A Brief History of Gibson Acoustic Guitars

Orville Gibson, the founder of the Gibson Guitarthe Square Shoulder Dreadnought, their Small Bodies
Corporation, started making mandolins in 1894. Fromguitars, the Signature Artists Series, and their custom
the beginning, Gibson established himself as a qualityguitars. For more information on the different models,
instrument builder who added his own innovations. Hisvisit the website at
mandolins were modified in such a way that they hadThere are also a good number of artists who love the
a richer sound.Gibson line of instruments. In fact, the list is so
Before Gibson could really watch the success of theextensive that they needed to categorize them in
company take off, namely their guitars, he died ofalphabetical order spanning multiple pages. Some of
leukemia in 1918. However, the legacy of innovation didthese artists include Aisa, Akihito, Gavid Degraw,
not end with his death. The Gibson Mandolin-GuitarGunner Nelson, Les Paul, and Alex Lifeson of Rush.
Manufacturing Company, now called the Gibson GuitarFor more artists visit the site.
Corporation, started to build guitars a little differentlyHere is what people have to say about their Gibson
than other manufacturers all throughout the 20s andAcoustic guitars.
30s.About the Gibson Gospel
In 1936, Gibson launched what is considered by someA lot of guitar bang for the buck. I cannot imagine
to be one of the first electric guitars that achievedplaying anything else. No desire to upgrade or to see
wide spread acceptance. The electric Spanish stylewhat else is out there. I am fully satisfied with the
guitar merged design elements of a Spanish guitar andgospel. If it was lost or stolen I would find me another
turned it into an electric.after a nice long cry. This is the only acoustic guitar I
One of their most famous guitar styles is the Les Paul.own, and, hopefully ever will. Its absolutely great. It just
The story of the legendary Les Paul guitar starts inkind of sits there begging to be played, and who am I
1952 when the company worked with theto deny.
accomplished guitarist, Les Paul, to create this signatureAnother about the Gibson Gospel
model. They discontinued the style after some time butGreat sound – less boxy, rhythmic and classic
resurrected it in the late 60s.for playing in the band or solo flatpick strumming than
The company came under new ownership due toJ45, but fuller bottom end, better projection and string
some financial difficulties. They had some financialarticulation, as expected with longer scale. Big
difficulty and looked to the new leaders to move theprojected, balanced sound for strumming (richer and
company in a positive direction. Henry E. Juszkiewicz,less trebly/tinny than Taylor 310 and 410) and better
David H. Berryman and Gary A. Zebrowski not onlyfor fingerpicking and capo work than J45. If you could
saved the company, but they are also the reason whypick a single guitar for the night, Id prefer it to the J45
Gibson is still so successful.and 310 for live unaccompanied stuff. With B-band,
Almost all of Gibsons acoustic guitars can be classifiedvery versatile when run through the board. For the
in one of seven categories. These are the Superprice – about as well rounded a dred as you can
Jumbos, the Jumbos, the Round Shoulder Dreadnought,find.