Heritage History

Heritage Guitar Inc. of 225 Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan was incorporated on April 1, 1985. The company is going on 18 years old, it has achieved the status of one of the premier guitar companies in the world today. It is, in many instances, the new guitar line handled by countless vintage shops throughout the world. This indicates it is thought of as the collectible guitar of tomorrow.

The idea to start Heritage Guitar began when the Gibson Guitar Corporation closed its Kalamazoo, Michigan factory in September of 1984 and moved all production to its other plant in Nashville, Tennessee (in operation since 1975). When this took place, some of the employees were asked to move to Nashville. However, since their families had spent many years in Kalamazoo, it made it difficult to uproot and move. Therefore 3 men, Jim Deurloo, Marvin Lamb, and JP Moats, decided to start a guitar manufacturing business. In 1985 when the company was incorporated, 2 other former Gibson Guitar Corporation employees, Bill Paige and Mike Korpak, joined as owners. Mike left the company in 1985.

The founders biggest resource is and was the group of craftsmen they could draw from to begin operations. The owners themselves each had in excess of 25 years of hands on experience in making guitars. To this day each of the owners is directly involved in the manufacturing of each instrument.

Heritage started operations in the oldest of five buildings formerly owned and operated by Gibson Guitar Corporation. That building was completed in 1917 and has been a center for guitar manufacturing ever since. Much of the machinery that Heritage uses today, was purchased from Gibson Guitar Corporation.

The first guitar Heritage introduced was the H140 solid body single cutaway electric guitar. This model was shown at the NAMM show in June of 1985.

Since that time Heritage has added many instruments. Currently Heritage manufacturers Custom Carved Hollow Body Guitars, Semi Hollow Body Guitars, and Solid Body Guitars. This is to say nothing of the countless number of custom instruments made in each of the groups previously mentioned. Banjos, Mandolins, Flat Tops, and Basses, are no longer being produced because of the demand for the guitars mentioned in the above 3 categories.

Heritage is proud of its employees’ 25 years of average experience and what is has accomplished in 18 years.

Jim Deurloo - Jim was born in Plainwell, Mi. on 4/17/39. He started with Gibson Guitar in August of 1958 in rim and neck sanding. From there Jim went to machine operator in the mill room and pattern maker. This was followed by a series of promotions up to general foreman of the pattern shop, and maintenance. Jim was then hired by Guild Guitars as plant manager from 1969 to 1974. He returned to Gibson Guitar Corporation as project engineer to help develop the Nashville plant including development of the production process, tooling, and purchasing of production equipment. At the same time Jim was head of engineering. He then became assistant plant manager at Gibson Guitar and then plant manager in 1978. Jim is one of the owners of Heritage and serves as pattern maker, designer, builder and does machinery carving of tops and backs. His favorite hobby is golf.

Marv Lamb - Marv is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, born June 25, 1939, He moved to Michigan in 1955. He was hired by Gibson Guitar Corporation in May of 1956 to do hand sanding, followed by several different jobs in the wood shop. Marv then had a series of promotions including final inspection in the white wood shop to foreman of white wood, to general foreman of finishing and final assembly. In 1974 he became plant superintendent. He held that position until Gibson Guitar Corporation closed the plant on September 14, 1984. Marv is an owner of Heritage and designs instruments, makes patterns makes necks, and has produced various finishing ideas. His favorite hobbies are hunting and fishing.

JP Moats - Also a native of the South, JP was born in Moulton, Ala., on 2/10/36. He moved to Michigan in 1952 where he began working in a paper mill for 5 years. JP joined Gibson Guitar Corp in 1957 where he worked in white wood sanding, then final cleaning. This was followed by a series of promotions including final inspector, supervisor of buffing and finishing sanding, supervisor of inspectors, head of quality control and in charge of inspecting wood before it was purchased to make a guitar. At the same time he inspected wood he was also in charge of repairs, and custom orders. In addition to being an owner of Heritage, JP gets involved in design, wood selection, rim bending, and assembly to gluing. His favorite hobby is buying, selling, and trading of guitars and cars.

Bill Paige - Born June 3, 1945 in Alpena, Michigan, Bill moved to Kalamazoo in the early 70’s. He served in the Navy and graduated in the business school from Western Michigan Univ. in 1974.

Bill joined Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1975 as a cost accountant and served in various capacities in the accounting department until the plant closed in 1984. Also an owner of Heritage, Bill is the controller of the company. He is responsible for coordination all of the functions other than guitar manufacturing. If you call Heritage for any reason there is a very good chance that Bill will actually be the one to pick up and answer your phone call. Bill’s favorite hobby is trout fishing.