Reading about The Heritage

[JohnCovach]

I've been reading up on my guitar history lately and just finished a new book that some of you might find interesting.  It's by Gil Hembree and it's called Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty's Golden Era, 1948-1966.  Of course, the "heritage" in Heritage is the Gibson one, and in many ways it's the McCarty one in particular.  Among those interviewed for the book are Jim Deuerloo, J.P. Moats, and Marv Lamb; extended interviews appear at the end and all three guys are mentioned throughout the book.  There's also a section devoted to the 225 Parsons facility and the many changes that have taken place over the years.

 

I've also found the Walter Carter book useful (Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon), though Hembree is better on the McCarty era.  Once you've read the Hembree, you can make much more sense out of what happened after McCarty left, leading to the Norlin decline that preceded the birth of Heritage (there's a nice story about how Deuerloo lobbied the Norlin brass heavily to keep the Kalamazoo shop open but lost).

 

BTW, I somehow ended up with two new copies of George Fullerton's Guitars from George and Leo: How Leo Fender and I Built G&L Guitars.  Anybody interested in buying my second copy should contact me privately about that.

[Cryoman]

Hi John,

 

Good post. I think McCarty must have been an amazing guy.  I believe the 335 was his brain-child (amongst others). Nice to read that the Heritage founders had voices long ago in the final days of Gibson in Kalamazoo.  Someone on this forum mentioned (during the recent "negotiations" at Heritage) that Gibson would have been smart to invest in Heritage as a custom-shop arm of the larger corporation.  Gibson's loss, again.

 

Cheers, Cryoman

[JohnCovach]

Here are the years at Gibson for the Heritage founders (as listed in Hembree's book):

 

Marv Lamb: 1956-1984

J.P. Moats: 1957-1984

Jim Deuerloo: 1958-1969 and 1974-1984 (he did a stint with Guild)

 

There's also an interview with Rem Wall (1948-1973), who I believe is Ren Wall's dad.

 

Great stories on the rivalry between McCarty and and Leo Fender, and on how guitars like the Les Paul, 335, Flying V, Explorer, Firebird and others were developed.  There's stuff on the invention of the humbucker by Seth Lover and the tune-o-matic bridge.  So much of what we value in these guitars was developed and perfected during those years.  What an exciting time it must have been.

[Kazwell]

[table][tr][td]Someone on this forum mentioned (during the recent "negotiations" at Heritage) that Gibson would have been smart to invest in Heritage as a custom-shop arm of the larger corporation.  Gibson's loss, again.

[/table]

 

Yeah, and if Gibson DID buy it, then bring in the CNC machines, sell off the MOP stock and bring in the acrylic molding machinery. Give all folks working there now a good (forced) severance package and turn EVERYTHING to shit.

 

Oh and don't forget to machine stamp at the TOP of these new creations "Heritage by Gibson"

 

Gibson may have gained in the short run by wiping out that segment of competition, but the music community would have definately lost.

[Thundersteel]

So much of what we value in these guitars was developed and perfected during those years.  What an exciting time it must have been.

 

Another reason why they are known as "the greatest generation." This country was "built" during those years.

[Gitfiddler]

Good info, John!  I'll be checking out Gil Hembree's book.

[golferwave]

  I bought the book in August and read it through and I'm reading it again. Ted McCarty was simply put, an amazing man. He was truly a genius not just in his engineering and marketing skills but in his people skills as well. He brought Gibson back to the top in the fretted instrument business and then looked to get out and purchase Bigsby when Arnold Berlin took over the controls of CMI from his Father and started to cheapen the product. Thus was born the NORLIN era.  It's a very interesting book with lots of interviews with long time employees including Jim, Marv, and J.P. - Lots of pictures of Parsons Street past and present. Highly recommended!