Heritage H-550

Nitro-cellulose finish
Flamed maple top, back, sides and neck
Heritage trapeze style tailpiece
Grover tuners
Ebony fingerboard with Genuine Mother of Pearl 'super 400' style inlays
Bound body, neck, headstock and 'f'holes
Twin Schaller pickups

I play jazzy blues through a Mesa Boogie Blue Angel 1 x 12 which compliments the 550 very well. The 550 covers all bases from dark jazz with the tone rolled off to screaming blues on the treble pickup controllable feedback which can really add to the sound. This guitar is quiet and is a real all rounder.

This guitar is virtually perfection. I have owned mainly Gibsons but also guitars by Guild, Gretsch and Fender. I will not buy anything but Heritage from now on. Compare the workmanship of Gibson with that of Heritage and see what I mean... I dont think Ive owned a Gibson that I havent had an issue with about some sort of shoddy workmanship but the Heritage is almost faultless.

I have used this guitar live and didnt take a back-up, possibly a bit foolish but I think the Heritage is reliable enough not to worry about carrying a second guitar.
The hardware is nickel which ages nicely as does the Nitro finish.

I have been chasing Heritage for a replacement tailpiece for a while now and after the initial reply have heard nothing, so great guitars, not so great customer service.

I have been playing more years than I wish to admit, during which I have owned many Gibsons from a 175, thru several 335's to a couple of Les pauls. Gibson used to make great guitars but I wouldnt touch them with a 20 foot pole now. Buy a Heritage - you wont regret it!
If this were stolen I would replace it as soon as possible.

1999 model with old style sunburst finish. Made in Michigan. 20 frets. Laminated maple top. 2 volume and tone controls. 3-way selector switch. 2 chrome humbucking pickups. 3-piece curly maple neck with split block mother-of-pearl inlays. Single venetian cutaway. Bail tailpiece and adjustable bridge. Grover tuners. Came with a hardshell Heritage case.

This is a great guitar for jazz. It came with roundwound strings, but I've replaced those with a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz BeBop Series strings in order to try for a more acoustic sound. I generally use the neck pickup with the tone rolled off; I play through a Fender Deluxe 90 DSP amp on the clean channel, sometimes with a little reverb or chorus.

The guitar has a warm/dark sound when plugged in at these settings. It also sounds great unplugged. I've noticed some buzzing on a few of the frets but haven't been able to pinpoint the problem.

I purchased this used so am not sure how the guitar was originally set-up from the factory. It was set-up well when I got it, although there is a bit of buzzing. The action is a bit high, although this can easily be changed using the adjustable bridge. (You can also change the spacing of the strings.) The workmanship on the guitar is excellent--I haven't noticed any blemishes etc.

I haven't done any actual live playing with this guitar, so I'm not sure how well it would hold up to road conditions. The finish, hardware etc. seem durable, though.

I haven't needed to contact Heritage customer support, but other reviews indicate that they are very helpful. Their Web site (http://www.heritageguitar.com) could really use some work, though.

I've been playing off and on for about 15 years, although I haven't been serious about playing until very recently. The Heritage is my only guitar (at the moment), and it's great for what I'm trying to do with it--jazz. I compared it with some of the Epiphone models (Emperor Regent and Joe Pass) and with a Guild Savoy model, but thought the Heritage sounded better. I didn't really have a chance to check out some of the other "lower-end" archtops (e.g. Ibanez etc.).

My only wish is that the Heritage had a cooler-looking headstock; but, my wife still says the guitar is "absolutely beautiful" to look at. I would definitely replace it if it were lost or stolen.

late 90's model--all blonde---all maple, body top and sides and neck--cutaway 17 inch body---2 humbuckers-----roller type tune-o-matic bridge---arch top but not carved top----best neck on any guitar i've played--if you can play, this guitar will take you further..

sounds great for jazz--rockabilly--blues--you name it---this is like the great gretsch that they never made(but with a killer gibson style neck)---compares to any gibson L5 OR SUCH ,---plays much like a good johnny smith---the heritage neck is perfect--big but not awkward--slim but not skinny--its perfect, a work of art----- buy one, if you can find one--its a no brainer choice----sounds nice and bright when you want it, or fat and full...nice sustain to the notes at low volume, due to the hard rock maple neck---guitar has a hell of a bottom end even set up with light strings---i have no idea what the pickups are--they came on the guitar new--i dont even care what they are--they sound great to me--

i bought it used--great finish---parts are well made----frets are best ever---beautiful fretboard inlays--

hell yes , it will play live----can you dorks play a song..? i would take this guitar to the high desert, live in a camper and play the living hell out of it---and never look back..if i had a dAMN GIG, I WOULD TAKE THIS guitar, yes......where i live---a gig is as rare as a polka dotted mail truck..

why would i call them..?..i bought mine used--i could just call and say 'hi', i suppose.

i'm a long long time player---could never afford a gibson L5-ces----this guitar will do nicely---does not have a 'carved' top..but its great anyway---like a giant es-175 with an L5 quality maple neck--its lightweight too---i love this instrument--if can find onecfor under 2 grand--buy it---those high priced korean and jap guitars that copy this style--they're crap---dont buy crap--life is too short-----if you dont have 6 grand to drop on a gibson johnny smith (a fine guitar)--this oughta make you really happy--it does me--

I have over 40 arch tops L5 Johnny smiths you name it
But the Heritage H550 is the Jazz Guitar to own I take it everywhere
and its always ready very well made I now have 4 yes I will keep them all no ? get a H550 you can't go wrong. and if you call heritage
they are super nice and very helpful i talked to a real person on the phone always when i call they know how to run a show!

Its got that sound Jazz

Pretty wonderful

It will do all

on the ball

Purchased in 1999, Beatiful Amber translucent color, two heritage humbuckers, 2-3/4" wide body.

I bought this guitar to play jazz, but it is so versatile I use it for my rock and blues stuff. It sound great unplugged. I need to tweak my amps tone settings when using this guitar to help bring out the highs. Great Tone!

I am not a luthier, but I have owned over 20 guitars and this has to be my favorite electric. I love the neck - it just makes your fingers want to play. I see no flaws in the workmanship of this guitar.

No problems in using for the past 18 months. I do have to admit that i failed to wipe off the guitar at a rather hot gig and my sweat did cuase some minor aging to take place - my bad.

Small shop - just call them and you may be able to speak to the guy who shipped the guitar, designed it, or made it. Could not ask for anything more.

I have been playing for 18 years, and for the past two have been developing some jazz skills. I liked this better than the gibson es-175. I will not sell this guitar. This is a high quality instrument that makes me want to play. What else do you want in a guitar?