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About Heritage Guitars
80 years later, Gibson Guitars of Kalamazoo was internationally known. Some of the best performers and instrumentalists of the 20th century had played Gibson guitars. Pickers in the big bands of the 1920s appreciated the way their arch-top guitars cut through the other instruments acoustically. Blues men and women made inspired music on their flat-top guitars in the 1930s. In the 1940s, their electro-acoustic models became popular amongst Jazz innovators such as Charlie Christian. In the 1950s, they further expanded the world of electric guitars to include solid-body models designed with the help of inventor and six-sting virtuoso, Les Paul. Demand for their instruments (now mostly guitars) had grown so great that the company decided to relocate their base of operations. However, a small handful of employees decided they’d rather stay put, having grown attached to the community and the old factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. These loyal mavericks founded their own guitar company in 1985, and named it Heritage, as an allusion to their noble pedigree. They set out to make instruments that were more built in a more “hand-crafted” fashion than a contemporary Gibson electric guitar. They dedicated themselves to using better woods and materials, in addition to an old wood carver machine designed by the original employees of 225 Parsons Street. By the late 1980s, acclaimed artists such as Johnny Smith, Kenny Burrell, and Roy Clark had embraced Heritage guitars, solidifying their reputation as makers of iconic instruments.
Heritage Guitars - A Heritage of Excellence
Jazz archtop-top players take an immediate liking to the style, feel, and price of a Heritage guitar from Kalamazoo. The Eagle (the Heritage version of an L5) offers just the right combination of artistry and authenticity. It’s beautifully-voiced, solid Sitka Top and figured Maple back and sides offer the acoustic complexity that we all search for in arch-top guitars. In fact, they sound so good unplugged, that the ability to amplify them may seem like a free bonus!
Heritage Guitar Models
Over the years, Heritage have largely relied on the unrivaled enthusiasm of their players to sell their guitars. It’s a “gotta’ play it to believe it” proposition. They’re that good. Sticking with the old recipes and drawing on the magic contained within the walls of 225 Parsons Street has paid off. In a world where every new year seems to bring another overhaul of tradition, it’s refreshing to find a team of builders with real lineage who are dedicated to preserving the original masterpieces of American electric guitar craft.