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Got this from a forum member (Big) who has posted on this acquisition when it was a new arrival to him. He's an excellent seller BTW and a very interesting person as well as a true gentleman.
This is the last of the series that Heritage ghost built (#40).
It's cross braced by with a thicker cross than the usual Heritage. The braces are tapered on the edges more than the usual. It's tap tuned, presumably by Aaron Cowles.
It's 3 1/4" deep and 18" wide. It plays very nicely and is pretty loud. I don't think it's been played enough to open up.
I have a Dearmond 1100 in route to put on it with Schatten pots.
I have some Heritage ghost built Gretsches that are similar in some ways but are 3" deep. I'll have to take pics of the bracing to show the differences.
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02-17-2022 02:18 PM
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Here's the pickup on the way.
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Great find play it well!
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Are those stock photos or do you own a George Benson gold record?
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Neither. This is on the wall of a friend.
Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Wow, absolutely gorgeous, Congratulations!
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Congratulations on an epic score to buyer and seller!
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Apex instrument of its class, for sure! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
Also a tip of the hat to the good offices of Big Mike, for his stewardship of this historic piece. Thanks Mike!
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Congrats Mark on adding one of these to your collection.
As you know, I own number 27 of this series (a guitar that was previously owned by esteemed forum members Patrick2 and Max 405) and did some research when I got it.
A few points for this thread:
1. While Heritage founders JP Moats and Marv Lamb built these guitars, the final assembly was done by Ron DeMarino, a friend of John D'Angelicos and also John Lennon's personal luthier.
2. Marty Turman (RIP), the man behind the D'Angelico II replicas told me that he commissioned around 40 guitars in all and that about 15 were New Yorker and Excel replicas and the rest were his other models. Last year a dealer in Florida sold one that was serial number 41, so I am guessing that in actual fact, 41 were made ( or maybe 42 or a few more? Mr. Turman did not keep the records). The first three of these guitars were made by Jim Triggs, the rest were made by Heritage. It was Mr. Turmans concept to build D'Angelico replicas with Gibson quality, so he wanted Gibson's best luthiers to do the building. He ended up having to go with Ex-Gibson luthiers, but he got some of the all time best for sure.
3. Mr. Turman sent JP Moats a genuine D'Angelico New Yorker to use as a template when making these so they differ in some ways from a Heritage Super Eagle, but they used the Heritage Super Eagle forms, so they differ from a true D'Angelico as well.
These are superb guitars and I will be keeping mine for the rest of my days. May your new guitar inspire your playing for many years to come!
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Fantastic! Congratulations Marty! It's great reading the story about the guitar's history and the good people involved in it, both present and past. What a beauty.
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I don't know where it fits in the timeline, however Art Valdez was commissioned to build some DA replicas. I was a long time customer of Art's when he had his shop on Sunset in Hollywood. I recall him having the plans tacked up near his workbench. Digging deep in to memory now this was late 1980's? Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I know of one DA replica Art built is in a display case at Front Porch Music in Bakersfield. It's gathering dust. I ask the owner about selling it and he doesn't seem interested. I've never played it.
I also totally lost track of Art Valdez, I heard he was in a Retirement Community in the SF Valley, however that was long ago and I imagine he has passed away.
He was a fine gentleman and a excellent Flamenco player.
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If you mashup the names D'Angelico and Heritage, I don't know what it spells but I know it is going to sound sweet! Congratulations! What a treasure!
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Art Valdez and later, Michael Lewis built D'Angelico replicas for GHS strings who owned the D'Angelico brand. The D'Angelico II guitars (built by Triggs and Heritage) happened in the early 90's under license from GHS strings (This enterprise happened concurrently with the GHS replica offerings). After the brand was sold to the Ferolito family, other luthiers have made authorized D'Angelico replicas (Gene Baker, Victor Baker and Rick McCurdy). Originally Posted by SierraTango
In the 80's Gibson built at least two D'Angelico replicas, but that arrangement with the then owner of the brand (GHS Strings) is unknown to me.
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I have read the book of the D'Angelicos and Bob Benedetto's book. How much of the best aspects of the finished guitar can be attributed to the choice of woods, how the tops and backs are carved, the bracing, and other aspects of the guitar's creation.
In the end, how much perceivable difference would there be in sound between and Excel and a L-5C, both acoustically?
Where does the wow factor come from?
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It was great having Marty down to the Casa and hanging out and yes a couple of the pictures that are used in this thread were shot in my office where the gold records hang. The wood on that guitar is truly exquisite and the photos do it absolutely no justice whatsoever
Marty got here in the late afternoon and I ordered a Lou Malnattis Pizza a Lou’s salad and we looked over all the Guitar’s and ate / great pizza and shot the shit for hours it was a lot of fun
BigLast edited by Crm114; 02-18-2022 at 12:00 AM.
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Lovely Marty. Well done!
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Mikey…..I am a bit surprised you let that stallion out of the stable.
Congratulations Mark regardless.
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Mike is a fantastic host. We talked for hours. He has a surprising and highly interesting background.
Believe me, his stable is full. There are plenty of amps we didn't even get to.
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Oh, and this was the first time I touched a Campellone. Now I understand what the raving is about. I mean it. They are too good looking to play (almost!).
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Aaron Cowles probably had a hand in the Heritage D'Angelicos and he was behind the first two D'Angelico replicas made by Gibson in the early 80's.
1982 Gibson D'Angelico #2166S, Maple/Spruce
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Maybe this is a silly question, but why is this Gibson replica so small? The lower bout is 16.8”. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
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Ha ha ha Marty’s right guys I really have a full stable here I own five Unity’s five Campellone Specials, .4 Gibson L5’s and countless Heritage guitars and other instruments of interest
And my amplifier collection is nothing to sneeze at either.
BigMike
Originally Posted by Marty Grass
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Chuck, if you scroll through the pictures on the Dream Guitars listing there is a letter from Tom Van House that indicates that the guitar was a replica of Johnny Smith's New Yorker special. Perhaps when Aaron Cowles measured Johnny's guitar, 16.8 was the exact measurement? Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan
When I received #27 of this series, in addition to contacting Marty Turman of D'Angelico II guitars, I also contacted Heritage Dealer Jay Wolfe who at one point owned my guitar (and who told me that he deeply regretted selling it). Jay told me that JP Moats built my guitar, Marv Lamb painted it and Aaron Cowles tap tuned it before it was sent to Ron DeMarino for final assembly. Forum member Max405 (Joe DeNisco) also owned my guitar and during his ownership, he contacted Ron DeMarino's son who told him that Ron and Chris Mirabella (who worked for Ron at the time of the Heritage replicas) both had a hand in the final assembly of these guitars.
So the Heritage D'Angelicos had the hands of five legendary luthiers on them. Three from Kalamazoo (JP Moats, Marv Lamb and Aaron Cowles) and two from New York City (Ron DeMarino and Chris Mirabella). Very special guitars indeed!
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Holy smokes, what a beautiful looking and sounding guitar!!! I have been of the opinion for decades that Johnny Smith's 1955 D'Angelico was the pinnacle of jazz guitar design. Based on the sound of this replica, I still hold that opinion. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I wonder what the pickup is on the replica. Smooth top, no markings, mounted to the pickguard. Sounds great. Kent Armstrong?
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It is indeed a Kent Armstrong pickup. Originally Posted by Cunamara
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