Heritage Standard H-535 Review

Heritage 535

Originally I was going to buy the Gibson ES 335. After extensive research and talking with other guitarists who owns one or both guitars, I've decided on the 535. I'm glad I did! The craftsmanship is of the highest quality and the sound is second to none. It plays like a dream and the natural color with the curly maple is absolutely stunning! The only problem I had was the Corian… read more nut. In spite of buying and installing Grover locking tuners, the guitar would not stay in tune. After researching this problem it was found that the nut was not cut correctly, causing the G string to bind up which also affected the high E and B strings. It also affected the intonation. So, I had a local and reputable Luthier to install and cut a "bone" nut and reset the intonation. That solved the problem. If you run into this "tuning" problem 9 times out of 10 it's the nut. My suggestion is if you replace the nut, replace it with a "bone" nut. You'll be glad you did! Other than that, the Heritage 535 is a 10 out of 10.

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They're still making better instruments in Kalamazoo

Many years ago, I purchased a brand new 1970 ES-340 (a slightly upscale version of the 335). I played this guitar for many years and it was rock solid. We parted ways (reluctantly) when the budget made it necessary. This old instrument was made in Kalamazoo well before the 'G' company moved away. The building stayed behind of course, but many of the builders did as well. They've… read more been making instruments in that same location ever since. The instruments are more than a little similar to their Tennessee counterparts, but different in significant ways. I recently decided that I needed to fill a hole in my small collection. The archtop slot is owned by my Benedetto, and it's not going anywhere. But I needed a semi-hollow for tonal extension and taking along on trips (if I ever get on an airplane again). I bought a 335 from Sweetwater and was deeply disappointed in the poor quality of the instrument. Spoke to Frank Gerdts, my trusty consultant at Sweetwater, and he offered me the Heritage H-535 in exchange. The more I looked, the better it looked. Where had this guitar been hiding? So I went for the swap. It's been a great experience since I opened the case the first time. This is a beautiful guitar to see, with nicely flamed maple, a smooth fast neck (and of course that sweet smell of nitro). It was set up very nicely and played great right out of the box. But I'm a jazzer and we like those heavier strings. I put on a set of D'Addario EJ-21 (.012 first string) and tweaked the tension, bridge etc (I've been doing my setup a long time). Heavier strings brought out the tone that was probably the goal of the 335 designers back in the 50s--fuller, a little darker, with more bottom. I was able to move the pickups a little farther from the strings, getting me some more air. The pickups are great--much better than the Burstbuckers on the 'G' guitar) and they respond beautifully to string choices and proper voicing. Through my little Henriksen amp, it sounds wonderful. If you feel you must have that big 'G' on your headstock, then go ahead and buy one. But you're going to spend quite a bit more to match the quality of this Heritage. If you're just looking for sound, looks and playability, then you're looking in the right place. They still know how to make guitars in Kalamazoo.

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Great guitar

When I mentioned to my sales rep, Joel Helton, that I was thinking about adding a semi-hollow to my little collection, we talked about a few brands, then he mentioned Heritage. I started doing some research and comparisons, and finally decided on the H-535. I couldn't be happier with this choice. I love the retro sound, and the guitar looks and feels great. It's fun to play. I'm… read more an intermediate player, and this feels like an advanced instrument, at a relatively decent price. It's comfortable and makes me want to play all the time.

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Nice Guitar - Heritage Standard H-535

The H-535 is a proper semi-hollow body electric guitar. The build quality is exceptional with no noticeable issues with the fit and finish. I enjoy the feel of the neck. In my opinion, it's a great mix of a rounded C and slim taper. It was set up nicely right out of the box. No issues with the frets or action. To me, the 59 Seymour Duncan pickups sound bright but the tone knobs… read more allow you to get some warm and full tones while playing clean. I play rock, country, blues and a little gospel. I am able to dial in any tone I need - clean, slightly driven, distorted and the classic warm tone. A similar make and model is $ more expensive than this Heritage and was not worth the extra cost. I would recommend this guitar to anyone wishing to invest in a quality made semi-hollow body guitar. In addition, I would like to thank my Sales Engineer Nick Church for his insight on the Heritage brand and giving me a sweet deal on a beautiful guitar.

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The only real competition for you-know-who...

There were two features which stood out as different from the other brand: headstock and pickups. The headstock had better string geometry and the pickups were unpotted. Since I own several Gs I went Heritage for a different axe in the shed. Overall, it's pretty good. I did notice some finish imperfections around the F-holes, could be better but not a deal breaker. End of the day… read more I'm happy.

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