The Gibson guitar company was founded in Kalamazoo in 1902. The young company continued to expand, and built production facilities at 225 Parsons Street (the first of a total of five buildings at that location) in 1917. In 1974, Gibson was acquired by the Norlin corporation, which also opened facilities the same year in Nashville, TN. However, financial troubles led Norlin to consider shutting down either the Kalamazoo or Nashville facilities in the early 1980s. Even though the Kalamazoo plant was Gibson's home since 1917, the decision was made in July of 1983 by Norlin to close the plant. The doors at 225 Parsons Street closed in the fall of 1984.
Heritage Guitar, Inc. opened in 1985 in the original Gibson building. Rather than uproot and move to Tennessee, Jim Deurloo, Marvin Lamb, and J.P. Moats elected to leave the Gibson company, and stay in Kalamazoo to start a new guitar company. Members of the original trio were later joined by Bill Paige and Mike Korpak (other long time Gibson workers). Korpack left the Heritage company in 1985.
Jim Deurloo began working at Gibson in 1958, and through his career was promoted from neck sander to pattern maker up to general foreman of the pattern shop, machine shop, and maintenance. Deurloo was the plant manager at Guild between 1969 to 1974, and had been involved with the opening and tooling up of the newer Nashville facility in 1974. During this time period, Deurloo was also the head of engineering, and was later promoted to assistant plant manager. In 1978 Deurloo was named plant manager at the Kalamazoo facility.
Marv Lamb was hired by Gibson in 1956 to do hand sanding and other jobs in the wood shop (Lamb was one of the workers on the '58 Korina Flying V and Explorer guitars). He was promoted through a series of positions to general foreman of finishing and final assembly, and finally to plant superintendent in 1974 (a position he held until Gibson closed the plant in 1984).
J.P. Moats was hired by Gibson in 1957 for sanding and final cleaning. Through promotions, Moats became head of quality control as well as the supervisor of inspectors, and later the wood inspector. While inspecting wood for Gibson, Moats was also in charge of repairs and custom orders.
Bill Paige, a graduate of the business school at Western Michigan University joined Gibson in 1975 as a cost accountant and other capacities in the accounting department.
Heritage operated under the ownership of Deurloo, Lamb, Moats, and Page until mid-2007. During the summer of 2007, Heritage halted all guitar production while the owners looked for a new owner of Heritage. Local attorney Vince Margol bought out Bill Paige's share of Heritage and became an equal partner with Deurloo, Lamb, and Moats. Margol also became the president and managing partner of Heritage while Paige accepted a position within the organization.
For more information, visit Heritage's website or contact them directly. Additional source: Kalamazoo Gazette.
Instruments currently built in Kalamazoo, MI since 1984. The company was incorporated on April 1, 1985. The Lasar Music Corporation, located in Brentwood, TN is the exclusive sales and marketing company for Heritage Guitars, Inc.

HERITAGE Electric Guitars Models

HERITAGE H-516 Image

HERITAGE H-516

- single round cutaway semi-hollow body, laminated arched curly maple top and back, solid curly maple sides, two f-holes, one-piece mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, MOP position markers, three-per-side tuners, adj. bridge, Herit...

HERITAGE H-110 Image

HERITAGE H-110

- slightly offset double cutaway semi-solid lightweight mahogany body, carved maple top, white body binding, set one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with MOP trapezoid inlays, black headstock overlay with "The H...

HERITAGE AMERICAN EAGLE Image

HERITAGE AMERICAN EAGLE

- single round cutaway hollow style, tap tuned solid spruce carved top, bound body and f-holes, bound flame maple pickguard with pearl inlay, solid curly or bubbled maple back/sides, five-piece figured maple neck, 20-fret bound ebony finger...

HERITAGE ALVIN LEE MODEL Image

HERITAGE ALVIN LEE MODEL

- 335 style, bound curly maple top/back/sides, f-holes, black pickguard, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, three-per-side tuners, humbucker/single coil/humbucker pickup...

HERITAGE ACADEMY CUSTOM Image

HERITAGE ACADEMY CUSTOM

- single rounded cutaway style, cream-bound curly maple top, f-holes, bound maple pickguard, curly maple back/sides, one piece mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl crown inlay, bound peghead, three-per-side tuners, t...

HERITAGE BLACK BEAUTY DC (MILLENNIUM DC) Image

HERITAGE BLACK BEAUTY DC (MILLENNIUM DC)

- double cutaway semi-hollow body, multiple white bound solid carved maple top, single white bound flat maple back and solid maple sides, f-holes, one-piece mahogany neck, white bound ebony fingerboard with MOP block position markers, three...

HERITAGE CHUCK JACOBS MODEL Image

HERITAGE CHUCK JACOBS MODEL

- five-string configuration, offset double cutaway maple body, five-piece laminated maple through-body neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, bound peghead, 3/2-per-side tuners, fixed bridge, two EMG J-style active p...

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET Image

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET

- offset double cutaway solid mahogany body, curly maple top, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlay, three-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two single coil and one hum...

HERITAGE H-127 CUSTOM Image

HERITAGE H-127 CUSTOM

- single cutaway mahogany body, bound arch maple top, maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, two single coil pickups, volume/tone control, three-position switc...

HERITAGE GARY MOORE MODEL Image

HERITAGE GARY MOORE MODEL

- single cutaway mahogany body, bound carved curly maple top, bound curly maple pickguard, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl crown inlay, black peghead with Gary Moore signature imprint, three-per-side tuners, tun...

HERITAGE EAGLE CUSTOM Image

HERITAGE EAGLE CUSTOM

- single cutaway semi-hollow body, solid carved multiple white bound ultra curly maple top, multiple white bound solid carved ultra curly maple back and solid sides, two f-holes, three-piece curly maple neck, 22-fret multiple white bound eb...

HERITAGE H-525 Image

HERITAGE H-525

- single sharp cutaway hollow body, laminated curly maple top and back, solid curly maple sides, cream body binding, two bound f-holes, set one-piece mahogany neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay...

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET III Image

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET III

- similar to the Parsons Street, except has hardwood body, maple neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, black chrome hardware, Kahler tremolo bridge, no Var-I-Phase switch, and two mini switches, available in Black, Red, o...

HERITAGE CONCERT MASTER Image

HERITAGE CONCERT MASTER

- single sharp cutaway semi-hollow body, solid spruce carved top, multiple bound body, bound f-holes, bound curly maple pickguard, solid curly maple back/sides/neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with Heritage MOP block inlay, ebony bridge, fin...

HERITAGE H-530 Image

HERITAGE H-530

- double symmetrical smooth cutaway hollow body, laminated curly maple top and back, solid curly maple sides, cream body binding, two bound f-holes, set one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black head...

HERITAGE HB 2 Image

HERITAGE HB 2

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with white circle inlays, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, P/J-style pickups, three knobs (two v, tone), chrome hardware, available in Antique Sun...

HERITAGE EAGLE 2000 Image

HERITAGE EAGLE 2000

- single cutaway semi-hollow body, solid carved multiple white bound curly maple top, single white bound solid carved curly maple back and solid sides, no pickguard, three-piece curly maple neck, white bound ebony fingerboard with 22-frets,...

HERITAGE H-535 Image

HERITAGE H-535

- double round cutaway semi-hollow body, cream-bound curly maple laminate top and back, solid curly maple sides, two f-holes, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge...

HERITAGE EAGLE Image

HERITAGE EAGLE

- single round cutaway hollow style, solid mahogany top/pickguard, f-holes, cream-bound body, mahogany back/sides/neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece, pickguard-...

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET V Image

HERITAGE PARSONS STREET V

- similar to the Parsons Street, except has bound body, Kahler tremolo bridge, three knobs (v, two tone), no Var-I-Phase switch, and two mini switches, available in Antique Sunburst and Antique Cherry Burst finish, disc. 1991.

HERITAGE LITTLE-ONE CM Image

HERITAGE LITTLE-ONE CM

- small size asymmetrical double cutaway curly maple body/neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, one humbucker pickup, volume control, chrome hardware, avai...

HERITAGE H-137 DC Image

HERITAGE H-137 DC

- double cutaway Les Paul Special-style solid mahogany body, set one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP dot inlays, black headstock overlay with "The Heritage" logo, three-per-side tuners, combination bridg...

HERITAGE H-550 Image

HERITAGE H-550

- single round cutaway hollow style, multiple white-bound curly maple laminate braced top, bound curly maple laminate back, solid curly maple sides, two bound f-holes, bound curly maple pickguard, curly maple neck, 20-fret bound ebony finge...

HERITAGE MARK SLAUGHTER ROCK Image

HERITAGE MARK SLAUGHTER ROCK

- radical single cutaway mahogany body/neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, reverse headstock, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two single coil and one humbucker pickups, volum...

HERITAGE Eagle Classic Image

HERITAGE Eagle Classic

- single round cutaway hollow style, solid carved spruce top, f-holes, bound maple pickguard, bound body, solid curly maple back/sides, five-piece curly maple neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard, bound peghead, three-per-side tuners, ebon...

HERITAGE HB 1 Image

HERITAGE HB 1

- similar to the HB 2, except has one split P-style pickup, volume/tone control, series/parallel mini switch, disc. 1992.

HERITAGE MILLENNIUM H-155 Image

HERITAGE MILLENNIUM H-155

- single cutaway semi-hollow body, solid carved multiple white bound curly maple top, single white bound flat curly maple back, solid sides, one-piece mahogany neck, single white bound mother-of-pearl headstock inlay, single white bound ebo...

HERITAGE H-535 Custom Image

HERITAGE H-535 Custom

- similar to H-535, except has pearl diagonal inlay and bound peghead with pearl logo inlay, available in Antique Sunburst or Transparent Black finish, mfg. 1991-92.

HERITAGE H-137 SECOND VERSION Image

HERITAGE H-137 SECOND VERSION

- single cutaway Les Paul Special-style solid mahogany body, set one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP dot inlays, black headstock overlay with "The Heritage" logo, three-per-side tuners, combination bridg...

HERITAGE STAT Image

HERITAGE STAT

- offset double cutaway bound curly maple/mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two single coil and one humbucker pickup...

HERITAGE H-575 Image

HERITAGE H-575

- single sharp cutaway hollow style, cream-bound solid carved curly maple braced top, cream-bound curly maple back, curly maple sides, two f-holes, mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, ros...

HERITAGE H-158 Image

HERITAGE H-158

- single cutaway semi-hollow body with laminated arched top and arched back, single cream bound top and back, no pickguard, two f-holes, 22-fret cream-bound rosewood fingerboard, MOP dot inlays, chrome plated machine heads, adj. bridge, sto...

HERITAGE HB-IV Image

HERITAGE HB-IV

- offset double cutaway maple body, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, two-per-side tuners, black hardware, two active EMG soapbar pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), available in Bl...

HERITAGE Eagle TDC Image

HERITAGE Eagle TDC

- similar to Eagle, except has thinner body style, tune-o-matic bridge, dual top routed pickups, available in Antique Sunburst finish, 17 in. body width, 2.25 in. body thickness, disc. 2006.

HERITAGE GOLDEN EAGLE Image

HERITAGE GOLDEN EAGLE

- single round cutaway hollow style, solid spruce carved top, seven-ply bound body, bound f-holes, bound maple pickguard, curly maple back/sides/neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl cloud inlay, bound peghead with pearl eagle on...

HERITAGE SAE CUSTOM Image

HERITAGE SAE CUSTOM

- single cutaway mahogany body with carved maple top, f-holes, bound body, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, Mike Christian transdu...

HERITAGE V.I.P. (V.I.P.-1) Image

HERITAGE V.I.P. (V.I.P.-1)

- offset double cutaway curly maple body, bolt-on mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, six-on-one-side tuners, blackface peghead with "The Heritage" logo, chrome har...

HERITAGE H-140CM Image

HERITAGE H-140CM

- single sharp cutaway mahogany body, bound curly maple top, white pickguard, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, chrome hardware, two exposed humbuck...

HERITAGE H-140CMV Image

HERITAGE H-140CMV

- similar to the H-140CM, except has installed Heritage Var-I-Phase electronics, available in Standard or Translucent finish, mfg. 1994-2005.

HERITAGE HENRY JOHNSON Image

HERITAGE HENRY JOHNSON

- single sharp cutaway semi-hollow body, solid spruce carved top, multiple bound body, bound f-holes, bound curly maple pickguard, solid curly maple back/sides/neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with MOP block inlay, bound peghead with pearl l...

HERITAGE H-575 Custom Image

HERITAGE H-575 Custom

- similar to the H-575, except has white body binding, bound fingerboard with mother-of-pearl "hash mark" or block inlays, bound peghead with pearl logo inlay and gold hardware, available in Sunset Burst finish, mfg. 1989-present.