15 March 2024
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1871 instruments with 4937 events. There are a total of 332 instruments in the galleries.
5 February 2022
Corrected a link to a Manual/Wiring Diagram PDF that used to yield a "Page not Found!" error.
24 October 2021
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1787 instruments with 4677 events. There are a total of 332 instruments in the galleries.
7 January 2021
Extended the axe identifier to include the Talon JIIID, that I'd completely forgotten to include originally (apologies ;-). Fixed the Elan I scale length specification.
3 January 2021
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1741 instruments with 4547 events. There are a total of 332 instruments in the galleries.
14 September 2020
The new axe identifier has been made, and fleshed out in the last week or two, thanks to Nils Rijkaart van Cappellen (who did some nice Javascript coding). Give it a try!
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1720 instruments with 4488 events. There are a total of 332 instruments in the galleries.
30 August 2020
Added Yellow Sparkle RR8 J10289; DR-6C C91824 and B91998; unusual DR4 I88006; DR-4 C89129; unusual Talon IV; Elan I D91746. Properly identified special EX-2-like H880015. Thanks to some forensics by Horace Reds, removed DR-6C ?88001 (unknown serial number letter) which was found to be the same as another bass elsewhere in the gallery (C89001 - yes, the "9" was identified wrong). Also added a separate "FTB" category to the forum. Added some more promo material to the Adverts gallery.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1719 instruments with 4485 events. There are a total of 332 instruments in the galleries.
I hope all of you are doing OK, what with Corona and everything. Hang in there and stay healthy.
29 February 2020
Improved the grouping of the Prototypes pages. Corrected a serial number on the EX-2 page. Added a picture of the FTB bass headstock. Updated the Forum software to 3.3.0 (which caused a lot of time-consuming problems, which thankfully got fixed after about two weeks).
Added EX-1 D89161 and EX-2 E89271.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1690 instruments with 4371 events. There are a total of 326 instruments in the galleries.
30 August 2019
Fixed typos on the EX3 and RR7 pages, fixed layout mistake on the Elan II page, changed all external links to https (they have probably no longer worked since the May 2018 update), extended the Advertisements section with more Japanese-style Heartfield materials, added info to the EX1 page, added a page for the newly discovered FTB bass, split various guitar types into their own galleries (RR6/RR7/RR58/RR59 and Talon JIIID), added a new manual (also mentioning the FTB), moved Heartfield clothing to "Accessories" (from "Adverts"). Sorted the Prophecy pages more consistently. Corrected the Japanese colour code descriptions on the Elan pages.
Added Talon II H10944; Talon IIIR L10390; Talon JIIID J10165; Talon IV K10053; DR-4 E88001; DR-6C C89001, C90507, K90551, B91992, B91997, E91756 and G91812; Prophecy II B10360; Elan I A91155, A91195, G91829, J91888 and a Violet Blue Sunburst one (unknown serial, alas); Elan II C91749, D91829, D91832, J91908, K90027 and K91706; Elan III D91800; EX-2 I89525; RR6-like C88029; RR6 Japan type K90338 & J90399; RR7-like guitar with unknown serial; two FTB basses with unknown serial numbers; a very special instrument HE91003; a possible brother of the EX-2 prototype H88018.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1669 instruments with 4313 events. There are a total of 324 instruments in the galleries.
5 January 2019
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1647 instruments with 4246 events.
6 July 2018
Going with the times, a privacy policy was added.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1619 instruments with 4163 events.
23 May 2018
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1615 instruments with 4148 events.
19 May 2018
Changed the whole site to HTTPS.
23 April 2018
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1608 instruments with 4142 events.
14 July 2017
After an unfortunate loss of the original Heartfield Guitars Forum software and content, version 2.0 (unfortunately bereft of registered users and any posts) has been installed.
13 July 2017
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1565 instruments with 3984 events.
5 June 2017
Added a page for instruments adhering to the Fender Japan serial number scheme (so far only Prophecy basses have been spotted).
Current serial numbers total on the site is now 1562 instruments with 3968 events.
26 May 2017
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1535 instruments with 3917 events.
3 January 2015
Added pictures (and Heartfield-related logos in PDF format) to the "Adverts" section.
Added unusual Talon III H11003, DR4C L89501 and E90511, Japan-type RR58 I905xx, and Elan J91851.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1346 instruments with 3238 events.
2 November 2014
Migrated the entire site and forum, now called "Heartfield Guitars", to a newly registered domain - www.heartfield.guitars!
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1332 instruments with 3182 events.
22 September 2014
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1325 instruments with 3146 events.
13 August 2014
Enhanced all the Talon pages with regard to Kahler tremolo info.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1311 instruments with 3109 events.
28 June 2014
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1301 instruments with 3071 events.
19 February 2014
Added DR6C B92039; Talon II H10663 and A10015; Talon III H10871; Elan I J91871; Elan II J91929; Elan III D91787, I91800 and K91788; Prophecy II S002096; RR8 J10302; RR59 G91733. Also added DR-6C A90133, A90134, F89090, I91742 and J91953 (Steve Bailey's basses).
Improved the RR58/RR59 descriptions in the gallery pages. Extended the Advertisements page. Extended the Manuals page with a picture of RR58/RR59 electronics. Updated the DR bass identifier.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1263 instruments with 2940 events. In the galleries you'll find 286 instruments.
18 December 2013
Added Prophecy II S026596. Extended/corrected the "Dating" and "Prophecy" pages.
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1239 instruments with 2852 events. In the galleries you'll find 269 instruments.
15 December 2013
Added Elan I J91833, Elan II J91914, Elan III B91780, RR58 A91848, Japanese RR59 I90506, regular RR59 J90041 (owned by Vinnie Moore), Talon II H10668 and J10146, Talon III F91329 (owned by Vinnie Moore), Talon V H10600, DR-5 J10001 and K90596, and DR-6 K90610 (as well as one without a known serial number). Corrected/extended the descriptions on the Talon III, RR6, RR7, RR58 and RR59 pages. Revised the entire instrument identifier part of the site, including correct identification of the Japanese RR58/59 models (among other improvements). Replaced the EX-1/EX-2 and RR8/RR9 wiring diagrams documents with more extensive ones. Added close-up pictures of RR8/RR9 electronics to the "Manuals" section. All pages have had their first/last date of production updated. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1238 instruments with 2849 events. In the galleries you'll find 268 instruments.
16 July 2013
Granted, yes, a big site update is still long overdue. However there are as yet time constraints which so far basically only allow me to do a serial numbers database update. Quite a few instruments have been added to that, though: Current total is 1196 instruments with 2683 events. I did add a Facebook "Like" thing on the main page.
2 September 2012
Granted, a big site update is long overdue. However there are time constraints which so far only allow me to do a serial numbers database update. Quite a few instruments have been added: Current total is 1104 instruments (a 10% growth in the past year) with 2356 events. Another gallery update is still in the works. Oh yeah, the forum has been updated to phpBB version 3.10.11.
8 March 2012
The previous board got hacked so I have had to bite the bullet and update the entire phpBB installation to the latest version, this being 3.0.10. The previous one was 2.x, so that was a major version change. I do not like change. The migration seems to have gone fine, though. If you have any feature requests, or complaints, feel free to contact me. For now it seems everything is working fine. Yay! Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1046 instruments with 2162 events. Another gallery update is in the works for the relatively near future.
30 December 2011
It's been a while since an update... Added Elan III J92276. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1030 instruments with 2104 events. A healthy and happy 2012 to you!
18 September 2011
Reorganised all non-standard instruments, with corrected descriptions, to a separate "Prototypes" section. Also, changed the description of the RR6 and RR7 models to make a distinction between made-for-Japan and made-for-export types. Also updated some ownership info here and there. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1002 instruments with 2001 events.
14 September 2011
Corrected and enhanced the Elan I/II, EX 3, RR6, RR7 and DR pages (instrument background at the top). Corrected one of the Japanese catalogue picture links. Corrected DR-X/DR-XC differences, descriptions and production details. Put links to instrument history pages under the serial numbers of the RRs, Talons, DRs and Prophecys portrayed in the galleries. Added two more Price Lists and a bunch of relevant Frontline magazine scans to the "Adverts" section. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 1001 (yes, finally broke the barrier!) instruments with 1997 events.
8 September 2011
The eighth anniversary of Heartfield Guitars is celebrated by the addition of some fine DR basses owned by Bob Willocks of Fender, as well as another rather nice Elan II seen at an Ebay auction. Added DR-5 J89021; DR-5C J91963; DR-6C G89507, C90525 & F92217; Elan II K91753. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 998 (unfortunately 2 shy of 1000...) instruments with 1985 events.
13 August 2011
Added Elan I B91752, J91887 and K91758; Elam II I91745, J91945, J91897 and K91765; Elan III A91071; Talon III C91286; DR-5C L89526. Added Talon IV/V pickup info, plus information gleaned from the 1990 Japanese catalogue recently examined to the individual instrument pages. In the "Adverts" section, added scans of the 1990 Japanese catalogue, a whole lot of price lists and some USA-based RR6/RR7 promo pictures. Added a PDF of the full "Who What Why" document, as well as a more general and shorter press release, to the "Background" section. Oh, and a picture of the Fender USA R&D people associated with Heartfield. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data: Current total is 987 (next step: 1000!) instruments with 1947 events.
12 May 2011
Updated photo credits where Al Reader or Raymond Whitlock were concerned. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 950 instruments with 1829 events.
31 March 2011
Updated the "oldest known Talon" spec in the regular Talon gallery. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 938 instruments with 1779 events.
5 March 2011
Corrected the Talon scale lengths, which had so far been taken from the documentation instead of actually measured from guitars. Turns out it's 25.5" instead of 25.1"! Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 928 instruments with 1741 events.
27 February 2011
Added bigger RR9 prototype X88017 pictures. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 927 instruments with 1736 events.
24 February 2011
Added RR9 prototype X88017; EX-2 C89053 and DR4C D92202. Also added better and bigger pictures of the rather übercool Heartfield Talon jacket. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 923 instruments with 1728 events. On our way to 1000 instruments!
31 December 2010
Added "for sale" information to some of the late Al Reader's guitars. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 896 instruments with 1646 events. A great 2011 to all of you!
31 July 2010
Added Elan A91132, Elan II K91770, DR6C F91966, Prophecy III D92121 and RR9 H88131 to the galleries. Extended the "General", "Dating", "Specials", "RR6" and "RR7" sections with more information after my having been in touch with Kazuma Tanabe (Fujigen Oversease Sales Manager). Talon pages have been extended with updated colour codes information. Extended the RR6/7/8/9-related guitar identifier somewhat. Link to Talon replacement pickguard site added. Individual instrument history pages reflect the new information that set-neck and neck-through models (RR58, RR59, all Elans, EX2, Prophecy III and some DRs) were made in the Hirooka (not the Matsumoto) factory. Put links to instrument history pages under the serial numbers of the EXs portrayed in the galleries (Elans and EXs have been done so far, the others will follow in due course). Obviously, also updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 848 instruments with 1460 events.
17 July 2010
Extended the Talon-related guitar identifier somewhat. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 843 instruments with 1443 events. Also fixed some errors and inconsistencies in it. A bigger general site update is forthcoming in the next few weeks, probably.
26 May 2010
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 831 instruments with 1404 events.
26 May 2010
Started putting links to instrument history pages under the serial numbers of the ones portrayed in the galleries (so far only the Elans, the others will follow in due course). Corrected some HTML mistakes in the pages. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 819 instruments with 1362 events.
5 May 2010
Completely overhauled and extended the "Guitar Identifier" part of the site (go ahead and test-drive it!), as well as more improved instrumentent submission/registration pages. Added Elan I E91764, Elan II I91754 & K91768; Elan III A91073; EX 2 E89210; Talon G91016; Talon III H10707; Talon IV G10114; Prophecy II A10322; DR6C B10229 & D91873. Added custom inlay detail picture to Talon III E91258. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 805 instruments with 1316 events.
29 March 2010
Updated an EX-II ownership credit. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 787 instruments with 1254 events.
17 February 2010
Updated an Elan III ownership/photo credit. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 776 instruments with 1202 events.
5 December 2009
Added Elan III D91804 & EX-1 F89009. Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 749 instruments with 1216 events.
9 October 2009
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 736 instruments with 1102 events.
25 May 2009
Updated the serial numbers database and accompanying instrument history data. Current total is 693 instruments with 975 history events. Also, the main serial numbers list now has an indication of the kind of instrument history you can expect after clicking on the serial number (N = None; M = Manufacturing history only; C = Complete history up to what is (hopefully) the current user; B = Basic - anything more than M and less than C).
09 March 2009
Added Elan I B91752 and A91157, as well as EX II J89553, E89248 and E88274. DR5C L89531 finally has its serial number known. The serial numbers database now has 665 entries. The serial numbers database is now also the portal to individual instruments' event (owner and modifications) history. Click on an instrument's serial number to view its known event history.
11 August 2008
Added DR6C D91891; Dr5C with unknown serial number; Talon E10151; RR7 (!) J90313; prophecy III D92158. The serial numbers database has grown by nearly 100 (!) entries to 636.
28 December 2007
Just before the end of the year I had some time left to update the Strat Central site in particular, and of course this, its sister site, Heartfield Guitars! Added DR H90511 & K90520; added Elan II B91824, J91934 & K91779; updated Elan II A91202; added Elan I J91845; added EX 2 E89259; added Talon E10164. The serial numbers database now has 548 entries!
14 October 2007
Added DR6C K90600, Elan 1 A91820, Elan 2 A91171 & C91760, Elan 3 D91806, EX-1 C89046 & G89196; improved pictures of Elan 1 A91043. Corrected some serial numbers that turned out to be incorrect. The serial numbers database has also leapt by nearly 100 across the magic 500 to 518 entries!
7 January 2007
Added Elan J91854 & B91897; DR6C D10371; DR4C I91786; EX-2 H88018 (another prototype!) & G89249 & H89516; and Talon IV K10057. The serial numbers database has also had a tremendous boost of about 50 entries to a new grand total of 429 entries.
10 August 2006
Added Talon B10457 & I14236, Talon I F91425, Talon III H11193, Talon IV L90672, Talon V I10628, Elan (1) J91875, Elan II I91750, EX-1 K89090, EX-2 E89230 and J89534, RR9 I89027, RR58 I91702 and DR-5 A91739. The following instruments have had their pictures enhanced: EX-1 G89185, EX-2 "The Prototype" and E89211 (pictures of the guitar, devastated after Katrina), Talon III F91598 and DR-6C A91719. The 'Advertisements' page has a 1991 Price List (both small and big) and the 1991 Model Brochure added. Last but not least, the serials page has been significantly extended and updated (nearing the 400 entries...).
27 February 2006
Added EX-1 G89185, EX-2 E89217 & H89534, Elan II J91921, Elan III B91858 & I91796, Talon V J10093 and DR-6C H90506. Serials page also significantly extended and updated.
18 December 2005
I merely added some information to the champagne DR and updated the serials page. This'll probably be the last update before Christmas, and possibly before the new year. I'd like to wish all Heartfield enthusiasts and their friends/families all the best for the festive season!
10 December 2005
Added EX-1 F89053, EX-2 E89211, RR58 B91710 and RR59 F92206. Updated pictures of Elan (I) C91726 and added a body detail picture of Elan III A91176. Serials page also updated...now passed the 300 mark!
5 November 2005
Added EX-1 L89059, Elan (I) E91766 and Elan (I) A91055. Serials page also updated.
29 October 2005
Added RR8 I10866, Elan III J92273 and DR-5C E90502. Serials page also updated.
15 October 2005
Added Prophecy II B10326, RR9 I89029 and RR9 K89078. Updated to better pictures of RR9 A10109. Serials page also updated.
27 September 2005
Added DR-5 H89028, Elan II A91191, Elan II E91745, Elan I B91755, Talon V J10088, Talon V D10269 and Talon IIIR K10559. Improved one of the pictures of Talon V J10625. Serials page also updated.
18 September 2005
Added DR-6C ?88001, Elan 1 A91821 & C91726 and Talon V H11276. Serials page also updated.
8 September 2005
Added RR7 C88019, RR9 A10109 and Talon IIIR K10531. Serials page also updated.
30 August 2005
Added Talon I14404, Talon H10701, Talon IV F91855, Elan F89632, EX-2 E89275, Prophecy III J92255 and DR-5 J10988. John Simmons found Jerry Silva's old "Fender by Heartfield" tribute site on the Internet somewhere which I pillaged for some extra serial numbers, some additional details for existing guitars in the galleries, and to add what at the time was Jerry's Elan. Correspondingly, the serial numbers page has been updated. Al Reader sent me photocopies of all Fender Frontline magazine pages that mention Heartfield part numbers so I have added an overview of those to the Advertisements page.
13 August 2005
Added Elan II A91100 and C91754, as well as Prophecy II A10368 and Talon IIIR L10413. I have added improved pictures of RR59 B91729. John Simmons provided pictures of Heartfield swag that have been included in the 'Advertisements' section. Additionally, he supplied me with some Frontline magazines for more accurate Heartfield date and item numbers. Also, as per usual, I updated the serial numbers page. Last but not least I have changed the navigation console. It is now quicker, and doesn't require Java. People complained that it was slow, or sometimes didn't even show at all.
11 July 2005
Apologies for the delay with updates. I've been busy wrapping up the school year and needed to do some DIY stuff around the house. And, obviously, there's my 14-month-old daughter to keep me busy. Be that as it may, I updated the pictures of EX1 I89060 and EX2 I89526. Also I updated the serial numbers page.
26 May 2005
Added RR59 I90008. Updated EX1 L89084, DR4 B91407, Elan I J91877 and Talon V J10144. Updated the serials page.
10 May April 2005
Added Talon IIIR D10316, RR7 (!) A88003, DR-4 B91407 and RR9 G10076. Updated the serials page.
29 April 2005
Added Talon J14508 and Talon IV F91734. Updated the serials page.
19 April 2005
Added DR-5 J89054. Replaced Prophecy III O025643 pictures by better ones. Updated the serials page.
13 April 2005
Added another Vinnie Moore Talon advert, Prophecy III O025643, RR59 I91716, Talon I J10372 and Elan III G91784. Updated the serials page.
7 April 2005
Replaced Elan I A91043 with better pictures. Added RR 58 J91732. Updated the serials page.
3 April 2005
Added Talon III F91598 and Talon IIIR A10377. Updated the serials page.
28 March 2005
Included better pictures for the Prophecy II bass. Updated/corrected the serials page.
21 March 2005
Updated the serials page. It's getting to be pretty extensive already, with nearly 150 instruments listed!
16 March 2005
"Specials" category initiated, with "The Prophet" (A10427) as the only representative for the time being. Also added a Dr-C6 (A91719) and an EX 2 (E89272). Updates the serials page as well. All in all we've reached the "100 instruments" mark!
22 February 2005
Nothing added to the site as such, though I've changed hosts. Serials updated.
18 February 2005
Added RR58 B91724, reworded the "Which RR?" RR identifier. Serials updated.
13 February 2005
Photo credits of Talon I F91516 corrected. Serials updated too.
10 February 2005
Elan II A91198, RR9 D89039, Talon I F91516 and DR-4 J10044 added. Serials updated too.
31 January 2005
Elan III K91786 added, DR-6C D10346 pictures improved. Serials were updated too.
23 January 2005
Talon IV prototype and Elan I A91823 added. Lots of promo stuff and a few reviews added (thanks to John Simmons and Raymond Whitlock). Serial numbers updated.
16 January 2005
Prophecy I added. Serial numbers updated.
4 January 2005
Elan I D91810 added. Serial numbers updated.
2 January 2005
RR8 C89006 added, as well as pictures of the official Heartfield Talon jacket (in the accessories section). As usual, the serial numbers page was updated, too.
1 January 2005
Happy new year to you!
Elan III H91710 has had its headstock detail replaced by a body shot, a typo or two have been fixed, and a Prophecy III bass has been added. The serial numbers page was updated, too.
28 December 2004
Added this 'news' column, updated the serial number page, and added Elan II C91790 and A91137.