Vintage Guitar article

[FredZepp]

Some interesting comments about our Heritage founders....

 

Vintage Guitar 58 V reissue

 

.......Instead, I want to focus on why (in 1981) Gibson made its decision to reissue the string-through V.

 

At this time, Gibson was in its infancy in its endeavor to bring back the classic accuracies of some of its more sacred models. Case in point was the Les Paul Standard. What the Les Paul had degenerated to since its reissue in 1968 was a sin. The fine original features had given way to a hideously large headstock, with a volute and lousy inlay, a sandwiched body, and no recurve whatsoever. The real innovations started at the Kalamazoo plant for two reasons. First, this plant was considered a “soft tool” plant, a place where they could change up tooling as they changed the design, whereas Nashville was a “hard tool” plant that once the tooling, jigs and automation was set, there was no changing it. Secondly, and most important, were the personnel at Kalamazoo. These individuals were, to coin a phrase “Orvilles’ true believers and renegade sons”. The true believers were Jim Deurloo, Marv Lamb and J.P. Moats, and the renegade sons being Tim Shaw and Bruce Bolen. Given the constant roadblocks that Norlin threw at these guys, they had to be part manager, craftsmen and guerrilla fighter, especially in the last years of Norlin’s ownership. Keep in mind these innovations were taking place under heavy fiscal constraints put on them by the “suits” at Norlin.

 

Let me give you an example of one such constraint. In a conversation with Tim Shaw, he told me how he had lobbied Norlin to allow him to buy the proper pickup lead wire so it would be accurate. They refused, citing that the gauge wire he was requesting was a few cents more per pound than what they were using, and wouldn’t allow it. During this same conversation Shaw recounted the story of when they brought Les Paul over to Kalamazoo in 1980 to see the first new and improved prototypes of his namesake, and how he almost broke down and cried at the beauty and accuracy of the new models. These of course went on to be issued as the Les Paul Heritage Series “Standard 80″, “Standard 80 Elite” and, in 1981-85, the “Sunburst ’59 Reissue”. Although not totally authentic to the nth degree, these instruments were a million times better and closer in accuracy to the original ’59 Burst than what were currently being produced. These first instruments, which were researched and developed by these innovators at the Kalamazoo Factory, were definitely the catalyst that brought Gibson to the point of 99% accuracy in their Historical Series of the present day. This, and when the current owners purchased the company from Norlin in 1986.

 

.........

In preparing for this article, the information that I received from Jim Deurloo (Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant manager at the time this V was produced) along with his associates Marv Lamb and J.P. Moats, were very insightful. Two other gentlemen I would like to thank are Bruce Bolen (Gibson’s head of research and development at Kalamazoo at this time) and his associate Tim Shaw. Tim Shaw was especially helpful as his conversations were anecdotal as well as informational.

[NoNameBand]

Nice article Fred. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[koula901]

Yes, it was interesting to read how those guys held to their view of quality.

[golferwave]

Those were certainly challenging times for the guys in Kalamazoo. Thanks for the post!

[tulk1]

I love reading articles like this. Just backs up what we already knew. Reading that, tho', helps drive home the need for our PSPs. There you can talk to these guys, see the passion they STILL have. And if you're lucky, get personal tours by one of them and get the real dirt, straight from them. These guys know guitars, they know the HISTORY of guitar making in our lifetime. Not just their own, but Gibs, Fens, Guild, etc, etc. They were there, They were them. Sorry for going all fanboy, but the history there just gets my heart to racing. And by whatever vicarious means, we get to be part of it. Just too friggin' awesome!

[NoNameBand]

I love reading articles like this. Just backs up what we already knew. Reading that, tho', helps drive home the need for our PSPs. There you can talk to these guys, see the passion they STILL have. And if you're lucky, get personal tours by one of them and get the real dirt, straight from them. These guys know guitars, they know the HISTORY of guitar making in our lifetime. Not just their own, but Gibs, Fens, Guild, etc, etc. They were there, They were them. Sorry for going all fanboy, but the history there just gets my heart to racing. And by whatever vicarious means, we get to be part of it. Just too friggin' awesome!

 

I am completely on board with what you said Tulk1 except One thing, They are Them! Although I understood your point. To your point about PSP though, thats why I say Are instead of Were. We get to hang out, jam, talk and get to know them like living legends. I believe like so many others that have gone, these guys will have quite a legacy. My biggest fear in all of this is that when they are gone, it is over. I hope I am wrong. In the mean time, take advantage of the time we have and get to know them personally. I find it interesting how much we talk and speculate about guitars on this forum and when you talk to the Guys at Heritage, they either know or don't care about whatever we thought may be important to a guitar. Some things are real and some are hype, they seem to know the difference and the stories are great. PSPIV

[Kuz]

I love reading articles like this. Just backs up what we already knew. Reading that, tho', helps drive home the need for our PSPs. There you can talk to these guys, see the passion they STILL have. And if you're lucky, get personal tours by one of them and get the real dirt, straight from them. These guys know guitars, they know the HISTORY of guitar making in our lifetime. Not just their own, but Gibs, Fens, Guild, etc, etc. They were there, They were them. Sorry for going all fanboy, but the history there just gets my heart to racing. And by whatever vicarious means, we get to be part of it. Just too friggin' awesome!

 

No kidding Kenny!!! To think Heritage was THIS CLOSE to being the Fender (USA devision). I have nothing against Fender (especially since they agreed to come to Heritage's side in the law suit) but I am glad the cost of re-tooling to Fender was too expensive. I love my low production Heritages too much!!!

 

And yes it was a cool, "wink & nod" behind the curtain tour!!!