone shortly after I ordered the guitar, and he was cool. I've heard their customer service is great, but I've had no need for any, yet.

I've been playing with guitars for 15 years. (Notice I said "playing WITH, not PLAYING. A subtle difference, but an important one.) I also have a Japanese 50's reissue Strat. At the moment, my only amp is a litte 15-watt Matchless. If this guitar was lost/stolen, I'd jump off a bridge. I'm not much of a musician, but I love guitars like my own children, so the history and the craftsmanship behind this guitar were what appealed to me most. I'd considered buying a used '59 reissue Gibson, and might still do so just to pamper my lingering teen-age fantasies, but those are made in Tennessee by some guy who's only been working for Gibson for a measely 20 years or so. It's a long (LONG) wait to get a Heritage, but it's worth it, and you can pick up a nice Marshall stack with the money you save. Better order one soon, though. They're not getting any younger up there. I heard their golf-to-guitars ratio is up to about 70/30.

This guitar was made in 1998 in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the old Gibson plant by former Gibson employees. It is a Les Paul style with 22 frets and a carved solid curly maple top. The flame is the bomb, and the translucent almond sunburst is lovely. It has the old fashioned nitrocellulose lacquer as a protective finish. The body is mahogany, as is the one piece neck. The rosewood fingerboard has a 24 3/4 inch scale and has mother of pearl trapezoid inlays. There are two humbuckers, Schallers I think, and a 3 way selector switch. The stop tailpiece is made by Schaller. Each string can be adjusted for intonation, and the saddle is adjutable from side to side, for string spacing. Tuners are Grovers. Came with hardshell case.

This guitar should work for anything a Les paul can do. I am playing the blues and it a full sound. It sounds good clean or overdriven and has plenty of sustain. I am planning on replacing the stock pickups because they are too hot for my tastes, maybe some Seth Lovers. If you order a guitar from Heritage, they can install any pickup you want because they are a small company. They carry most Seymour Duncan pickups.

Action is nice and low, but the intonation was off on 2 strings. This is not a big deal as I plan to get it set up with 10 - 46 strings soon. The only flaws I noticed were on the fingerboard where you can see some sanding marks.

This guitar seems very well made and has a strong neck joint. The guitar stays in tune when you play, the strap buttons are super solid, and the nitrocellulose lacquer should improve with age. I would depend on this thing, for certain.

I haven't had to deal with the customer service, and probably won't have to. It has a lifetime warranty, though, so I'm not worried.9

I really dig this guitar. It is my first and only electric and I know I won't outgrow it. I wish that I had ordered it with better pickups, but that is my only complaint. It is a heavy guitar, IMO, probably from all the mahogany. This guitar is every bit as good as a Gibson in construction, sound, looks, etc., but because Heritage is such a small company their guitars are much cheaper.