In the guitar market there are countless brands, models, versions and so on. But deep down, it all usually comes down to a handful of sounds and shapes that keep repeating across manufacturers. Even when we try to tweak and vary things to get different voices, the end result usually sounds like a Strat, a Telecaster, an SG, etc.
This time, two guitars from "The Heritage Inc" demand our attention. They are characterized, among other things, by being two Les Paul-style models. They have certain variations compared to that original, but they owe themselves to the legendary guitar that, so many years ago, took the name of guitarist Les Paul. We are therefore dealing with a sound that is quite well defined and delimited. For a guitar to stand out in this field is truly noteworthy, since we are digging in ground that has been more than thoroughly mined. So I can tell you up front that, if you are lucky enough to try one of these, you will discover their main trait: they really nail the sound they represent. But before we dive into dissecting each of our protagonists, let's find out what lies behind "The Heritage Inc" name.
For a bit of history, we have to mention that Gibson, the guitar company everyone knows, had its factory in Kalamazoo. There it manufactured a large part of its production, especially Les Pauls and 335s. As Gibson grew and grew over the years, it found it needed to relocate and, therefore, leave the Kalamazoo factory. At that point, the luthiers working there decided to stay and form their own company, and that is how "The Heritage Inc" was born (many of us remember the cover of Gary Moore's "After the War," showing the headstock of a Heritage). So these are handmade, completely hand-crafted guitars, built the way Gibson used to build them, where each instrument was an individual with its own character.
This time we have the pleasure of dissecting two of the company's models, a Heritage H-150 CM and a Heritage H-150 CM P90. Although both have a practically identical shape, their sound is nothing alike; we will see why. So, without further ado, let's get to know, inside and out, everything these two guitars have to offer.
Preliminaries
Before we start looking piece by piece at what each of these gems contains, I would like to clarify what P-90 or Standard (H-150CM) means, so that from here on we can build the article on solid foundations.
When we say "Standard," we are talking about a Les Paul-type guitar with two double-coil "humbucker" pickups, and when we say P-90, we are talking about a Les Paul-type guitar fitted with two P-90 pickups, which are single coils, but not conventional ones, since they have more output than we are generally used to. So the Standard's sound will be compressed and easy to saturate. The P-90 version, on the other hand, has a much less compressed sound, but in exchange it gives us a lot of dynamic response and therefore helps us get those cleaner tones.
Description
When you open the cases of both guitars, you realize you are looking at two high-quality instruments; you can see that every detail has been taken into account and the finish of both products could not be better. It should also be said that what immediately catches your eye is the headstock shape, which is not the usual one: although it is angled, it is not a wide headstock but rather an "arrow"-type shape. Besides this detail, your eyes will be drawn to the tops of both guitars, since they are simply the best option in a guitar in this range. Plus, they personally match my taste: tops that are not too flashy but where, if you look closely, you can fully see every grain line and how they were selected.
Focusing on the different parts of the guitar, we can note that the neck is built from a single piece of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard, with wide inlays over the conventional frets, and side dots on the frets so they can be seen from above when playing standing up. The frets are jumbo, so they are tall and wide enough to play comfortably and relaxed. Legatos and bends will benefit greatly from these frets. It should be said that, although both guitars have similar neck models, the P-90 has a darker color and is somewhat more hydrated, compared to the Standard's, which is more porous; but you have to admit that, in terms of feel, it is smooth and gives you that sense of being in control to dig in or ease off whenever you want. Both guitars come strung with 10-46 sets, which is standard for this type of guitar. Personally, I recommend 11-52s or even 12s; that is where these two guitars will respond with all the attack and sustain needed. The body is built of mahogany with a maple top. In terms of shape, we can say that one of the most appealing things is that small "belly" on which the pickups and bridge are mounted. It should be noted that both guitars have a fixed Tune-o-matic bridge. The Standard has two Seymour Duncan humbuckers in two cream-colored surrounds that allow them to be mounted; the other has two Lollar P-90 single coils. Both guitars feature a "Bridge – Both – Neck" pickup selector. And, to finish spelling out what a Standard format means, it involves four potentiometers, two for volume and two for tone, one for each pickup.
Going back to the headstock, we have to mention that both have a bone nut, as well as Grover tuners. Here we do have to say that the headstocks are not identical: while the Standard's headstock is shorter and wider, the P-90's headstock is longer and somewhat slimmer. This means that when playing seated, the latter, with more weight in the headstock, is more balanced and easier and more comfortable to play. There is also another important factor to add, and that is the weight of the guitar. They are not exactly light guitars, but it is also true that the sound demands it. Even so, it should be pointed out that the Standard is heavier than its companion, which will of course affect the sound.
Sound
What these two guitars sound like is not really hard to explain, since just by looking at them you realize they are not going to sound like a Telecaster, or a Strat, or anything like that; they are going to sound like a Les Paul. But that is not the secret, nor is that where the punch of these guitars lies; all the magic is in how they deliver that so-characteristic sound. It is in this section that you realize why every detail of these instruments has been looked after, since everything adds up and contributes to the final sound.
We can start with the Heritage H-150CM which, as its name suggests, is perfect as a guitar where the lows and lower-frequency sounds prevail, but it also has very rewarding mids and highs; that is, even though it is a Les Paul sound, deep and with presence, it is not as dark as a Custom. We should mention the long, almost endless sound it gives us thanks to its sustain. But it also has some attack, something that does not usually show up in these guitars. Its double-coil pickups give it a creamy sound, great on the neck pickup, giving us all the grit we need to enjoy every bend and vibrato. The bridge pickup is especially sharp, perfect for coaxing out those thunderous harmonics without losing any body. And the middle position could be described as the most "slap" of them all, since it is the one that gives us the most dynamic range. In short, it is a very balanced guitar, but with a character that is anything but impersonal. Perfect for any guitarist who wants an instrument that, when it sounds, leaves no doubt as to who is playing.
We now have a fairly close idea of the kind of sound these two guitars can deliver. The Heritage P-90 is the perfect candidate for a bluesier sound. But we should also point out its versatility, since it can work for Rock as well as for Jazz/Fusion. The Standard, on the other hand, has a sound more defined toward Rock or Blues/Rock, with that big sound.
Conclusion
If we follow the thread of the whole article, we can more or less tell what conclusion to draw. We have to say that these two guitars are, in my opinion, among the best options we can go for, in terms of build quality, sound quality and value for money. It should be said that, since "The Heritage Inc" is a company where craftsmanship is very much present, we have to try each one carefully before deciding, since every guitar you try will be different from the next, and you need to find the one that best suits your needs. So, if you are thinking about buying a Les Paul-type guitar, don't hesitate to try these options. You will be pleasantly surprised.
