Heritage Guitar Inc, Artists

I began playing guitar in 1962, at age 16. Started out playing along with Rock'n'Roll records by Duane Eddy and Gene Vincent. Heard Jazz on a radio station in Salt Lake City and was hooked immediately by Kenny Burrell, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Bill Evan's, Miles Davis and of course Wes Montgomery.

My father, George Beck, was an absolute monster on the Hammond Organ. This is where I learned to play standards, and the organ trio (my next CD will be an organ trio) is still my favorite venue.

I played guitar and Fender Bass in local Rock and Country bands around Oregon and Northern California. Always wanting to be a Jazz Player I could readily find work in Blues Bands as I had developed a style along the lines of Freddy, Albert and of course B.B. King. I went to England in 1967 and put my blues chops to work while there.

After returning to the states I went to the University of Oregon studying Music, Philosophy and Psychology.

I have always been interested in "Who is really doing the playing during improvisation".

While in Eugene, Oregon I played virtually every style of music that could be played on guitar.

In 1973 I fell in love with the sound of Jazz being played on the pedal steel guitar. My first steel I bought from the great Jazz guitarist Buddy Fite. Buddy introduced me to his E6 tuning and together we developed this tuning and our own pedal arrangement for Seirra Pedal Steel Guitars. Alas, as fate would have it I became in demand around Oregon in Country bands as I could double on steel and guitar.

The Steel is where I learned my unique chord voicings that were inspired by my Father, Buddy Fite, and George VanEpps.

I have played the last 12 years as a solo guitarist playing in Restaurants around Oregon, from Portland to Ashland. My Heritage Eagle guitar has two electric bass strings on the bottom so that I can keep a bass line going with my thumb while playing the melody and chords with my fingers.

The only reason I got back into playing with a trio is being introduced to Clint Newell my drummer. He is an absolute Killer on the drums, with an ear that picks up everything I'm playing and does something to compliment me. He came out of the same era of Jazz, listening to the three M's.. Miles, Monk and Montgomery.

Today I play a lot of music on my seven Heritage guitars, as they truly are "The sound I was always looking for"

Gary Beck..............7/31/02

MY THOUGHTS ON THE NEW PREMIUM HRW PICKUPS

Of all my arch tops, the one that has the sound I've always been looking for is my H-157 with the HRW pickups. The funny thing is it's a solid body!! Everyone who has heard my CD can't believe that the big fat arch top sound on Henry Mancini's "Dreamsville" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave" is in fact a solid body. The HRW's can go from mellow Jazz to straight ahead blues in the middle of the song! No pedals or channel switching Just straight ahead versatility and tone to die for. My Heritage H-157 with the HRW's is the best thing to happen to my career since my first George Van Epps record.


		Gary Beck I began playing guitar in 1962, at age 16. Started out playing along with Rock'n'Roll records by Duane Eddy and Gene Vincent. Heard Jazz on a radio station in Salt Lake City and was hooked immediately by Kenny Burrell, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Bill Evan's, Miles Davis and of course Wes Montgomery. My father, George Beck, was an absolute monster on the Hammond Organ. This is where I learned to play standards, and the organ trio (my next CD will be an organ trio) is still my favorite venue. I played guitar and Fender Bass in local Rock and Country bands around Oregon and Northern California. Always wanting to be a Jazz Player I could readily find work in Blues Bands as I had developed a style along the lines of Freddy, Albert and of course B.B. King. I went to England in 1967 and put my blues chops to work while there. After returning to the states I went to the University of Oregon studying Music, Philosophy and Psychology. I have always been interested in "Who is really doing the playing during improvisation". While in Eugene, Oregon I played virtually every style of music that could be played on guitar. In 1973 I fell in love with the sound of Jazz being played on the pedal steel guitar. My first steel I bought from the great Jazz guitarist Buddy Fite. Buddy introduced me to his E6 tuning and together we developed this tuning and our own pedal arrangement for Seirra Pedal Steel Guitars. Alas, as fate would have it I became in demand around Oregon in Country bands as I could double on steel and guitar. The Steel is where I learned my unique chord voicings that were inspired by my Father, Buddy Fite, and George VanEpps. I have played the last 12 years as a solo guitarist playing in Restaurants around Oregon, from Portland to Ashland. My Heritage Eagle guitar has two electric bass strings on the bottom so that I can keep a bass line going with my thumb while playing the melody and chords with my fingers. The only reason I got back into playing with a trio is being introduced to Clint Newell my drummer. He is an absolute Killer on the drums, with an ear that picks up everything I'm playing and does something to compliment me. He came out of the same era of Jazz, listening to the three M's.. Miles, Monk and Montgomery. Today I play a lot of music on my seven Heritage guitars, as they truly are "The sound I was always looking for" Gary Beck..............7/31/02 MY THOUGHTS ON THE NEW PREMIUM HRW PICKUPS Of all my arch tops, the one that has the sound I've always been looking for is my H-157 with the HRW pickups. The funny thing is it's a solid body!! Everyone who has heard my CD can't believe that the big fat arch top sound on Henry Mancini's "Dreamsville" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave" is in fact a solid body. The HRW's can go from mellow Jazz to straight ahead blues in the middle of the song! No pedals or channel switching Just straight ahead versatility and tone to die for. My Heritage H-157 with the HRW's is the best thing to happen to my career since my first George Van Epps record.