Heritage Johnny Smith

My particular instrument was custom made in 2001 in Kalamazoo. Single floating pickup and single volume knob mounted on a maple pickguard. Adjustable tailpiece. Spruce top, maple back and sides. 5 piece maple neck. 25" scale ebony fretboard custom ordered with no inlays. Ebony bridge. Rim thickness: 3", body width: 17", body length: 20 1/4". Grover tuners. Antique natural finish.

This guitar has a wonderful sparkling and full acoustic tone that projects quite well. Plugged in using the stock Heritage pickup, the sound is deeper though fairly balanced. The tone seems to become brighter as the volume knob on the guitar is turned up, but always retains a very full sound. I would be interested to hear it using one of the pickups suggested in the other reviews, but I am content with the stock pickup. I've never had a problem with feedback, though I don't play very loudly. Excellent traditional sound for comping and soloing, though I still enjoy playing my electric (Les Paul Double Cutaway Studio) when I'm looking for a more pristine modern tone. This does not have the very round, almost hollowish sound of a guitar with mounted pickups, e.g. an ES 175 - it is much more "open." A dark and rich tone can still be achieved however. Quite lovely.

The guitar was beautifully set up when it arrived, but I'm not sure if this was due to the dealer or Heritage. There was one nick somewhere up the fretboard. The wood is gorgeous everywhere but a small area in back at the base of the neck, where it has an odd color. I didn't order the most expensive woods, however, and it isn't very noticible. The back is only somewhat flamed.

Overall it's quite pleasing. I haven't seen a guitar in any store I'd rather own, even just on the basis of look, as the color of the top is just perfect, and the ebony fretboard without inlays complements it beautifully. It looks like (and is to some extent) a custom crafted guitar.

It seems very well made, though I don't ask all that much of it or put it through much stress, so I can't really comment on the durability of it. It certainly seems like it will last.

I ordered several customizations for this guitar through my dealer. It didn't need to be crafted from scratch for me, as Heritage found one already being made that they could apply the customizations to once it reached the right stage. Unfortunately, a few of the customizations weren't made for some reason, and the only change they made from the stock model was omission of the inlays on the ebony fretboard.

The dealer alerted me to this and Heritage offered to make me a new one from scratch. It would take 8 months to do this, however, and it wouldn't be signed by Johnny Smith, as they were discontinuing the model. I decided to keep what they had already made, as the other customizations weren't very important. Overall, I'm still very happy with the company.

I'm still very pleased with the purchase after almost 2 years. I'd happily recommend a Heritage to anyone looking for a mid-range jazz box, as I know of no other company that sells such good quality custom guitars at this price. I still haven't found a guitar I would rather have purchased, and I don't expect to.

As far as features go this is a raw jazz guitar. If I thought every person out there was a traditionalist I would give this an 11 but some people want more. Acoustically it is a great intrument. Mine has a ken armstrong pickup which makes it a gem plugged in. I go for a brighter john pizzarelli type tone so the floating pickup and maple body do wonders for me. The drawback is the lack of a tone nob. One volume: that's it. The result is an outboard fishman eq. The best fearture is the tail peice. It allows adjustment for sustain.

Rich raw jazz. Acoustically it is a chord soloists dream. sometimes I like to play with a mic in addition to the ken armstrong pickup. Plugged in it's got a lush purr. It's bright for a jazz guitar but generally ver nice and mellow. I put it through a mesa maveric (typically a rock amp) with an outboard fishman eq inbetween. It makes a great set up with a big band or a trio. I've also put it through a roland jazz chorus but feeding back is a problem for some reason.

I have Tammastik round wounds (13) on and have set it up myself so it Plays perfectly. The solid spruce top provides great resinance but it is far from fancy. It has a standard blonde finish and a great flamed back. it is a simple guitar which suits my style.

this is a professional quality guitar that will last a lifetime. Like any fine instrument it is delcate and requires care but that has more to do with ownership responsibility. Because of it's delicacy I'm a little hestant to cart it around school. But it's there for a lifetime of gigging. This guitar is essentially the original L-5 at aboun 1/3 the price of a new Gibson. I think it's twice the guitar too.

I've never had to deal with the company.

In my opinion this is the top of the line mass made guitar. The only way to get a better instrument is to speak with a custom builder such as benedetto or buscarino. It sounds hand made and plays hand made. It isn't as flashy as custom job but it is still very pleasant and classy to view. For the price it is a fantastic value.

Guitar was made in 1989 in Kalamazoo. 20 fret, solid carved spruce top / maple sides and back / five piece maple neck / ebony fingerboard. Rose natural finish with abalone and mother of pearl. Black metal finger tailpiece, floting adjustable black ebony saddle, black Grover tuners, and single Benedetto floating pickup with tone and volume on spruce pickguard.
The quality of the woods is impeccable with beautiful flaming on the maple back and sides.
The neck is thinnish - same feel as a Martin D28. The wood is so fine on the neck, that one seems to glide over it. Excellent playability.
One of the first four JS' made by the company and signed of by the JS himself. This is an object of extraordinary beauty - slight indication of bias!

The rage of sounds is restricted because it is a simple single floating pickup.
But the aulity of what it produces is stunning. Beautiful full rich but distinguishable jazz tones through to clear warm acoustic tones amplified through a Vox 30 amp.
The sound acoustically is very rish and sweet too.

The action as stated above is superb - one glides over this neck effortlessly. The cut away is well designed as well, permitting barred chords easily up to 12/13 fret.
The pickup is excellent but not standard on later models. I would recommend fitting the Benedetto as the standard Heritage are not so strong.
No flaws that I have found.

I would not gig with this guitar - I have a Yamaha AEX 1500 which compares well even if trebly and use that for any rare occassion I play to others. I would not advise taking an instrument like this around unles you take particularly care.

No idea but I hear that they are accessible and kind at Heritage in answering queries.

I have been playing for 20 years and own a Martin D28, Gibson ES 336, Yamaha AEX 1500 and a Yamaha SG 3000. The AEX is a very good work horse of a guitar and has incredible range of sounds but cannot hold a candle to the quliayt and richness of the Heritage (Sorry Yamaha - still love ya).
I compared this guitar to Gibson equivalent (L5 single pickup) and found that to be very good as well but twice the price.
As a clean and pure instrument, nothing could be added to the Heritage. But the slut in me would love to hear this instrument with a piezo pick up in it as well. Please forgive me Mr Smith - I'll never do it, honestly!