This months Premier Guitar

[t0aj15]

Heritage Guitar

[pcovers]

Well, I have always thought of "Artist" guitars as the ultimate in marketing hype, and this one certainly is right there with the rest. As noted in the video, the only unique feature of this signature Alex Skolinick guitar is, literally, his signature on the headstock. Interviewer says, "...long anticipated, you've been playing with the prototype...", to which Jim says - ummm, yea, took a while to get that headstock inlay centered where we wanted and the "S" just right in the 12th fret. I heard that wood upgrade comment, but it looks pretty much right in line with about every H150 top I have seen on the forum and on eBay for the last year.

 

Hey, I love my Heritage guitars, and I am not dissing the guys in Kalamazoo, I just have to laugh at the marketing requirements to sell a product.....any product.

[Hfan]

Well, I have always thought of "Artist" guitars as the ultimate in marketing hype, and this one certainly is right there with the rest. As noted in the video, the only unique feature of this signature Alex Skolinick guitar is, literally, his signature on the headstock. Interviewer says, "...long anticipated, you've been playing with the prototype...", to which Jim says - ummm, yea, took a while to get that headstock inlay centered where we wanted and the "S" just right in the 12th fret. I heard that wood upgrade comment, but it looks pretty much right in line with about every H150 top I have seen on the forum and on eBay for the last year.

 

Hey, I love my Heritage guitars, and I am not dissing the guys in Kalamazoo, I just have to laugh at the marketing requirements to sell a product.....any product.

 

Pcovers, With that said, and I'm not disagreeing with your point, it is good to see the Heritage name out there. Every month I read Guitar Player magazine looking for some mention or maybe a product review. Maybe the reviews are only for those who advertise in the mag, I don't know. Any guitar player I see on TV etc with a Gibson looking guitar I'm double checking for the Heritage logo. Haven't seen many. I have heard here of some past references from Guitar Player but I haven't seem them

 

This weekend I spent a few days cleaning out my garage (it was bad) and came across some old unread Guitar Player mags, was reading one from Nov, 2006 and eureka, there it was, jumped out at me, a photo of a dude playing a Golden Eagle, turned out to be Calvin Keys who I am unfamiliar with, but after reading the article I am definitely interested in hearing him.

 

I'll try to insert the scan for those who missed it as I did back then..too big..sent to photo bucket.

 

 

 

[brentrocks]

it was a nice interview....good exposure for the company

[fxdx99]

Thanks, tO - always enjoy seeing those NAMM Heritage interviews. Nice vid of the guitars, Jim does a good job going thru the anniversary and S model. Good looking guitars.

[pegleg32]

Nice to see these guys talking up the brand. Have to admit, they certainly didn't overhype the guitars, maybe a little undersell actually.

[Guest mgoetting]

Jim could have done much better IMO.

 

Listening to him I can't imagine ever buying a Skolnick. He only mentioned the cosmetics. He got the pups wrong. Skolnick himself did a much better job with a soft sell in another video. I did my own research on a Skolnick a few months ago and almost bought one. It's a great guitar. You'd never know from this interview.

 

Heritage is talking about truss rod covers and binding while others have curvey women and celebrities hawking the tone qualities. I'd like to hear something like "hand built", "highest quality", "innovative", "custom built on request" or something more interesting. Not here's the 25th year of building the same thing only with a certificate and special truss rod cover. How about "25 years of perfection"?

 

Vince is a decent front man for marketing and covered last year's show if I recall.

 

Heritage isn't asking my opinion about marketing, and I love their products. So I'm okay with where everything is. But if I were a shareholder, I'd be popping Xanax after Jim's interview there.

 

I'm not saying..., I'm just saying.

[FredZepp]

I got a big smile when I saw that it was Jim that was doing the interview.

 

And yes, the interview could have "sold" the guitars more... but he did a good job overall.

 

This isn't his usual thing (being in front of a camera) ..and it was just great seeing him doing it.

[barrymclark]

Forgot to mention this is the Heavy as Hell model. haha.

[Jazzpunk]

Nice to see the coverage!

 

Regarding the 'sales pitch', I've come to accept and respect the fact that Heritage is what Heritage is. They run things how they see fit and that, my friends, is that!

[Gitfiddler]

As a great fan of the marque, that interview would not convince me to consider or purchase Heritage guitars. Sorry.

[barrymclark]

As a great fan of the marque, that interview would not convince me to consider or purchase Heritage guitars. Sorry.

No, but what you have in your hands does. Right? You tell your friends, they tell theirs. We are the advertising that Heritage is concerned with having. That's my opinion.

[Guest mgoetting]

This is where it can get heated.

 

It is possible to be critical and to be loyal and helpful.

 

Here was an opportunity to tell a large audience of guitarists something that might interest them about Heritage.

 

Compare it to the first comparable video on the same website.

 

http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/2010081...ar_Guitars.aspx

 

You decide which video was more informative. Yes, the Collings one is longer. So just compare the beginning of it to the Heritage interview.

[Gitfiddler]

No, but what you have in your hands does. Right? You tell your friends, they tell theirs. We are the advertising that Heritage is concerned with having. That's my opinion.

 

 

Barry, you are correct. We do a ton of 'word of mouth' advertising for this great brand. But I really get frustrated with Heritage's continuing marketing misques. They make some of the best darned hand made guitars in the US for God's sake. When someone gives them the opportunity to brag a bit, they should take full advantage of the FREE advertising...especially at NAMM.

[Kuz]

Jim could have done much better IMO.

 

Listening to him I can't imagine ever buying a Skolnick. He only mentioned the cosmetics. He got the pups wrong. Skolnick himself did a much better job with a soft sell in another video. I did my own research on a Skolnick a few months ago and almost bought one. It's a great guitar. You'd never know from this interview.

 

Heritage is talking about truss rod covers and binding while others have curvey women and celebrities hawking the tone qualities. I'd like to hear something like "hand built", "highest quality", "innovative", "custom built on request" or something more interesting. Not here's the 25th year of building the same thing only with a certificate and special truss rod cover. How about "25 years of perfection"?

 

Vince is a decent front man for marketing and covered last year's show if I recall.

 

Heritage isn't asking my opinion about marketing, and I love their products. So I'm okay with where everything is. But if I were a shareholder, I'd be popping Xanax after Jim's interview there.

 

I'm not saying..., I'm just saying.

 

Well, there are no stockholders, they are a private company so they only have to answer to themselves.

[Jazzpunk]

This is where it can get heated.

 

It is possible to be critical and to be loyal and helpful.

 

Do a search and you'll find that many of us at one time or another have expressed our personal plans on how we'd grow the Heritage brand lol! We all know best.

 

I've accepted that Heritage is as Heritage does. I'm content to enjoy the guitars and the company simply as they are. It all comes from a love of the guitars so it's all good imo.

[Patrick]

This is where it can get heated.

 

It is possible to be critical and to be loyal and helpful.

 

Here was an opportunity to tell a large audience of guitarists something that might interest them about Heritage.

 

Compare it to the first comparable video on the same website.

 

http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/2010081...ar_Guitars.aspx

 

You decide which video was more informative. Yes, the Collings one is longer. So just compare the beginning of it to the Heritage interview.

 

Mark: I don't know of anyone here at HOC who has been more outspoken about Heritage's marketing strategies and/or efforts than I have. However, on this one, ya gotta cut Jim some slack. You're 100% correct about the ineffectiveness of Jim's interview. But, you can't look at a totally unscripted and impromptu interview at a trade show, and compare it with a marketing campaign. I'm sure you know how it goes at trade shows. Somebody puts a camara on his or her shoulder . . . gets a fellow employee to walk the floor and look for someone at one of the booths who looks like he might be a manager . . . and he's not too busy. Then they'll swoop in on them and say . . . "hey . . could we get you to say a few words on camara about your company/products?"

 

No everyone is a gifted salesman with skills and talents that might allow them to speak extemporaneously while a camara and lighting is trained on them. I may agree that Jim might have been better off saying . . ."hey, Vince Margol is the guy we like to have answer these types of questions". But, for all we know, Jim might have been off taking a pee when this young lady stopped in at the booth. I've said many times, probably too many times, these guys are the best of the best at their core competencies . . . which is guitar building. Don't be too mad at them because they aren't as good at marketing or business skills. NONE of them are salesmen. You can't expect them to morph into one just because someone asks for a quick interview at a trade show.

[Jazzpunk]

Now, disregarding my last post, I will add my own 2 cents on promoting Heritage!

 

I nominate hiring/endorsing Marty Schwartz and having him at every trade show! The guy reaches a wide audience on youtube, has an obvious and sincere love for Heritage guitars and would probably be a very affordable addition to the trade show sales team.

 

C'mon, how can you not dig this guy?

 

 

[Guest mgoetting]

Mark: I don't know of anyone here at HOC who has been more outspoken about Heritage's marketing strategies and/or efforts than I have. However, on this one, ya gotta cut Jim some slack. You're 100% correct about the ineffectiveness of Jim's interview. But, you can't look at a totally unscripted and impromptu interview at a trade show, and compare it with a marketing campaign. I'm sure you know how it goes at trade shows. Somebody puts a camara on his or her shoulder . . . gets a fellow employee to walk the floor and look for someone at one of the booths who looks like he might be a manager . . . and he's not too busy. Then they'll swoop in on them and say . . . "hey . . could we get you to say a few words on camara about your company/products?"

 

No everyone is a gifted salesman with skills and talents that might allow them to speak extemporaneously while a camara and lighting is trained on them. I may agree that Jim might have been better off saying . . ."hey, Vince Margol is the guy we like to have answer these types of questions". But, for all we know, Jim might have been off taking a pee when this young lady stopped in at the booth. I've said many times, probably too many times, these guys are the best of the best at their core competencies . . . which is guitar building. Don't be too mad at them because they aren't as good at marketing or business skills. NONE of them are salesmen. You can't expect them to morph into one just because someone asks for a quick interview at a trade show.

 

Well, it just makes my heart sink.

[Guest mgoetting]

Well, there are no stockholders, they are a private company so they only have to answer to themselves.

 

 

John,

 

True. If they had shareholders the noise level would rise.

[schundog]

I'm just thrilled that that hard-hitting reporter, Rebecca Dierks didn't say "Awesome!" after everything Jim said, like she responds in a lot of interviews she does. Still my favorite guitar mag, though.

[Jazzpunk]

http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/2010081...ar_Guitars.aspx

 

That Soco with the Lollar P-90's is gorgeous !

[BMG]

Seeing some of the videos shown in this thread could get you anxious about what we think they "should do" There are a couple of BIG guitar companies out there that have done a great job building and keeping their brand but don't make , IMHO, a great guitar. My only concern is that Heritage markets enough to keep them around in this crazy industry. 25 years is no small task! I hope my business is around in 25 years and people start an internet group with over 1,000 members talking about it.

 

That being said, we all know Heritage makes a great guitar. The thing I think we need to keep in mind is as long as they are able to do that and stay in business, we will all benefit. I hope the torch will get passed to the right people and the company will continue. I'm just happy to have a chance to play a part of history and this summer had a chance to see the place myself for the first time.

 

On a selfish note, I like the fact that not EVERYONE plays a Heritage. I like people asking about it and the "novelty" of the small group of guys that stayed behind to start their own company still has quite a bit of charm to me. I'd hate to see that become common place.

 

Here's to another 25 years and I hope I'm still around to show off my 25th Anniversary 535!

[t0aj15]

And after all the ragging on the poor showing Heritage may or may not have made in this interview the reason I posted it was that I came away thinking......damn doesn't that chick even have a comb or brush to make herself some-what presentable.

[cook]

I kinda like the just-got-outta-bed look!

 

I didn't think that was a bad interview. Most people like a nice looking guitar. Just look at the comments we all make when someone gets a new one! Ha ha