American
guitar manufacturer based in
Nashville,
Tennessee. Started by
Orville Gibson in
1902 as the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd. of
Kalamazoo,
Michigan. Leading
mandolin maker through
World War I. In
1935, they released an
electric guitar. Chicago Musical Instrument Co., a wholesale and distribution company, purchased Gibson in
1944. In
1952, introduces the first solidbody model, which
Les Paul makes famous. In
1969 ECL, an
Ecuadorian company takes over Gibson, renames it Norlin. In
1974, a Nashville plant is opened and in 1984 the Kalamazoo plant is shut down. In
1986, Gibson, on shaky financial ground, is rescued by current owners Henry Juszkiewicz and David Berryman.
Famous hits played on a Gibson:
- 1928 - "Wildwood Flower," The Carter Family - L-5
- 1929 - "Tiptoe Through the Tulips," Nick Lucas - custom
- 1932 - "When the Blue of the Night," Bing Crosby - Eddie Lang: L-5
- 1947 - "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed," Merle Travis - L-10
- 1949 - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," Flatt and Scruggs - Granada banjo
- 1954 - "That's All Right Mama," Elvis Presley - Scotty Moore: EKS-295
- 1955 - "Maybelline," Chuck Berry - ES-5
- 1957 - "Wake Up Little Susie," The Everly Brothers - Don Everly: SJ
- 1963 - "Memphis," Lonnie Mack - Flying V
- 1965 - "My Girl," The Temptations - L-5CES
- 1968 - "Sunshine of Your Love," Cream - Clapton: SG Standard, Bruce: EB-0
- 1969 - "Whole Lotta Love," Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page: Les Paul Standard
- 1969 - "Lay Lady Lay," Bob Dylan - J-200
- 1970 - "The Thrill Is Gone," B.B. King - ES-355
- 1972 - "Layla," Derek and the Dominos - Duane Allman: SG Standard
- 1977 - "Life in the Fast Lane," The Eagles - Joe Walsh: Les Paul Standard
- 1984 - "Legs," ZZ Top - Billy Gibbons: sunburst Les Paul
- 1992 - "No Matter If You're Black or White," Michael Jackson - Slash: sunburst Les Paul