Scott Heatley Baritone Electric

There must be something in Canadian water. My love affair with Canadian builders began in the late '80s when my friend and builder extraordinaire, Roger Sadowsky, recommended Linda Manzer for my next acoustic guitar. At that time, great American builders were making their version of traditional flat tops. But I wanted something different, something refreshing, something special. My first of many Manzers was an outstanding guitar with a distinctive and fresh point of view.

My Canadian build journey eventually led me to one of my favorite luthiers, Joe Yanuziello. Another Yanuziello fan, über guitarist Matte Henderson, told me that if I dug Yanuziello's work, I should check out another Canadian builder, Scott Heatley. I eventually did and was blown away. I was so impressed that I reached out to Scott, had a wonderful conversation, and became a dealer that day. His commitment, talent, and passion for excellence are the traits I look for in a builder. And maybe most importantly, he is a great guy with great ideas!

When Scott had the idea of building this baritone electric, I was all in. These lower-pitched guitars are addictive. Once you ground yourself in that sonic territory, you won't want to leave - you want to dwell there.

In the mid '90s, I loaned Pat Metheny my Manzer baritone. After playing it for an hour, he found it so inspiring that he called Linda and ordered one on the spot. Baris can do that to you. They get under your skin; they scratch a creative itch you didn't even know you had.

Every musical nuance you would want from a baritone electric is crafted into Scott Heatley's build. The scale length is perfect, letting the player tune from A-A, B-B, or C-C. The hand-wound pickups capture the complete sonic range with a distinctly clear and beautiful tone. The playability is enviable, perfectly tuned in, and a joy to play. And the craftsmanship, the choice of materials – look at that maple top, the fit and finish, it's all masterfully executed – everything that's part and parcel of a typically terrific Heatley build.

Just pick this bari up, plug it in, and journey to the deep, rich, fertile sonic lands you might not have explored yet. It's here waiting for you. And it's done perfectly.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT HEATLEY GUITARS
Heatley Guitars was founded in 1997 with a very humble loan and a tiny shop. From the beginning the idea was to build high quality guitars in small numbers and it remains that way to this day. The output is kept limited to ensure the quality stays high. Scott Heatley used his years as a tech, before he started building, to hone his setup and fretwork skills. In the '80s he was the guy you brought your Kramer or Jackson to to get the Floyd Rose setup properly. If you had a bunch of parts you wanted made into a guitar, he was the guy to get it done. Initially, he started building to satisfy his own obsession and need for more guitars. He actually started the Heatley Guitars business so he could have more guitars. It took off faster than he thought and after a few years it turned into a full blown shop with a CNC machine and all the toys. Scott builds guitars because he is obsessed with them and loves to build them. It is his art and his passion.