FranzMohamitz Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 A grass roots Heritage Guitar campaign. Has anyone here at the HOC ever attempted to organize a grass roots effort specifically designed to help bring Heritage Guitars of Kalamazoo more attention than they currently receiving? I suppose I should just say help increase NEW guitar sales instead of attention but I can't imagine more of either would hurt such a small company. It seems to me that if the "Heritage fanatics" here were to consistently post the pics and accolades about the amazing guitars and people of 225 that I see here on other guitar forums, facebook pages and or just any Heritage guitar related comment section for even a month that a considerable amount of potential customers could be reached. I do see a few of the same screen names here on other sites but it's literally a few. Just seems very strange to me that outside of the this forum the Heritage brand still seems to be simply viewed as a wonderfully valued alternative to Gibson. Beyond that old nugget, there is a very limited amount of buzz going on out there. Is the lack of buzz a generational thing?? Meaning that the majority of "Heritage fanatics" are older in age and less likely to interact online as much as the younger guitar players. Just food for thought. Long Live Heritage Guitars. Your friend, Franz Mohamitz
Yooper Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 Excellent suggestion! I predict a "Let's See Your Heritage" thread coming soon at TGP.
TalismanRich Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 Its not a bad idea. We are preaching to the choir a bit here on the HOC, but be prepared for the "I can't stand the headstock" posts to follow. There are some out there who can't stomach anything but a "real Gibson".
Yooper Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 Its not a bad idea. We are preaching to the choir a bit here on the HOC, but be prepared for the "I can't stand the headstock" posts to follow. There are some out there who can't stomach anything but a "real Gibson". That's OK. We just tell them, "Heritage can't stand YOUR headstock, either. And REAL players love Heritage." Then we dare them to compare.
HANGAR18 Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 A while back I launched a side project to do just that but have since abandoned that effort. I think this here HOC is about as good as it's going to get aside from the word-of-mouth that we all here tend to participate in regularly. I get the impression that the new owners are going to take advertising more seriously than the original owners did.
bolero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 yeah I have been preaching to my local friends for years as well as buying NEW heritage guitars In the end, it is not my business though. Why do I feel responsible for promoting them? They are great guitars, and I am a huge fan of the company, and the people behind it. I am extremely grateful for the times I have been to the plant, and met the people who build these fantastic instruments. A lot of guitar players gravitate to Fender/Gibson/Gretsch and not much else. I am assuming it is association with people's idols, who played those instruments. Other suggestions tend to fall on deaf ears. people will play what they want to play organizing a spam campaign to raid other guitar forums, is probably not a good idea IMO I do play my Heritage out and about, and respectfully inform about it ( as well as my G&L ) when asked. But I try not to come across as a fanatic. Even though I guess I am. But that is just my taste, and I hold back from imposing it on others.
bolero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 I bet if a future Jack White played a Heritage, sales would take off
pressure Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Jack White is old news we need Taylor Swift rocking a H555 or one of the new Millenniums.
Spectrum13 Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 10 years ago when I joined HOC, Heritage retired Lane their marketing guy. The website was basic and the 4 owners and Ren were getting into their 70's and set in their ways. These guys were building and selling guitars for more than 50 years so one could expect marketing ideas from HOC members might not hold much sway. I suspect this forum and the network of dealers were enough to keep the doors open until the deal was struck with the new owners. Seeing that 1/4 page add in Vintage Guitar, the modernization at 225 Parsons, the booth at Namm and a website revival as well as facebook indicate good thing to come. I did my part buying 6 new guitars.
PunkKitty Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Jack White is old news we need Taylor Swift rocking a H555 or one of the new Millenniums. Taylor Swift is old news. We need a voice that hits more than the blues, jazz, and country scenes. They have to hit metal, punk, alternative and everything else. Currently, Fenders are hot because they cost less. Also, Fender headstock designs are less prone to damage if the guitars fall. PRS has been on the rise because Paul listened to players to find what they like. Current Heritage management has started to run with that ball with the release of the H-155M. But they need to attach themselves to up and coming players from different genres. They have to look beyond blues, jazz, and country to survive.
ElNumero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Taylor Swift is old news. We need a voice that hits more than the blues, jazz, and country scenes. They have to hit metal, punk, alternative and everything else. Currently, Fenders are hot because they cost less. Also, Fender headstock designs are less prone to damage if the guitars fall. PRS has been on the rise because Paul listened to players to find what they like. Current Heritage management has started to run with that ball with the release of the H-155M. But they need to attach themselves to up and coming players from different genres. They have to look beyond blues, jazz, and country to survive. Truth be told " PRS has been on the rise because Paul Smith listened to players to find what they like" Paul might not have made it without Carlos, period. If you research that you will find it to be true. Heritage has never had a "Carlos" but if they did, things might have been a little different. I think the HOC membership at large have been huge ambassadors for Heritage, I know myself, I can take credit for one of their most recent endorsers, JL Fulks for gravitating to Heritage and ordering a brand new 535!
PunkKitty Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Truth be told " PRS has been on the rise because Paul Smith listened to players to find what they like" Paul might not have made it without Carlos, period. If you research that you will find it to be true. Heritage has never had a "Carlos" but if they did, things might have been a little different. I think the HOC membership at large have been huge ambassadors for Heritage, I know myself, I can take credit for one of their most recent endorsers, JL Fulks for gravitating to Heritage and ordering a brand new 535! I agree. Paul says the same thing. Overall though, I like the direction Heritage is moving. It will take a long time to rebuild brand recognition.
bolero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Jack White is old news we need Taylor Swift rocking a H555 or one of the new Millenniums. that why I said "a future Jack White" ie: some new young talent that has widespread influence on a generation's musical tastes
FranzMohamitz Posted March 5, 2017 Author Posted March 5, 2017 Wow, it's nice to see so many responses! A big thank you to HOC member Yooper for starting the "Let's see your Heritage" thread over on TGP, there are already a few dozen wonderful pics of Heritage guitar that have been posted. Just for the record I'm definitely not advocating a SPAM campaign here. Just thought that an organize effort to post some of the pics and info that I see here in other places other then here could be beneficial to this company we all love. I'm hoping that even more people here will continue to post pics of their gorgeous guitars on that thread. Great work Heritage Owners and Fans! FWIW- I think Jack White is one of the best potential artists that Heritage could ever hope to sign. For many reasons obvious or not.
ElNumero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 that why I said "a future Jack White" ie: some new young talent that has widespread influence on a generation's musical tastes Maybe we can convince Kid Rock to play a Heritage on stage (even if he is old news).
ElNumero Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 I agree. Paul says the same thing. Overall though, I like the direction Heritage is moving. It will take a long time to rebuild brand recognition. I do too, and the needle is moving in the right direction!
PunkKitty Posted March 5, 2017 Posted March 5, 2017 Maybe we can convince Kid Rock to play a Heritage on stage (even if he is old news). No. Just no.
kidsmoke Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 No. Just no. agreed. That'd make me consider selling the one I have!
JeffB Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 I bet if a future Jack White played a Heritage, sales would take off Jack White is old news we need Taylor Swift rocking a H555 or one of the new Millenniums. Taylor Swift is old news. We need a voice that hits more than the blues, jazz, and country scenes. They have to hit metal, punk, alternative and everything else. Maybe we can convince Kid Rock to play a Heritage on stage (even if he is old news). Its all old news. What we need.... EDM. Thats big. Bigger than cheeses right now. Maybe if some "DJ" introduced wicked fat guitar riffage and searing blues solos or acid drenched modal ramblings just after the bass drops there might be a whole new generation guitarists to step up and buy guitars. Personally Im waiting for the next wave of angry rock, conditions are right. Check out ol marsh mellow head
kidsmoke Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 Personally Im waiting for the next wave of angry rock, conditions are right. yep. Rock and Roll is ripe for a renaissance. Really.
DLDTEX Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 Anybody see the cover "Guitar Player". The new generation isn't picking up guitars. This isn't a good time to be a volume producer of guitars. Make the best guitar possible with great wood and I hope the new ownership watches it's overhead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Gitfiddler Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 Anybody see the cover "Guitar Player". The new generation isn't picking up guitars. This isn't a good time to be a volume producer of guitars. Make the best guitar possible with great wood and I hope the new ownership watches it's overhead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Maybe so, but take a look at the continuing success of brands such as PRS, Collings, Anderson, Suhr; and others. They are all building great USA built guitars and succeeding. Heritage was able to keep their doors open for around 30 years without much advertising or a cogent business plan. If word of mouth sales out of an antiquated factory helped them that long, who's to say what can happen under new ownership and an infusion of cash by the new owners?
JeffB Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 yep. Rock and Roll is ripe for a renaissance. Really. I dont know who's going to lead it or whos going to listen to it though. At 53 I cant really take a lot of music seriously, even the songs I grew up with make me laugh a bit. Some of the lyrics really are kids stuff. Im just not concerned about a twenty somethings perspective on life. Hell, even my own songs that I wrote in my 20's I have a hard time relating to at 53. I want to write a reply to them and tell the young guy there was no need to take things so seriously and that none of it actually mattered. Love isnt what you think it is and neither is justice. Compound interest and inflation is what matters. It really matters. No one in the history of mankind has written a song about compound interest yet theyll write about cars and girls, broken hearts, what theyre gonna do all night long, hurt teenage feelings and how the man in the suit is keeping them down. Dim wits. Need songs about tax and inflation and how it will do you and your decendants wrong if you dont get it right or learn how to play the system to keep ahead of it. Theres no songs about exponential growth or compounding interest!! This is the rebellion Im hoping for. Some leather clad spike haired punk waving his fist and shouting about how inflation killed his inheritance and the pitfalls of not understanding how to manage it. I dont think if the next wave of rock came through I would recognize it as the next wave or even like it and I hope Im right What would be worse than that would be if it was a brand of rock that was just the same as its always been.
Yooper Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 I see financial woes and "the man in the suit is keeping them down" as more blues oriented, and along with teenagers, won't be going away. Songs decrying hate and injustice will be with us as long as our human condition perpetuates these flaws. The words on Woody Guthrie's guitar still ring true. But those songs don't tend to hit the top forty. Rock or not, pop will always be pop.
bolero Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 ROCK IS DEAD LONG LIVE ROCK ROCK IS DEAD LONG LIVE ROCK
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