What’s up with Heritage cases?!?!

[MelodiusThunk]

My buddy just received his first Heritage guitar. It is one of the last of the current H535s. Unfortunately, there are issues. One of the issues is that it arrived in a very cheap Chinese-made case. It is one of those crappy, almost rubber-feeling Chinese cases with the cheap, very gold-looking latches that sheds black fur. It’s a case that might come with a cheap import guitar. Is this a mistake? Or, has Heritage really cheapened out? I heard that Heritage started having cheap Asian-manufactured guitars built. Maybe this case was supposed to go out with one of those? My H535 came in a much better case. I think it may be a TKL. I would be concerned that this Chinese case would quickly designate if gigged. 

The case actually looks better in the photos than in person.
 

 

[MelodiusThunk]

[MelodiusThunk]

[MelodiusThunk]

[TalismanRich]

The cases have changed.    The new ones aren't TKL,  although of the 5 other Heritages I have, only 2 are  classic TKLs.   The one with my old 535 is different from the TKLs for my 157 or 140.   

In the past dealers could buy the guitars without cases and add whatever type they wanted.

[DetroitBlues]

Some people like me don't even use the hardshell case unless its just for storage.  I use a Mono gigbag for transporting as they have the best of both worlds for gigging.  Protection of the headstock and neck like a hardshell case, but easier to grab and go with a shoulder strap.

[Gitfiddler]

17 hours ago, MelodiusThunk said:

 

My buddy just received his first Heritage guitar. It is one of the last of the current H535s. Unfortunately, there are issues. One of the issues is that it arrived in a very cheap Chinese-made case. It is one of those crappy, almost rubber-feeling Chinese cases with the cheap, very gold-looking latches that sheds black fur. It’s a case that might come with a cheap import guitar. Is this a mistake? Or, has Heritage really cheapened out? I heard that Heritage started having cheap Asian-manufactured guitars built. Maybe this case was supposed to go out with one of those? My H535 came in a much better case. I think it may be a TKL. I would be concerned that this Chinese case would quickly designate if gigged. 

The case actually looks better in the photos than in person.
 

 

Have you reached out to the seller or Heritage about your concerns?   

https://heritageguitars.com/pages/contact

[MelodiusThunk]

5 hours ago, Gitfiddler said:

Have you reached out to the seller or Heritage about your concerns?   

https://heritageguitars.com/pages/contact

Others have reached out to Heritage about the 25th. They were told that certain iterations of models have been discontinued and stated something along the lines of "stay tuned for an announcement on the 25th." My friend contacted Heritage about her case. I am not sure if she has heard back yet. I decided to refuse shipment of the two guitars that I ordered. Now I am looking into a Collings. I am still interested in the announcement. I bet they are changing up the headstocks.

[MelodiusThunk]

If anyone cares… I just heard back from my friend. She said that the dealer that she purchased her guitar from confirmed that Heritage has indeed started to ship their guitars in the Chinese cases. Kind of a bummer. 

[TalismanRich]

Maybe you should have gone with the Custom Core version rather than the standard.   For the extra $2000, you do get a much nicer case, among other things.    Or you could have ordered two TKL cases for $400 and sold the Heritage cases.    

A Collings will be a nice guitar.   For $8000 it should be.  

 

[brentrocks]

That’s big business for ya

[bolero]

At first I thought it might have been due to the recent tarrifs, but I guess not

Who makes cases in the USA?

[TalismanRich]

TKL makes them in Richmond Va.   Gator makes cases in Columbia City, Indiana,  just down the road from Sweetwater in Ft Wayne.

G&G cases are made in Los Angeles.  I think that's probably why Fender used them.

Edited September 21 by TalismanRich

[bolero]

good info, thx!

[MelodiusThunk]

The TKL cases that came with my previous Heritage guitars were made in Canada.

[HANGAR18]

On 9/21/2025 at 6:33 PM, TalismanRich said:

TKL makes them in Richmond Va. 

 

That's neat! I had no idea.

[TalismanRich]

According to their website TKL gets cases from both Richmond, Virginia "and numerous partnerships throughout North America and around the world."    From the info I have found,  Canadian builds are made by Etuis Boblen in Montreal.   It wouldn't surprise me if TKL also had a manufacturing partner in China or Indonesia.  

Companies will change sourcing from time to time.  According to Matthew Larrivee, Larrivee bought cases from a half dozen companies over the years, including cases built by a private company in China starting in 2011.   Boblen supplied cases off and on for close to 20 years.   

 

[Heritage1970]

On 9/18/2025 at 7:17 PM, MelodiusThunk said:

 

My buddy just received his first Heritage guitar. It is one of the last of the current H535s. Unfortunately, there are issues. One of the issues is that it arrived in a very cheap Chinese-made case. It is one of those crappy, almost rubber-feeling Chinese cases with the cheap, very gold-looking latches that sheds black fur. It’s a case that might come with a cheap import guitar. Is this a mistake? Or, has Heritage really cheapened out? I heard that Heritage started having cheap Asian-manufactured guitars built. Maybe this case was supposed to go out with one of those? My H535 came in a much better case. I think it may be a TKL. I would be concerned that this Chinese case would quickly designate if gigged. 

The case actually looks better in the photos than in person.
 

Unfortunately it's just a sign of the times. Good quality, American made stuff is getting harder and harder to find. As you mentioned- there's even a line of Asian made guitars that look exactly the same with the Heritage logo we all know and love on them. 😓Sad.....

 

[ElNumero]

On 9/21/2025 at 6:03 PM, bolero said:

At first I thought it might have been due to the recent tarrifs, but I guess not

Who makes cases in the USA?

good cases are made in Canada!!