Gibson Guitars

Gibson guitars have been in evidence as early as 1894.  Over a century.  The earliest know instrument, built by Orville Gibson in his home workshop, was a 10-String.  From here he applied a violin-style carved top to mandolin construction.  He invented two new mandolins: the F (scroll body) and A (teardrop Body).  He also made something that was less commercial during that time, an archtop guitar, his own invention.  All had a round or oval sound hole.

In 1902, the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd. was formed. Orville's mandolins were far superior to competing models, and as a result the company was unable to meet rising demand. Five Kalamazoo businessmen buy the rights to his name and patent for $2,500, and hire Gibson as a consultant. Orville was not one of the principals of the Gibson Guitar Company, but he did own some stock. Within six months, however, he was picking fights with the board of managers over who got to stand where in the company photos, and so he sold his stock to a local saloon keeper. Orville continued to receive a royalty, and later a pension, until he died in 1918.

The F-5 and L-5 mandolins were introduced in 1922. World War I killed the mandolin orchestra and gives rise to the tenor banjo. In an effort to revive the mandolin, Gibson acoustic engineer Lloyd Loar designed the ultimate mandolin: the F-5. New features included f-holes, a longer neck and hand-tuned top, tone bars and f-holes. As a companion member of the Style 5 family, Loar designed the L-5. While Loar's works were legendary in the long run, they were disastrous in the short. Gibson almost went bankrupt, and Boar resigned late in 1924.

In 1935 the first Gibson electric (a metalbody Hawaiian) was introduced, with consulting help from Alvino Rey.  Then in 1936, the first "Spanish" (standard) electric, the ES-150 appeared.  In 1937, the J-200 made its first appearance when singing cowboy movie star Ray Whitley ordered a super-large flat top. Gibson put it into production in 1938 as the Super Jumbo, under its more familiar name, the J-200, it is still the standard for country players.

In 1939. Gibson guitar introduced the first cutaway models, the Super 400 Premier and I-5 Premier.  Then in 1941, just before switching over to wartime products, Gibson introduced the J-45 and Southerner Jumbo (SJ). The SJ became the workhorse flat top guitar for many acoustic players.

1952. Gibson’s first solid body was introduced. Gibson enlisted the endorsement of one the biggest recording stars of the early '50s to help sell The Les Paul Model. Since 1952, Gibson has offered over 40 different Les Paul models.