Heritage Class of '59 Les Paul Models
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Every Heritage Class of '59 Has a Korina Back and Neck
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Class of 59 Specifications |
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| Top | Solid Highly Figured Curly Maple |
| Back | Solid Premium Korina |
| Body Thickness | 2" |
| Scale | 24 3/4 |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood, Pau Ferro, Ebony or Morado |
| Neck | 3 piece Quartersawn Korina |
| Inlays | Crowns in real Mother of Pearl, |
| Binding | Bound Body, Bound Neck, Bound Headstock |
| Neck Size at Nut | 1 & 11/16th |
| Headstock Veneer | Ebony |
| Headstock Pitch | 17 Degree Pitch |
| Cutaway Type | Florentine |
| Pickups | Double Humbuckers Seymour Duncan Black/Backs TM |
| Pickguard | Included but Not Mounted |
| Bridge Type | Tune-O-Matic |
| Tuners | Grover Imperials |
| Hardware | Chrome |
| Controls | 2 Tone and 2 Volume |
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| T26704 |
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Korina Back, Exceptionally Light, Beautiful Flamed Top, Grover Imperials, Seymour Duncan Black Backs, Real Mother of Pearl Inlay, SunBurst |
| S11105 |
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Korina Back, Gorgeous Top, Grover Imperials, Seymour Duncan Black Backs, Real Mother of Pearl Inlay, Blue Burst |
Comparison
PRS, Gibson, Heritage
These are all facts, and facts don't lie. I invite any dispute and I will publish all rebuttals as long as they are based in truth.
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Appointments |
PRS Singlecut 10 top Birds |
Gibson 59 Reissue |
Heritage Class of 59 |
| How Many Frets | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Quality of Construction | 10 | 08 | 10 |
| Body Binding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Neck Binding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Headstock Binding | No | No | Yes |
| Tuners | Kluson Imported | Kluson Imported | Grover Imperials |
| Pickups | PRS | Gibson | Duncan or Your Choice |
| Brazilian Rosewood | No | No | Yes |
| Bridge Adjustability | Unsatisfactory | Excellent | Excellent |
| Tone Pros Bridge | No | No | 2003 up No Charge |
| Topwood | Maple | Maple | Maple |
| Neckwood | Mahogany | Mahogany | Korina |
| Body Wood | Mahogany | Mahogany | Korina |
| Color Choices | 32 | 1 | 45 |
| Ebony Fingerboard | No | No | Yes no extra charge |
| Fretwork | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Inlays | Bird Outlines | Crowns (Fake) | Crowns (Real) |
| Inlay Material | Man Made Abalam | Plastic | Mother of Pearl |
| Custom Inlays | No | No | Yes |
| Pickup Covers | Chrome | Nickel | Optional |
| Gold Hardware | Yes $320.00 | No | Yes $90.00 |
| Neck Sizes | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Pickguard | No | Yes | Optional |
| Finishwork | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Quality of Case | 10 | 10 (except shroud) | 10 |
| List Price | $3,830.00 | $9,000.00 or higher | $4,800.00 |
| Street Price | $2,900.00 | $6,000.00 | $2,900.00 to $3,500.00 |
The Heritage is the Clear Winner
The Heritage is easily the winner, plus if you have any problems there are still real humans at Heritage. When I called Gibson as a consumer, (after being shuffled around from one person to another for 22 minutes) I could barely get anyone to give me a list price on their 59 reissue. They said they would mail me a brochure & price list. I am still waiting and it's been about 2 weeks since I called.
Letter from a Player Who Purchased a "Class of 59" Used
Dear Mr. Roman,
I recently purchased a used Heritage Class of 59 guitar without knowing much about it or the Heritage company based on the quality, look and feel of the instrument. I knew by looking that it was something special based on the top and the Korina wood and the price was right.
After some research on your website and with the people at Heritage (great people!), I learned the story about the limited issue of these guitars, the materials, etc. All the Harmony Central review raved about them and I couldn't agree more. When I got the guitar, someone had put Dimarzio pickups in which I felt were a little unclear, and was my only issue with the it.
I called your shop in CT, which was a nice surprise since I live in CT as well. They were just super! The guy there spent a few minutes explaining some things about the guitar and sold me a set of the Duncan Black/Backs that had originally come with it. I installed them last night and wow, the whole sound just came alive - clear as a bell and kicking ass.
I couldn't be more happier with this guitar and I am now 100% over the "have to have a genuine Gibson Les Paul" thing I couldn't seem to shake for the last 20 years.
The Heritage 59 is simply the best feeling, playing sounding and looking (I have the Blue Burst) Les Paul I have ever had.
Thanks for your commissioning of this line. Sorry I didn't buy directly from you (probably couldn't have afforded it new anyway). I know you are a businessman but some things can transcend simple buying and selling and this guitar is one of them.
Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season.
Regards,
Greg Gioia
Rocky Hill, CT