Six String Synopsis:
Orville Gibson (1856‑1918) started making mandolins in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Five business men backed Gibson to form The Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co. Ltd. In 1902, Orville Gibson was considered to be a bit eccentric and may have suffered from some sort of mental health condition.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Gibson became the leading manufacturer of arch‑top guitars, particularly the Gibson L5 model designed by Lloyd Loar. In 1936 Gibson introduced the first ‘Electric Spanish’ (i.e. ES) model, the ES‑150, generally recognised as the first commercially successful production electric guitar. The 1950s saw a surge in creativity and classic design, partly driven by long-standing intense competition with its main rival at the time, Epiphone and partly by the threat from new-kid-on-the-block, Fender. Gibson has tended to focus on guitars and has been less successful with basses and amplifiers over the years compared to its main rival, Fender.
In 1952, Gibson launched a now-iconic solid-bodied guitar designed in collaboration with the popular guitarist and innovator Les Paul (1915‑2009). The late 1950s saw a number of new guitar designs including the ES‑335, which first appeared in 1958, and two ‘modernistic’ guitars to compete with popular Fender solid guitars, the Explorer and Flying V, both introduced in 1958. In 1961, the design of the Les Paul was changed fundamentally and became known as the Gibson SG (i.e. Solid Guitar). While the SG remained in production, the ‘proper’ Les Paul didn’t reappear until 1968.
Gibson’s parent company, Chicago Musical Instruments Ltd (CMI) was taken over by a South American company called ECL in 1969 and then by Norlin Musical Instruments in 1974. Production of Gibson guitars was shifted from Kalamazoo to Nashville, Tennessee in 1974. Following a period of poor quality control and severe financial difficulties, the Gibson Guitar Corporation was bought in early 1986 by three businessmen, Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman and Gary A. Zebrowski. Further production plants were also opened in Memphis, Tennessee (1984) as well as Bozeman, Montana (1989).
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, now a private company, is based in Nashville, Tennessee and continues to develop and produce high quality instruments into the 21st century. The company is now referred to as Gibson Inc.
Vintage Gibson guitars, in particular, are much sought after by collectors, musicians and enthusiasts alike, with many key models reaching high market values. The 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard is held in particularly high esteem.
Gibson’s official website is… Gibson.com
Check out the Gibson page on Wikipedia… Wikipedia.org
Famous Gibson acoustic guitars include… J‑160, J‑180, J‑-200, L‑1, L‑4, Hummingbird, Dove, Gospel
Famous Gibson electric guitars include… Byrdland (1955), Corvus, ES‑125 (1941), ES‑175 (1945), ES‑225, ES‑330 (1959), ES‑335/345/355 (1959/1958), Explorer (1958), Firebird (1963), Flying V (1958), L5 (1922), L6‑S, Les Paul (1952), Melody Maker (1959), Moderne (1983), RD Series (1977), SG (1961), Sonex‑180, Super 400 (1934), Blueshawk, Challenger, EDS‑1275, Marauder, Nighthawk, S‑1, Spirit, Victory
Famous Gibson bass guitars include… Thunderbird, EB Series, Grabber, Ripper, Victory
Famous Gibson amplifiers include… EH‑100, EH‑125, EH‑150, BR‑4, G‑10, G‑20, G‑40, GA‑5 Skylark, GA‑15RV, GA‑25RVT, GA‑30, GA‑40, GA‑50, GA‑80, Atlas, Hawk, Mercury, Ranger, Invader, Hercules, Medalist, Lancer, Apollo, Titan, Vanguard, Crestline, Thor, Saturn, Explorer, Scout, Falcon, Minuteman
Some famous Gibson guitar players include… Johnny A, Jan Akkerman, Duane Allman, Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Marc Bolan (T.Rex), Joe Bonamassa, Jack Bruce (Cream), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Larry Carlton, Charlie Christian, John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service), Steve Clarke (Def Leppard), Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Herb Ellis, John Entwistle (The Who), Peter Frampton, Ace Frehley (Kiss), Billy Gibson (ZZ Top), Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy), Grant Green, Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Woody Guthrie, Steve Hackett (Genesis), Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers/Gov’t Mule), Jimi Hendrix, James Hetfield (Metallica), Steve Howe (Yes), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Joan Jett, Eric Johnson, Robert Johnson, Brian Jones (Rolling Stones), Mick Jones (The Clash), Barney Kessel, Albert King, B.B. King, Freddie King, Mark Knopfler, Paul Kossoff (Free), Lenny Kravitz, Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, Trini Lopez, John McLaughlin, Lonnie Mack, Bob Marley, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, Gary Moore, Scotty Moore, Ted Nugent, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Joe Pass, Les Paul, Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osborne), Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy), Mick Ronson (David Bowie), Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Carlos Santana, Michael Schenker (UFO/Scorpions), Neil Schon (Journey), Slash (Guns ‘n’ Roses), Paul Stanley (KISS), Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones), The Edge (U2), George Thorogood, Pete Townshend (The Who), Derek Trucks, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Winter, Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Zakk Wylde, Angus Young (AC/DC), Neil Young, Frank Zappa
Related Gibson brands include… Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, Wurlitzer
Links to CRAVE Guitars Gibson Features:
1984 Gibson Explorer Custom Shop
1984 Gibson Explorer Designer Series ‘Union Jack‘
1976 Gibson Firebird Bicentennial
1984 Gibson Flying V Designer Series
1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top
1982 Gibson Moderne Korina Heritage
© 2015 CRAVE Guitars – Love Vintage Guitars