Heritage Guitar is an American musical instrument manufacturer company based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The company produces a range of electric guitars, including hollow-body models.
History
Heritage Guitar was founded in 1985 by three former employees of the Gibson guitar factory, Jim Deurloo, Marv Lamb, and JP Moats.
In the early 1980s, Gibson closed its historic Parsons Street factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, due to excess production, and relocated much of its production to its factory in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the Gibson employees who did not move to Tennessee started production of guitars under a new name, "Heritage," which was likely meant to stake a claim to their guitar-making tradition.
The Heritage line initially consisted of electric and acoustic guitars, electric basses, mandolins, and a banjo. The line was eventually narrowed to electric guitars only. Although most of Heritage's guitars were based on Gibson designs, a few of their early electric guitars were based on modified Stratocaster and Telecaster designs.
In 2024, Heritage launched a new budget line known as the Ascent Collection. These instruments are made in China with more affordable woods, finishes, and electronics. They also lean heavily into bolt-on neck construction, features not typically associated with the Heritage lineup.
Current status
Guitarist Alex Skolnick, of the band Testament, formerly endorsed Heritage Guitar. For a short time, the Heritage Guitar company offered an "Alex Skolnick signature model H-150". In 2013, Skolnick announced his endorsement of ESP Guitars. Skolnick is now an endorser of Godin Jazz guitars.
David Becker
Jazz guitarist, composer, and two-time Grammy nominee David Becker has been endorsing Heritage Guitar for more than 30 years. He was one of the first artists to join Heritage in 1988. The "David Becker H-575 Signature Model" features a solid spruce top, maple sides and back, and a humbucker and piezo pickup.
Others
Jazz guitarist, producer, and composer Henry Johnson was the second endorser of Heritage Guitar, beginning in 1985. Country musician Roy Clark endorsed Heritage Guitar,