When, in 1984, Gibson left it’s base in Kalamazoo, MI, having built guitars there for the previous 67 years, it seemed as though the town’s great tradition of lutherie might be ending. But the Gibson factory was almost immediately taken over by a brand new firm, Heritage Guitars. It’s co-founders were ex-Gibson employees, and it’s staff was mainly former Gibson craftsmen. Heritage’s first instrument, a solid-body electric guitar, debuted in 1985.

Since then, the company has won numerous plaudits for the superb quality of it’s instruments. The Heritage H-550 was a full-depth semi-acoustic, perfect for jazz and blues. It boasts a maple body, two humbucking pickups, and mother-of-pearl inlays and bindings.