I Tried My First Heritage (WOW!) | 2024 Custom Core H530 Review + Demo

[@Steve.Cutler]

Finally!!!!! You need to do a les paul style heritage too!

[@jamesjeager129]

Yup I agree & he needs to do a comparison of the Heritage H-150 vs Gibson Les Paul (both USA & Customs Shop) imo.

[@scharrsilicio]

@@jamesjeager129 I'd watch those

[@jasonswitzer1748]

H-150 Custom Core is amazing. It was between that and a Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop R9 and I went with the Heritage. Try one, Trogly! I think you’ll dig it!

[@FluxedState]

He won’t do it. Gibson pays the bills.

[@cmc_96]

@@FluxedStateGrow up.

[@drdanny11]

Please do more Heritages and include the standard production models, not just CustShop. Lovely.

[@rudyjacobo8537]

I have owned and tried many guitars. Definitely all the most well known brands Gibson, Fender, Jackson, Ibanez as well as many others. But when I received my first Heritage... I was blown away. I have never connected with an instrument so quickly. The playability, the quality, the tone. I highly recommend them to anyone.

[@jamesjeager129]

Finally he’s doing a Heritage guitar review. He also needs to do the Harmony USA guitars because they sound & look cool.

[@noahninetyone]

When I save up to buy a new Harmony I’ll new guitar day it (probably gonna do the Comet but might do the Silhouette)

[@jamesjeager129]

@@noahninetyone nice I wish I can buy a Harmony Silhouette that Slate color but I’m left handed.

[@quenandnan612]

That might be 1 of the best sounding guitars ive ever heard on this channel. Im stunned...

[@Yessssz]

It does sound noticeably good

[@danielkorladis7869]

This guitar sounds absolutely huge. Very impressed with Heritage.

[@jasoncasper16]

I have a 2019 H-530 and I love it. It is a standard model with Lollar P90s and the neck is not as beefy. It is just as resonant-you can tap it anywhere on the body or neck and it just resonates. Incredible instrument and very lightweight and responsive. Also, they use solid maple rims on all the H-530 and H-535 models.

[@timwhite5562]

I've been repairing guitars for 25 years. After Strats, ES335s are my favorite guitars. Everyone drools over Bursts and talks about how new LPs just can't match the sound of the old ones, but I find the difference between vintage 335s to be much further from new ones than LPs. Out of all 335s and their various copies, I find Heritage H535s will get you closer than any production Gibson. Admittedly I haven't had any cross the bench in several years, so I can't attest to newer ones.

[@toddfleury7324]

I have two Heritage guitars from the late 80’s and early 90’s. I dig the history behind them. They have a couple scratches but both somehow escaped any dings on the tri top headstocks that are so common.

[@JohnGuffey-ho3xc]

If I were to pull the trigger on a Heritage, that one would most likely be the model. Beautiful. I have lived in Kalamazoo since ‘97 and I’ve toured the building a couple times. They used to do a free tour on Wednesdays with the guy who invented a couple of Gibson’s pickups, who’s name is escaping me at the moment (I want to say Ren Whal, or something, sorry). I can assure you that they make some amazing guitars on much of the original machinery. As of the past few years, I believe that they moved production out of 225 Parsons St to a more modern facility closer to Battle Creek. I’ve heard a number of different rumors as to what will be done with the Parsons St location like making it a Hard Rock Hotel or something. I miss being able to take those tours. It was great for a big Gibson history guy and player. Those Heritage guitars are no slouches. They have a lot of hands on work done, at least when I saw it in person. I’m glad you finally featured one. Heritage makes the modern versions of the Harmony brand as well.

[@anthonyc1883]

"As of the past few years, I believe that they moved production out of 225 Parsons St to a more modern facility closer to Battle Creek." If the label in the f-hole is to be believed, this brand new 2024 model was built at the 225 Parsons Street factory.

[@SS-gx7tg]

Love Gibson but after I got my first Heritage a while back I was sold. I now have one Gibson left and the proud owner of 8 Heritage guitars. Gibson quality doesnt stack up at all in comparison. Unfortunately the dings on the headstock are likely the result of the dealer who sent this, not Heritage themselves - they'd never send out something like that. I'm a massive Casino fan (my all-time fav model) and this model you've reviewed is easily my favorite, with my 2nd favorite being the Ibanez AM2000H. The "made in USA Epiphone" lags quite a bit in quality behind those 2. Gibson quality is on life support imo

[@f3uibeghardt522]

I've heard a lot of people reporting QC issues with new Heritages, so I doubt it's just the dealer.

[@SS-gx7tg]

@@f3uibeghardt522 lol "I've heard". The internet strikes again. I've owned plenty of Gibsons as well as 8 Heritages and the difference in QC is night and day. Any suggestion to the contrary is pure fantasy. The whole "Heritage QC issues" is a familiar trope amongst Gibson collector trying to cast doubt on competitors to protect their investments, as usual. You should actually give Heritage a try rather than taking unsubstantiated internet tales at face value from biased folks with an obvious agenda.

[@rickfinsta2951]

FYI the headstock, pickguard, and on the LP style guitars the shape of the cutaway, all needed to be changed from original due to Gibson copyright claims.

[@eurodecibel]

Austin, please consider doing a deep dive on Heritage Les Paul style guitars.

[@strawsparky33]

Nah no one wants knockoffs

[@zeppelinboys]

@@strawsparky33 id argue the modern gibsons are the real knockoffs.

[@joermnyc]

One of my first “that’s sexy” guitar photos was a natural finished all flame maple Heritage ES style… they even matched the flame on the pickguard!

[@MilesOlsenMusic]

There’s a restaurant in Kzoo that is completely decorated with old heritage guitars. They also have a ES 175 looking mural made out of failed guitar bodies and tops

[@Trog]

good food?

[@sammelchi]

@@Trog Fantastic food, their “crack” fries are to die for

[@MilesOlsenMusic]

They updated their menu recently and have amazing double burgers as well

[@MilesOlsenMusic]

Hopcat

[@usagi2988]

I've been a Gibson Les Paul player my whole life. I got my first Heritage guitar this year, an H-150 (basically, their Les Paul Standard) Custom Core Gold Top w/ P-90's... and I love it. I'm already looking towards getting a double-humbucker version (they just released their H-157, which is essentially their take on the Les Paul Custom). I will say that the neck is definitely big. Like, not '52 Tele "big" but it's not a modern or slim neck by any means.

[@Who-ry8of]

I have a 535. Great guitar that plays beautifully. Makes you forget that the head stock is different.

[@axesandelbows414]

The Heritage H-530 is a great guitar! I love mine! It's loaded with Lollars and I find myself playing it often. My Heritage guitars are a joy to play; once you start playing them, it's hard to stop. 🎈

[@td7426]

I played a 1987 heritage Les Paul sunburst in 1988. Local store add it listed for 900.00. It was used but mint, no fret wear. I would have bought it I would have bought it but was already paying for gear that I had bought from them. Beautiful guitar for sure and wasn't as heavy as a Les Paul

[@robertmandour5702]

I own a Custom Heritage H150 in Pelham Blue... I've tried about 3 different CS Gibson '59 and none of them have ever compared to my Heritage. Build quality is fantastic and the neck did not come stupidly sticky like the Gibson. As well, pretty sure the custom shop Heritage all come around 8 and a half pounds... I love my Heritage. I couldn't care less about the headstock when what you feel and touch is AMAZING.

[@JamesIanGilliam]

so excited to finally see a heritage on this channel! proud owner of an 87 (first year) h535 and a 94 h550. Wasn't sure if you meant it as a joke, but "Custom Core" obviously has nothing to do with the center block or "core" of the guitar. They have other model guitars in their Custom Core lineup as well.

[@USWNTfan101]

I have a standard H-150 in dirty lemon burst and absolutely love it. Will definitely try for a custom core in the future when the bank account allows for that.

[@martinhiggs7027]

Hey "T" MAN I've never had the opportunity to give any of these guitars a go ! everything I have heard is 100% positive ! your going deeper on this one (right on) thanks you have answered every question for me ! a very beautiful guitar at a great price and made in AMERICA !!!!!!!!!

[@jeffdeboer1679]

I've never understood the hate for the headstock. I think it looks fine. In fact, I kinda like the simplicity of it.

[@JohnGuffey-ho3xc]

I agree.👍. Gibson headstock shapes have varied quite a bit over the years. I have quite a few Gibson guitars from ‘55 to 2008 and I’m kinda partial to my ‘85, ‘97, and ‘98. Heck, I’m really enjoying some REALLY cheap Squier Bullet Hardtail Strats through my Fender HotRod Deluxe. A nice tube amp really helps.

[@csharp57]

Just seems ugly to me. But many think the D’Angelico headstocks are hideous, but I love them 🤷🏾

[@ronaldmay1283]

It’s not the headstock, it’s the truss rod cover 😕

[@ecdubytecdubyt]

So happy you reviewed a Heritage guitar. I've been waiting for this. You're very experienced with Gibson guitars, so it's great hearing your thoughts on Heritage. It's nice seeing what happened in Kalamazoo after Gibson left. Hoping for more content on Heritage from you. Would be cool if you actually visited and did a tour of Heritage to see where a lot of Gibson history was made. Maybe there might be a Heritage wing in your future museum?!? Thank you Trogly!!!

[@bradyneff5654]

i’ve been wanting this for literal years

[@jester92345]

A good friend of mine got a new Heritage back in 2002 similar to this one, but in a gray quilt finish. It was an amazing guitar with tons of versatility.

[@bflo5210]

The headstock was always an issue for me, but after I got my heritage h150 custom shop it really doesn't look as bad in person... I still think they could improve that headstock design but it is what it is

[@cadams1607]

I think people are starting to change their minds around headstock prejudice. So many other brands do it better than the ogs now for better prices.

[@cromBumny]

Play one and you will find you don't care.

[@mrbigg7255]

Gorgeous guitar. Sounds killer.

[@bflo5210]

@@cromBumny yeah I agree! I bought mine and it's a great guitar!

[@bflo5210]

@@cadams1607 I hesitated for quite a while, but I found one I couldn't resist buying last year... honestly in person the headstock looks fine...I never saw one in person until I bought mine

[@zeppelinboys]

I've wanted a Heritage for years! I live in Michigan so it's nice because of the connection there and IMO you're getting a 'real' Gibson. Heritage has all the old machinery and seems to be a company that's not a corporate/shareholders/all about profits over everything else company, which is sadly 99% of companies today. i think it's best to support the "little guy".

[@adamdelarozza1985]

I have the 'Heritage 535' in emeral green. Unplugged, it also has a sound that resonates and you can hear and feel the quality. Good Luck in trying to find another Emerald Green colour because they don't make them anymore.😎

[@mariolafontaine5853]

To my modest ears, the tone is awesome, especially in grind tone. Good good good guitar with big neck which is perfect to my taste.

[@russellsychev3250]

Thank you for bringing the Heritage Guitars to the channel. I'm a big fan of this company and I own the Custom Core H-150 Factory Special in Pelham Blue. I would be really interested to watch your review of the Custom Core H-150 and to hear your opinion on how it compares to R9.

[@flapjack413]

Anyone know if the VOS style finish is something that's applied to the guitar, or if it just isn't taken through as many stages of buffing as the high gloss finishes?

[@kennethwatson4489]

The tonal variations and textures, as well as the tone of this guitar, are really great. Impressed.

[@TELarkin61]

That's the best sounding guitar I've heard on this channel. Very nice!

[@harywidatamawidyatama7163]

Finally.. please make more review videos about Heritage guitars

[@ScottyJohnson17]

I have never seen a Heritage in person. This one looked and sounded fantastic. Tim Pierce had an LP version made for himself. It sounds fantastic as well. I would most definitely love to own one.

[@georgemoore7231]

I am fortunate enough to own a Heritage H-535 guitar in a beautiful tobacco sunburst. It has wonderful Seymour Duncan 59 pickups. I can attest to the fact that my guitar is right up there with the high end Gibsons as far as build quality and tone.

[@musicauthority674]

From what information I have gathered, Heritage guitars are considered high end Gibson guitars. Elixir strings are definitely high end. and the poly wound strings are supposed to lengthen the time between string changes. because the oils and acids from your hands don't soak into the strings. effecting the need for string changes more often. I swear by Elixir strings, but they are expensive. and I only use them on my better guitars. and I use Ernie Ball strings on the rest of my guitars.

[@dylangoldman2310]

Would buy a new Heritage 10/10 times over a new Gibson.

[@thisguy2973]

I have a custom core H150, and it’s such a great guitar, I love it more than my LP Standard.

[@sonijam]

Holy shit, that sounds awesome!

[@MarsHalekGuitar]

I've noodled on Heritage Les Paul style guitars in music stores and never felt like they quite fit my hands. But they still interest me and, I have to say, that one sounded pretty darn amazing!

[@ResidentRob]

My friend has the same guitar with humbuckers and loves it.

[@JKM395]

I love that one. I've been impressed with Heritage every time I've seen one. I'd love to see you check out one of their LPs.

[@lesterksi4521]

Been playing Gibson for a while. Tested a H150 a week ago. I'm sold to that H150. I think people who been playing Gibson knows what I'm talking about.

[@noahninetyone]

Finally! Thanks/congrats Zack (also nice, a custom shop 😎)

[@jerrypalmer3534]

I used to carry these guitars in a store I Managed...They truly are wonderful guitars !!!!

[@ondrejbartak5538]

Please do more of Heritage, really interested in further comparison.

[@MrNatan1000]

I played the h530 3 years ago. Luckily I was able to make a spur of the moment guitar purchase and take it home with me. It was love at first strum. It felt like the guitar had been waiting for me since the 80s - even though it was a newer made model.

[@MyMotherTheCar]

Love it. The sunburst is beautifully done and it sounds tremendous. I've been looking around for a 335, but this just might be my next purchase.

[@marccarter1350]

As a Gibson 330 player I love it. Not sure about the input jack

[@mightyV444]

Austin, you want to mute the low E-string with your left thumb when playing D chords! 😉👍 And that is a really nice guitar indeed! 😍 I remember when Heritage first started appearing in the 80's - and also that the one thing I _didn't_ like about their Les Paul models was the missing poker chip on the switch 😄

[@billwyatt2449]

That put a smile on my face. Thanks

[@Jimbowlcoach]

This sounded fantastic!

[@smc8144]

Wow. That thing looks and sounds gorgeous.

[@jonnyf9049]

i really dig the first bridge sounds you get from it. nice and mellow not as piersing than most p90 i heard

[@csb65536]

The sides on the Heritage 530’s and 535’s are solid maple. And up until I believe 2021 the used real mother of Pearl in their fret inlays.

[@PeterMoore350]

0:33 wow that’s a stunning looking guitar Mr Trogly. Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘

[@bowagner7856]

I have a H-535 aged in Pelham Blue. Unbelievable guitar. I had Gibson custom shop 335 that I sold because it could touch the Heritage.

[@RolandSpecialSauce]

Wow, that thing sounds great!

[@jjulch]

Custom Core references the lineup. It’s a core series of guitars from their custom shop. H535, 150, 530, etc. If you want a tour of the plant, come join us Austin. Aug 2nd is a tour of the plant.

[@PeterMoore350]

1:50 what’s the headstock angle on that compared to normal Gibsons of similar model?

[@explorervango880]

I have an H535 and H575. Heritage is really good.

[@leonwhildenjr4483]

Hi Austin, That Heritage is Beautiful wow! It also sounded good to me,Thank you for sharing 😎👍⭐️🤘🕊🦋🕊🙏✌️🎉🇺🇸

[@spaguy007]

It's got that late 60's early 70's growl I really like that color. Very true to a old gibson.

[@edberrios4168]

I love Heritage Guitars. In fact, I own 3 H150s and 2 H535s. Awesome instruments….

[@CD-gk9ix]

I can live with the narrow ish headstock, but wish they’d do some headstock binding

[@TranceMasterJack]

Free headstock dinging on this one it seems.

[@richardgallo3155]

Do a Heritage Silhouette with the gold mini humbuckers. 🎉🎉🎉 It's awesome...😊

[@hunterprendergast4617]

Beautiful sound and look

[@robbyclark6915]

A Gibson ES 330 is what I learned to play guitar on. A 1961 model that used to belong to my dad and now belongs to me. He had a Bixby tremolo installed on it right after he bought it, and it's still there. It's not very playable right now because it's in desperate need of a fret job. Im getting that done pretty soon and restoring it to form. It's heritage cherry red with the P90s and dot inlays. He also left me a very, VERY, unusual Les Paul that is semi hollow, has cream colored pups that almost lok like P90s themselves but im sure they aren't. It also has a very odd shape and strange electronics for a LP model? Odd guitar.

[@EricMerrow]

Heritage guitars are pretty sweet! I’ve got an H525 that I love but it kinda suffers from having lots of tooling marks all over the fretboard.

[@kiana304]

I like those pickups. Heritage needs to get a publicist you hardly ever hear about them. I wasn’t even sure that they were still in business.

[@frankcarter6427]

they've been in the news a lot recently because they released an import line of £250 les pauls with bolt on necks which seems reckless to me

[@gregputman]

I own a Heritage H-150 Les Paul style guitar with soapbar P-90's. It sounds huge and plays incredible. It slightly beats Gibson for the price, in my opinion.

[@1969Donovan]

They use a down cut router bit so as to not tear out the top of the guitar, that's why it looks that way. This is a very dull bit and should have been changed, I have seen the same problems in Gibson Les Paul carves having dull bits and sloopy pickup routing.

[@babetopaz]

Fantastic taper on those volume pots.

[@blacklion401]

Gorgeous guitar.

[@JimThompson-i3u]

I've never played one but I've only ever heard great things about these guitars. I'd love to try one. For me, I need a little more width on the headstock to keep the proportions looking correct. It's just slightly off visually. Nothing a talented luthier couldn't correct.

[@Impractical_Engineer]

I have had three gibson ES-335 guitars, never bonded with one. I picked up a Heritage H530 artisan aged. Phenomenal guitar with unbelievable response and with the most beautiful musical controllable feedback. Feed back response is really fun and sounds like an old recording.

[@PeterMoore350]

Great review. This guitar is now on my GAS list. 😎🎸🤘 Edit: 21:35 until you mentioned the neck. I like the 60s necks and you already know i have 5 Solar guitars and that i prefer PRS pattern thin necks. Maybe I’ll track down a Gibson thick neck guitar in a local shop and see if im ok with it

[@RRW276]

Very, very nice guitar. Got me thinking about one now…🤔

[@TM-ev2tc]

Have you ever thought about measuring some of the different distances of the pole pieces on different pickups if there are even any differences. Just curious Maybe one day you can do a show on just different pick ups and there different measurements, if there are any

[@victor1jhp]

this guitar sounds perfect

[@Byron_Blue]

Nice guitar!

[@wildbilldurkin1493]

The headstock is based on a 1920's "Snakehead". Every Heritage rings like that unplugged. They're always that good. lol

[@papasmamas1]

I feel so sorry for the guy who was always asking trogly to review the LP version of the Heritage. Trog reviewed a Heritage, but the wrong one.

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

He just wanted a review of his own guitar. He does deserve sympathy. Are you OK?

[@jeffbarnard9246]

Thank you Trogly, are they making any other solid bodies? LP, explorers or v's can you elaborate at a further time thanx.

[@aureliusandthespiral]

I almost got one, but when talking to a sales person, they are just as cnc as Gibson these days. So, I just bought a 70s Gibson custom sunburst instead.

[@SS-gx7tg]

Heritage quality control is vastly superior to Gibson, not even up for debate. How many Heritages have you played?

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Excellent guitar. Sounds full and dynamic.

[@craigthomson3621]

Very nice looking and sounding guitar. If you could get your hands on a Collings LC-30 it would make an interesting comparison.

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Austin! Very nice instrument! Thanks for sharing! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨🌟🎸

[@arustydodge2111]

Truthfully, not weird at all to list the pick up types, Trogs. Heritage has built quite a reputation and following. They’re no t Gibson, they do it their own way, and in many ways, BETTER. Puzzling about the damage on the headstock corners. I’m sure HERITAGE will address that! About time, you featured them! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@JohnGuffey-ho3xc]

In a way, they’re making better Gibsons than Gibson. For a very long time, they were essentially making more true to vintage classics than Gibson with many of the folks who wouldn’t relocate to Nashville when Gibson abandoned Kalamazoo. I still love Gibson guitars, but The Heritage has impressed me from my experience getting to see them work in person. They were a very small operation during the 2 tours I took, only using a small portion of the building making only electric guitars, but very high quality hand made electric solidbodies, semi and full hollowbody guitars in the old Gibson quality way. Great stuff.

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

I would definitely love to give this Heritage a try and I'm no more a hollowbody fan than Austin. I doubt a working guitarist would be bothered by that headstock . That guitar might have a lot of inspiration on tap just waiting for the right player. It would be a shame if it just sat in storage

[@dannyperfect9270]

There are some videos slating Heritage quality. My experience, I ordered a left handed H535, waited nearly 10 months for it, and they got the spec wrong (for example, I ordered rosewood fretboard and they put Ebony on it) They play heavily off the 'old boys from Gibson' but in reality the company has been sold since and in my opinion, no real artisans there anymore

[@greensombrero3641]

looks WOW - waiting on comments from Mark Agnesi!

[@thseed7]

Sounds great, looks great.

[@fearvo]

This was a really good episode thank you

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Looks great to me.

[@ZitherBeast]

No way I can afford this guitar, it's gorgeous, somebody gift me this, Trogly.... LOL

[@DoctorEnigma01]

That thing is a beast!