Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

[Wattage]

This is a really sweet guitar that had a lot of stupid little **** done to it. Like drilling unnecessary holes into it for switches that did crappy things to the sound, putting gingerbread pickguards on and trying make the wrong truss rod covers fit it.

I got it from the second owner a couple of years ago who had inherited from the original owner but didn't really want it. I didn't really do anything but leave it at my buddy's shop thinking we'd get around to it in due time. Well I guess it is due time lol.

Nice thing about his shop is the humidity is pretty close to perfect all the time. The guitar responded really well to that. It had a bit of a hump where the neck and body meet and that seems to have all but gone away on it's own in 2 years. I gave it a little tweak of the neck, pulled out all the crappy wiring mods and played the hell out of it the last 2 days dialing it in here and there as I went. I just love it. It's got a one piece mahogany back, original Schaller pups, beautiful figured rosewood board, gorgeous top, 60's taper neck. The one switch left doesn't do anything I just couldn't take 3 holes in the top.

The circle in the top is from a rubber grommet the previous put under the pickguard to stop it from rattling. Yeah no kidding....:smack:

It's hard to tell from a pic but the flame is righteous, very 3D

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

nice looking guitar! too bad its been drilled like that. i hate that mini switch placement but i probably twiddle my knobs more than you do. volume volume tone or ?

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Well that one that I left in doesn't get in the way, it might have been factory it was a different switch and put in differently than the other 2 were.

It had Vol/Vol/Tone w/2 coil splits and a killswitch. You couldn't touch the neck volume without hitting the kill, stupidest thing I could imagine.

I don't understand putting on pickguards to protect the wood when you have to drill holes in it and then hide the beautiful flame top you're trying to protect.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

The mind boggles about those original mods and placement!


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[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Mods shmods; a beauty of a guitar regardless.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

A killswitch on a 2 volume guitar is idiotic. Good for you on getting rid of that crap.

 

[daan]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Can you show the whole guitar? How about the back? I have a couple Hondo's that look just like that (other than the crummy wood they were made of)

 

[Aceman]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Get Zen!

Pull everything except one switch and one volume. Leave the holes empty.

 

[Coma]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Well that one that I left in doesn't get in the way, it might have been factory it was a different switch and put in differently than the other 2 were.

It had Vol/Vol/Tone w/2 coil splits and a killswitch. You couldn't touch the neck volume without hitting the kill, stupidest thing I could imagine.

I don't understand putting on pickguards to protect the wood when you have to drill holes in it and then hide the beautiful flame top you're trying to protect.

I don't understand putting on pickguards period. Esp over a nice flame-top.

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[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

I am with you on that!

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Can you show the whole guitar? How about the back? I have a couple Hondo's that look just like that (other than the crummy wood they were made of)

Sure I'll take some more pics

 

[Detroitblues]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

That is a beauty of a 1st Generation 170....

Couple things...

In that era of Heritage guitars, there used to be a wiring system called VIP or VIP 2. Sort of like a veri-phase system Gibson uses on a ES-355 except with toggle switches.

It is a very common system back in the day when the 170 was one of the top of the line models from Heritage.

So its not exactly extra holes, it was made that way.

Just to confirm, open the control cavity and take a look at the label inside. Usually, there is some marking inside the label.

Now the history review is over, congratulations on a fine Heritage. They have been a long running partner with Seymour Duncan for more than a decade.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Appreciate the insight but it was not from the factory this way. I know the wiring you are referring to. This was originally ordered thru my friend's shop, they were one of the first Heritage dealers.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

More pics

 

[daan]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

That is cool. I dig doublecuts, I didn't know Heritage made them (although I should have) it would be miles better made than the Hondos I have.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

I'm really thinking that I will pull the frets and even out the board, refret, plug the holes and refin.

The body thickness is between LP and SG close to a Jr or Special. The overall size of the body is smaller than any Gibson DC or SG though. Really comforatable guitar to play. I'd like a little more "C" to the neck profile but it's a pretty killer little guitar.

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Wow, I REALLY like that. That board is stunning too.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

No doubt man, I really like that fretboard! Ive never seen one quite like that before, Im jealous!
Looks alot better without the guard too, good choice on that one. Im wondering if someone used this in the studio with the layout like that. My friend's Dad was a Gibson guy when we were young until he got a Heritage, so its was mostly them and the occassional SG here and there.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

The original owner was a big Chet Atkins guy from what I understand, he'd also drilled 2 small holes on the edge for a forearm rest ala Chester

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bringing my '86 H-170CM back into fighting shape

Think that board is cool check this one - it's a late 80's USA Hamer Californian I am working on