Rare Korean made Heritage 535

[Steiner]

Sorry not to have revisited this thread yet but I have been busy since getting home from PSP3 yesterday.

 

Marv said they tried a few economy models a several years ago and nobody at the trade show even asked about them. When they got home from the trade show he sold them to employees and friends.

 

Congrats my friend you have a rare Heritage. Now get a decent camera and take some pics of it for us.....

 

I must have been next to you Sir Bird when Marv said this.

 

I agree. Get some good shots up!

[Kuz]

All I can say is I talked with Vince Margol & Jim Deleroo and they said exactly I stated. Kenny was there when Jim told the story.

[barrymclark]

So were these actually commissioned by Heritage or this was just their attempt at getting Heritage to let them do some work for them and it just fell flat?

[High Flying Bird]

All I can say is I talked with Vince Margol & Jim Deleroo and they said exactly I stated. Kenny was there when Jim told the story.

 

You should have asked Marv.

[Kuz]

So were these actually commissioned by Heritage or this was just their attempt at getting Heritage to let them do some work for them and it just fell flat?

 

That is exactly what Vince, Ren, & Jim told me.

 

Marv obviously had just got done doing some "whip it's" of nitro!!!!! LOL

[cod65]

and another:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1-12-HERITAGE-H-150-GUITAR-PROTOTYPE-LES-PAUL-/110740571112?pt=Guitar&hash=item19c8a703e8

[cod65]

and another:

 

http://www.ebay.com/...=item19c8a703e8

 

 

perhaps we should inform the seller(or any potential buyers)?

Back in the late 80's the Heritage guitar company in Kalamazoo Michigan (Home of the Gibson guitar) played with the idea of having a line of guitars produced in Korea to compete with Gibson's Epiphone models. 12 prototypes were produced. Heritage decided not to compete in this market. This Heritage model h-150 is one of the 12 guitars that were made in Korea in the late 1980's. The serial number, C218952, dates it to 1988. . This guitar looks and sounds great with all high quality parts and is highly collectable. You may never see another. Great addition to any Heritage/Gibson collection. THE "BUY IT NOW" IS WHAT I'M ASKING, MAKE ME AN OFFER

[DetroitBlues]

Nothing like a honest to goodness FAKE.

[the jayce]

I heard of the ole korean tryout thing heritage did a couple of times from different folks. Wouldnt be a surprise if true, there wasnt probably enough money in it for heritage so they bagged the idea. Not the end of the world,,,,, just good business. It's called exploring your capital earnings options. Business 101, explore new ideas or get left in the dust.

 

Wouldnt offend me one bit if they did have entry level heritage guitars made in korea ect. I would just make sure mine was an kalamazoo made.

[cod65]

Seems like it is a 'prototype' but (like earlier parts of this thread suggest) it was unsolicited. If it were a flat-out forgery they surely wouldn't put 'made in Korea for Heritage' on the back of the headstock, and not bother to put the logo on the front. Sounds to me like the k'zoo boys decided their brand name was worth more than making an overseas profit.

[H555rocks]

Hey, Tulk1; I don't know if it's a badge of honor or not to claim to recognize an inexpensive 335 copy's horns or not!! haha!! My first "335' was a Gay Turdster, I mean, Jay Turser, but it bit me with the bug, which led to an Epiphone Dot, which led me to a Gibson ES-335 Memphis Reissue I got when I turned 40, and, I like to think, the next step UP in the evolution, a used Heritage 535. Not as pretty as the Gibson, but plays GREAT!! As I said, I've got mixed feelings as to whether or not an offshore Heritage would be good for the brand or dillute the brand, but, if this is legit, I gotta think it could be an introduction to a lot of guys who may not pony up for an American Heritage. The thing is, what is the demographic of the typical Heritage guy? My guess is, on AVERAGE, 40-60 year old white guy with or close to a 6-figure income, maybe a tad bit anal retentive about the "little" things that make a decent guitar GREAT! The snitty comment about PRS is, "Four out of Five Dentists play PRS!" Probably some truth to that, and probably the same for Heritage. The difference is, a lot of serious pros choose Heritage, too, simply because they realize the quality and value. The difference for PRS is the appeal an offshore may have for the younger, harder rocking kids out there, or the lower income guy wanting to "test the waters with PRS," or the guy who doesn't want to take a $3000 guitar to a bar gig. I, too, look forward to hearing whether or not the guys in Kalamazoo have ever seriously considered the addition of a Korean line. I'd certainly be fine with it either way, not that they asked my opinion, haha. Whatever helps them stay afloat during this difficult economic downturn.

What about kids that make three figure income

[blueox]

While this is interesting to read about, I, for one, am glad the foreign-made deal did not go through. Call me a purist, but I would look at it as watering down the Heritage brand. There's a lot to be said for where the Heritage guitars are made as well as who makes them.

[FredZepp]

[DetroitBlues]

Hey, Tulk1; I don't know if it's a badge of honor or not to claim to recognize an inexpensive 335 copy's horns or not!! haha!! My first "335' was a Gay Turdster, I mean, Jay Turser, but it bit me with the bug, which led to an Epiphone Dot, which led me to a Gibson ES-335 Memphis Reissue I got when I turned 40, and, I like to think, the next step UP in the evolution, a used Heritage 535. Not as pretty as the Gibson, but plays GREAT!! As I said, I've got mixed feelings as to whether or not an offshore Heritage would be good for the brand or dillute the brand, but, if this is legit, I gotta think it could be an introduction to a lot of guys who may not pony up for an American Heritage. The thing is, what is the demographic of the typical Heritage guy? My guess is, on AVERAGE, 40-60 year old white guy with or close to a 6-figure income, maybe a tad bit anal retentive about the "little" things that make a decent guitar GREAT! The snitty comment about PRS is, "Four out of Five Dentists play PRS!" Probably some truth to that, and probably the same for Heritage. The difference is, a lot of serious pros choose Heritage, too, simply because they realize the quality and value. The difference for PRS is the appeal an offshore may have for the younger, harder rocking kids out there, or the lower income guy wanting to "test the waters with PRS," or the guy who doesn't want to take a $3000 guitar to a bar gig. I, too, look forward to hearing whether or not the guys in Kalamazoo have ever seriously considered the addition of a Korean line. I'd certainly be fine with it either way, not that they asked my opinion, haha. Whatever helps them stay afloat during this difficult economic downturn.

 

My wife saw a friend on stage playing a PRS the other night. She said that's a really pretty guitar. I told her it should be. That's a $3,000 guitar. She told me, don't get any ideas...

[golferwave]

 

 

Now that's what you can call "Truth in advertising"

[Jimbob]

I have a fake guitar, but at least I know it's genuine.......LOL.

[smurph1]

Tuners, horns look suspiciously Jay Turser-y.... I don't know, it'll be interesting to hear what the guys in Kalamazoo say; Hey, it worked for PRS (the best of the imports, IMO), Epiphone, and Fender MIM, as a "starter" Heritage, maybe not a bad idea to start instilling brand loyalty.

Interesting point..

[smurph1]

i'm thinkin if Heritage were to want to start an overseas brand, (which they probably won't) they should do it in Japan.. Better quality in my opinion..

[schundog]

What about kids that make three figure income

 

Staye un skoul...scool...um, go to class. the smart ones get the girls.

[TalismanRich]

 

Staye un skoul...scool...um, go to class. the smart ones get the girls.

NOW you tell me!

[cod65]

Interesting point..

I think, based on being part of this forum for a few yrs, the last thing that Heritage lacks is 'brand loyalty'!. If they were to start making guitars in Asia though, I would begin to lose interest.

I really cannot fathom why it would be important for Heritage to go the route of so many other guitar companies. Everyone here knows these guitars rule. How does it get better the more mass-produced they become ?