FredZepp Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 The Heritage catalog shows 33 models — custom-carved hollow body, semi-hollow body, solid body, with or without cutaways — in 21 colors. Yet, over half of the guitars made are custom instruments because, as Jim says, “Those models and colors don’t satisfy everybody. Prince, for example, wanted a purple guitar, so we made one for him.” Another sign of hope is the Heritage guitars being plucked and strummed by celebrity musicians such as Roy Clark, Eric Clapton, Trini Lopez, Henry Johnson, Marcos Loya and popular British Isles performer Gary Moore. Only a few of these are “endorsing artists” who receive guitars for free. “Our company doesn’t have a lot of money to pay a musician to endorse our guitars. And we don’t give them away,” says Vince. “Garth Brooks wanted to be a Heritage endorsing artist, and we turned him down,” Jim adds. “People who have bookoo money are the ones who want us to give them a guitar,” says Marv. “Because they’re big names they think it will be good advertising for us.” “We did give a guitar to Fred Newell — he’s a studio player at the Grand Ole Opry — but so did 40 other manufacturers. They all sat on stage with him, so he might pick up ours to play it or he might not,” Jim says. “But you can tell that the great artists appreciate us because they come to visit us,” says Vince. “Kalamazoo is an out-of-the-way place, so when people of stature come here, it’s not to pick up a check as an endorsing artist because we’re not writing any. They’re here because we build great guitars.” It’s not uncommon for a celebrity in the music business to walk into the Heritage plant and look over the shoulder of the craftsmen there. But lacking, in Vince’s view, is a showcase and history room. “Everyone tells me about the people who showed up here. Jimmy Page, the guitar player for Led Zeppelin — and there are very few of his stature — just showed up one day. And we don’t have a place for him to sit down, pick up a guitar and play it. Our prototypes and extra custom-built guitars, which we made in case something happened to the original, are gathering dust because we don’t have a showroom. We need a place where people who work here can bring their families and friends to see the history of the company. That’s something I’m going to change.” Vince also intends to start taking photos of celebrities with Heritage craftsmen. “Elvis during the Gibson days, B.B. King, Les Paul, Chet Atkins — the huge icons of the music business — have been here. Our guys are reverent of the fact that these celebrities are important in the music industry, but they don’t care to have pictures of themselves hanging around with these famous people. But, to me, to have those pictures is invaluable.” As the four partners carry forward the heritage that Orville Gibson initiated more than a century ago, they do so with pride and passion that Orville would have admired. “We’re the ‘Old Gibson’ people,” says Marv. “We’re the little guys who stayed behind when Gibson went south.” “With our experience and abilities, we could have gone out and got jobs,” J.P. adds, “but we like this work and that’s why we stayed. Even today, I don’t have to be here. I’m here because I want to be.” “This is the cradle,” Vince says. “Orville Gibson started here. Then Heritage started here because J.P., Marv and Jim made a commitment that goes beyond them. And I want to make sure it goes beyond me.” “Exactly,” says Marv. “That’s our heritage.” (quoted from Encore Jan 2008)
mooonpi Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Fred, I love your history lesson posts! Thanks for taking the time.
JohnCovach Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Great stuff. But I think I would have given Garth a guitar.
SouthpawGuy Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Very interesting. Got me wondering what type of guitar was made for Prince ? I noticed a purple Heritage in the gallery, think it was a 155. I wonder ....
FredZepp Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 Great stuff. But I think I would have given Garth a guitar. Yes, that was interesting. If I were to guess.. totally a guess... I'd bet it had to do with the way that they were approached and nothing to do with Garth himself.
heritagefan7 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Thank you Fred...This is so neat and interesting...Makes me wonder about those prototypes and extra customs gathering dust somewhere---would LOVE to have that closet opened up for viewing...would surely grab the checkbook 4 that one!
SouthpawGuy Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Thank you Fred...This is so neat and interesting...Makes me wonder about those prototypes and extra customs gathering dust somewhere---would LOVE to have that closet opened up for viewing...would surely grab the checkbook 4 that one! From the gallery ... http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/index.php?/gallery/image/2450-10-pspiii-the-prototype-rack/
Guest HRB853370 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 The Heritage catalog shows 33 models — custom-carved hollow body, semi-hollow body, solid body, with or without cutaways — in 21 colors. Yet, over half of the guitars made are custom instruments because, as Jim says, “Those models and colors don’t satisfy everybody. Prince, for example, wanted a purple guitar, so we made one for him.” Another sign of hope is the Heritage guitars being plucked and strummed by celebrity musicians such as Roy Clark, Eric Clapton, Trini Lopez, Henry Johnson, Marcos Loya and popular British Isles performer Gary Moore. Only a few of these are “endorsing artists” who receive guitars for free. “Our company doesn’t have a lot of money to pay a musician to endorse our guitars. And we don’t give them away,” says Vince. “Garth Brooks wanted to be a Heritage endorsing artist, and we turned him down,” Jim adds. “People who have bookoo money are the ones who want us to give them a guitar,” says Marv. “Because they’re big names they think it will be good advertising for us.” “We did give a guitar to Fred Newell — he’s a studio player at the Grand Ole Opry — but so did 40 other manufacturers. They all sat on stage with him, so he might pick up ours to play it or he might not,” Jim says. “But you can tell that the great artists appreciate us because they come to visit us,” says Vince. “Kalamazoo is an out-of-the-way place, so when people of stature come here, it’s not to pick up a check as an endorsing artist because we’re not writing any. They’re here because we build great guitars.” It’s not uncommon for a celebrity in the music business to walk into the Heritage plant and look over the shoulder of the craftsmen there. But lacking, in Vince’s view, is a showcase and history room. “Everyone tells me about the people who showed up here. Jimmy Page, the guitar player for Led Zeppelin — and there are very few of his stature — just showed up one day. And we don’t have a place for him to sit down, pick up a guitar and play it. Our prototypes and extra custom-built guitars, which we made in case something happened to the original, are gathering dust because we don’t have a showroom. We need a place where people who work here can bring their families and friends to see the history of the company. That’s something I’m going to change.” Vince also intends to start taking photos of celebrities with Heritage craftsmen. “Elvis during the Gibson days, B.B. King, Les Paul, Chet Atkins — the huge icons of the music business — have been here. Our guys are reverent of the fact that these celebrities are important in the music industry, but they don’t care to have pictures of themselves hanging around with these famous people. But, to me, to have those pictures is invaluable.” As the four partners carry forward the heritage that Orville Gibson initiated more than a century ago, they do so with pride and passion that Orville would have admired. “We’re the ‘Old Gibson’ people,” says Marv. “We’re the little guys who stayed behind when Gibson went south.” “With our experience and abilities, we could have gone out and got jobs,” J.P. adds, “but we like this work and that’s why we stayed. Even today, I don’t have to be here. I’m here because I want to be.” “This is the cradle,” Vince says. “Orville Gibson started here. Then Heritage started here because J.P., Marv and Jim made a commitment that goes beyond them. And I want to make sure it goes beyond me.” “Exactly,” says Marv. “That’s our heritage.” (quoted from Encore Jan 2008) Outstanding Fred!! That was so well composed, and I surely did not know Prince had a custom Heritage made for him. They need to add him to the artists list on their webpage. I hope they do build a history room to showcase what Heritage has done for the last 26 years.
Guest HRB853370 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Great stuff. But I think I would have given Garth a guitar. But think about if every "big name" and "big ego" artist came to Heritage expecting a free guitar. Where would that leave Heritage? Mr. Brooks has the wherewithal to order anything he wants in any configuration. Just like Jim said, you give him a guitar (and so has 40 other manufacturers) what is to say he will play in on stage? I still remember a famous quote from the late great Buddy Rich. A reporter once asked him what his favorite brand of drums were. He quickly replied, "whichever company pays me the most money to play them."
pegleg32 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Very interesting Fred. I sure think Vince is on the right track with the idea of setting up a "playing/history" room. If important industry folks are willing to come visit your plant, it seems to make sense to at least have a place where they can sit for a bit and learn about your product.
FredZepp Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 Very interesting Fred. I sure think Vince is on the right track with the idea of setting up a "playing/history" room. If important industry folks are willing to come visit your plant, it seems to make sense to at least have a place where they can sit for a bit and learn about your product. Yes.. what a day that would be ,... Jimmy Page visiting Parsons St. .... Put a Heritage in his hands, right now !!
DetroitBlues Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Well that explains a lot about Heritage guitars and their endorsees.
NoNameBand Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Based on his position in the Country Music scene, I think I would have gone with Garth Brooks assuming he was going to play it on stage for an agreed upon time or number of shows.
DetroitBlues Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Based on his position in the Country Music scene, I think I would have gone with Garth Brooks assuming he was going to play it on stage for an agreed upon time or number of shows. Then again, Gibson is an archtop/hollowbody and solid body guitar type. I believe Garth was just an acoustic player that strummed every once in awhile on stage.
FredZepp Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 The Heritage catalog shows 33 models — custom-carved hollow body, semi-hollow body, solid body, with or without cutaways — in 21 colors. Yet, over half of the guitars made are custom instruments because, as Jim says, "Those models and colors don't satisfy everybody. Prince, for example, wanted a purple guitar, so we made one for him." Another sign of hope is the Heritage guitars being plucked and strummed by celebrity musicians such as Roy Clark, Eric Clapton, Trini Lopez, Henry Johnson, Marcos Loya and popular British Isles performer Gary Moore. Only a few of these are "endorsing artists" who receive guitars for free. "Our company doesn't have a lot of money to pay a musician to endorse our guitars. And we don't give them away," says Vince. "Garth Brooks wanted to be a Heritage endorsing artist, and we turned him down," Jim adds. "People who have bookoo money are the ones who want us to give them a guitar," says Marv. "Because they're big names they think it will be good advertising for us." "We did give a guitar to Fred Newell — he's a studio player at the Grand Ole Opry — but so did 40 other manufacturers. They all sat on stage with him, so he might pick up ours to play it or he might not," Jim says. "But you can tell that the great artists appreciate us because they come to visit us," says Vince. "Kalamazoo is an out-of-the-way place, so when people of stature come here, it's not to pick up a check as an endorsing artist because we're not writing any. They're here because we build great guitars." It's not uncommon for a celebrity in the music business to walk into the Heritage plant and look over the shoulder of the craftsmen there. But lacking, in Vince's view, is a showcase and history room. "Everyone tells me about the people who showed up here. Jimmy Page, the guitar player for Led Zeppelin — and there are very few of his stature — just showed up one day. And we don't have a place for him to sit down, pick up a guitar and play it. Our prototypes and extra custom-built guitars, which we made in case something happened to the original, are gathering dust because we don't have a showroom. We need a place where people who work here can bring their families and friends to see the history of the company. That's something I'm going to change." Vince also intends to start taking photos of celebrities with Heritage craftsmen. "Elvis during the Gibson days, B.B. King, Les Paul, Chet Atkins — the huge icons of the music business — have been here. Our guys are reverent of the fact that these celebrities are important in the music industry, but they don't care to have pictures of themselves hanging around with these famous people. But, to me, to have those pictures is invaluable." As the four partners carry forward the heritage that Orville Gibson initiated more than a century ago, they do so with pride and passion that Orville would have admired. "We're the 'Old Gibson' people," says Marv. "We're the little guys who stayed behind when Gibson went south." "With our experience and abilities, we could have gone out and got jobs," J.P. adds, "but we like this work and that's why we stayed. Even today, I don't have to be here. I'm here because I want to be." "This is the cradle," Vince says. "Orville Gibson started here. Then Heritage started here because J.P., Marv and Jim made a commitment that goes beyond them. And I want to make sure it goes beyond me." "Exactly," says Marv. "That's our heritage." (quoted from Encore Jan 2008) Yes.... this is a necro post !! I hope that Vince can fulfill this dream of upgrading the prototype room one day...... "Our prototypes and extra custom-built guitars, which we made in case something happened to the original, are gathering dust because we don’t have a showroom. We need a place where people who work here can bring their families and friends to see the history of the company. That’s something I’m going to change.”
pegleg32 Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 "...Gibson went south...." Indeed, Marv! LOL, very good Rob!!
DetroitBlues Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Yes.... this is a necro post !! I hope that Vince can fulfill this dream of upgrading the prototype room one day...... That would be a great fundraiser to do in K-Zoo....
StephenK Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Fred, thank you for your interesting posts. I would be interested in helping Vince and gang if they scheduled some work days on weekends to clean and freshen a room for the purpose of a visitor center. Regards, Stephen
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