Orville Gibson founded the Gibson guitar company in 1902 in Kalamazoo, MI. He was making mandolins and other instruments in the area as early as 1890. Orville Gibson is credited with inventing arch top guitars by carving the tops like a violin. He started making flat top acoustic guitars in the 1930’s. In 1919 he hired Lloyd Loar to help him design modern instruments. Orville Gibson and Lloyd Loar are responsible for designing the finest banjos, guitars and mandolins ever. Gibson began experimenting with electric guitars in the 1930’s and by 1936 they had introduced their first electric spanish guitar, the ES-150. In the 1950’s Ted McCarty became president of Gibson Guitars and greatly expanded the number of models and types of instruments offered by the Gibson guitar Co. The Les Paul guitar came about when guitarist Les Paul and Ted McCarty set out to design a solid body electric guitar. Ted McCarty was also responsible for the Flying V, the Firebird, the Explorer, and the thin line hollow body guitars such as the ES-335, Birdland, ES-350, ES-225. Gibson produced their first bass guitar in 1953 called the EB-1. This was in response to the huge success that Fender had with the Precision Bass introduced a few years earlier. Gibson has had great success with their line of bass guitars such as the EBO, The EB-3, the Gibson Ripper, the Gibson Grabber, and their first 34- inch scale model, the Thunderbird which was first produced in 1963. Other major accomplishments of the Gibson guitar company in the 1950’s were the tune-o-matic bridge. This bridge allowed intonation of each individual guitar string. Gibson revolutionized the electric guitar pick up design by inventing a dual coil (humbucking) pick up that cancelled all hum and static. Gibson was purchased in 1969 by Norlin Inc. In 1974 guitar production was shifted to Nashville TN. They continued making guitars in Kalamazoo Michigan until 1974 when all production was moved to Nashville. Many musicians believe that between 1969 and 1974 production was inferior to that of previous years. In 1986 the company was purchased Henry Juszkiewicz, David Berryman, Gary Zebrowski and they revitalized the company and restored Gibson to its former greatness. These men made the Gibson guitar company very environmentally conscience. They have worked hard to protect the rain forests and the planet by supporting many non-profit organizations such as the rain forest alliance smart wood program, green peace, environmental defense and many others. The Gibson guitar company is also involved in many community projects and charities.
Famous Gibson Guitar Players
Johnny A
Jan Akkerman
Duane Allman
Billie Joe Armstrong
Chet Atkins
Martin Barre
Jeff Beck
Franny Beecher
Wayne Bennett
George Benson
Chuck Berry
Dickey Betts
Marc Bolan
Mick Box
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Jack Bruce
Sam Bush
Larry Carlton
Charlie Christian
John Cipollina
Eric Clapton
Dennis Coffey
Allen Collins
Stonpin’ Tom Connors
Sheryl Crow
Dave Davies
Reverend Gary Davis
Tom Delonge
John Denver
Buck Dharma
Al Di Meola
Bob Dylan
Duane Eddy
Elliot Easton
The Edge
John Entwistle
The Everly Brothers
Tal Farlow
Don Felder
John Fogerty
Peter Frampton
Ace Frehley
Hank Garland
Billy Gibbons
David Gilmour
Scott Gorham
Freddie Green
Grant Green
Dave Grohl
Arlo Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Steve Hackett
Kirk Hammett
Emmylou Harris
Warren Haynes
Justin Hayward
Jimi Hendrix
James Hetfield
Steve Howe
Tony Iommi
Matthias Jabs
Joan Jett
Eric Johnson
Gordie Johnson
Kelly Johnson
Robert Johnson
Brian Jones
Mick Jones
Steve Jones
Jorma Kaukonen
Barney Kessel
Daniel Kessler
Albert King
B.B. King
Freddie King
Paul Kossoff
Lenny Kravitz
Robby Krieger
Andrew Latimer
Albert Lee
Alvin Lee
John Lennon
Matty Lewis
Alex Lifeson
Lonnie Mack
Frank Marino
Bob Marley
Pat Martino
Daron Malakian
Tak Matsumoto
Paul McCartney
Duff McKagan
John McLaughlin
Ralph McTell
Pat Metheny
Bill Monroe
Gary Moore
Scotty Moore
Wes Montgomery
Jimmy Nolen
Ted Nugent
Mike Oldfield
Roy Orbison
Jimmy Page
Joe Pass
Les Paul
Joe Perry
Carl Perkins
Tom Petty
Andy Powell
John Prine
Mick Ralphs
Jimmy Raney
Randy Rhodes
Keith Richards
Lee Ritenour
Howard Roberts
Brian Robertson
Rich Robinson
Mick Ronson
Gary Rossington
Carlos Santana
Michael Schenker
Rudolph Schenker
Tom Scholz
Neal Schon
Gene Simmons
Earl Scruggs
Nikki Sixx
Slash
Johnny Smith
Chris Spedding
Bill Spooner
Paul Stanley
Izzy Stradlin
Hubert Sumlin
John Sykes
Alex Skolnick
Mick Taylor
Rosetta Tharpe
George Thorogood
Johnny Thunders
Pete Townshend
Eddie Van Halen
T-Bone Walker
Joe Walsh
Muddy Waters
Leslie West
Snowy White
Carl Wilson
Johnny Winter
Ronnie Wood
Zakk Wylde
Angus Young
Neil Young
Frank Zappa
Gibson 1993 “Series”
J-200 Series
- J-200
- J-100 Xtra
- J-200 Junior
Historical Series
- Hummingbird
- Dove
- J-160E
- Gospel
Pro Series
- J-30
- J-45
- J-60
- J-2000 Custom
L-Series Blue Models
- L-00 Blues King
- L-1
- L-20 Special
Electric Acoustic Series
- EAS Standard
- EAS Deluxe
- Starburst Studio
- Starburst Standard
- Starburst Elite