chico Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 Hi Heritage lovers, I wanted to say hi, and let you know how happy I am to find this board. A bit about myself: I am 54, live in WI., but grew up in Kalamazoo. In fact, I was born at Bronson Hospital on Oct. 3, 1953, at 2:20pm, less than a mile from the Gibson plant on Parsons (say Happy Birthday)! But like many in Kalamazoo, I never REALLY knew what I had in my midst growing up, in fact, my first guitar was a Fender Jag that I bought in a store on Michigan Ave., 4 or 5 blocks from the Gibby plant! Those calif. guitars were just too cool even for this boy growing up in Gibsonland. Well, I left the area for my career in the early 70s, moved to Kansas City and came back to Kalamazoo only to visit family--my paternal Grandmom lived in Kzoo up till she passed away at 94 a couple years ago! Anyway, the plot thickens... I have a second cousin, Jim Deurloo, who was a half generation ahead of me so I never really knew him growing up. In fact, I was closer to his parents, my Uncle Augie and Aunt Clara, who both passed away just a couple years ago in their 90s in the town they lived in all their lives not too far from Kalamazoo. My Uncle Augie would often times be at my maternal Grandmother's house (my other Grandma) after church on Sundays, and it was a common sight to see him. But, like I said, Jim and his sister were a half generation ahead of me--younger first cousins to my Mom, and I never really knew much about Jim until I became familiar with Heritage Guitars back in the late 80s/early 90s. Imagine how impressed I was to have a cousin who not only worked at the Gibby plant in the heyday, but kept it alive with three other guys when Gibby did the rust belt exit (Kazoo produced many cool products back then--"Direct to you from Kalamazoo" was the slogan when I was growing up). In fact, I have been to the factory numerous times in the interim, and can vividly remember the aroma coming out of the paint booth and the sawdust in the air. I am not close to Jim, and don't have any "inside" info on what is happening now at Heritage. He knows how proud I am of what he's kept alive with his partners, and I don't mean to give the impression that I am clued in to what is going on. I CAN attest that the biggest problem the owners have/had at Heritage is training and keeping the woodworkers that are necessary to build these fine instruments. It takes a very dedicated person years to gain the skills necessary to handbuild the guitars. And the pay isn't that great. Add it all up and it is VERY difficult to keep good people onboard. And as has been mentioned in the threads I've read so far, the guys are starting to get up there in years. I know Jim would rather play golf, LOL. But I trust in the end the guys will make the right decision on the direction of the company. So, let me wrap with, its great to be here, long live The Heritage! It'll be interseting to see what the next chapter is. Ray Peacock aka Chico WI. PS: Used to watch Rendall Wall's Dad on TV with the Green Valley Jambouree back in the 50s...a local TV music show that aired on WKZO TV for years...do a google on 'Rem Wall'-- what a guy he was (and Rendall too!) Heritage guitars owned: **HFT 445 factory reject (sounds absolutely great--Jim got it to me as a replacement for another acoustic I had stolen) the guitar has a cracked neck, but the boys glued it back together again and it's better than before it broke! **H150CMCL in antique sunbust--duncan 59s--its a heavy one from about 2000 **Stat in cherry sunburst--rescued this one from a pawnshop in KC--was really beat up--(some reggae player had it) **Millenium DC in Old Style burst--bought this one from Daves Guitars in LaCrosse, WI. has the HRWs---SWEET... oh, and I have a few products from Corona, CA. in the closet--I DO love my strats and tele even to this day! Rock on guys, Its great to be here.. PS: the pic on my profile is a shot I took of Stevie Ray Vaughn in Davenport, IA., back in '88. He died the next summer.
soybean Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 "Jim Deurloo"… who's that?? Just kidding, Ray. Welcome to the board. A lot of us wish we could have grown up near that factory.
Thundersteel Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 A BIG welcome to the H.O.C.! We hope you enjoy your stay here. Thanks for the story--makes me want to visit the old Gibson plant even more!
clmazza Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 Welcome Ray! Thanks for sharing your story... some great history there! Chuck
Yankeefan01 Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 Welcome to the board Chico. I'm fairly new here but this board seems to be gaining steam and with people like you here, it's sure to get better.
Dick Seacup Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 Welcome to the Club, Chico. That's a great life-story, and pretty cool that you're related to one of 'The Owners.' Seems to me like you should re-acquaint yourself with your long lost cousin...I'll bet he has some great Gibson/Heritage stories to tell!
Yankeefan01 Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 Chico, one quick question. Is your Cousin or the folks at Heritage aware of this board?
chico Posted October 3, 2007 Author Posted October 3, 2007 I don't know if they know about this board, haven't spoke w/Jim in a couple years. I would assume that others close to the situation are aware of this board. there was a Heritage yahoo group that I joined a couple years ago, but there are never any posts there. I would guess that Lane/Jay would know about this board, they have posted here right? Maybe they have communicated with the owners about this board, you have to assume that someone there does know about it.. Having a happy birthday and staring at my Millenium DC with the morning sunlight hitting and highlighting the beautiful old style burst.... chico
golferwave Posted October 4, 2007 Posted October 4, 2007 Welcome Chico and what a life story you have! Since your cousin was the Gibson plant manager in Kalamazoo when they closed you can be proud to know of his professionalism in keeping the morale of the workers at the plant as high as possible during that trying time. We can all relate to the difficulties of keeping dedicated people on staff to keep production rolling. I wish all of the guys the best and hope they can enjoy some retirement AND keep the plant alive. Keep your posts coming! Happy Birthday!
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