Guido Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hello HOC Members! I wrote several emails to Heritage with questions about my H-150. I bought the guitar used and unfortunately it has no label inside. I would like to know if the finish is really Vintage Sunburst (VSB) and what's the real reason for the stingers. So I provided Heritage the serial number but I didn't receive any answer so far. So I guess the story about the ghosts of Kalamazoo must be true!!! Honestly I am a little bit disappointed because everyone here told me I shall email the company and they will answer my questions. I know that some of you guys visit the company from time to time, so maybe you can ask the questions for me. Maybe the ghosts give you an answer?! The serial number is J 20005! Thanks Guido Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hello HOC Members! I wrote several emails to Heritage with questions about my H-150. I bought the guitar used and unfortunately it has no label inside. I would like to know if the finish is really Vintage Sunburst (VSB) and what's the real reason for the stingers. So I provided Heritage the serial number but I didn't receive any answer so far. So I guess the story about the ghosts of Kalamazoo must be true!!! Honestly I am a little bit disappointed because everyone here told me I shall email the company and they will answer my questions. I know that some of you guys visit the company from time to time, so maybe you can ask the questions for me. Maybe the ghosts give you an answer?! The serial number is J 20005! Thanks Guido The boys at heritage don't keep those kind of records. If you could post pics I bet we could tell you the color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Yeah, I would bet that the guys at Kalamazoo don't spend much time on computers.... and may not be that good at typing either... As for the finish... usually VSB is pretty distinct and could be identified with an accurate pic. There are a lot of people here that have seen a lot of guitars, so that answer should be fairly easy. The stinger comes from the Gibson days and the Gibby guys would probably tell you that it can hide some unattractive grains on the back of the headstock. G Gruhn says that it does not affect the value of the guitar. Some people just like the look of them ... me included. I think that has something to do with the Batman comics and movies.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shook494 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 The stingers are killer looking! I would love to own one someday. Let's see some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurph1 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hello HOC Members! I wrote several emails to Heritage with questions about my H-150. I bought the guitar used and unfortunately it has no label inside. I would like to know if the finish is really Vintage Sunburst (VSB) and what's the real reason for the stingers. So I provided Heritage the serial number but I didn't receive any answer so far. So I guess the story about the ghosts of Kalamazoo must be true!!! Honestly I am a little bit disappointed because everyone here told me I shall email the company and they will answer my questions. I know that some of you guys visit the company from time to time, so maybe you can ask the questions for me. Maybe the ghosts give you an answer?! The serial number is J 20005! Thanks Guido Hi Guido..I think the stingers are on there because they LOOK COOL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueox Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 " . . . So I provided Heritage the serial number but I didn't receive any answer so far . . . " A computer was brought into the Heritage factory in 2007 by then-new co-owner and partner, Vince Margol. From my experience, you will most often get replies to emails, but sometimes you won't. Heritage does not behave like the usual corporate entity. Keep any emails short and to the point. Hopefully, you will get some kind of response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twin Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 A computer was brought into the Heritage factory in 2007 by then-new co-owner and partner, Vince Margol. From my experience, you will most often get replies to emails, but sometimes you won't. Heritage does not behave like the usual corporate entity. Keep any emails short and to the point. Hopefully, you will get some kind of response. That's to bad, I believe they have a chance to be huge, they truley have great guitars and it seems with the right marketing they could be big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 That's to bad, I believe they have a chance to be huge, they truley have great guitars and it seems with the right marketing they could be big. Just an honest group of people that look to make an honest living and feel pride in their work. Although it is a business, a chance to get huge isn't a real motivation,. it doesn't necessarily make you a happier person. They can do it on their own terms now and I believe that is important to them. You are right about the great guitars.... absolutely.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 cool pic!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hello! Thanks for all your answers. You can see pictures of my guitar in the gallery. I don't believe the stingers are designed to hide bad wood. All the necks look beautiful with good wood and then they should have used bad wood for the headstocks? Doesn't make sense to me. Almost every guitar around the '90s have the stingers. Personally I think they just did it during this time period. But I would really like to know what the "ghosts" of Kalamazoo have to say about the stingers. Well, maybe we'll never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 That photo just about says it all about Heritage. Excellent ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hello! Thanks for all your answers. You can see pictures of my guitar in the gallery. I don't believe the stingers are designed to hide bad wood. All the necks look beautiful with good wood and then they should have used bad wood for the headstocks? Doesn't make sense to me. Almost every guitar around the '90s have the stingers. Personally I think they just did it during this time period. But I would really like to know what the "ghosts" of Kalamazoo have to say about the stingers. Well, maybe we'll never know! Definitely Vintage burst, without a doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangepicker Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I have been told by a former Gibson employee that Gibson used the stingers to hide an in house headstock repair. It doesn't mean that the headstock was broken off but it may have had a fine crack. I know some of those were sold as bargains, I don't know that they ever sold them as #1's. Does your guitar have a #2 on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hello! Thanks for all your answers. You can see pictures of my guitar in the gallery. I don't believe the stingers are designed to hide bad wood. All the necks look beautiful with good wood and then they should have used bad wood for the headstocks? Doesn't make sense to me. Almost every guitar around the '90s have the stingers. Personally I think they just did it during this time period. But I would really like to know what the "ghosts" of Kalamazoo have to say about the stingers. Well, maybe we'll never know! Wow, looks damn nearly like mine! As far as the email thing goes, give it up. I've tried on several occasions and gotten no response. No biggie though, because now, I get all of my answers here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I emailed only one time in December 2008, about my '86 VIP2 and 170 and got a reply within 24 hours from Ren himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hello! Thanks for all your answers. You can see pictures of my guitar in the gallery. I don't believe the stingers are designed to hide bad wood. All the necks look beautiful with good wood and then they should have used bad wood for the headstocks? Doesn't make sense to me. Almost every guitar around the '90s have the stingers. Personally I think they just did it during this time period. But I would really like to know what the "ghosts" of Kalamazoo have to say about the stingers. Well, maybe we'll never know! That one is awesome, I love the top.... My thoughts on the stinger... I don't speak of bad wood, at all.... Heritage would never use that. Even though a neck may be one piece, you will often find that the headstock has "wings" ( I can't remember the right term right now ). In other words if you looked at the back of the headstock , it would be 3 pieces of wood...not 1. It looks fine when finished , really. But the grains may be slightly different... no big deal on the back of a headstock. The adding of a stinger is an extra cost and must be done perfectly. It certainly doesn't indicate any lesser quality... A large percentage of top of the line archtops have it... As it was ( and is ) used by many makers (Gibson, Benedetto to name a couple) on their very best, it carries a certain elegance. I love the stinger..... even Eagle Centurions have it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangepicker Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 That one is awesome, I love the top.... My thoughts on the stinger... I don't speak of bad wood, at all.... Heritage would never use that. Even though a neck may be one piece, you will often find that the headstock has "wings" ( I can't remember the right term right now ). In other words if you looked at the back of the headstock , it would be 3 pieces of wood...not 1. It looks fine when finished , really. But the grains may be slightly different... no big deal on the back of a headstock. The adding of a stinger is an extra cost and must be done perfectly. It certainly doesn't indicate any lesser quality... A large percentage of top of the line archtops have it... As it was ( and is ) used by many makers (Gibson, Benedetto to name a couple) on their very best, it carries a certain elegance. I love the stinger..... even Eagle Centurions have it.... It is true that a stinger was standard on many archtops and it can be custom ordered that way. If you really want to know simply call them on the phone and ask them why they use stingers. I talk to them every day. If you need help let me know and I'll call for you. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoslate Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Just an honest group of people that look to make an honest living and feel pride in their work. Although it is a business, a chance to get huge isn't a real motivation,. it doesn't necessarily make you a happier person. They can do it on their own terms now and I believe that is important to them. You are right about the great guitars.... absolutely.... +1 Fred! Heritage, "huge"? Probably the very day after Congress goes to work for the taxpayer and the federal government becomes...efficient and cost effective! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twin Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Just an honest group of people that look to make an honest living and feel pride in their work. Although it is a business, a chance to get huge isn't a real motivation,. it doesn't necessarily make you a happier person. They can do it on their own terms now and I believe that is important to them. You are right about the great guitars.... absolutely.... I agree and just for clarification, I meant more widespread and accessable than monatary gains, It would suck if Heritage wasn't around, the ability to get a qualtiy handmade guitar isn't an everyday thing. So the better they do, the better it is for me being able to continue to purchase thier insturments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I agree and just for clarification, I meant more widespread and accessable than monatary gains, It would suck if Heritage wasn't around, the ability to get a qualtiy handmade guitar isn't an everyday thing. So the better they do, the better it is for me being able to continue to purchase thier insturments. +1 These guys are a treasure, for sure. I must say that taking a tour of the Parsons St. plant is a real treat also...!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted March 24, 2010 Author Share Posted March 24, 2010 It is true that a stinger was standard on many archtops and it can be custom ordered that way. If you really want to know simply call them on the phone and ask them why they use stingers. I talk to them every day. If you need help let me know and I'll call for you. Dennis Hi! Well I am from Germany. So a phone call is not my number 1 option. But if you really talk to them so often, maybe you could ask the stinger question and let us know? Would be great! Guido Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpunk Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 I've e-mailed Heritage on several occasions and have never once gotten a reply so don't feel bad! I think it just depends on how the planets are aligned, which way the wind is blowing and something about a groundhog and his shadow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatZen Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Guido, That is a real beauty you have there! Stingers ROCK! My H137 Korina... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 I've e-mailed Heritage on several occasions and have never once gotten a reply so don't feel bad! I think it just depends on how the planets are aligned, which way the wind is blowing and something about a groundhog and his shadow. ``They didn't have a computer in the place,''Vince Margol said. ``They just kept doing business the way they did it in the '50s'' when they started working for Gibson Guitar Corp." ``We have a computer now,'' he said, pointing to an example of a change he's bringing to the company. All Heritage's bookkeeping will be computerized to make sure orders are filled and the company is paid for its products, the four owners said. ``But we're not looking to automate,'' he says of the building of the guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpunk Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 ``They didn't have a computer in the place,''Vince Margol said. ``They just kept doing business the way they did it in the '50s'' when they started working for Gibson Guitar Corp."``We have a computer now,'' he said, pointing to an example of a change he's bringing to the company. All Heritage's bookkeeping will be computerized to make sure orders are filled and the company is paid for its products, the four owners said. ``But we're not looking to automate,'' he says of the building of the guitars. You forgot the last line: "With that, Vince and the gang climbed in to their covered wagon and rode off into another beautiful Kalamazoo sunset." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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