Heritage diamond in the rough

  • Thread starter Thread starter BRENTrocks
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BRENTrocks

BRENTrocks

Well-known member
I got a phone call from the owner of a small second hand guitar shop in Kalamazoo the other day. He said, “Hey brent, I just got this really cool heritage in!!! I think you should come check it out!”

So I drive into Kalamazoo and he revealed this rare bird!!!

A 1986 Heritage Terminator!!!

As far as numbers produced, this is one of the rarest Heritage models. Not necessarily one of the most desirable models.

Designed by Marv Lamb, this was Heritage’s answer to the Explorer.

This baby is a road warrior. Headstock repair. Lots of play wear. Despite its rough appearance, this guitar plays and sounds awesome!!! Only 8.5 lbs. 60s style neck. Dark, streaky rosewood fretboard. I took out the stock Schaller hardware and pickups and installed a lightweight locking tailpiece and a ABR. For pickups, I put in a set of Mad House Designs Alnico IIs. Sounds great!!!
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Interesting.

So you seem unopposed to headstock repairs :D

I wouldn't know but is there ANY effect on the resonance or tone. In my mind, I always assumed that once the grain of the wood is broken - it can't resonate the same even with the best glue. School me a riddle.
 
311splawndude said:
Interesting.

So you seem unopposed to headstock repairs :D

I wouldn't know but is there ANY effect on the resonance or tone. In my mind, I always assumed that once the grain of the wood is broken - it can't resonate the same even with the best glue. School me a riddle.
Click to expand...
15 years ago I would have turned my nose up at that guitar. I told myself I would NEVER buy a guitar with a headstock repair.

As time went by and my playing got better I realized that “pretty” guitars don’t always play and sound better.

I started doing all my own tech work. Then ran across some smoking deals on repaired guitars and realized that they well worth the price, in most cases.

Then I started to look for broke guitars and I would repair them myself.

As far as how it effects the tone? I have no clue. No huge differences that I can tell.
 
BRENTrocks said:
15 years ago I would have turned my nose up at that guitar. I told myself I would NEVER buy a guitar with a headstock repair.

As time went by and my playing got better I realized that “pretty” guitars don’t always play and sound better.

I started doing all my own tech work. Then ran across some smoking deals on repaired guitars and realized that they well worth the price, in most cases.

Then I started to look for broke guitars and I would repair them myself.

As far as how it effects the tone? I have no clue. No huge differences that I can tell.
Click to expand...
Right on. Thanks for sharing that. Let us know how practice goes OK? I guess that is the true test right.
 
311splawndude said:
Interesting.

So you seem unopposed to headstock repairs :D

I wouldn't know but is there ANY effect on the resonance or tone. In my mind, I always assumed that once the grain of the wood is broken - it can't resonate the same even with the best glue. School me a riddle.
Click to expand...


My buddy has a killer 80s Les Paul with head stock repair and this guitar sounds glorious. Apparently, well, at least his luthier told him it’s stronger now. But whatever the case, before the headstock broke off it sounded amazing, and after, it sounds just as good.
 
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