Posted on 08/01/2009 5:36:32 PM PDT by Son House
They came from Ohio, from Colorado, from Alabama, from Illinois, from Kalamazoo, and they came hauling black guitar cases bearing the iconic Heritage Guitar logo.
On Friday, nearly 60 proud Heritage Guitar owners from across the country crammed into the company's small Parsons Street factory for the second annual Parson Street Pilgrimage. Later they planned to head to a farm in Plainwell for a Heritage-only jam-session.
Started through an Internet forum for Heritage owners, 23 people came to the first Pilgrimage last year, said Jim Wallace, a forum member who helped start the yearly visit to the Kalamazoo guitar factory.
``People want to come here and see where their guitars are made and meet the people who make them,'' he said.
Wallace called the employees at Heritage artists, and as people wandered into the basement on Friday, they saw some of the artists at work making guitars. A film of sawdust covered nearly everything and gave the factory a sepia tone, almost like looking back in time through old photographs.
Ray Noud, a Heritage employee for five years, laid out frets on a neck by hand. Katie Flamm, also a five-year Heritage veteran, said she typically spends an hour to an hour and a half on each guitar, smoothing out rough edges and rounding it into shape, all by hand.
Victor Dvorak, from Cincinnati, said the machines looked like antiques.
``This is the way that they should be made, and they're carrying on with that,'' he said.
Heritage Guitars was started in 1985 by four former Gibson Guitar Co. employees. The company, at 225 Parsons Street, specializes in handmade guitars praised by musicians for their sound and vintage looks.
Myles Sobczak owns nine Heritage guitars. He bought his first one in 1998 and fell in love with them, he said. He and his wife, Kathy, traveled from Chicago for the tour. Sobczak, who plays in a blues band, said his guitars are conversation-starters wherever he goes -- in addition to sounding great.
The revered Heritage sound is something that Dvorak still has to experience. He just bought his first Heritage, the first guitar he has ever purchased.
``I still don't know how to play it, so I thought I would come and see how they are made,'' he said.
Kalamazoo Heritage Guitar - Mlive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKCx-RbnaYs
Meet the guitar makers. Luthiers from Heritage Guitar in Kalamazoo share their passion for making guitars.
They Made Kalamazoo Gibson Guitars - Mlive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttfubw5jTh8&feature=related
Ruth Stap and Barbara Manning both worked at the Gibson Guitar factory in Kalamazoo during the mid 1940s. Both tell a little about their experinces working for Gibson.
Heritage has a new “Plek” Machine - Precision fret dress
photo’s;
http://www.heritageguitar.com/customers/stories.htm
Great post. Never heard of Heritage’s.
parsy.
Yeah, I see Gibson bragging about that. Not sure why they want to brag about having robots doing the frets and nut, but hey, whatever. I guess they think it will justify their pricing? And why should I buy American made? American robots are better than Asian robots? Somehow I don’t think so.
Yep, nice to forgo Democrats trying to ruin the economy and country for a little while.
I seen one once in a pawn shop, don’t remember the model, and probably the price was a little higher than my range, but I’ll sure have a better look next time.
I have 2 older tube amps, Gibson and Kalamazoo(Chicago made), and all 3 of my Les Pauls are Korean copies, probably same Samick factory, guess the design emulation here is the thrill factor
I have one of the “Fender” Heritages, a G&L S500. had a G&L tele, my favorite sounding guitar, but it got stolen.
I just need to play more and practice.
parsy.
I think Dan Erlewine speaks highly of it in his latest edition of Guitar Repair. I have done some leveling with the Dremel type emery wheel and a machined mini square, but mostly stick to just a finishing using a fine sanding sponge and an eraser shield.
I have one. I love it. They make pretty much the entire Gibson line, including vintage type guitars. They also will do custom guitars. My understanding was that they had a factory fire some time back, and I was wondering if they’d survive as a company after that.
My 2 semi-hollow bodies are First Act’s, I think they won a law suit where they got a big settlement and invested into building more than entry level. Also acquired a very cheap single humbucker model for the 8 yr old nephew, seems to have good enough fret work to clean up and be a good starter for him
First Act makes quality instruments. I have a Samick hollow body, and I would put it up against any. The real thing is how one sounds.
parsy.
Thought it of interest to check the ebay listings
What ever happened to Gibson Guitar in Nashville?
Don’t know on that one, but my first guess would be Al Gore needed all the power to light his mansion
How about that! Looks like I’ll have to take my guitar playing teenager to check this out when we visit the family in Kazoo in a couple of weeks. Just in time for his birthday too.
Speaking of practice, was just telling my guitar buddy at work about finally learning Leaving on a Jet Plane, 25 years later, I can vaguely remember learning the first verse back then, heard it on the radio recently.
My favorite site being I don’t read music or tabs well, just want the chords if possible
Leaving On A Jet Plane
Peter, Paul and Mary
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.guitaretab.com/p/peter-paul-and-mary/14426.html
While I was bookmarking your link, I ran across this. Haven’t been there in a year, but you may like.
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/~aparsons/guitar/guitar1.html
Haven’t I already sent you Gunther Anderson link?
parsy.
Hey that’s great reference, I was looking to expand easy songs I know just in case I have to open the guitar case and play for tips in the market plaza, don’t remember on the other one, but it came right up on a search
Don’t know if Nashville is still running, but they’re doing quite well in downtown Memphis.
Mark
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