High Flying Bird Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 Why does it matter what happens? What if nothing happens. If Heritage closed tomorrow I suspect the core of loyalist, friends - us - will still migrate north late next summer. That's what it is all about. A used Heritage is the best deal on the market. A Marv Lamb built Firebird might grow in value but beside that a good 535 might go for $1400.00. That's the best deal / value you can get on a guitar like a 535. Later this morning the sun will rise again in Kalamazoo. After seeing the inside of 225 Parsons a few times I realize that it isn't the factory but the people. I have shaken too much saw dust out of my shoes in that place. There are better places in Kzoo, where people who feel like family to me, welcome you into their homes. That's the spirit of Heritage Guitars. It's already been established and it will not be ended by the suspected operations of 225 Parsons. Why does it matter?
big bob Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 Bill and I are already planing our next trip. Can't wait to see you Bird!
Kuz Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 It is absolutely about the people, but..... It is also about the guitars and their legacy. One of the previous rumors was the Peavy was going to buy Heritage. What is Peavy's reputation and legacy.... mass produced cheap products. I don't want that for Heritage's legacy or reputation. But again it doesn't matter what I want. Bottom line; whoever buys Heritage is a group of business people. Business's have one goal (same as Jay or anyothers dealer's goal) TO MAKE MONEY. I can't blame them for wanting to make money. But things will have to change. And change is difficult. Name me the last guitar company that was bought out and became successful without sacrificing quality? Hamer gone. Guild gone, Gretsch made overseas. It does matter, what won't change is our friendships and memories!!! Then again, maybe I am full of it and nothing will change!!
jaywolfe Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 It matters to me, my family, employees & customers, Heritage workers, suppliers, the Kalamazoo community, etc. It matters to many and it should. I'm very optimistic and enthused about Heritage's future for the 1'st time in a decade. It's not Peavey, although they are good folks. The guys I met with are as concerned as you guys about change & how this could all turn out. They have the best intentions and move cautiously. Nothing signed as of today, but the Heritage guys seem to believe this will happen. They deserve some reward and some rest. I will report events as they occur. Jay Wolfe
davesultra Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 It is absolutely about the people, but..... It is also about the guitars and their legacy. One of the previous rumors was the Peavy was going to buy Heritage. What is Peavy's reputation and legacy.... mass produced cheap products. I don't want that for Heritage's legacy or reputation. But again it doesn't matter what I want. Bottom line; whoever buys Heritage is a group of business people. Business's have one goal (same as Jay or anyothers dealer's goal) TO MAKE MONEY. I can't blame them for wanting to make money. But things will have to change. And change is difficult. Name me the last guitar company that was bought out and became successful without sacrificing quality? Hamer gone. Guild gone, Gretsch made overseas. It does matter, what won't change is our friendships and memories!!! Then again, maybe I am full of it and nothing will change!! Pretty much a +1 for me on this one.
barrymclark Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 It matters to me, my family, employees & customers, Heritage workers, suppliers, the Kalamazoo community, etc. It matters to many and it should. I'm very optimistic and enthused about Heritage's future for the 1'st time in a decade. It's not Peavey, although they are good folks. The guys I met with are as concerned as you guys about change & how this could all turn out. They have the best intentions and move cautiously. Nothing signed as of today, but the Heritage guys seem to believe this will happen. They deserve some reward and some rest. I will report events as they occur. Jay Wolfe That first few lines. Exactly this. The rest starting with the Peavey line, I am happy to hear. Would not want Peavey in charge here.
skydog52 Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 From what I have been hearing it will be a better company. Some capital behind it with a marketing plan in place. I'm just happy for Marv, Jim, Bill and what turns out to be, JPs children. Marv, Jim and Bill have been walking in that door every morning for a lot of years! The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress. -Charles Kettering
mad dog Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 It matters because the guitars are so good, and are viable choices even in a crowded gear market. It matters to me because I care about really good, really interesting guitars. MD
rwinking Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 "There are two things I hate....when things change and when they don't."
pressure Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 It matters to me because these are the last of the original electric guitar makers. The owners of Heritage were working in the Gibsons factory when the greatest Les Paul's and 335 were created... talk about Heritage! And you can still get a Fab H150 or 535 from these original electric guitar makers in the original factory. I remember when Gibsons came out with the Johnny Smith guitar in 1961, I really wanted one and finally I was able to buy a Johnny Smith guitar from Heritage with Johnny's actual signature on the label, made by the same people that made them in 1961. You can talk to Marv, Bill, Jim and Ren about the way you would like your custom guitar built, they will guide you with your build and that is priceless! If I had been smarter I would have had build discussions with Leo Fender about a Fab Telecaster but I didn't realize how precious these people were until it was too late. pressure says get your orders in and have those build talks with the last of the greatest.
Horace Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 Taking a moment to thank Jay Wolfe for passing along this information so responsibly. I care about the Heritage company and its future and am hoping Jay's enthusiasm is justified over a very long period of time.
Polo Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 Taking a moment to thank Jay Wolfe for passing along this information so responsibly. I care about the Heritage company and its future and am hoping Jay's enthusiasm is justified over a very long period of time. Hello Horace! Did you ever sell that burnt amber H-555 that you had posted last year?
Horace Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 Alas, I did sell it Polo, back in the summer. Hello Horace!Did you ever sell that burnt amber H-555 that you had posted last year?
Polo Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 Alas, I did sell it Polo, back in the summer. Darn, Thx for the rapido response!
Rod Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 I was a surprised to see this thread title here. of all places. Of course it doesn't matter at all in the grand scheme. It's not a cancer research center of an anti-terrorism post. We all too frequently read about big companies laying off thousands at a time. It seems so much more personal and tragic when it's 20, at least when you're not one of the thousands. For the sake of discussion, I'll assume that the owners as well as the employees will be just fine. Their personal finances are none of my business anyway. Taking that concern off the table, maybe it's time. They did what they set out to do, did it their own way, and have created lasting examples and artifacts of their life work. Maybe it'd be better to relax and look back at a job well done, without concern for what someone else will do with what you created. We usually think of the closure of a business as a failure. It's not always. Sometimes it's just the conclusion of a success.
Kuz Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 I was a surprised to see this thread title here. of all places. Of course it doesn't matter at all in the grand scheme. It's not a cancer research center of an anti-terrorism post. We all too frequently read about big companies laying off thousands at a time. It seems so much more personal and tragic when it's 20, at least when you're not one of the thousands. For the sake of discussion, I'll assume that the owners as well as the employees will be just fine. Their personal finances are none of my business anyway. Taking that concern off the table, maybe it's time. They did what they set out to do, did it their own way, and have created lasting examples and artifacts of their life work. Maybe it'd be better to relax and look back at a job well done, without concern for what someone else will do with what you created. We usually think of the closure of a business as a failure. It's not always. Sometimes it's just the conclusion of a success. Best post on this topic so far in my opinion. Well done!!
tsp17 Posted December 24, 2015 Posted December 24, 2015 Great topic and wonderful sentiments being expressed. I think Jay and the Bird captured it so well (and others). It's about the people. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
C9Y Posted December 24, 2015 Posted December 24, 2015 It matters to me because these are the last of the original electric guitar makers. The owners of Heritage were working in the Gibsons factory when the greatest Les Paul's and 335 were created... talk about Heritage! And you can still get a Fab H150 or 535 from these original electric guitar makers in the original factory. I remember when Gibsons came out with the Johnny Smith guitar in 1961, I really wanted one and finally I was able to buy a Johnny Smith guitar from Heritage with Johnny's actual signature on the label, made by the same people that made them in 1961. You can talk to Marv, Bill, Jim and Ren about the way you would like your custom guitar built, they will guide you with your build and that is priceless! If I had been smarter I would have had build discussions with Leo Fender about a Fab Telecaster but I didn't realize how precious these people were until it was too late. pressure says get your orders in and have those build talks with the last of the greatest. Perfectly put. Thanks Richard.
SteveinToulouse Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 It matters to me because these are the last of the original electric guitar makers. The owners of Heritage were working in the Gibsons factory when the greatest Les Paul's and 335 were created... talk about Heritage! And you can still get a Fab H150 or 535 from these original electric guitar makers in the original factory. I remember when Gibsons came out with the Johnny Smith guitar in 1961, I really wanted one and finally I was able to buy a Johnny Smith guitar from Heritage with Johnny's actual signature on the label, made by the same people that made them in 1961. You can talk to Marv, Bill, Jim and Ren about the way you would like your custom guitar built, they will guide you with your build and that is priceless! If I had been smarter I would have had build discussions with Leo Fender about a Fab Telecaster but I didn't realize how precious these people were until it was too late. pressure says get your orders in and have those build talks with the last of the greatest. I chose my H575 as opposed to a Gibson because of the very implicit reasons you have eloquently stated.
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