The Heritage Golden Years

[MartyGrass]

I'm finishing my third LP book, which provides historic perspective on the rise of the Gibson solid body.

 

I wonder if we are in the "golden period" of Heritage. What I've noticed is the consistent superior quality of their guitars. I can't say how far back that goes, but certainly the last few years have been amazing. I have enough experience with their solid bodies to start to generalize.

 

I certainly have handled many more Gibsons, dating mostly from the sixties onward. They have never had the consistent quality I've seen on the recent Heritages.

 

N.B., I'm not saying the older Heritages didn't have the same quality. Some of the ones I've handled are also amazing. Some of the others had wear issues, which is no surprise since they have been heavily used.

 

With my Gibson reading I now wonder if in 50 years, today will be part of the Heritage Golden Years.

[High Flying Bird]

With my Gibson reading I now wonder if in 50 years, today will be part of the Heritage Golden Years.

 

It will be for the person/persons holding my 357, 535 and 475. Especially the 357.

 

Next summer at PSP4 I am going to get a photo of Marv, myself and the Firebird. I am going to laminate the photo and store it inside the control cavity. There's your Golden Age right there.....

[mark555]

I think we are indeed in the golden age of Heritage production. I think that the perception of the golden age will change when the founders of the company who have that Gibson history, eventually retire.

[golferwave]

On Saturday I took delivery of my new H-150 P-90. It's sunsetburst and weighs 8lbs 13oz. It's possibly the most perfect and gorgeous guitar I've held in my hands. Not a flaw to be found anywhere. It rings like a bell and plays like a dream. The golden age of Heritage is here folks. I'll post some pictures this week when I can but if anyone has been thinking about a factory order for that instrument of your dreams then this is the time.

[tulk1]

John (Kuz) has been very vocal about this being the best period in Heritage production. And I have to agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment. My nephew had the first Heritage in the family - a mid-90s H150. Nice guitar. Better than the LPs being produced at that time, for sure. Mine start at '99 and go forward. Without a doubt, my '10 Custom Prospect is the best guitar I've ever had. Plain and simple - the best. Workmanship, feel, sound ... it's all the real deal. Now, if I just had the reserves to order the custom H140 2nd Ed., I'd have my stable of Heritages ......... for now.

[Guest HRB853370]

John (Kuz) has been very vocal about this being the best period in Heritage production. And I have to agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment. My nephew had the first Heritage in the family - a mid-90s H150. Nice guitar. Better than the LPs being produced at that time, for sure. Mine start at '99 and go forward. Without a doubt, my '10 Custom Prospect is the best guitar I've ever had. Plain and simple - the best. Workmanship, feel, sound ... it's all the real deal. Now, if I just had the reserves to order the custom H140 2nd Ed., I'd have my stable of Heritages ......... for now.

 

When I look and play my 04 555 or my 08 575, I just cannot imagine ANYTHING coming close to what these guitar represent. I may be biased and disillusioned with them, but they satisfy my craving totally. I dont think I will be another Heritage for a long while (unless a good deal floats my way)!

[smurph1]

i've had an early ('85 H-140) and a recent (2010 H-535..) Heritage..both were absolutely kickass..The only reason kbp810 has the 140 is because I needed emergency car repairs..So it seems to me, you could make an argument that the entire 25 year history of Heritage has been the "Golden Era" YMMV..

[Patrick]

I think I like the way Kuz phrased it when he said that "they have hit their stride". That sums it up pretty well. To smurf's point, they were building great guitars long before 1984. Their "experience" and the Heritage" of guitar building didn't start for them when The Heritage Guitar Company was founded. It just continued. But, I've known these guys since 1994. I have detected a change in the aura of the company and its people. There is a certain sense of nobility, confidence, guitar building royalty, self assured-ness . . . . I'm trying hard not to say cocky-ness . . . but they KNOW they're damn good. I see that reflected in their work. Part of claiming to be the "Heritage" of the greatness of Gibson Guitars and Orville H. Gibson, is having to live up to the claim. I sense that they feel that they are doing that now, more often and better than they ever have before. I believe that mgoetting is correct. Some will reflect upon this, at some time in the future, as their golden era.

[yoslate]

I think characterizing historical "periods" is something done in retrospect. Larry's an historian; maybe he'll weigh in. I don't think it's our place to bestow a title. That'll happen, maybe, in 2040 or 2050, or beyond, and I'll bet it won't matter at all to me then.... What does matter, now, is that I am fortunate in having four of the finest instruments I have ever owned -- two of which are the finest instruments, and one the finest thing, I have ever owned -- and certainly among the dozen best I have ever played. I have no interest in keeping them "mint" for some "collector" to salivate over, "invest" in, then lock up in some vault, hoping it'll "appreciate." Damned if I don't appreciate all of them now, and keep them all in rotation, each leaving the house for a gig at least once every two weeks. I like to think Marv or Ren, or any of the rest of those good folks on Parsons Street would be just a bit irritated to think that any instrument they'd built wasn't being plugged in, passed around, spanked, bumped, sweated on, and dinged making music! I don't have to fantasize that some day, after I'm barely a memory, some kucklehead will lay down $150K for my Holy Grail or super Super, for me to feel its value now....

[Patrick]

I think characterizing historical "periods" is something done in retrospect. Larry's an historian; maybe he'll weigh in. I don't think it's our place to bestow a title. That'll happen, maybe, in 2040 or 2050, or beyond, and I'll bet it won't matter at all to me then.... What does matter, now, is that I am fortunate in having four of the finest instruments I have ever owned -- two of which are the finest instruments, and one the finest thing, I have ever owned -- and certainly among the dozen best I have ever played. I have no interest in keeping them "mint" for some "collector" to salivate over, "invest" in, then lock up in some vault, hoping it'll "appreciate." Damned if I don't appreciate all of them now, and keep them all in rotation, each leaving the house for a gig at least once every two weeks. I like to think Marv or Ren, or any of the rest of those good folks on Parsons Street would be just a bit irritated to think that any instrument they'd built wasn't being plugged in, passed around, spanked, bumped, sweated on, and dinged making music! I don't have to fantasize that some day, after I'm barely a memory, some kucklehead will lay down $150K for my Holy Grail or super Super, for me to feel its value now....

 

Rob: I think you may have misinterpreted the original sentiment of the OP. I don't think that Mark was equating what he believes will become known to be the golden era of Heritage with an escalation of their value to the goofy values of '50s and '60s Gibsons. (Or, maybe I misinterpreted.) It seems that we were all just commenting on "this is the best stuff they've ever put out" . . so to speak. These guitars will never (in my opinion) appreciate in value to the obscene prices we see on some Gibsons. $300K for an H150? I don't think so. $65K for a 535? I don't think so. Marv and Ren can rest assured that while everyone here seems to want to keep their Heritage guitars clean and pretty, no one's keeping them locked up in a vault. And, you won't have to worry about some knuckle head ever paying $150K for your Holy Grail, or even your super Super. Which, in a way really sucks . . . because from what I've seen of them, they're obviously every bit as good and in some cases better that the guitars that are trading at or above the $150K level. But, that's the "collectibles" market for ya!!

 

It kind of makes me think I might be nuts. With the kind of money I'm dumping into Heritage guitars, I could by one or two highly collectible pieces and be sure of turning a higher profit upon resale. But then, I remind myself . . . . . the joy of ownership. Heritages provide me with the joy of ownership that I seek . . . and intangible that is priceless.

[yoslate]

No, Patrick. I was with the OP, and I agree with you completely. I usually take the opportunity to advocate for the wonderful playability and voices of Heritage guitars and that these instruments should be played, and the absurdity of the vintage market in the last twenty years. That's all; just me editorializing. We're an interesting lot in that we seem to get it at the time these are being built, not in retrospect. We're patronizing the artists to create these pieces, not simply collecting them after the fact of their "collectability" being established by consensus. We're sort of Heritage's answer to the Medici's.... ; )

[TalismanRich]

And, you won't have to worry about some knuckle head ever paying $150K for your Holy Grail, or even your super Super.

 

Of course some knuckle head will pay $150K for it. That's because in 2040, an Indonesian Squire Strat will cost $47K, and a "buck double" at the Burger King will be $100, instead of $1.00.

 

Oh yeah, you'll still be getting your $1200 monthly social security check! Don't spend it all in one place.

[pegleg32]

I'm on board with the "golden years". The older guys are at the peak of their knowledge and skills, and the younger crew has been doing it long enough that they are among the best, and I have the impression that the whole company has tightened up their quality control. When I consider my matched set, I can't think of anybody who would do them any better.

[yoslate]

Of course some knuckle head will pay $150K for it. That's because in 2040, an Indonesian Squire Strat will cost $47K, and a "buck double" at the Burger King will be $100, instead of $1.00.

 

Oh yeah, you'll still be getting your $1200 monthly social security check! Don't spend it all in one place.

 

Cheery thought, Rich, as I close in on retirement....

[smurph1]

Cheery thought, Rich, as I close in on retirement....

yeah..Gives you something to look foreward to, huh?

[big bob]

Golden age, why would you say that..

 

golden age..... Naw

[big bob]

Golden age, why would you say that..

 

golden age..... Naw

golden age .. Ummm

 

well maybe...

[big bob]

golden age .. Ummm

 

well maybe...

 

well ok, .. um .. er.. Yes.. yes..

[pegleg32]

I like your reasoning Lance.

[bebove64]

I think we are indeed in the golden age of Heritage production. I think that the perception of the golden age will change when the founders of the company who have that Gibson history, eventually retire.

<We've been living in the G Y for 25 years, since 1985!

[FredZepp]

So it seems to me, you could make an argument that the entire 25 year history of Heritage has been the "Golden Era"

 

We've been living in the G Y for 25 years, since 1985!

 

These are more of my thinking regarding "golden years".

 

Some things have improved, like we don't see crooked tuners anymore... but there is still an occasional glitch.

 

My heart quickens when I see an '85 or '86 up for sale. I think about these guys in that old building at Parsons St, starting a new and uncertain venture of creating the Heritage Guitar Company.

 

I love the new ones, especially the custom ones that we see here. But I have a warm spot for ones with many years of use on them also.

 

My first Heritage was a '92 H-150CM , and I just love that guitar still today. It may not be perfect, but then again..maybe it is.