Special Invitation To New Members
- Thread starter Gitfiddler
- Start date
Thundersteel
Charter Member
IIRC, they started production in 1984, so those instruments received an "A" prefix." However, I don't know how many were produced that year
Gitfiddler
Charter Member
According to the Heritage website (my favorite site of ALL time, by the way!) they state that they were incorporated on April 1, 1985. Gibson left Kalamazoo in September 1984, so if they made their first 'A' series guitars, it would have been within three months of the exodus?! The first H-140 wasn't shown to NAMM until June 1985. Has anyone seen an 'A' series Heritage?
How it all began..
Heritage Guitar Inc. of 225 Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan was incorporated on April 1, 1985. The company is going on 19 years old, it has achieved the status of one of the premier guitar companies in the world today. It is, in many instances, the new guitar line handled by countless vintage shops throughout the world. This indicates it is thought of as the collectible guitar of tomorrow.
The idea to start Heritage Guitar began when the Gibson Guitar Corporation closed its Kalamazoo, Michigan factory in September of 1984 and moved all production to its other plant in Nashville, Tennessee (in operation since 1975). When this took place, some of the employees were asked to move to Nashville. However, since their families had spent many years in Kalamazoo, it made it difficult to uproot and move. Therefore 3 men, Jim Deurloo, Marvin Lamb, and JP Moats, decided to start a guitar manufacturing business. In 1985 when the company was incorporated, 2 other former Gibson Guitar Corporation employees, Bill Paige and Mike Korpak, joined as owners. Mike left the company in 1985.
The founders biggest resource is and was the group of craftsmen they could draw from to begin operations. The owners themselves each had in excess of 25 years of hands on experience in making guitars. To this day each of the owners is directly involved in the manufacturing of each instrument.
Heritage started operations in the oldest of five buildings formerly owned and operated by Gibson Guitar Corporation. That building was completed in 1917 and has been a center for guitar manufacturing ever since. Much of the machinery that Heritage uses today, was purchased from Gibson Guitar Corporation.
The first guitar Heritage introduced was the H-140 solid body single cutaway electric guitar. This model was shown at the NAMM show in June of 1985.
Since that time Heritage has added many instruments. Currently Heritage manufacturers Custom Carved Hollow Body Guitars, Semi Hollow Body Guitars, and Solid Body Guitars. This is to say nothing of the countless number of custom instruments made in each of the groups previously mentioned. Banjos, Mandolins, Flat Tops, and Basses, are no longer being produced because of the demand for the guitars mentioned in the above 3 categories.
Heritage is proud of it's older employees’ with 25 years of average experience and what it has accomplished in 19 years. Heritage is
also training younger luthiers to learn this fine art of craftsmanship.
How it all began..
Heritage Guitar Inc. of 225 Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan was incorporated on April 1, 1985. The company is going on 19 years old, it has achieved the status of one of the premier guitar companies in the world today. It is, in many instances, the new guitar line handled by countless vintage shops throughout the world. This indicates it is thought of as the collectible guitar of tomorrow.
The idea to start Heritage Guitar began when the Gibson Guitar Corporation closed its Kalamazoo, Michigan factory in September of 1984 and moved all production to its other plant in Nashville, Tennessee (in operation since 1975). When this took place, some of the employees were asked to move to Nashville. However, since their families had spent many years in Kalamazoo, it made it difficult to uproot and move. Therefore 3 men, Jim Deurloo, Marvin Lamb, and JP Moats, decided to start a guitar manufacturing business. In 1985 when the company was incorporated, 2 other former Gibson Guitar Corporation employees, Bill Paige and Mike Korpak, joined as owners. Mike left the company in 1985.
The founders biggest resource is and was the group of craftsmen they could draw from to begin operations. The owners themselves each had in excess of 25 years of hands on experience in making guitars. To this day each of the owners is directly involved in the manufacturing of each instrument.
Heritage started operations in the oldest of five buildings formerly owned and operated by Gibson Guitar Corporation. That building was completed in 1917 and has been a center for guitar manufacturing ever since. Much of the machinery that Heritage uses today, was purchased from Gibson Guitar Corporation.
The first guitar Heritage introduced was the H-140 solid body single cutaway electric guitar. This model was shown at the NAMM show in June of 1985.
Since that time Heritage has added many instruments. Currently Heritage manufacturers Custom Carved Hollow Body Guitars, Semi Hollow Body Guitars, and Solid Body Guitars. This is to say nothing of the countless number of custom instruments made in each of the groups previously mentioned. Banjos, Mandolins, Flat Tops, and Basses, are no longer being produced because of the demand for the guitars mentioned in the above 3 categories.
Heritage is proud of it's older employees’ with 25 years of average experience and what it has accomplished in 19 years. Heritage is
also training younger luthiers to learn this fine art of craftsmanship.
Thundersteel
Charter Member
According to my Blue Book of Electric Guitars, "Instruments currently built in Kalamazoo, MI since 1984. The company was incorporated on April 1st, 1985. ... The doors at 225 Parsons Street closed in the fall of 1984. ... Heritage Guitar Inc opened in 1985. ... Serialization started with the letter A in 1984."
brentrocks
Well-known member
Welcome!
Cant Wait to see those Heritages!
brentrocks
Well-known member
i knew that :wink:Brent, there's two of 'em right above your post. Quit speed reading the forum.olice:
i want to see the Gary Moore
Here is Gary Moore #35 of 75 in almond sunburst ;D
And my peronal certificate. When I bought it, the original certificate was missing. So I've sent 3 pictures of my Gary Moore to the guys in Kalamazoo. They signed all 3 pictures. For me, theses pictures are more important than the original certificate
GaryMoore6.jpg
GaryMoore6.jpg_thumb
HeritageGM5.jpg
HeritageGM5.jpg_thumb
Gary Moore Certificate.jpg
Gary Moore Certificate.jpg_thumb
And my peronal certificate. When I bought it, the original certificate was missing. So I've sent 3 pictures of my Gary Moore to the guys in Kalamazoo. They signed all 3 pictures. For me, theses pictures are more important than the original certificate
GaryMoore6.jpg
GaryMoore6.jpg_thumb
HeritageGM5.jpg
HeritageGM5.jpg_thumb
Gary Moore Certificate.jpg
Gary Moore Certificate.jpg_thumb
Attachments
brentrocks
Well-known member
That is sweet dude!!!Here is Gary Moore #35 of 75 in almond sunburst ;D
And my peronal certificate. When I bought it, the original certificate was missing. So I've sent 3 pictures of my Gary Moore to the guys in Kalamazoo. They signed all 3 pictures. For me, theses pictures are more important than the original certificate
i love my Gary Moore!!! #22 of the original run of 75 Burnt Ambers
http://www.heritageownersclub.com/gallery2/d/95-12/IMG_9476.jpg[/img]
http://www.heritageownersclub.com/gallery2/d/87-12/IMG_9470.jpg[/img]
http://www.heritageownersclub.com/gallery2/d/91-12/IMG_9466.jpg[/img]GroovieGuitarGuus
New member
Hello Badaxe...
Welcome as 'Neighbour'... (i'm from Holland...).
Nice Heritage.
Where the Gary Moore guitars original loaded with EMG's???
In which year they were made???
gr. Guus
Welcome as 'Neighbour'... (i'm from Holland...).
Nice Heritage.
Where the Gary Moore guitars original loaded with EMG's???
In which year they were made???
gr. Guus