hinesarchtop Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Hello all, I wanted to share my Heritage/Namm experience with the new ownership team as well as the guitars that we all hold in such high regard. There really is some good energy flowing. Archie threw a fantastic party Thursday night that featured Heritage artists performing at the Ruth Chris in Anaheim that was off the hook. Steph Johnson started things out playing her H530 through a Kenny Burrell amp. If you haven't heard her yet you should look her up. She's jazzy/funky/super groovy and sings so soulfully. There is a very organic vibe about her that makes her very believable. Another personal highlight was meeting our very own Guy....who by the way, is a blast to hang out with and a certifiable Heritage nut. Next up was Mimi Fox whom I hadn't heard live in many years. She really is on top of her game......she's deep. J.L. Fulks played the last set laying down his blues groove with his red H535 which I believe is the same one used in the new Heritage video. He's a great guy and a very tasty player. I had the pleasure of hanging out with him and my great friend Pete Farmer on Saturday night. It's good to see some young blood representing Heritage guitars. Meeting and speaking with Jim Duerloo was a blessing. He allowed me to pick his brain about wood, building techniques, and history. He's a wealth of knowledge. A real gem. The Heritage booth at Namm was buzzing all weekend and had David Becker, Henry Johnson, Jeff Mcglaughlin, Steph Johnson, and J.L Fulks rotating demonstration duties. There also were some impromptu jams that were memorable. Kyle and Ron from marketing where very busy with current and prospective dealers. Archie and Victoria were also working hard. Pete Farmer, who holds the title of production supervisor was working his tail off greeting all who passed through, and shared his deep passion and knowledge of all things Heritage. They/we are very fortunate that they have people like him working so hard to carry the torch into their future. He's a talented Luthier for sure. I have no issue with the price change, and understand why it needed to happen. There is a whole bunch of dough being pumped into this company that should only help with overall quality and production times. It's been many years since there was any increase. Correct me if wrong, but if I recall correctly, in the early 90's they would increase around 6% per year. We should all support team Heritage and help promote them through this change. In summary, I left Namm feeling very good about the future of Heritage guitar and confident that the new team sincerely cares about preserving the soul while enhancing where needed. Pics to follow.
ElNumero Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 What a great thread! Glad you are enjoying the experience, I can only imagine! JL is a friend of mine (from Greenville SC) and a hardworking an dedicated player. Glad you got to hang with him!
PunkKitty Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Thanks for the update. It sounds like Archie is still trying to keep prices reasonable while still delivering a semi custom shop quality product. I fully support that. I'd like to see more American companies do that.
FredZepp Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Thanks for the NAMM review.. knowing the people involved the results were as positive as anticipated. So many good things now going on at the plant and with the company... so glad the next phase of the company is working out this way.
bolero Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 Hey Gary, thanks for the update! good to hear, and good to hear from you looking forward to pics
hinesarchtop Posted January 29, 2017 Author Posted January 29, 2017 Thanks Chris, Here is a pic of the great Henry Johnson playing a very fine example of a super eagle in trans cherry finish. To the left is heritage endorser David Becker, and to the right is a cool dude I met named Jacques Lesure.
TalismanRich Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 I saw that picture and thought.. Wouldn't it be funny if three guys like that picked up their guitars and start playing Stairway to Heaven in the middle of Namm?
ElNumero Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 Cool pics. I need to get up with David Becker, really not familiar with him. Too bad Alex Skolnik is no longer a Heritage endorser, he would have been cool to be at NAMM with all his own jazz licks!
FredZepp Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 Cool pics. I need to get up with David Becker, really not familiar with him. Too bad Alex Skolnik is no longer a Heritage endorser, he would have been cool to be at NAMM with all his own jazz licks! Here's something cool and a bit different from David Becker.... it's really great to see he work all of these different tones from his signature Heritage..
bolero Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 hey Fred, that was pretty neat! the looped stuff started to sound like a sequenced synth to my ears, once he started playing over it I liked the sitar effect he got as well LETS ALL RUSH DOWN TO THE PARTICULAR STORE HE GOT THAT CARD FROM.....it's the only way to really nail that tone!!
bolero Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 I saw that picture and thought.. Wouldn't it be funny if three guys like that picked up their guitars and start playing Stairway to Heaven in the middle of Namm? ..or WILD THING
Yooper Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Hey, Becker stole that from the Johnny Cash "Dollar in the Strings Trick".
RhoadsScholar Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Great to see Heritage is alive and well. I aquired two heritage guitars ever since the last HOC (Another Millie and a h535). Great stuff coming out of Parsons Street these days.
Mikenov Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 I got the chance to play a few of the guitars at the Heritage booth. I will say, they were the best axes I played the entire weekend. In particular the prospect they had was really something else. I checking into the Reverand booth, Ernie Ball, Fender, Gibson, and D'angelico (they had some first rate talent playing that stage all weekend including Robert Randolph playing his Peavey lap steel ). The best fit and finish was at heritage for sure.
Hfan Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 I got the chance to play a few of the guitars at the Heritage booth. I will say, they were the best axes I played the entire weekend. In particular the prospect they had was really something else. I checking into the Reverand booth, Ernie Ball, Fender, Gibson, and D'angelico (they had some first rate talent playing that stage all weekend including Robert Randolph playing his Peavey lap steel ). The best fit and finish was at heritage for sure. Good to hear that.
hinesarchtop Posted February 9, 2017 Author Posted February 9, 2017 Here's a pic from the Heritage party that Archie threw. From left to right ...Author Robb Lawrence, Me, Pete Farmer, Archie, Jim Duerloo.
FranzMohamitz Posted February 13, 2017 Posted February 13, 2017 Great post! We should all support team Heritage and help promote them through this change." This is something that I see as a major deficiency within both the company and it's current supporters. What I mean to say is that outside of this particular forum the Heritage brand seems to get very little chatter within other music or guitar websites, publications or social media platforms. The new owners should really consider marketing to the younger players who frequently interact and more importantly post within those particular social realms.....maybe even provide an incentive or a referral program like many other non-musical instrument company's do. Maybe something like $50 off your next new Heritage guitar for every referral received. While I already own a few wonderful Heritage guitars that I bought used I'm beginning to think that buying a new guitar and then shouting from the mountain tops outside the HOC would be the best and most effective way to actually support this new generation of Heritage Guitar Inc Now I need to put my money where my mouth is and buy that new H155M from Wolfe's guitar that has been costing me sleep!
bolero Posted February 14, 2017 Posted February 14, 2017 that is a great pic! I may have to buy a new Heritage guitar, to support these guys. Although it's a drag our Canadian peso so low, vs the USD....it was at par, a few years ago!
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