F/S Heritage H-535

[tomteriffic]

Heritage H-535, made in the old Kazoo, Michigan Gibson factory. 335-style in Antique Natural, stupid-crazy flame all over this one.

At the time of sale, I replaced the pickups because the stock Schallers sounded pretty awful. I also added bypass caps to the volume controls to keep the tone even as you roll off the volume. I don't remember what I put in for pickups, but they sound the way a 335 ought to, sweet and round in the neck, a nice bark at the bridge and a wide-fi 'splang' in the middle. Classic tones.

At higher gain, the neck pickup is microphonic. I didn't notice this until recently, since I mostly played 30's and 40's style jazzy blues on this. So, if it's an issue, I'll throw a very low miles covered Duncan '59 in the case to sweeten the deal.

Excellent condition, very low miles, only one gig that I can remember and that was a coffeehouse thing, used on a couple of tunes only. OHSC in excellent shape.

These are fetching $1,000 - $1,200 on eBay. Geddit here for $950 +ship. CONUS only, PayPal OK.

Pix:

[Guest pirateflynn]

Hey, that's really nice!

[bobbymack]

What's the neck like? Weight?

[tomteriffic]

What's the neck like?  Weight?

The neck is medium, not a vintage baseball bat or a '92 Special skinny. Just a nice heft.

My handy-dandy Laker Fisherman's Scale (thanks for the tip, Gene) says it's 8 lbs or just a hair under.

[mutronboy]

What are you doing to me, Tom?

That guitar is just like my '79 blonde Maton Sapphire that got stolen...cor!!

I still won't know 'til Thursday, tho'

Someone's bid on my Oberheim synth, but I need to sell the Parker prototype as well

As much as I like the 'burst, this one's better for me 'cos I'm a big guy...heh

Quick!! someone buy it before I lose my shirt!

[tomteriffic]

Matons, the few I've seen, are nice instruments. But they're as rare here as Hamers are there. And when you do see them, they're upside-down and backwards. I think it's that Northern/Southern Eastern/Western hemisphere thing that does that to 'em.

[bobbymack]

I'm pondering, Tom...plus I forgot to ask, how old is it?

I love my 335, and am shopping for another. But, I've never even seen a Heritage 535 in person. I keep hearing they're heavy, but yours isn't.

And you say the 335 tone is right on? Plays good too? Hmmm....

Convince me s'more....

[tomteriffic]

Ummm, let's see, Bobby. The pickguard is flame maple, too, stained black but you can see the grain. When I bought it, it was very expertly set up for 11's and has had low miles on it since.

OH! I KNOW!! It's got....... MOJO!!!

I'm just trying to trade up, otherwise I'd keep it. This is a helluva fine guitar.

[Craig S]

I love mine. I came with Seth Lover's from the factory. It's not what I would consider a heavy 335 type guitar, maybe lighter than most. I think the 535's are more like a vintage 335 than a modern one. Most of the ones I've seen, as well as mine have great tops on them. I'm curious as to what you are "ugrading" to as Heritage's seem to have a Hamer like value to them. I called the factory and actually talked to one of the owners, something you don't see much of these days. This one deserves a bump.

[mutronboy]

Hoy Tom,

There are a bunch of Hamers over here, I've been doing the pawnbrokers auctions here for 23 years and I've seen quite a few.

You just never see Sunbursts, probably 'cos guys hang onto them

Lot's of Prototypes, Chapparals, Vectors, Californians etc.

I've seen a few Steve Stevens and Phantoms (I've got a trashed one)

There's a nice red Phantom for sale, but it had a sticker on it, so it's got a big faded square..heh

Here's a few pics of a rare 1958 Maton MS500 I'm restoring (first solidbody model)

[tomteriffic]

See? The pictures come out upside down when you view them in the northern hemisphere!!!

The only Maton I spent any serious time with was a transparent green bass (similar shape to that one there, IIRC) that definitely had it going on.

[Guest galejt]

Holy Sh*t!

That's nice!

[mutronboy]

Was that green bass an oldie...might've been a Fyrebird bass

Maton made some seriously nice guitars..and some dogs as well

I had a nice collection of mint examples before I got ruined by a court case

They're mainly renowned for their 12-string acoustics...very nice

I've got an '88 top model Messiah 12...I'd put that up against anything..it's magical

Anyway we're off topic here...I just wanted to say..

Anybody who doesn't buy Tom's gorgeous Heritage semi is a damn fool !!

[Rockola]

What are you doing to me, Tom?

That guitar is just like my '79 blonde Maton Sapphire that got stolen...cor!!

Maton?

When I see that, I think of

[mutronboy]

Yeah gale, this guy does amazing spray jobs...should've seen the '59 Guild he did for me..it looked like a D'Aquisto..then I had John Fogerty sign it

Unfortunately, I lost the Guild during my court case, haven't even got a pic

Here's an L series Jazz he's just put back to original for me (I just have to put the sticker on)

He's also making a new headstock for my trashed Phantom

BTW that Maton is short-scale...I might use it for slide

[Buzzy Fretts]

What year is that TomT? She looks sweet.

[tomteriffic]

I believe it's a late 2002 or early 2003. I recall the store owner saying he bought it at NAMM. It hung around a while before I pulled the trigger in mid-2003, so winter NAMM would be about right.

[tuoti1]

What year is that

It's an "S" code (see the back of the head stock) which dates it to 2002.

AWESOME guitars, by the way, and this is a particularly nice example.

[mutronboy]

Hoy Rockola, sorry I didn't see your post before, I ended up on the next page

Regarding those Wiggles guitars...Maton revived the MS500 shape in the mid 90's

It hadn't been seen since 1962..in fact Maton stopped making electrics altogether

between 1980 and 1995..except for maybe their single pickup jazz box

Pic of me at 13 with my first electric...a '62 Maton Fyrebird

Tom, I sent the Heritage pics to a Heritage afficionado I know over here

He might get tempted...it's a classy axe

[mutronboy]

This was the only Heritage 535 I could find in Australia....at Jackson's $3299

[elduave]

Sooo, when's the other shoe gonna drop on this one...

[mutronboy]

Hoy Tom,

Sorry I didn't get back to you on this one, I twisted my back 3 days ago

No-one's bid on my Parker either..

I can barely sit at the computer at the 'mo...in agony

bumpity bump...someone buy this guitar!

Or even better, make Tom an offer on both of 'em....(I'd like to do that...heh)

[tomteriffic]

One more bump for the 'Payday is tomorrow' crowd, package deals with this and the Swamp King considered as well.

[DavidE]

I had a 535 w/ factory Seth Lovers. What a great 335 style guitar. Alas, I didn't like the size so much. Sold it to CraigS who I think really likes it.

[tomteriffic]

Last Blast....