| The Gibson Guitar Corporation had its beginnings in | | | | Gibson currently has over 40 electric guitars that are |
| 1894 when Orville Gibson started making mandolins. It | | | | currently available. Some of these, like the Les Paul, |
| was here that Gibson established himself as an | | | | the Flying-V, and the Explorer have been around since |
| innovative instrument builder because he started | | | | the 50 s. Other models include the Gibson Nighthawk, |
| making mandolins differently than how they were | | | | the Gibson Moderne, the Gibson Blueshawk, and the |
| made. The end result of his modifications was that the | | | | Gibson Firebird. |
| mandolin sounded better and had more depth. Sadly, | | | | Gibson also boasts a long list of artists who swear by |
| Gibson passed away in 1918 so he was unable to | | | | their guitars. This includes Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, |
| witness the widespread success of the Gibson guitars. | | | | Ashlee Simpson, Andre Coutu who plays for Celine |
| Just as Orville Gibson established himself as an | | | | Dion, Alex Lifeson of Rush, and Andrew Goodsight of |
| innovative designer, that tradition continued after his | | | | Black 47. |
| death. In the 1920s and 1930s the Gibson Guitar | | | | Here is what people have to say about their Gibson |
| Corporation, then called the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar | | | | guitars: |
| Manufacturing Company, made some changes to the | | | | Gibson ES 175 |
| standard guitar designs of the time. In 1936 they | | | | If you want that old jazz sound, it can t be beat. Of |
| launched their electric Spanish style guitar, called the | | | | course it s great for mellower blues, too. I m after that |
| ES-150. This was a very successful model and is | | | | early Kenny Burrell sound. Acoustically it has a nice |
| considered one of the first widely accepted electric | | | | sweet tone too. The guitar s pretty light which I think |
| guitars. | | | | helps in that way. The old P90 seems sweeter then |
| The legendary Les Paul guitar had its beginnings in | | | | some of the newer ones, maybe aging has helped. I ll |
| 1952 when Gibson collaborated with the guitarist | | | | probably check the output reading for reference. The |
| himself to create a guitar that would suit his style and | | | | old P90s seem to range from about 5.5 to 8.5 ohms! I |
| music. The Gibson Explorer and the Flying-V, two | | | | play though an old Polytone and a Peavey Classic 30. |
| more legendary models, had their beginnings in the 50 | | | | Thomasik Bebops 12-50 are the best! |
| s. | | | | Also about the ES-175 |
| In 1986 the company changed owners. The Gibson | | | | I ve been playing for about 15 years, professionally for |
| Guitar Corporation was experiencing some financial | | | | about 6. Also teach guitar/bass/mandolin and banjo full |
| difficulties and the change, fronted by Henry E. | | | | time. |
| Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman and Gary A. | | | | I was deliberating whether to go for the Steve Howe |
| Zebrowski, is said to be the reason why the Gibson is | | | | sig model or the basic 175. I went for the standard one |
| still around today, and is still successful. They were | | | | in the end. I would replace this baby in a shot if it was |
| responsible for keeping the company afloat and | | | | stolen. I love its shape, looks, tone, reputation, history. |
| making it successful again. | | | | |