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I was prowling around online at Music Go Round and just happened across this guitar in a random search of their inventory. Called and got addl pics and info on it and that did it for me...as she's a real beauty!
I was told by the MGR Sales Rep that the prior owner was somewhat of a collector and passed away, which resulted in his family liquidating his collection (a few high end Gibson Acoustics - SJ200 Custom, Hummingbird, etc., a Guild Electriic and this Heartfield) at MGR.
I was kind of looking for a used LP and not liking what I was finding in the lower price range; Menace, Faded, Tribute, etc. when I ran across this and thought it looked like a lot of "bang for the buck"...Set Neck with Volute and No Luthier Joint, Ebony Board, Mahogany Body w/a Gorgeous Bound Wild Flame Maple Top, Floyd, OHSC, etc...plus I'm a sucker for anything unique and high quality with a Floyd!
Floyded PRS on a budget??? Previously Owned (but never played) by a recently deceased "collector"...1991 Heartfield Elan III:
Heartfield Elan III
DESCRIPTION: Elan III Guitar
PART NUMBER: 125/131-4200
SERIES: Heartfield Elan Series
NECK: Set Honduras Mahogany Neck w/Sabre Tooth Inlay
BODY: Honduras Mahogany w/Bookmatched Highly Figured Maple Top
FRETBOARD: Bound Ebony
NO. OF FRETS: 22
SCALE LENGTH: 25.1" (637.5mm)
WIDTH AT NUT:
RADIUS: 12" (304.8mm)
HARDWARE: Black
MACHINE HEADS: Black Gotoh Tuners
BRIDGE: Kahler Steeler Double Locking Tremolo
PICKGUARD: None
PICKUPS: 2 Heartfield Humbucking Pickups, 1 Single Coil
PICKUP CONFIGURATION: Humbucker/Single/Humbucker (HSH)
PICKUP SWITCHING: 5 Position Switch
CONTOLS: Master Volume, Master TBX
COLORS: Amber, Sapphire Blue Transparent, Antique Burst, Crimson Tansparent
SOURCE: JAPAN
U.S. MSRP: $1399.99
STATUS: DISCONTINUED
ACCESSORIES: Case, Strap, Cable
INTRODUCED: 1989
DISCONTINUED: 1993
manufactured for Fender by FujiGen in the Hirooka Factory, although I don't see the resemblance to the wafer thin Sabres, maybe the newer S Series.
*** Per the below excerpt from the text of a paper handed out to dealers and wholesalers of Heartfield guitars, probably around 1992/1993 (another part of of the paper mentions Mike Keneally out on tour with Dweezil Zappa, which happened in 1992/1993).
The full paper (including instrument roster, endorsements and list of "us vs. them" comparisons) can be viewed by clicking here. Another press release can be seen at http://www.heartfield-central.com/data/press.pdf (Adobe PDF reader/plugin required for both).
“The Elan Series represents the finest of the guitar building art, with top of the line instruments for the sophisticated guitarist".
"US vs. THEM"
Heartfield Series: Elan
Competitor: Paul Reed Smith
Models Compared: Elan II vs. PRS Custom
MSRP (w/Case): $1,699.99 vs. $1,970.00
I was told by the MGR Sales Rep that the prior owner was somewhat of a collector and passed away, which resulted in his family liquidating his collection (a few high end Gibson Acoustics - SJ200 Custom, Hummingbird, etc., a Guild Electriic and this Heartfield) at MGR.
I was kind of looking for a used LP and not liking what I was finding in the lower price range; Menace, Faded, Tribute, etc. when I ran across this and thought it looked like a lot of "bang for the buck"...Set Neck with Volute and No Luthier Joint, Ebony Board, Mahogany Body w/a Gorgeous Bound Wild Flame Maple Top, Floyd, OHSC, etc...plus I'm a sucker for anything unique and high quality with a Floyd!
Floyded PRS on a budget??? Previously Owned (but never played) by a recently deceased "collector"...1991 Heartfield Elan III:
Heartfield Elan III
DESCRIPTION: Elan III Guitar
PART NUMBER: 125/131-4200
SERIES: Heartfield Elan Series
NECK: Set Honduras Mahogany Neck w/Sabre Tooth Inlay
BODY: Honduras Mahogany w/Bookmatched Highly Figured Maple Top
FRETBOARD: Bound Ebony
NO. OF FRETS: 22
SCALE LENGTH: 25.1" (637.5mm)
WIDTH AT NUT:
RADIUS: 12" (304.8mm)
HARDWARE: Black
MACHINE HEADS: Black Gotoh Tuners
BRIDGE: Kahler Steeler Double Locking Tremolo
PICKGUARD: None
PICKUPS: 2 Heartfield Humbucking Pickups, 1 Single Coil
PICKUP CONFIGURATION: Humbucker/Single/Humbucker (HSH)
PICKUP SWITCHING: 5 Position Switch
CONTOLS: Master Volume, Master TBX
COLORS: Amber, Sapphire Blue Transparent, Antique Burst, Crimson Tansparent
SOURCE: JAPAN
U.S. MSRP: $1399.99
STATUS: DISCONTINUED
ACCESSORIES: Case, Strap, Cable
INTRODUCED: 1989
DISCONTINUED: 1993
manufactured for Fender by FujiGen in the Hirooka Factory, although I don't see the resemblance to the wafer thin Sabres, maybe the newer S Series.
*** Per the below excerpt from the text of a paper handed out to dealers and wholesalers of Heartfield guitars, probably around 1992/1993 (another part of of the paper mentions Mike Keneally out on tour with Dweezil Zappa, which happened in 1992/1993).
The full paper (including instrument roster, endorsements and list of "us vs. them" comparisons) can be viewed by clicking here. Another press release can be seen at http://www.heartfield-central.com/data/press.pdf (Adobe PDF reader/plugin required for both).
“The Elan Series represents the finest of the guitar building art, with top of the line instruments for the sophisticated guitarist".
"US vs. THEM"
Heartfield Series: Elan
Competitor: Paul Reed Smith
Models Compared: Elan II vs. PRS Custom
MSRP (w/Case): $1,699.99 vs. $1,970.00
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