The REAL Truth - Is This Jazz Archtop With A Mid-Range Price Worth The Money?

[@JackZucker]

always a joy to listen to you my friend. Your tone and touch remind me of howard roberts!

[@ryanstark2350]

Yes, It's worth every penny and used to be a ridiculous bargain until people wised up to the fact that Heritages were really good.

[@MatteoTorgy]

Where have you been all my life? Really outstanding video, sir -- and breathtaking playing. The most effortless, economical, efficient, AND EFFECTIVE technique I've ever seen. This video is my first foray into the Rich Severson world and I look forward to delving for more.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Welcome aboard thanks for watching

[@marklarkinsmusic5543]

that Particular Heritage 575, is Absolutely Inspiring!!

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Even tho I am a guitarist and watch your vids because you showcase so many great guitars, I mainly watch because I love to hear your playing as well as watch your playing. Love to watch you live do a show. I don't know where you are from but love to see you play at The Baked Potato in Studio City. I saw Andy Summers play at The Baked Potato about 15 years ago and the show was nothing short of amazing. Not just a talented player but a great small venue to watch a show.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Love to play there some day

[@jamesgretsch4894]

@@RichSeversonGuitar If you do live gigs I'd like to attend. If not The Baked Potato 🥔 do you ever play Southern California?

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I love this channel. I also think The Baked Potato would be a great place for a show. I’ve flown in from Texas plenty of times for shows there.

[@charlesbryant9367]

Looking for a Heritage 575 like the 2012 you demonstrated

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Charles, email me and I'll put your name on my list

[@JackTheSkunk]

Beautiful guitar and sounds great in the hands of a master like Rich. Love the dot inlays....functional without being overly decorative. Just needs neck binding in my opinion.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

And a 1 3/4 nut width.

[@glennmattison3180]

I think you forgot the most important thing about Heritage guitars (just my opinion). The tuners for the D and G strings are much closer to the center of the headstock than a Gibson for a straighter string pull angle. This eliminates a lot of the tuning issues Gibsons often have. Great Review!

[@christopherwatkins9729]

G'Day 'Rich'... Been following you with enjoyment for some years... Am in humble awe at your skills and respect your lifetime application to your 'art'... and... Have to say... This 'vid' presentation and demo is the most rewarding I have viewed and listened to of all your substantial library... What a 'Beauty' guitar you have demonstrated... Have two Archtops... One with single Humbucker (The Very Best) and a MANNIX with two Humbuckers... Acoustically (?) the MANNIX throws out lovely woody tones with sufficient volume for non-electric practice... Have a 'few' other types guitar (enjoy various genres music) but you are a personal inspiration for Hollowbody Archtops and informations... Many Thanks, keep 'em coming !🤠...

[@bobrich1950]

Great guitar Rich. If i win some money, I'd offer to buy it from you. LOL Sounds fantastic. Of course, you could probably put strings on a broom, and it would still sound great. And you can't beat a big top, and a skinny bottom. 😉😉😂😂😇😇

[@ili626]

Are picks guards even necessary? The last time I hit my guitar body with my pick was when I was a beginning player so long ago..

[@stevesaavedra3609]

Cool video! Very informative 🎼

[@Martinjazz16799119]

Hey Rich, what about feedback playing live ? Thanks

[@guitargod6997]

Beautiful tones and great playing!

[@ludovicsejeau1777]

very good jazz classic guitarist, i love your playing and swing !

[@stephencarter5090]

That was a solo to be proud of. The guitar is truly one of the most beautiful 😍 I've ever seen; the kind that makes me want to play for hours on end. By the way, is using a guitar stool much better than sitting on a chair?

[@timcummiskey1178]

I love all the guitars. The playing is even better!

[@chrisnedbalek2866]

Absolutely beautiful guitar. Sounds great!

[@juangenesyjazz]

Suena muy bien ! Y hay magia en tus dedos ! Puede uno tener una guitarra muy cara y Sonar mal , en fin es todo una cadena !

[@mariorossi7225]

I'm an happy owner of this guitar since 1989. It's a jewel with the most beatifoul "woody" sound i know and she match perfectly the fender champ 600.

[@GoneSailingCA]

Hi Rich, Sounds great, although I just bought an L-4 which is nice too. How do you record your guitar? You said direct into a mixer and then into a laptop. Could you tell me which mixer and what is the laptop software? I seem to get a lot of distortion when recording my L-4 going direct into a USB sound card and then Garage Band on a MacBook.

[@4gcole]

I bought one just like it from Rich and I love it!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Hi George so glad to hear that

[@BrianPetersen-l2w]

Beautiful guitar,,, and some very tasty playing.

[@charlesbryant9367]

I'm looking into a Heritage 575, or Sweet 16, which one is better and which one will hold value best?

[@conradgittins4476]

Regarding headstock mass, I have found that it isn't just about overall sustain. The headstock mass influences the resonant frequency of the neck and if that frequency matches a note it will affect that note in either tone or sustain. The trick is to tune that frequency so it is between notes.

[@AaronShorr85]

I literally just ordered one of these :)

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Congrats!!!

[@picker63028]

Rich, incredible sound and your talents makes it shine. I own a Heritage 574 that is somewhat different from the 575. I can't find any information about it because it was either a one of or prototype. If you know anything about my guitar I would appreciate some info. It plays great and looks beautiful. Thanks Rich.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Never heard of it. I've seen a 516 and a 576 but not a 574. Call Heritage

[@Snakefinger1000]

People who ask us to subscribe and like their channel "before" we have watched their video really bug me, srely we should evaluate the product before we commit ourselves. However now that I've seen the video and heard it I am impressed, I like the guitar so away we go.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Lol, Glad you liked the video Felix, please subscribe to keep up to date with more jazz guitar content. Thanks!!

[@rickcurtis2983]

Wish Heritage still made that finish! Great sound, playing and demo Rich! Will you please give us your preferred string action at the 12th fret for the hi and lo E strings?? Thank you!!

[@iceWaterProductions1]

What’s the name of that finish? It’s so beautiful. I wonder if you paid the custom shop for that finish and block inlays.

[@L5man]

How does one communicate with Rich? If I have a question, suggestion, I want to buy one of his guitars I have no idea how to connect with him.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

We go live every Thursday at 11:00 am PDT. Join us live and I will answer your questions. Also, my contact information is on my website. Guitarcollege.com

[@ryanstark2350]

I just tried something dfifferent with one of the H575s. I put a TV Jones bridge Filtertron in. You lose the Jazzy type of sound but god, this is like a Gretsch on steroids. it's spectacular. I'll be ordering the neck TV Jones.

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Rich what do you think of Gretsch for jazz? Al Caiola sounded great on his Gretsch Country Club (Synchromatic) with Dynasonic single coils. Also Sal Salvador used Gretsch with Dynas. Van Epps had a 7 String signature model but I think had FilterTron humbuckers. If you don't have any of these guitars I have a 6120 w/ Dynas and a 1956 Country Club with Filters and a 6119 with HiloTrons. I don't know what city you are in but if you are in So Cal you can try my guitars.

[@EssensOrAccidens]

Gretsch player (very unsophisticated) & fan here, looking to learn jazz on it. Interested in Rich's views, too.

[@pepesixstrings2243]

Mid range price but high range sound. I'like to have it. A wonderful guitar.

[@hampshirepiano6383]

Yes, it's electric but I see it has a footed bridge which is very correct! I see most new archtops today somehow got to thinking to putting oversized bridges with full face contact and it is very not correct. Loudspeaker mentality/thinking? Who did that first? Full contact bridges oppose lateral undulation. That is why Gibson did it. This guitar sounds fantastic! Thank you.

[@ili626]

Surprised modifications are needed given the costs and the PLEK they use

[@dmyerstc55]

Thanks Rich!

[@rolfsimonsson2295]

Hi Rich, imagine you are going to spend 3 months on a remote island with a pleasant climate, good food and drink and all that you know. But for life to be complete, you need a few more things in your luggage. Which guitar and amp would you bring there? Greetings from Rolf in Bucaramanga, Colombia 🎶

[@owenfield818]

I feel like 400-1500 as a low price range is fair, but 1800-5000 is a big leap for "mid ranged" lol

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

I hear that.

[@shallyshal1]

I am going to say this with the deepest respect for you both as a player, and as a seller of guitars thru your site. If the price of new American Made archtops has a mid range of up to 5K and an elite guitar runs to 15K, all that will accomplish is make the transition to good quality Asian instruments near total. How many people will be willing to pay that kind of price, even if their job involves performance? Most pro musicians are not super high earners Where do they get that kind of $$$ ? Many I know personally struggle for years. It’s tough to get good paying gigs as it is. And those cats can sound fabulous on about anything Yup, I get that a pickup truck can cost 100K with all the bells and whistles It’s also why you see so many used ones or even beaters on the road these days I just do see there being a huge market for those 5-15K new guitars Kind of like the housing market. As new home soar past 400K and up,the younger generations just look for apartments and small condos. Or move back in with parents…these are weird times economically End of rant. Hope you are doing well Shally

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

@@shallyshal1 I think jazz pros often go for one really good guitar at the expense of owning several. Session players will obviously need a few instruments but a high end archtop is probably not so important. Re prices In real terms the value of guitars has not increased; what’s changed is the low end has become a whole lot better.

[@shallyshal1]

@@JazzGuitarScrapbook I do not even know what constitutes an American made low end Jazz guitar any more. Not when ES125 and ES150’s have asking prices approaching 3K.

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

@@shallyshal1 actually I checked it and $175 the price of the 175 back in 1949 is now around $2000. Good luck getting one for that now. So yes, I guess you are right. Otoh, try shopping for cellos….

[@Mauitaoist]

I have Taylor Guitars and I have Martin even so you don't need to break the bank to get a good guitar these days the level of manufacturing is superb even on lower end guitars I especially like Epiphone and Ibanez. Even Squiers are fine guitars. Maybe they need to do a little tweaking, that's fine. Make it your own. Make it what you want.

[@Plekteret04]

I hear you lower the nut height, ''grind'' the bridge to get the lower action you want. And a total straigth neck. Can it be the angel of the neck to the body that cause this modification. On my Peerless the nut was almost to low at the fist e -string. So I had to adjust the height (was buzzing). The nut is very low and the neck is streight with no buzz all over the neck. The sadel is very high. Something must be wrong here🤨🙃 Wanna like to try your custom string set. Im from Norway and have an account and address with Jetcarrier in Newark Delaware . They will take care of the shipping and tax for Norway. Really like the video's with your son. I also have been thinking of to try another neck pickup. A humbucker from Lollar, Duncan or another brand. Can see someone tryiing these CC pickups. Maybe you can tell us about the differense in another video streaming?

[@To.Si.Ma.]

👍👍👍

[@megagatvol]

You've sold it to me... It looks better and sounds better than an ES 175

[@motoputz3201]

heritage is my guitar of choice, I own an H-150 and an H-535 ...looks as though I'm in the market for an H-575

[@PeterDad60]

Banana fingers was a nickname given to Andrea's Segovia, because his fingers became so thick from all the years of playing guitars. I notice your hands and fingers have a most unusual appearance. May I inquire about how they came to look like the way they do? Is it because of your time spent playing guitar, or is there another reason. - Peter age 72

[@sega62s]

funny how this positive review comes right after the one a certain youtuber woman did 2 weeks ago. It’s good to have a review, but when someone complain and see only the negative it’s not my cup of tea, if they are not happy with a product ship it back and ask for your money, don’t trash on youtube unless you did not get a good service

[@AlexSosaBolivia]

$4500.00 gets you an unbound fretboard, unbound f-holes, and a junk tailpiece. Fail!

[@drivenmad7676]

I understand yer logic, however Rich, the majority of players will never buy a guitar above five grand. We just can't afford it. Only boomers and the very wealthy think of a guitar that price as, mid-range.

[@jamesrusch7531]

It is mid-range check out most custom archtop builders and you will find a price range starting at $10,000 if you are lucky !

[@johnnorris1983]

JML shopping channel.. Solid wood tones.. then tells me it’s laminated ..laminated???

[@johnnorris1983]

Not glue resonant then. Mould the guitar from glue.. Hey plastic guitar..

[@babalaughing]

Didn't hear where he says that, but in any case... the H575 uses all solid woods for top, back and sides. I own one (2004 I think), and it is a gorgeous sounding instrument.

[@donnymac575]

Got one. Won't ever sell it.

[@Avatar7x7]

The Japanese are making guitars costing between $1,500 to $3,500 that are just as good.. hand made by companies like "Seventy Seven" guitars .. a guitar costing more than $5,000 is all hype and marketing.. George Benson will sound better than 99% of folks on a $2,000 guitar than cats play'n guitars costing $10,000 .. paying exorbitant amounts of money don't make you a better musician ! so what's the point !!!

[@alvisgrady3357]

Even on a $ 200 ! 😅

[@jamesrusch7531]

Truth is the George Benson model that he plays personally is well over a $10,000 the GB 10 Ibanez bearing his name is not the same as the one he plays, but you are right he would make a $2,000 guitar sounds great it is the quality of the workmanship I will admit heritage now makes their guitars on the assembly lying but prior to 2017 they were completely custom hand built at the factory I had mine made to my and got to watch it at the factory they put an MSRP price online of 8,500 but sold it to me for it has binding on the apples around the headstock the neck mother of pearl I had a person's name addition to the 15th all gold hardware including finger tail piece and a special emerald green nitro cellulose finish put over a rubbed in Staind I have been offered upwards of $12,000 for this guitar and it is just unfortunately they don't do this anymore and eliminated 90% of their but still a high-quality manufacturer you get what you pay for their guitars do not fall apart the 575 it's like a 175 Gibson and a b y r d l a n d having a baby it is a merger of the two, beautiful

[@HondaStateline]

WTF AT 4500.00 MIDRANGE!!!! OH HELL TO THE NO!!!Maybe midrange on your budget ..but to me that's Michelle Pfeiffer Range!!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

If a Gibson L5 or Gibson Super 400 is selling at $9,000... or fully custom archtops selling at $10K or more... this would be mid-range.

[@carlosreira413]

Laminated maple for 4$k plus? Get some good pickups and learn how to solder.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

The 575 is solid carved maple top, sides and back

[@carlosreira413]

@@RichSeversonGuitar Why? How insane of them. But thank you so ever kindly for your response. You're a true pro. I say this as one who has made a bunch of guitars. There's no problem whatsoever with a laminated guitar. In fact, I've made plenty, and carved plenty. You can simply veneer the most amazing curly maple to a solid substrate. The ply's don't need to cross. This is how Taylor makes their budget arched backs for their flattops today. It's in essence solid wood, in many ways superior to carving. That glue adds weight and detracts from sound is the kind of nonsense purists will say. In fact the urea glue used probably adds some glassy high frequencies. If spruce could be bent, that would be the way to go. I think Stromberg did it early on, but fact check that. But nothing wrong with solid maple, just it's so insanely wasteful at that level of figure. Rock on. Scratch that, jazz on! Blessings to you and yours.

[@jamesrusch7531]

Solid Maple nitrocellulose finish

[@NicholasANappiNick]

All that nice work and cheap ass dots they dropped the ball

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I would pay for that color, block inlays, and binding on the neck/headstock for a new one. I’d hope the custom shop would take that order because I’m saving up for my 55th birthday present to myself.