Heritage and Gibson discussion on Harmony Central

[LH575]

Worth a read:

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2430458

[Dick Seacup]

HC has far too much hate, vitriol and righteous indignation to be an enjoyable read. It is just one DSW after another over there, from what I've seen. That thread is more about defending/justifying Gibson QC than whether or not perceived quality issues at Gibson help sell Heritage guitars.

 

Gibson does make nice stuff, but when looking for value, I'm just not able to justify the premium for the name on, or shape of, the headstock. Gibson didn't sell me on Heritage. Heritage sold me on Heritage...bang for the buck. The legend of Heritage is a nice bonus, though, and I don't think, if I were a Gibson fan boy, I'd have the chance to hang out with Henry J. every July and listen to shop stories. Again, capital-vee Value...you dig?

 

To say Gibson sells Heritage is an insult to Heritage. But, maybe that's just me.

[tulk1]

Didn't read all of the posts, but it seemed to degenerate into a Gibson QC issue, rather than a Heritage v Gibson thread. Not unexpected. As we all well know, Heritage can be a hard sell, until you play one. Even then, there's that old paradigm that only a Gibson is good enough for a lifestyle.

[tbonesullivan]

I've owned two gibsons, and I have owned one heritage. IMHO Gibson is like the Harley Davidson of guitars: Overpriced, sold mainly on image, and for the most part simply nostalgia pieces sold at overblown prices. Look at their VOS line... it's almost twice the cost of the standard line... for what? so that you can have a g Guitar that looks like it's been well taken care of for 30 years. and yet, people still HAVE to own a Gibson, and many Gibson owners dismiss heritage as a bunch of knockoffs. They are no more knockoffs than the Gibson guitars themselves. Gibson guitars are not made in the same plant by the same people as they were back in the 60s and 70s. Heritage guitars however, are, so one might be able to say that Heritage guitars are more Gibson than Gibson.

 

But I digress, both companies make good guitars, however heritage supplies much more bang for the buck, and just makes much more beautiful guitars. They experiment much more with colors, and even though they are small production seem to offer more options than Gibson. As for QC, you'll find many people over at Gibson's own BBS that decry the quality control issues of late. Some also go farther to claim that it's the Gibson USA factory in Nashville that is producing these issues, and that the Gibson Custom factory over in Memphis makes superior quality guitars. Either way... over priced. Thankfully my SG was "scratch n' dent" so I got it at $150 off this year.

[Kuz]

I've owned two gibsons, and I have owned one heritage. IMHO Gibson is like the Harley Davidson of guitars: Overpriced, sold mainly on image, and for the most part simply nostalgia pieces sold at overblown prices. Look at their VOS line... it's almost twice the cost of the standard line... for what? so that you can have a g Guitar that looks like it's been well taken care of for 30 years. and yet, people still HAVE to own a Gibson, and many Gibson owners dismiss heritage as a bunch of knockoffs. They are no more knockoffs than the Gibson guitars themselves. Gibson guitars are not made in the same plant by the same people as they were back in the 60s and 70s. Heritage guitars however, are, so one might be able to say that Heritage guitars are more Gibson than Gibson.

 

But I digress, both companies make good guitars, however heritage supplies much more bang for the buck, and just makes much more beautiful guitars. They experiment much more with colors, and even though they are small production seem to offer more options than Gibson. As for QC, you'll find many people over at Gibson's own BBS that decry the quality control issues of late. Some also go farther to claim that it's the Gibson USA factory in Nashville that is producing these issues, and that the Gibson Custom factory over in Memphis makes superior quality guitars. Either way... over priced. Thankfully my SG was "scratch n' dent" so I got it at $150 off this year.

 

Ok, this has gone on and on and on....

 

But again my quick .02 is;

 

- I have owed over 5 Gibsons (one of them being a '65 335)

- I sold all of them and bought 9 Heritage guitars! WHY? BECAUSE HERITAGE GUITARS ARE AT LEAST AS GOOD AS GIBBY'S CUSTOM SHOP STUFF. AND BECAUSE HERITAGE GUITARS ARE HAND-MADE BY WELL, REAL HUMANS. AND BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE THE SAME WAY THEY WERE MADE BACK IN THE 40S, 50S, 60S, ECT. COST IS NOT THE ISSUE WITH ME. IF HERITAGES WERE MORE EXPENSIVE (AND BEING HANDMADE MAYBE THE SHOULD COST MORE THAN GIBBY'S ROBOT CUT-OUT GUITARS) I WOULD STILL BY HERITAGE GUITARS OVER GIBBY'S

 

- I know not everyone here share the same view, especially on the cost issues (many buy Heritages because they cost less) but that is how I roll!!!!