Heritage H-535

Mine was an early 90s model. Lam top, 22 frets, standard es335 controls, I think the pickups are by Bill lawrence. A lot of people don't like the stock pickups on Heritage guitars, but I thought they were fine. Maple top sides, back (laminated, though) Mahogany neck, Grover tuners, AWFUL bridge (which I replaced with a wooden one - YEAH, it sounds better than metal in my opinion)It doesn't have tons of features. It just has the ones you need for a 335 style guitar

Sound is great, but I decided after a couple years I needed a bigger, more airy sound, which I got out of another heritage, a 565 I believe. Figure it will sound like a 335, or like a les paul with air in it.

Guitar was set well at the factory. I got a fret job after a couple years, cause one or two of the frets started "rising", but then it got heavy play and I use low action due to my light touch (mostly fingers). One pain in the butt. On both my heritages the switch is lame. It intermittently cuts out and you have to jiggle the switch. A new switch is cheap, so just go buy one. Finish is flawless, all joints are awesome

I think the rising frets had nothing to do with fit and finish. I used this guitar live for lots of gigs. The hardware did not even START to corrode, but then I don't have real acidy hands, and I am always changing strings, plus, of course, I put a wooden bridge on it. I replaced the strap buttons with locking Dunlops, as I do on all my electrics except my dano. The finish never started to wear. I depended on this guitar and it never let me down. I even only broke one string live...ever. I'd actually use this guitar live with no backup.

Never dealt with them.

This is nearly identical to a Gibson 335 (semi-hollow, thinline, double cutaway). This is a left hand model made by Heritage in Michigan. Almond Sunburst finish - absolutely beautiful. I ordered and paid for an upgraded top, but I'm not sure if it is since stock tops look great too. The grain of the wood stands out nicely. Schaller humbuckers with the "Vari-Phase" option (highly recommended). Rosewood fretboard. Grover tuners. Laminated maple top. Schaller rolling type bridge. Case was included but it's not a Heritage case. Price indicated includes shipping.

This guitar sounds fantastic. The "Vari-phase" option increases the versatility. I play through a Pevey Classic 30. In the normal mode it sounds like a 335, warm, fat and sweet. With the "Vari-phase" you can dial-in the sound of a Fender, as well as other sounds. I play mostly blues but this guitar can cover a wide range of styles. The pick-ups sound great, but at times I would like a little more punch. The cost of the "Vari-phase" option (about $150) is a bit steep. In fact, I almost canceled this option after I learned the price. However, after having played it (couldn't find one in a store prior to purchase) I absolutely love it. It was a great investment and I wouldn't order a Heritage without it.

Perfect setup out of the box. As I said before the finish is fantastic. There is a minor finish flaw (looks like a hairline finish crack, I think) at the base of the neck, not noticeable unless you really look hard. I am told by uninvolved parties it is nothing. It plays like a dream - just right for me. A very high quality hand-made instrument. The action is higher than a Les Paul Custom, but then again, most are. I much prefer the action on the Heritage.

I have only had the guitar for 5 months but so far no problems at all. Everything is solid and I am confident it will last a long time - which is good because I never plan on giving it up. I currently have a Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul Custom and an SG copy. If I could only have one guitar this would be the one.

I have only had two occasions to deal with the Company. The first was when I called to ask about the "Vari-phase" option. I spoke with the man who invented it. He was very enthusiastic and a great help. I also called about the "minor finish flaw". I spoke with the person who made the guitar. They offered to have me to send it in to be checked out. I declined since it is so minor. Great People - a pleasure to deal with. Nothing like Gibson or Fender.

I've been playing on and off for over 20 years. Been taking many breaks due to kids and other family things. I love to play and I have been searching for the "right" guitar - this is it. This is the guitar I reach for 9 out of 10 times. It looks, sounds and plays great. If lost I would buy another in a second, and in fact may buy one anyway. I thought the size might be intimidating but it is far easier to play and hold than the Les Paul. As indicated, I play left-hand. I wanted a left-hand 355 style guitar. Both Gibson and Guild (now Fender) were of no help. Their attitude was we'll make them when we feel like it. Gibson was borderline obnoxious. Heritage is very accommodating and will make just about anything you want. This guitar was nearly $1,000 less than the Gibson. Fantastic guitar, and for the money it can't be beat. In my opinion it's better than the Gibson. Great guitar, great people and a great price. If you decide on this guitar consider the "Vari Phase", I think it's an excellent option.

This guitar was made by Heritage in Kalamazoo, MI in 1993. It's basically a slightly thinner Gibson 335, the only real difference is that it has solid (instead of laminated) maple sides. Comes with a lamintated maple top and back. Has two humbuckers, Grover tuners, and a factory installed "Vari-Phase" which does some really neat coil tap deals that can make the guitar sound very "Fender-ish" as well as nailing the 335 vibe perfectly. The "Vari-Phase" controls are three mini toggles that take up the place where the normal neck pick-up tone control would be located. There are three rotary controls as well, one tone and two volumes. The fretboard is bounded dark rosewood and there is binding on the front and back of the guitar. The laminated maple top and back have a fair amount of grain. Like the Gibson 335, this guitar has a solid block of maple runing down the inside middle of the guitar. The bridge has the typical Heritage "tune-o-matic" with a very nice rolling bridge feature that allows for individual string placement on the bridge. It, like the 335, has a stop tailpiece. With the "Vari-Phase" controls, what you have here is a guitar that has the identical sound of the Gibson 335, AND also can do some very convincing Fender sounds as well. Came with OHSC. Finish is a Tobacco Sunburst color.

How can you complain about a guitar that nails the classic 335 sound AND can do some Fender sounds as well??? I have never played one of the Heritage 535's without the Vari-Phase, so I guess that those guitars would just sound like a great Gibson 335. I play all kinds of music, and this is the guitar I always reach for (out of several). It sounds outstanding --- very warm and fat on the normal 335 settings --- with the coil taps in the "Vari-Phase" position, the sound is very Fender-y, but somewhat "weaker" sound wise (not as loud).

No complaints at all --- a very solid piece. Great woods -- very grainy -- very nice to look at. Great set up -- esp. for used guitar. I have "tens" strings on the guiar and it plays very smooth --- like butter.

I would use this as my ONLY guitar for the next ten years -- no back up necessary.

I called Heritage and spoke to a guy who might have made the guitar. He told me the year it was made and advised me about the "Vari-Tone" feature ("....man, I wouldn't buy a 535 without it..."). Seemed to really like what he was doing --- Very cool.

I own around 17 guitars, and this is my all time favorite. I played a $2,500.00 Gibson 335 (new) and it felt like I was playing a brick (very stiff feel to it). This guitar smokes -- I will NEVER sell it and I'm currently looking at another used one at another store just for the heck of it. Highly recommended. It's USA made, sounds and plays great, and the Gibson version is a good $1,000.00 more (new). Everything about this guitar screams GREAT QUALITY -- At the price they are getting (new and used) it's also a great value.

Basically, It's a Gibson 335, but, of course, it's made by Heritage. Heritage guitars usually comes with Schaller Golden 50s pickups, which are decent, but not like a good Duncans. Hard shell case. Mine is a Antique Smoke-Burst color. As far as features, it has just enough.

Great for Jazz, blues, prog. rock. Quite frankly, I use it for all but Real heavy music. Sounds great. In my opinion, sound better than the Gibson 335.

Perfect setup. Only flaw was some "orange peeling" on the neck. A little sand paper fixed that. This guitar was set up and finished 10 times better that the 3 Gibson 335s I tried out. 2 of the Gibsons I tried had cracking on the finish - And these were new! Not only that, the Gibsons had the action too low (much buzz) and the pickups were too high. The Heritage - perfect action, perfect pickup height.

Perfect. Never a problem in 4 years.

Haven't tried to contact the company.

I've bought 4 other Heritages since. MUCH better than Gibson!! The only complain I have about Heritage is their choice of stock pickups. I think Heritage should just outfit all their axes stock with Duncans or some other premium pickup.

1997 model. Antique Sunburst finish: Gorgeous with flamey top & back; 2 stock (Schaller I'm told) HB pickups; laminated maple top, back & sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard. Schaller bridge; 24 3/4" scale, incl. hardshell case, made in Michigan, USA. 2 volume, 2 tone controls (tone controls wired to give overdrive effect when both pickups are selected.)

Excellent acoustic tone means big full sound through the amp; gets compliments for its fat tone; decent snap on bridge pickup but not as much as on a Gibson 175 or 335 (optional Seymour Duncan pickups may get you there). Very quiet, not a noisy guitar, great tone on neck pickup. When both p/u's are selected the two volume controls work together to vary between clean and overdriven sounds. Used with Fender Blues Jr., or Vibrolux Reverb (reissue) this guitar sounds great (sounds great with every amp I've tried).

Excellent factory setup; bridge pickup needed slight height adjustment; top is gorgeous; everything lines up right, a very high quality instrument for a very reasonable price.

Through 1 year incl. ~20 blues jams, holding up very well. Stays in tune, solid construction.

My favorite 'player' of my several guitars including a couple of vintage ones. Would get another in a second, it was an easy choice for $900 less than a Gibson ES-335.