
( Brand: Heritage ), ( Model: H-550 ), ( Part Type: Guitar ), ( Size: 17 Lower Body, 25.5 Scale ), ( String Configuration: 6 String ), ( Country/region Of Manufacture: United States ), ( With Bag: With Fitted Heritage Hard Case ), ( Right-/ Left-handed: Right-handed ), ( Model Year: 1996 ), ( Series: H550 Antique Sunburst ), ( Body Material: Custom Curly Maple ), ( Body Type: Hollow Body With 1/2 Centerblock )
The H-550 Heritage Archtop Guitar, crafted by HApplication.com, is a stunning instrument that perfectly blends traditional design with modern aesthetics and tone. This guitar is an excellent addition for any musician who appreciates the rich history of jazz and blues music, and seeks to bring that classic sound into their contemporary repertoire.
The H-550 boasts a beautiful, hand-carved, solid spruce top, which provides a resonant and responsive tone. The top is adorned with intricate curly maple binding that highlights the guitar's classical elegance. The back and sides are made of highly figured, solid maple, lending a unique visual appeal and adding depth and texture to the sound.
The neck of this Heritage Archtop Guitar iscrafted from three-piece maple with a conveniently positioned adjustable truss rod. Fitted with a beautifully figured, ebony fingerboard, the neck ensures comfortable playability and optimizes the tone transfer from strings to the body.
The H-550 comes with a set of high-quality, gold plated hardware, including Gotoh tuning machines and a bound, adjustable Tuneomatic bridge. These premium components provide excellent tuning stability and contribute to the guitar's overall tonal brilliance.
Boasting a 16.25" scale length, this guitar offers a balance between the iconic "jumbo" jazz sound while providing easy playability and access to the upper frets. For electronics, it features a pair of LR Baggs Starter Kit pickups, enabling you to amplify the instrument's natural acoustic tones at live performances or in studio settings.
With its classic F-holes, bound body and neck, elegant curly maple binding, and meticulously crafted appointments, the H-550 Heritage Archtop Guitar is a true masterpiece that merges old-world craftsmanship with modern technology. This guitar offers a powerful, rich, and resonant sound that instantly captivates musicians and audiences alike. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a passionate hobbyist, the H-550 is a versatile and reliable companion for your musical journey.
a) Superior Craftsmanship: The H-550 Heritage Archtop is known for its exceptional craftsmanship, built with a solid, hand-carved, arched German spruce top and curly maple back and sides. The attention to detail and commitment to traditional methods ensures a high-quality, visually appealing instrument.
b) Authentic Archtop Tone: This guitar delivers a rich, full-bodied archtop sound, ideal for jazz, blues, and country music genres. The floating Gravity Pickups in turnkey adjusters offer a warm, distinctive tone.
c) Adjustable Bridge: Its custom, hand-carved adjustable ebony bridge ensures adjustability for intonation and string action. This feature assists in achieving optimal playing comfort and intonation for the guitar.
d) Lumescent Fret Markers: The guitar features luminous dots for fretting reference, making playing in low light environments easier and more comfortable.
e) Elegant Appearance: With its eye-catching curly maple top and bound body, the H-550 exudes class and sophistication, making it an excellent choice for both professional performances and prestigious collections.
2. Cons:a) High Cost: Being a premium instrument, the H-550 falls into a higher price range. Its exceptional materials, hand-carved construction, and professional-grade features contribute to its steep cost.
b) Heavy Weight: Archtop guitars in general tend to be heavier due to their larger bodies and intricate designs. The H-550, made primarily from premium tonewoods, is no exception, which might deter some players seeking lighter instruments.
c) Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish: While the nitrocellulose lacquer finish adds to the guitar's vintage appeal and tonal characteristics, it requires regular maintenance and care, including periodic re-finishing.
Conclusion:The H-550 Heritage Archtop Guitar (Curly Maple 550) offers exceptional craftsmanship, authentic archtop tone, and a beautiful, elegant appearance. However, it comes at a premium price, is heavier than most guitars and has demanding maintenance needs due to its nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Ultimately, considering these pros and cons, the H-550 is definitely recommendable for players seeking a high-quality, professional-grade instrument that produces an authentic archtop sound with unparalleled tonal depth and a visually stunning appearance. If budget or weight are significant concerns, one might consider alternative options such as a solid-body electric guitar or a more budget-friendly archtop instrument.
Factory specifications: neck: 17 degree peg head pitch three piece curly maple single white bound veneer with mop inlay fingerboard scale ebony fingerboard split block inlays 20 frets body round Venetian cutaway hollow body laminated arch top and back multiple solid rim pick guard f holes body size thickness width length electronics two humbugging pickups volume tone controls selector switch hardware gold plated individual machine heads bail tail adjustable roller bridge shipping cost based on zip code actual weight. If local, please schedule to demo the guitar. Steve's studio polished the frets and did a final set-up before giving it to me. This model has since been discontinued guitar is mint condition you can still smell the wood inside f holes.
It was only used a few times in my home studio since main axe is the smaller Inez GB-10. In my original mop NR cover has name on it so I replaced with a generic one. Local NYC pickup with no shipping charge.
There are no scratches or issues.