Polo Posted February 26, 2018 Posted February 26, 2018 Has there ever been talk of a professionally produced Heritage Guitar documentary? As a huge fan of both the brand and genre, I can easily see a a handful of narratives within the Heritage story that would still be compelling to even those who aren't interested in the guitars themselves. IE: John/Jane Doe Netflix surfer Just think about how many plot lines there are to explore! There's the whole company origins and historical significance angle, the true underdog story, the fire and the partnership with Vince, the cult following and the birth of the HOC, the changing of the guard to Plazacorp and now the introduction of a foreign investor who's rapidly moving one of the last breeds of old timey American folklore into the cut-throat fast lane of the global market. There's A LOT there to work with and if it was done right could be quite beneficial to both the legacy of the company itself as well as being a good promotional vessel for it's future direction. So.......what are your thoughts on a Heritage Documentary? Has anyone here at the HOC had any experience with a documentary project like this or have any personal contacts who might be interested in exploring such an endeavor? What are the chances of something like this being fully funded buy a kickstarter or crowdfunding program, meaning, are there even enough heritage and or 225 fanatics in the world who'd be willing to contribute to something like this? Are there any HOC'ers who'd be interested in participating in a documentary project? Any particular narrative or storylines that you feel need more attention than others?
pressure Posted February 26, 2018 Posted February 26, 2018 Back in the early 90s Heritage guitar endorsee Big Bill Durkin was working on just such a documentary. He's a forum member so maybe he will jump in here.
Spectrum13 Posted February 26, 2018 Posted February 26, 2018 http://gitsuite.org/gitwik Time to go on gitwik and document all our oneoff Heritage customs so when we pass on them youngsters can get the real stories behind the builds.
ElNumero Posted February 27, 2018 Posted February 27, 2018 There is a book on Heritage written by Lane
deytookerjaabs Posted February 27, 2018 Posted February 27, 2018 There's two things at play here....The story of the whole thing, and the crafstmanship. It should have been done years ago but... In my opinion the first thing you could do to preserve the craftsmanship end is go to Heritage today and ask if you could have a couple guitars built by Jim or another elder of the company (or former employees?? not sure the details) Especially an archtop, and I know Heritage made very few flat tops but I also know Jim/Marv started on them in the 50's, they know the tradition in terms of the old processes. AFAIK the old jigs/tooling is all still there. Document the whole thing, pictures, description, even video when possible and turn it into a book. If a fellow luthier, or guitar geek did this it would be a wealth of information. It'd be equal to the Benedetto book IMO (which is a staple of those looking to learn the craft) only from the Gibson-Esque angle. That would be a HUGE contribution to the "Heritage," ahem, ahem, if anyone is listening
Polo Posted February 27, 2018 Author Posted February 27, 2018 2 hours ago, ElNumero said: There is a book on Heritage written by Lane A Heritage book written by Lane as in Lane Zastrow? The only "Heritage Book" I can recall is this one call The Heritage Guitars, Inc. published by Victor Dvorak. Here's a copy that I'm so thankful to have had signed by the whole crew back in early 2015 just before you know......the end of the real Heritage Guitars, Inc.
ShredAndDestroy Posted February 27, 2018 Posted February 27, 2018 4 hours ago, Polo said: A Heritage book written by Lane as in Lane Zastrow? The only "Heritage Book" I can recall is this one call The Heritage Guitars, Inc. published by Victor Dvorak. Here's a copy that I'm so thankful to have had signed by the whole crew back in early 2015 just before you know......the end of the real Heritage Guitars, Inc. that is a nice personal inscription from Rendal!
ElNumero Posted February 27, 2018 Posted February 27, 2018 4 hours ago, Polo said: A Heritage book written by Lane as in Lane Zastrow? The only "Heritage Book" I can recall is this one call The Heritage Guitars, Inc. published by Victor Dvorak. Here's a copy that I'm so thankful to have had signed by the whole crew back in early 2015 just before you know......the end of the real Heritage Guitars, Inc. Yes Matt that is the guy. Its not a very thick book , more of a pamphlet actually, but I have a copy and will be glad to bring it to PSP and let you read it.
Polo Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 5 hours ago, ShredAndDestroy said: that is a nice personal inscription from Rendal! I first met him as a boy when my uncle had a shop upstairs from Heritage inside 225, The force is definitely strong with that guy!
Polo Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 5 hours ago, ElNumero said: Yes Matt that is the guy. Its not a very thick book , more of a pamphlet actually, but I have a copy and will be glad to bring it to PSP and let you read it. Sounds like a good candidate for a scanning and a post!
ShredAndDestroy Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 13 minutes ago, Polo said: I first met him as a boy when my uncle had a shop upstairs from Heritage inside 225, The force is definitely strong with that guy! oh wow, when you were a boy? do you remember what it was like then? I first visited in '93, but all that i remember is the roaring carver and the mountain (i was a little smaller then) of spruce, mahogany, and maple dust underneath it. Do you mind if ask what your uncle did there? was that in the late eighties? i knew you were one of thee biggest heritage superfans, but i didnt know how deep it went. there must have been hundreds of different workshops in that building and the rest of the old gibson factory over the years. its weird thing to love an old building, what can ya do?
Polo Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 16 minutes ago, ShredAndDestroy said: oh wow, when you were a boy? do you remember what it was like then? I first visited in '93, but all that i remember is the roaring carver and the mountain (i was a little smaller then) of spruce, mahogany, and maple dust underneath it. Do you mind if ask what your uncle did there? was that in the late eighties? i knew you were one of thee biggest heritage superfans, but i didnt know how deep it went. there must have been hundreds of different workshops in that building and the rest of the old gibson factory over the years. its weird thing to love an old building, what can ya do? I'm 39 now so It was likely somewhere around 87-89 when I first visited 225. I remember going downstairs to meet the guys and to look at the guitars being built but nothing really pops up as being overly memorable. My Uncle owned an Aluminum fabrication Co, directly upstairs on the 2nd floor, in fact, his company would occasionally do repairs on some of the tooling/machines for Heritage. Amazingly, while visiting back the factory back in 2014 I brought up the connection and both Ren and Marv remembered exactly which machines that my uncle had worked on for them. I'm pretty sure those guys shared more than a few pops together over the years. While I have no actual skin in the game I view the whole situation as being extremely complex and bittersweet at best. The selfish side of me would have liked to see the old timers just shut it down and ride off into the sunset.....but I'm also grateful that some of the folks I've become friends with at 225 still have a job and that the place isn't get leveled and turned into a subdivision or an IKEA or some other nonsense. Just curious....are you also named Matt? If so..sup big dog?!? Either way, hope your well and thanks for checkin in!
ShredAndDestroy Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 1 hour ago, Polo said: I'm 39 now so It was likely somewhere around 87-89 when I first visited 225. I remember going downstairs to meet the guys and to look at the guitars being built but nothing really pops up as being overly memorable. My Uncle owned an Aluminum fabrication Co, directly upstairs on the 2nd floor, in fact, his company would occasionally do repairs on some of the tooling/machines for Heritage. Amazingly, while visiting back the factory back in 2014 I brought up the connection and both Ren and Marv remembered exactly which machines that my uncle had worked on for them. I'm pretty sure those guys shared more than a few pops together over the years. While I have no actual skin in the game I view the whole situation as being extremely complex and bittersweet at best. The selfish side of me would have liked to see the old timers just shut it down and ride off into the sunset.....but I'm also grateful that some of the folks I've become friends with at 225 still have a job and that the place isn't get leveled and turned into a subdivision or an IKEA or some other nonsense. Just curious....are you also named Matt? If so..sup big dog?!? Either way, hope your well and thanks for checkin in! Hey Matt, i hope youve been well too. I kinda hate to tell you this but i will because i think its funny... i was the one at the shop that used to run around and get peoples signatures for the signed labels and stuff like your book that people wanted autographed. when i brought your book to rendal, he thought it was for me and started writing an inscription. i told him it wasnt for me while he was writing "my friend" and so he stopped and just wrote his first name and handed it back. i really wish i hadnt stopped him because the inscription would been applicable to either one of us. at least i should of had him write his last name. whoops.
bolero Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 13 hours ago, Polo said: Sounds like a good candidate for a scanning and a post! no, please don't scan & post Victor Dvorak's book he spent a lot of time taking all those pictures, and putting the book together...if you like it, buy a copy!!
bolero Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 this looks to be Victor's facebook page? lots of pics posted there: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heritage-Guitars-Inc-Photo-Book/253261711470396?
Steiner Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 I think he meant Lane's pamphlet. Lane is silent and unreachable. Victor's book is still on the market.
bolero Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 ah, ok I thought he was quoting Will ( ElNumero Uno Skinslammer )
Polo Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 1 minute ago, bolero said: ah, ok I thought he was quoting Will ( ElNumero Uno Skinslammer ) Apology accepted. 3 cheers for Fred Zepp!! Thanks for posting those scans of the pamphlet !!!
bolero Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 13 minutes ago, Polo said: Apology accepted. 3 cheers for Fred Zepp!! Thanks for posting those scans of the pamphlet !!! yes, all those multi-quote posts threw me, apologies! I see now you were talking about the pamphlet....I'll buy you a beer at PSP, since you are so offended
ElNumero Posted March 1, 2018 Posted March 1, 2018 23 hours ago, bolero said: no, please don't scan & post Victor Dvorak's book he spent a lot of time taking all those pictures, and putting the book together...if you like it, buy a copy!! They are no longer available for sale!
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