When I was a kid in the early 70's my Elementary school had a bus trip too the Gibson Kalamazoo factory. It was a very cool experience. A complete wood working mill and paint shop in one big old bldg. Very heavy lacquer smell as I remember. The finished product line had incredible guitars. Probably the 2nd biggest influence for me wanting to play guitar. Also of Note many Women worked in this shop at that time.
I too took a middle school field trip to Gibson guitar in the mid 70's. Definitely one of the most memorable days while in school. You are right about the women, my aunt was one of them. She was sanding les Paul bodies the day of my tour. I can still smell the nitro cellulose. Too bad they moved south.
I had the pleasure and privilege of getting a guided tour through the Parsons Street facility in the summer of 1982, I was shown through the original facility in addition to the very large, and more modern, adjoining building, that was built in response to the folk boom of the early 1960s, and exploding demand for acoustic guitars. Now empty, it still had much of the 60s office furniture sitting around, and looked very much like those empty office scenes in the last season of the show "Mad Men". Although Gibson had moved out guitar production to Nashville, Memphis, and other locales by that point, the original Parsons St. facility was still tending to restoration and repair of heritage instruments (saw a lovely old harp guitar there) as well as various carved-top electrics and other one-offs, like the "map guitar". As noted, once Gibson closed the facility down permanently, it was purchased by many of the staff, and became the HQ of Heritage Guitars. I hope that whatever plans are in store for the Parson St. building, the wooden floorboards will be kept intact. Much of the musical history of America resides in the dust sitting in the cracks between those well-worn boards. It just smells like...music. I had originally stopped in to try and buy some parts I needed, one of them was a spring for a Bigsby I had. The gentleman who gave me the tour (they were closed down for inventory at that point, which is why he graciously offered the tour; no machinery in operation, so no insurance risks) told me they didn't have Bigsby parts, but told me the Bigsby factory was just the other side of the highway, and I could probably get the spring there. I quickly motored over to the Bigsby plant, and who should greet me at the door but the great Ted McCarty; the former Gibson President and man overseeing so many of the most iconic Gibson models, until they were bought by Norlin. He too graciously gave me a tour, eagerly pulling boxes off the shelf to show me things like gleaming gold-plated triple palm pedals. He gave me his business card, which I have framed, and keep as a precious memento.
@@FlyinFlynnMedia One of THE greatest days of my life. Mr. McCarty was every bit as nice as you'd hope someone that important could be. He was SO eager to show off Bigsby products, I describe him as being like a kid who simply *cannot* wait to show you the model train he got for Christmas. I wish I could remember the name of the fellow at Gibson who gave me the tour, so I could give him credit. He capped it off by pulling out a Kalamazoo Award guitar, a carved archtop that was their most expensive model at the time. "Just breathe on it" he said, as he held it in front of my face, and the strings resonated for quite a while after I exhaled. Over forty years later, and I'm still amazed.
Thank you for making this and preserving the legacy. Just a note, the music was a bit high in the mix (but I love it) it was hard to hear your narrative. I grew up in the area and have been to the plant many times as a young musician.
Beautiful aerial shots of this legendary old Gibson guitar factory. I hope it will be renovated soon. Excellent smooth piloting and very nice video, John.🤘👏
Many thanks! The factory is on the national historic register which is good and bad as while it protects it to a degree but makes it more problematic to renovate or repurpose.
I have a Kalamazoo Model Two amp made in 1966. In excellent shape and sounds great. Also, a Harmony Comet guitar made in the Heritage guitar plant. Both made in Kalamazoo!
My friend brought his Gibson guitar in and they repaired the broken Truss rod. They did repairs back in the day. This was back in the '70's. I hope they can bring the building back.
It will be great to have it restored to it original beauty. Buildings back then were so well designed to be both beautiful and functional. Unfortunately odds against it.
I visited the original building in 2008 or 2009. It was like stepping back in time. Back in the 60's, I bought a new Gibson ES-335. When I visited Heritage, they claimed that two or three people from Gibson were still working there and probably partially built my guitar. They claimed the same guy was still working in the paint booth. I found that totally amazing. And I'm not sure if they're still there, but ProCo Sound was on the back side of the building. I bought a ProCo guitar cord back in 1972 and still have it to this day. Only one end of it had to be repaired once in all those years.😊
You have some great memories! I would love to get a peak inside! It would be cool to shoot some content inside that historic building. Thanks for watching !
I just decoded the serial number on my Les Paul. It's a Wednesday guitar, made on September 14th, 1983 in Nashville. I was hoping I got one of the last from Kalamazoo, but no. Still, I'll never get rid of my Les Paul that I bought brand new with my own hard-earned money back in '84 as a 20 year old kid.
Love the documentary. Some constructive criticism, I had to turn on the closed caption as I could not hear you over the music. It's always tricky to drop music bed enough to create the mood and hear the narrator. My students do this thinking it is low enough until they replay the video and then have to go back and drop music even lower. I tell them to drop it lower than you think you need it.... and love the Deer garden comment. 🤣🤣🤣 (beer) Nicely done. It felt very 1970's- 80's ish!!!!
An Absolutely great video , love the background music 🎵🎶🎸 the railroad line at the side added to the affect , if only walls could talk , my Les Paul standard is 1981 were would this have made because all I know about it is that I bought it from Ray Mellors music store in Boston England in 1982 for the pricely sum of 840 pounds 🎸🇬🇧
I went thereover 30 years ago, the building was red then and was looking really dilapidated. Heritage was in the basement at the time, JP Moats gave me a quickie tour. Not a great area of town as I remember.
One big problem they have with putting anything there is that's one of the worse neighborhoods in Kalamazoo. The entire area is overrun with drug dealers, gangs and homeless. I'd be surprised if Hard Rock ever manages to do anything there considering the area and the recent financial problems with Hard Rock themselves.
Being a historic landmark sometimes slows the process and makes it more difficult to be restored. Hopeful that this is restored and can be enjoyed by all.
i believe that a site that enters into the registry of HL becomes a federally funded entity & usually staffed if visitors are allowed. it would likely get a make over for safety & visuals ie: glass, paint lots of tlc. it will not get restored to 75yrs ago condition. they will most likely attempt to recreate areas of interest for tourist/museum display and those areas will see significant restoration/recreation & upkeep but lots of that building will get make-up & lipstick only which will still be significant. . the Hard Rock cafe will have no input/ control if its entered into the registry.. they may be able to donate $$ but..
The balance between the guitar background and voice-over make it hard to understand the narrative. Music is too loud. Thanks for the video though. I enjoyed it.
It could! The addition of a hotel, museum and other amenities as planned by the hard Rock hotel could really be a catalyst for the area and preserve a important piece of musical history.
When I was a kid in the early 70's my Elementary school had a bus trip too the Gibson Kalamazoo factory. It was a very cool experience. A complete wood working mill and paint shop in one big old bldg. Very heavy lacquer smell as I remember. The finished product line had incredible guitars. Probably the 2nd biggest influence for me wanting to play guitar. Also of Note many Women worked in this shop at that time.
Very cool! Thanks for watching.
I too took a middle school field trip to Gibson guitar in the mid 70's. Definitely one of the most memorable days while in school. You are right about the women, my aunt was one of them. She was sanding les Paul bodies the day of my tour. I can still smell the nitro cellulose. Too bad they moved south.
Back when I did Gibson's advertising, I spent my share of time in this building. Thanks for the memories...
I bet you have some great memories! I appreciate you watching and commenting.
@@FlyinFlynnMedia Indeed I do. Got wto work with some of my heroes...
Wow. Super cool.
@@TedNemeth A favorite thing about my 38 years in advertising...
I had the pleasure and privilege of getting a guided tour through the Parsons Street facility in the summer of 1982, I was shown through the original facility in addition to the very large, and more modern, adjoining building, that was built in response to the folk boom of the early 1960s, and exploding demand for acoustic guitars. Now empty, it still had much of the 60s office furniture sitting around, and looked very much like those empty office scenes in the last season of the show "Mad Men". Although Gibson had moved out guitar production to Nashville, Memphis, and other locales by that point, the original Parsons St. facility was still tending to restoration and repair of heritage instruments (saw a lovely old harp guitar there) as well as various carved-top electrics and other one-offs, like the "map guitar". As noted, once Gibson closed the facility down permanently, it was purchased by many of the staff, and became the HQ of Heritage Guitars.
I hope that whatever plans are in store for the Parson St. building, the wooden floorboards will be kept intact. Much of the musical history of America resides in the dust sitting in the cracks between those well-worn boards. It just smells like...music.
I had originally stopped in to try and buy some parts I needed, one of them was a spring for a Bigsby I had. The gentleman who gave me the tour (they were closed down for inventory at that point, which is why he graciously offered the tour; no machinery in operation, so no insurance risks) told me they didn't have Bigsby parts, but told me the Bigsby factory was just the other side of the highway, and I could probably get the spring there. I quickly motored over to the Bigsby plant, and who should greet me at the door but the great Ted McCarty; the former Gibson President and man overseeing so many of the most iconic Gibson models, until they were bought by Norlin. He too graciously gave me a tour, eagerly pulling boxes off the shelf to show me things like gleaming gold-plated triple palm pedals. He gave me his business card, which I have framed, and keep as a precious memento.
Wow! What an incredible memory. That you for sharing it. I sure do hope that at least some of the building and its rich history saved and preserved !
@@FlyinFlynnMedia One of THE greatest days of my life. Mr. McCarty was every bit as nice as you'd hope someone that important could be. He was SO eager to show off Bigsby products, I describe him as being like a kid who simply *cannot* wait to show you the model train he got for Christmas. I wish I could remember the name of the fellow at Gibson who gave me the tour, so I could give him credit. He capped it off by pulling out a Kalamazoo Award guitar, a carved archtop that was their most expensive model at the time. "Just breathe on it" he said, as he held it in front of my face, and the strings resonated for quite a while after I exhaled. Over forty years later, and I'm still amazed.
A piece of American history, hopefully it gets renovated back to it's full potential.
Great job, enjoyed it John!!
Thank you Dan! I sure hope it gets saved too. It an important part of American culture and history!
Ya right , they’ll burn it down like they plan on doing with the rest of the country. Unfortunately
Thank you for making this and preserving the legacy. Just a note, the music was a bit high in the mix (but I love it) it was hard to hear your narrative. I grew up in the area and have been to the plant many times as a young musician.
Thank You for documenting the old Gibson Plant, very cool
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching!
I was in the building last June.
At 3 floors, it was designed to have 2 more floors added later. There are "stairways to nowhere" because of this.
Beautiful aerial shots of this legendary old Gibson guitar factory. I hope it will be renovated soon. Excellent smooth piloting and very nice video, John.🤘👏
Thanks Michael! I love these old rusted roof buildings, it being historically significant makes it all the more important that it is restored.
Between Gibson, heritage and the ghs factory in Battle Creek; sw mi has a wild amount of guitar history!
Lots of musical history here! Thanks for watching.
Fascinating short documentary, I hope the old Gibson guitar factory is heritage protected and preserved.
Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺.
Many thanks! The factory is on the national historic register which is good and bad as while it protects it to a degree but makes it more problematic to renovate or repurpose.
I used to live a couple miles from the factory in Kalamazoo. I've been there a few times, and done some underground utility work there.
✌💀👍🎸🎼🎵🎶🇺🇸
I have a Kalamazoo Model Two amp made in 1966. In excellent shape and sounds great. Also, a Harmony Comet guitar made in the Heritage guitar plant. Both made in Kalamazoo!
Very cool! Thanks so much for watching. Hopefully you can visit the place where your guitar was made someday when it is restored!
My friend brought his Gibson guitar in and they repaired the broken Truss rod. They did repairs back in the day. This was back in the '70's. I hope they can bring the building back.
I sure hope so too!
Save that smokestack! Proud owner of a '71 Gibson 335 since '82.
Save the stack AND the building! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing... Love my Gibson
Thank you for watching! Hopefully this iconic structure can be saved!
Awesome drone footage and amazing aerial view. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
Many thanks to you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful history thanks for sharing
Thank you my friend! I’m really hoping that this building is saved in some form!
It will be great to have it restored to it original beauty. Buildings back then were so well designed to be both beautiful and functional. Unfortunately odds against it.
Time will tell!
Thank you.
Great new logo buddy. Holy crap the shot of that building is epic.
Thanks Ted! I love these special old buildings! I’m hoping to get a tour of the inside one day.
Awesome bit of history brother. Thanks for sharing. 🎸 🦅🇺🇸
Thanks Ronnie! I love these old historic buildings but I also hate to see them fall into dilapidation.
Well Done! Thanks for sharing!!! 👍👍👍
Appreciate you watching and your support Budd! Hoping that this historic place can be saved and enjoyed by everyone.
I have an old Gibson Kalamazoo arch top made in the 1930’s plays well and holds a tune.
That’s is cool! Thanks for watching.
I visited the original building in 2008 or 2009. It was like stepping back in time. Back in the 60's, I bought a new Gibson ES-335. When I visited Heritage, they claimed that two or three people from Gibson were still working there and probably partially built my guitar. They claimed the same guy was still working in the paint booth. I found that totally amazing. And I'm not sure if they're still there, but ProCo Sound was on the back side of the building. I bought a ProCo guitar cord back in 1972 and still have it to this day. Only one end of it had to be repaired once in all those years.😊
You have some great memories! I would love to get a peak inside! It would be cool to shoot some content inside that historic building. Thanks for watching !
Good documentary🙂
Thank You for this great film from another FLYNN
Glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate you watching.
I wonder if they still have free tours every Wednesday at 1pm ?
I’m not sure. Maybe try contacting Heritage Guitars?
I just decoded the serial number on my Les Paul. It's a Wednesday guitar, made on September 14th, 1983 in Nashville. I was hoping I got one of the last from Kalamazoo, but no. Still, I'll never get rid of my Les Paul that I bought brand new with my own hard-earned money back in '84 as a 20 year old kid.
Love the documentary. Some constructive criticism, I had to turn on the closed caption as I could not hear you over the music. It's always tricky to drop music bed enough to create the mood and hear the narrator. My students do this thinking it is low enough until they replay the video and then have to go back and drop music even lower. I tell them to drop it lower than you think you need it.... and love the Deer garden comment. 🤣🤣🤣 (beer) Nicely done. It felt very 1970's- 80's ish!!!!
Thanks
just wild to think in 2024 four of my Les Pauls were built in this facility ,, and my SG Jr crazy
Absolutely fascinating
Thanks for watching Dom! It’s a cool location and an important part of musical history.
I need to get my guitar restored
I’m glad this video provided you with the inspiration to do that Warren!
Awesome job!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Very nice flight video! John. You're a natural at narrating.
Thank you Al! This spot has been on my list for quite awhile. So much musical history here! Praying that it will be preserved.
An Absolutely great video , love the background music 🎵🎶🎸 the railroad line at the side added to the affect , if only walls could talk , my Les Paul standard is 1981 were would this have made because all I know about it is that I bought it from Ray Mellors music store in Boston England in 1982 for the pricely sum of 840 pounds 🎸🇬🇧
Glad you enjoyed! Thank you for watching!
Well played, well played ✌🏻 loved it.
Thank you Brett! Love these old historical places. Praying that the development comes through and that it is done with preservation in mind!
Fascinating story 👌
It is! A lot of musical history!
it would be good to see this place restored and some 20th century music history preserved.....at the mo it looks very sad.
I agree! Hopefully it will be restored to be enjoyed. It’s an important piece of American history.
I went thereover 30 years ago, the building was red then and was looking really dilapidated. Heritage was in the basement at the time, JP Moats gave me a quickie tour. Not a great area of town as I remember.
This is amazing! I’m a Gibson fan, (own 4 of them ) A LP standard, 2 specials and an SG standard 😂 this is awesome man!
Awesome Chris! Can you imagine working there and having Les Paul or Johnny Cash coming up to you?! Thanks for watching. Hope to see you at the SFDM!
Nice upload 👌 👍
Thank you for watching! Cheers!
Very nice, "rockuementary" John!
This was fun to research and put together John. It’s been on my radar for quite awhile! Thanks for watching!
I don't know if it's just my phone, but the "background" music is much louder than your voiceover making it very hard to hear the story.
I’m sorry you can’t hear. Please see the description or turn on closed captioning. Thank you.
Hope they can restore it to something like the Ford Piquette Plant in Detroit.
That would be something! I just don’t want it to fall to,the wrecking ball.
Very interesting ... Left for more modern premises
Thanks Darren! Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice fly 🤝😎
Appreciate you Jesus!
Greed does not care about history. God forbid they turn this into a sneaker Warehouse. Please can someone save this building 🙏
Hopefully it can be saved! Thank you for watching.
You would think they would clean up the front windows to make it look less abandonded.
Agreed!
They should have stayed in Michigan!
I agree!
I have an old Kalamazoo Archtop that was made in this factory. I think?
That's awesome!. Most likely was.
I worked in a woodshop factory with a paint shop for 12 years. We made caskets. Not as groovy as guitars.
Unless you’re Dracula!
There is a walled off room in the basement full of 50’s guitars.
Cool! I just need one!
How do you expect anyone to hear your voice over the music?!!
I’m so sorry you couldn’t hear the narration. Have you tried reading the description attached? Your welcome.
I was Born in Kalamazoo
One big problem they have with putting anything there is that's one of the worse neighborhoods in Kalamazoo. The entire area is overrun with drug dealers, gangs and homeless. I'd be surprised if Hard Rock ever manages to do anything there considering the area and the recent financial problems with Hard Rock themselves.
We can hope that someone will come to the rescue!
For being a historic landmark it sure isn't being taken care of... But let's see what the renovation does. I live only about 20 mins or so from here.
Being a historic landmark sometimes slows the process and makes it more difficult to be restored. Hopeful that this is restored and can be enjoyed by all.
i believe that a site that enters into the registry of HL becomes a federally funded entity & usually staffed if visitors are allowed. it would likely get a make over for safety & visuals ie: glass, paint lots of tlc. it will not get restored to 75yrs ago condition. they will most likely attempt to recreate areas of interest for tourist/museum display and those areas will see significant restoration/recreation & upkeep but lots of that building will get make-up & lipstick only which will still be significant. . the Hard Rock cafe will have no input/ control if its entered into the registry.. they may be able to donate $$ but..
time marches on
It sure does! Thanks for watching!
Nice video. Maybe lower the music a bit so I can hear your narration better. Good luck with your YT channel
Thanks for watching
Who's playing the music?
Will Harrison - Corn liquor in the kettle
Own an Epiphone Texan built there in 1965.
The balance between the guitar background and voice-over make it hard to understand the narrative. Music is too loud. Thanks for the video though. I enjoyed it.
Thanks
IF Gibson had any sense, they would resurrect the thing in Kalamazoo
That would make a Great Bar, and look at all the factories to supply a Lunch/after work Crowd.
It could! The addition of a hotel, museum and other amenities as planned by the hard Rock hotel
could really be a catalyst for the area and preserve a important piece of musical history.
Nobody works around there much. All those buildings are minimal occupancy at best. Greetings from the former home of Gibson!
She sure looks like she needs some love.
She sure does Scott! Hopefully the deep pockets of the Hard Rock hotel will come through and save this historic site!
Maybe if they started building guitars there again the quality would get back to what it used to be!!!😂😂😂
Heritage guitars which was started by former Gibson employees makes guitars in a part of the complex.
great subject but, the music and narrator are competing for the same space.
The band was very loud! They’ve been told to keep it down on the next one.
I'd rather it fade into history than become a Hard Rock🤮
No mention of Heritage Guitars…?!?
Watch again
What a waste = should have been renovated!
I’m still hopeful that someone will preserve at least a part of this place! Thanks for watching!
Dig them blues bro 🎸
Me too Paul! Sure hope they can save this piece of American music history!
Very nice 👍
Thank you 👍. I’m glad you enjoyed it!