Trip to Kalmazoo Heritage Guitars

[Sct13]

Just a quick heads up case anyone is interested, the wife and I went to Heritage Guitars, its the old Gibson Plant in Kalamazoo MI

It was neat to talk with some of the guys who actually built a burst or two.
Most of the machinery are the same machines that built the LP's of old and the building however old was steeped in a historic glaze. I was impressed by their "old way" of doing things. and boy can they build 'em! True craftsmen!

[Big John]

Wrong section for this thread, but Arnold can still party....

[Tim Plains]

They actually have people who have worked there for 50+ years?

[Sct13]

Well, yes and no, they are in transition of training a newer generation to carry the torch. The old guard are retiring, have retired, or are there because its what they do, they show up and do, not every day, just when they can. Because they love what they do. A few who did stay after Gibson left, have passed away, The tour guide (who has been Gibson's and now Heritage PR man) explained a good portion. He was very informative and shared stories. He as a very young man when he started work at Gibson and knew Les Paul, Seth Lover and Ted Mcarty, a few others.

They have a small staff now and produce 5-10 guitars a day.

HE was careful however not to jump into Gibson talk or Burst talk, He focused on Heritage thier contributions and future.

[Malchik]

I'd love a Heritage someday; they look like such great guitars. Sadly, they go for a hefty sum here in Canada, so I keep my eye on the used market.

[KenG]

I was of the understanding only about 5 people stayed on at Heritage after Gibson moved on. One left later that year and 2 or 3 were actually partners/owners (this based on Heritage's own webpage and story). That doesn't leave many original builders from Gibson.
If you read R Lawrence's Les Paul books (especially 1968 -2009 Edition), even when Gibson was running the business out of Kalamazoo they had forgotten how to make an accurate burst from the 50's! Knob position, horn & cutaway, size of body, top carve etc were all way off when vendors like Guitar Trader, NRG & Jimmy Wallace were asking Gibson to build them some to sell.
I still think it would be cool to visit there but wouldn't really harbour any romantic ideas that it's still the old Gibson factory (except of course the location!)

[Sct13]

It was all about the location for me. The Heritage guitars are very nice and well built, they could not build just like Gibson because of copy-write restrictions and they had to retool and design their own line of guitars, they have all the prototypes, (pics later) and the guide said they don't have/use drawings.

It was originally started by 4 employees, and like I said earlier they are all in different stages of retiring or near retiring, they still drop in and do things. There is also a local Lawyer who helped the company through some bad times and he is somehow involved with ownership (not sure of details) as well.

The trip was originally supposed to be Nashville Gibson, but I guess its for "Special" people, VIP's or whatever. We didn't have time to go all the way to Memphis, I am not really interested in laminated presses, So I live in Michigan and she set up Heritage. 2 hrs away... I'm glad my wife set this up. sort of a fathers day thing...not really a romanticized pilgrimage, I didn't mean for it to come off that way.

But it was good, Highly recommend it if your in the area, I would not fly out from LA or New York for a 1 hour tour.

[Guitar 101]

While on travel, I came across Foxes Music store in Falls Church, VA which carries the Heritage LPs. The Heritage workmanship, action and sound are all quite good. I was impressed but it was hard for me to rationalize paying mid $2K for one.

The one thing I really didnot like is the shape of the headstock. It looks out of proportion, too long or somethingness with the LP body shape. May be just me.

[Dino Velvet]

There's a nice Heritage Lp for sale cheap with no PG. Do the Gibson PG's fit ?

[Guitar 101]

Just found the pictures of the Heritage LPs I took when I was at Foxes Music. The headstock looked some what odd but it did sound very nice.

[Guitar 101]

Sorry somehow the image didnot come through. Trying again.

[lunchbox]

Originally Posted by R9.

They actually have people who have worked there for 50+ years?

Yes. Marvin Lamb (since 1956), JP Moats (since 1956) and Jim Deurloo (since 1958) are the three co-owners. I've read that they only come in a couple days a week these days.

[Guitar 101]

I am going to give up if this doesnot load.

[ric381]

^ ^ ^

heritage h-157 in ebony. fine guitar! i love mine.

[Sct13]

yea, wow nice guitars! I would have one but I can't get past those head stocks. But so close to Gibson in construction, high quality for sure. Thanx for sharing.

[rockstar232007]

That's awesome, Vic! When my wife and I went to Chicago (by train), we went right through KL, and right by Heritage. When I saw the factory, and the Gibson smokestack, I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

[Sct13]

Hey I remember the tracks!

It's only a 2 hour drive, I know your local, and if you have kids, the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek is surprisingly pretty awesome! Heritage only does tours on Wednesdays at 1 pm, it is best to call ahead but there is no reservations or formal thing, just show up. My wife set it up for an over night and it didn't cost much. Boy did I eat though, we went to all the good restaurants!