Heritage Amps?

[dmbandtimmy]

I just got back from Colorado and thanks to some great info from this board I checked out Guitar X and National Speaker. Guitar X is a VERY cool store. If you are in Denver make sure you check it out.

Anyway, I cam across this Heritage Liberty amp and really liked it! They had it for 1900 for a 2x12 and Liberty Head. It sounded really sweet so after I got back to my Hotel I looked for reviews, but found very little information. I checked there website and did a search on this forum and still found very little info on the Liberty other than that Paul C helped design Heritage amps. So, I thought I would see if anyone happens to own a Liberty and if so, if they could give me a quick overview and review as I thought it sounded very nice in the store, but I know how that goes sometimes. Thanks!

Also, National speaker had a RC booster (used) that they said they would sell me for $85 and Fralins (New) for $185 a set, pretty decent deals if you ask me.

 

[dmbandtimmy]

Wow! I am surprised that no one really talks about these amps. I was really thinking of buying one. (BUMP)

 

[rooster]

I remember that when I tried out Heritage guitars, I tried one. I was not so impressed, but I'm kinda spoiled by my amp (I built it).

rooster.

 

[MusicGearGuys]

How come I didnt hear from you? My feelings are hurt.
I would have bought you a beer at least.

In all seriousness though, glad you came through.
Gary is a great guy. He is known as the Warrior guy around here.

By the way Rooster, the Heritage guitars and amps are very different instruments.

The amps are great IMHO but there is no long term test yet on quality. But they sound real nice. One of the best clean tones I've heard.

Gregory

 

[rooster]

Originally posted by MusicGearGuys
The amps are great IMHO but there is no long term test yet on quality. But they sound real nice. One of the best clean tones I've heard.

Gregory

I think as far as long-term quality, they oughta be pretty good, as they are Holland amps. I go for the old-school Marshall sound, though, never been turned on by the Fender tone. I still like my amp better, but I did end up getting a Heritage guitar from Jay Wolfe.

rooster.

 

[MusicGearGuys]

Actually the 2 new modela are not really Holland. The are designed by the same guy that makes the Tim pedal.
The are more British now.

The Colonial
A versatile take on a classic 50 watt design. The Colonial uses the same base circuit that has been used in Tweed and Plexi/style amps, but can be setup like a Tweed or a Plexi. The amp allows for EL34’s or 6L6 power tubes. American or English voicing allows for a wide range of tones. >>more

The Briton
Think of a top boost amp with reverb that you could use to play “Little Wing”, by Hendrix... the Briton has classic English style chime with a bit of American warmth. The amplifier features four cathode-biased EL84 tubes at 30 watts and is available as a head or as a combo.

Interesting huh?

Gregory

 

[dmbandtimmy]

Gregory,
You were right about Guitar X! Very cool! I was amazed at the selection of great effects that he had. Gary said that he plays through a Patriot and the other guy that works there said that he uses the Liberty.

They only had the Liberty there to try out, but I was impressed by what I heard. I am looking for a fender type amp that is had built without losing my bank account $1900 seemed expensive, but that included the 2x12 cab and since it is all hand made I am planning on spending around that.

After purchase my amp, the next thing to do is to change out the noiseless fender pickups in my strat for a pair of Fralins or Kinmans. Right now I am leaning toward the Kinman woodstock pluses. I like the idea of a P90 type pickup in the bridge. Anyways, thanks for the reply!

Rooster,
I always wanted to build my own amp. Did you build a kit or from scratch ?

 

[rooster]

Originally posted by dmbandtimmy
Rooster,
I always wanted to build my own amp. Did you build a kit or from scratch ?

I built from scratch. In fact, I've built and sold several of them so far. Virtually everyone who has played through them have either ordered one, or is saving up $$$ to buy one. There are a couple of quirks about them that make them rather unique as far as "bar-gig" combos. All I know is that I'll never be buying another amp, and one of my customers has sold his JCM800 and has his DRRI up for sale right now. The only one he's keeping is his AC15, a fairly nice amp in its own right, and he got it for a MAJOR steal.

rooster.

 

[MusicGearGuys]

My pleasure.
I hope that I helped you and Gary out.

By the way, I am really into the Fender noisless PU's if you want to give them away or sell.

Are they the Hot Noiseless?

Gregory

 

[dmbandtimmy]

Im not sure, i don't think they are the hot noiseless though. They came with my American Deluxe Strat so I doubt it :/

 

[PaulC]

Hey rooster,

The Heritage amps are not Holland amps. They're not built or designed by him. I'm the design guy for Heritage - not Holland. Just wanted to clear that up since it comes up alot... dmb feel free to contact us with any questions about the amps!

Later, PaulC

 

[rooster]

Originally posted by PaulC
Hey rooster,

The Heritage amps are not Holland amps. They're not built or designed by him. I'm the design guy for Heritage - not Holland. Just wanted to clear that up since it comes up alot... dmb feel free to contact us with any questions about the amps!

Later, PaulC

I stand (or, in this case, sit) corrected. I still like mine better, but I'd never be one to put yours in the same class as the mass-produced stuff that M#rshall and Me$a are putting out these days; I just like the way mine sounds better. However, since Jay sells them, I will assume there is a discriminating market for them. Best of luck (but actually, I don't think you need it). Hopefully, you can try one of mine out next time you're at Jay's shop.

rooster.

 

[PaulC]

Hi rooster,

Are you making an amp that Jay stocks? I'm curious which amps of ours you tried. We've got 6 or 7 different ones, and i don't believe Jay has been stocking more than his lobo models and the small jazz voiced amps. I don't think he's had our rock things. The colonial/briton/victory are the amps you need to try. I'm pretty proud of those...

I understand about thinking we were Holland since Jay has that on his site! But in truth it's nothing more than my boss was a biz partner with Holland a couple of years ago. He didn't make them - just sold them. That ended, and he wanted to carry on and brought me in to make his new amps. It's not a big deal really - just don't want people thinking these are holland amps.

Later, Paul

 

[gregory70]

Just wanted to chime in...

I have two Heritage Amps ( the Patriot - 2X12, 6L6, 40 watt - and the Victory - 1X12, 6V6, 20 watt ) and I continue to be amazed at how awesome they sound.

I played an outdoor gig over the weekend with nothing but a Strat, the Timmy, and the Patriot, and I got several comments on how good it sounded. I couldn't have been happier with how it performed - shimmering cleans, great verb, and the Timmy added just the right amount of dirt.

Incidentally, I also brought a second strat and the Victory to the gig because I knew there would be other players in the crowd and we (the band) wanted to encourage participation (it was a blues gig). Anywho, someone came up and played a couple songs with us thru the Victory and I was impressed. That 20 watt, 1X12 Victory really cut thru the mix and kept up with the bigger Patriot, a PA, and a drummer.

I couldn't be happier with my Heritage amps.

 

[r9player]

Never got to try Heritage amps, but I am a big Holland amp fan.
If you don't mind buying used, you can get some of the most mind blowing Fender sound and beyond from a Holland.
My fav is the Brentwood. (Holland is out of business but some of his stuff roams consistently around Ebay.)

 

[rooster]

Originally posted by PaulC
Hi rooster,

Are you making an amp that Jay stocks? I'm curious which amps of ours you tried. We've got 6 or 7 different ones, and i don't believe Jay has been stocking more than his lobo models and the small jazz voiced amps. I don't think he's had our rock things. The colonial/briton/victory are the amps you need to try. I'm pretty proud of those...

I understand about thinking we were Holland since Jay has that on his site! But in truth it's nothing more than my boss was a biz partner with Holland a couple of years ago. He didn't make them - just sold them. That ended, and he wanted to carry on and brought me in to make his new amps. It's not a big deal really - just don't want people thinking these are holland amps.

Later, Paul

Don't know which one it was; I tried it out in Mesa AZ at a little "mall" piano shop that was the only Heritage dealer in town. Unfortunately, they have no idea how to sell these amps or guitars; the H150CM was priced at $2495, and the factory list was only $1600 (as quoted by the Heritage co. themselves). This is why I went through Jay. I also think that you could do worse than being mistaken for Holland amps . They have a nice reputation. If I get a chance to try your English voiced amps, I'll plug in. Just no time right now, as I build EVERYTHING on my amps from punching the chassis, to building the eyelet boards, to building the cabs and covering them. Chief cook and bottle washer, but it's very emotionally satisfying, kicking the crap out of Marshall's current products at a lower price than theirs. I imagine that's why you do it, too.

rooster.

 

[dmbandtimmy]

Paul C,
Thanks, I will definitely give you guys a call. Guitar X had The Colonial and I really wanted to try it out, but somebody was already about to start testing it out. However, the Liberty sounded great! I liked going from fender blackface to a tweed sound!

I really liked the feature of having a switch to go from American to British voicing, VERY cool!

 

[PaulC]

Rooster,

We have the chassis made at a local machine shop, but like you we hand make everything else - we punch are own boards, and make our own cabs etc... but I'm not worried about kicking the crap out of other amps. I'm more into trying to fill the needs of players.

As for being mistaken for Holland I DON"T think you could do worse. These amps are things I've been messing with for years, and built to my standards (and Pete the cab makers, and Val and Shawn the other builders). I think they stand own their own, and would like them to be judged as such.

But I'm not going to say I like our amps better than Hollands. I think that being the design guy for Heritage it would be in poor taste to come out and say I like our stuff better than his on a public forum. A remark like that is nothing more than a cheap sales pitch coming from me, and I know that the lords of the gear page are really down on that stuff.

Btw what's the name of your amp co? I'll ask Jay about them.

Later, PaulC
Heritage amps

 

[MusicGearGuys]

Paul, your work is amazing!
I prefer it to Holland amps.

I here your nice too.

Gregory

 

[Jollyb]

Originally posted by gregory70
Just wanted to chime in...

I have two Heritage Amps ( the Patriot - 2X12, 6L6, 40 watt - and the Victory - 1X12, 6V6, 20 watt ) and I continue to be amazed at how awesome they sound.

I played an outdoor gig over the weekend with nothing but a Strat, the Timmy, and the Patriot, and I got several comments on how good it sounded. I couldn't have been happier with how it performed - shimmering cleans, great verb, and the Timmy added just the right amount of dirt.

Incidentally, I also brought a second strat and the Victory to the gig because I knew there would be other players in the crowd and we (the band) wanted to encourage participation (it was a blues gig). Anywho, someone came up and played a couple songs with us thru the Victory and I was impressed. That 20 watt, 1X12 Victory really cut thru the mix and kept up with the bigger Patriot, a PA, and a drummer.

I couldn't be happier with my Heritage amps.

can you get a Patriot in a 2 x 12 head/cab instead of a combo?