More about Gibson Guitars
All About Gibson Guitars
A lot can change in a century or so. Times change, eras come and go, but rarely do the threads connecting one time to the next remain as prominent in hindsight. Gibson is a rare instance where this is not the case. A historic American brand, Gibson’s claim to its legendary status manifests through its extensive legacy of instruments, dedication to quality, and massive influence on culture. Through Gibson’s legacy of fine musical instruments can their origins as a legendary American name be traced.
The Gibson family of instruments spans an enormous stretch of time with icons old and new all along the way. With two turns of a century, the births and rebirths of modern American culture, and so much classic music, the Gibson name has witnessed quite a bit. Today’s Gibson electric and acoustic guitars embody the enduring spirit that kept the name relevant for generations – and with that spirit, they carry that name into the future.
The History of Gibson
An industrious story as American as apple pie, the Gibson company started with its founder, Orville Gibson, in 1894. Gibson’s first innovations began with the patent of the single-piece mandolin right before the turn of the twentieth century from a one-room workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A couple years later, 1902 brought the official incorporation of Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd. for the marketing of these new instruments.
Forty years on, the war years proved difficult for Gibson due to shortages in woods and metals. As the company expanded past mandolins and into the new form of the “electric guitar,” new directions in instrument design evolved with a few key moments. New modes of jazz, country, and blues in popular music made a star of guitarist Les Paul – and with this stardom came his namesake Gibson solidbody model. Ted McCarty, president of the company by 1950, spearheaded developments alongside the guitarist’s rising star with 1952’s Gibson Les Paul – a classic among classics.
McCarty’s visions for the Gibson name expanded beyond the wartime and post-war moments. By the times of the colorful ‘60s, Gibson brought to life new innovations with the Gibson SG (“solid guitar”), Explorer, Flying V, and Firebird, among many others. Times sped up for the iconic American name, by this time nearing sixty years of incorporation. Through the 1970s and ‘80s, production efforts moved from Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory to Nashville, Tennessee and Bozeman, Montana, where they remain to this day.
What Gibson is Known For
Gibson guitars live on today in a legacy of fine instrument design. The Gibson name extends back generations and delivers on quality craftsmanship and creative vision. Exclusive and timeless designs come straight from Gibson as they have for decades, inspiring players all along the way. These timeless treasures can be found in popular music across time and the globe.
Today’s Gibson guitars come together with familiar formulas of materials and electronics from their family of predecessors – when you play a Gibson, you are taking part in a musical legacy, generations in the making. Gibson’s mastery of mahogany woods and humbucking electronics in particular appears across their line of instruments with both frequently making appearances on Gibson classics. Pick up a Gibson Les Paul or SG and you’ll hear their time-tested combination of mahogany and humbuckers come to life for a colorfully musical experience every time.
Gibson Guitars Today
With Gibson guitars, players have an opportunity to take part in a historic legacy. Gibson today produces time-tested models and new treasures alike for any electric guitar fan to fall head over heels for. Gibson’s family of brands today extends across a wide spectrum of exceptionally musical names – all with that indispensable Gibson seal of quality.
When perusing the Gibson line of products, one will come across an all-star lineup of names. The Gibson family includes historic names like Epiphone, another legendary American company known for quality electric guitars and basses. Epiphone’s original creations and “Inspired by Gibson” series models capture an extensive legacy of sounds that perfectly align with Gibson’s mark of quality.
A few other names, some particularly found in the high-octane ‘80s, include Kramer and Mesa Boogie. Between Kramer’s instantly recognizable, hard-rocking guitars and Mesa Boogie’s brand of thunderous amplification, the exciting sounds of ‘80s rock and metal live on through Gibson today. These famous brands, among many others, all fly the Gibson flag today and continue to inspire players with their own unique type of musicality.
Gibson Custom Shop
The Gibson Custom Shop is one of the world’s premier sources of fine electric guitar design and craftsmanship. Their workshop headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee represents the pinnacle of quality – handcrafted and individual every single time. Gibson’s Custom Shop pieces utilize high-quality tonewoods and authentic Gibson humbucking pickups to tie them together as a unified yet incredibly varied series.
Gibson Custom Shop luthiers are responsible for some of the most advanced and revered electric guitars in the world today. Drawing inspiration from the original, vintage models that came before them, Gibson Custom Shop pieces utilize some of the same assembly and finishing processes that their predecessors did – making them models both of their time and out of it.
Today’s Custom Shop models can be found with rich mahogany bodies, lush ebony and rosewood fingerboards, and even classically-inspired, vintage-style Murphy Lab body finishes, pioneered by Gibson Custom Shop Master Artisian and Luthier Tom Murphy.
The Best Gibson Electric Guitars at Russo Music
Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar
An icon among icons. The Gibson Les Paul plays with a storied legacy all its own with its maple top and mahogany body, mahogany neck and humbucking pickups.
Gibson SG Electric Guitar
A devil-horned classic. The Gibson SG (solid guitar) is the devilishly charming follow-up to the Les Paul dating back to the 1960s. Its fully mahogany one-piece body bears an iconic double-cutaway form and punchy humbucking pickups.
Gibson ES Electric Guitar
A hollowbody for anyone. The Gibson ES, or Electric Spanish, model of guitar famous for its carefully crafted layered body, f-hole hollow design, and expressive humbuckers. Players like B.B. King and Trini Lopez gravitated toward these models and made them famous.
Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar
An offset for the ages. The Gibson Thunderbird bass is a classically designed bass guitar known for its reverse-offset body design, backwards headstock, and thunderous humbucking pickups.
Gibson Flying V Electric Guitar
A rocket to the moon. The Gibson Flying V has always been a crowd pleaser and fan favorite for its dynamic shapes and sounds. Gibson Flying Vs often come together with mahogany bodies and necks, triangular headstocks, and powerful humbuckers.
Have any questions? Not sure which Gibson guitar is perfect for you? Wondering if we carry your Gibson favorite? Give us a shout and let us help out – our team is always ready to talk.
Stay on Top of Gibson News & Reviews
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