Gibson Guitar Corporation

“Gibso
“Gibson”
n” redirec
redirectsts here.
here. For
For other
other uses, see Gibson 1.1
1.1 Earl
Early
y hist
histor
ory
y
(disambiguation)..
(disambiguation)

Gibson Guitar Corporation is an American manufac-

turer
turer of guitars and other instrument
instruments,s, now based in
Nashville, Tennessee.
Tennessee. It is a divi
divisi
sion
on of Gibs
Gibson
on Brands..[3]
Brands
Orville
Orvi lle Gibs
Gibson on fou
found
ndeded the
the comp
compananyy in 1902
1902 as
The
The Gibs
Gibsonon Mando
Mandoli lin-
n-Gu
Guititar
ar Mfg.
Mfg. Co.,
Co., Ltd.
Ltd.
in Kalam
Kalamazoo,
azoo, Mic
Michig
higan
an to makmake mandolin
mandolin-family
-family
[1]
instruments. Gibson invented archtop guitars by con-
struc
structin
tingg the
the same
same type
type of carv
carved,
ed, arche
archedd tops
tops used
used on vi-
olins.
olins. By the
the 1930s,
1930s, the
the compan
companyy was
was also
also making
making flatto
flattop
p
acoustic guitars, as well as one of the first commercially
available
available hollow-body
hollow-body electric
electric guitars, used and popular-
ized by Charlie Christian.
Christian. It was bought by Chicago Mu-
Orville Gibson,
Gibson, founder
sical Instruments in 1944, which was then acquired by
the E.C.L. conglomerate that changed its name to Norlin
Inc. Many
Many observers
observers see this as the beginning
beginning of an era
of mismanagement.
Gibson sells guitars under a variety of brand names[4]
and builds one of the world’s most iconic guitars, the
Gibson Les Paul.
Paul. Many
Many Gibson instrumen
instrumentsts are highly
highly
collect
collectibl
ible.
e. Gibson
Gibson was at the forefr
forefront
ont of innovat
innovation
ion
in acoustic guitars, especially in the big band era of the
1930s; the Gibson Super 400 was was widely
widely imitated.
imitated. In
Mandolin
1952, Gibson introduced its first solid-body electric gui-
(c. 1917)
tar, the Les Paul which became its most popular guitar to
date— designed by Ted McCarty and Les Paul. Paul. Gibson
was owned by the Norlin corporation fromfrom 1969 to 1986.
In 1986 the company was acquired by its present own-
ers. Gibson Guitar is a privately held corporation owned
by its chief executive officer Henry Juszkiewicz and its
president
president David H. Berryman.
In addition
addition to guitars,
guitars, Gibson
Gibson offers
offers consum
consumerer audio
equipment devices through its subsidiaries Onkyo Cor-
Stanton,,[5] as well as profes-
poration,, Cerwin Vega and Stanton
poration
Harp guitar
sional audio equipment from KRK Systems also pianos
(c. 1912).
from their wholly owned subsidiary Baldwin Piano and
music software from Cakewalk
Cakewalk..
Orville Gibson (born 1856) patented a single-piece man-
dolin design in 1898 that was more durable than other
mando
mandolin
linss and coul
could
d be manuf
manufac
actur
tured
ed in volu me.[6]
volume.
Orville Gibson began to sell his instruments in 1894 out
of a one-room
one-room worksh
workshopop in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Michigan.
Michigan. In
1902 Gibson
Gibson Mandoli
Mandolin-Gui
n-Guitar
tar Mfg.
Mfg. Co, Ltd. was in-
in-
corporated to market the instruments. Initially, the com-
1 Hisstor
Hi tory pany produced only Orville Gibson’s original designs.[7]
Orville died in 1918 of endocarditis (inflammation of the
inside lining of the heart chambers and valves). [6]

1
2 1 HISTORY

son began manufacturing wood and metal parts for the

military. Between 1942-1945, Gibson employed women
to manufacture guitars. “Women produced nearly 25,000
guitars duringWorld War II yet Gibson denied ever build-
ing instruments over this period,” according to a 2013 his-
tory of the company. Gibson folklore has also claimed
its guitars were made by “seasoned craftsmen” who were
“too old for war.”[9][10]

L-5 acoustic.

1953 Les Paul Goldtop

ES-150
(based on L-50)

Les Paul Custom

ES-175 D
(based on L-4)

Les Paul Standard

Super 400 CES

The following year the company hired designer Lloyd

Loar to create newer instruments.[7] Loar designed the
flagship L-5 archtop guitar and the Gibson F5 mandolin
that was introduced in 1922, before leaving the company
in 1924.[8] In 1936 Gibson introduced their first “Electric
Spanish” model, the ES-150 followed by other electric in- Les Paul Junior
struments like steel guitars, banjos and mandolins.
During World War II, instrument manufacturing at Gib-
son slowed due to shortages of wood and metal, and Gib-
1.1 Early history 3

L-5 CES Flying V

non-reverse (left) & reverse Firebird

Byrdland

Gibson SG

In 1944 Gibson was purchased by Chicago Musical In-

ES-350T struments. The ES-175 was introduced in 1949. Gib-
son hired Ted McCarty in 1948, who became President
in 1950. He led an expansion of the guitar line with
new guitars such as the “Les Paul” guitar introduced in
1952 and designed by Les Paul, a popular musician in
the 1950s and also a pioneer in music technology. The
Les Paul was offered in Custom, Standard, Special, and
Junior models.[11] In the mid-50s, the Thinline series was
produced, which included a line of thinner guitars like the
Byrdland. The first Byrdlands were slim, custom built,
L-5 models for guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland.
Later, a shorter neck was added. Other models such as the
ES-335T ES-350T and the ES-225T were introduced as less costly
alternatives.[12] In 1958, Gibson introduced the ES-335T
model. Similar in size to the hollow-body Thinlines, the
ES-335 family had a solid center, giving the string tone a
longer sustain.
In the 1950s, Gibson also produced the Tune-o-matic
bridge system and its version of the humbucking pickup,
the PAF (“Patent Applied For”), first released in 1957
and still sought after for its sound. In 1958, Gibson pro-
duced two new designs: the eccentrically shaped Explorer
Explorer and Flying V. These “modernistic” guitars did not sell ini-
tially. It was only in the late 1960s and early 70s when the
two guitars were reintroduced to the market that they sold
4 1 HISTORY

well. The Firebird, in the early 60s, was a reprise of the ing out of business before it was bought by Henry E.
modernistic idea, though less extreme. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman, and Gary A. Zebrowski
in January 1986.[14] New production plants were opened
in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as Bozeman, Montana.
1.2 Modernization The Memphis facility is used for semi-hollow and custom
shop instruments, while the Bozeman facility is dedicated
In the late 50s, McCarty knew that Gibson was seen as a to acoustic instruments.[15]
traditional company and began an effort to create more
In 1977 Gibson sued Hoshino/Elger for copying the
modern guitars. In 1961 the body design of the Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul.[16] In 2000, Gibson sued Fernandes
was changed due to the demand for a double-cutaway
Guitars in a Tokyo court for allegedly copying Gibson
body design.[13] Thenew body design then becameknown
designs. Gibson did not prevail.[17] Gibson also sued
as the SG (for “solid guitar”). The Les Paul returned to
PRS Guitars in 2005, to stop them from making their
the Gibson catalog in 1968.
Singlecut model. The lawsuit against PRS was initially
On December 22, 1969, the Gibson parent company successful.[18] However, the United States Court of Ap-
Chicago Musical Instruments was taken over by the South peals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court de-
American brewing conglomerate ECL. Gibson remained cision and ordered the dismissal of Gibson’s suit against
under the control of CMI until 1974 when it became a PRS.[19]
subsidiary of Norlin Musical Instruments. Norlin Musi-
cal Instruments was a member of Norlin Industries which
was named for ECL president Nor ton Stevens and CMI 1.2.1 Gibson factories
president Arnold Berlin. This began an era character-
ized by corporate mismanagement and decreasing prod- Below are some of the facilities used to produce Gibson
uct quality. instruments, along with years of their operation:

1.3 Recent history

Gibson purchased Garrison Guitars in 2007.[33] In mid

2009 Gibson reduced its work force to adjust for a decline
in guitar industry sales in the United States.[34]
In 2011, Gibson acquired the Stanton Group, including
Gibson left Kalamazoo in 1984, then previous factory Cerwin Vega, KRK Systems and Stanton DJ. Gibson then
became Heritage Guitars formed a new division, Gibson Pro Audio, which will
deliver professional grade audio items, including head-
phones, loudspeakers and DJ equipment.[35]
Gibson announced a partnership with the Japanese-based
Onkyo Corporation in 2012. Onkyo, known for audio
equipment and home theater systems, became part of the
Gibson Pro Audio division.[36]
Gibson Showcase at Nashville
1.3.1 FWS raids & Lacey Act violation

Gibson’s factories were raided in 2009 and 2011 by

Gibson Factory at Memphis
Between 1974 and 1984 production of Gibson guitars was
shifted from Kalamazoo to Nashville, Tennessee. The
Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-
instrument shop, but was closed in 1984; several Gibson
employees led by plant manager Jim Duerloo established
Heritage Guitars in the old factory, building versions of
classic Gibson designs.
The company (Gibson) was within three months of go-
agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS). In November 2009 authorities found illegally im-
ported ebony wood from Madagascar.[37][38] A second
raid was conducted in August 2011,[37] during which the
FWS seized wood imports from India that had been mis-
labeled on the US Customs declaration.[39][40] Gibson
Guitar Corp. filed a motion in January 2011 to recover
seized materials and overturn the charges, which was de-
nied by the court.[41][42]
The United States Department of Justice found emails
from 2008 and 2009 in which Gibson employees dis-
cussing the “gray market” nature of the ebony wood avail-
able from a German wood dealer—who obtained it from
a supplier in Madagascar—as well as plans to obtain the
 5

wood. It filed a civil proceeding in June 2011,[40][43][44] priced Gibson models, such as the Les Paul and SG, sold
the first such case under the amended Lacey Act, which under the Epiphone brand,[61] while continuing to make
requires importing companies to purchase legally har- Epiphone-specific models like the Sheraton and Casino.
vested wood and follow the environmental laws of the In Japan, Orville by Gibson once made Gibson designs
producing countries regardless of corruption or lack of sold in that country.[62] Gibson has sought legal action
enforcement.[44] Gibson argued in a statement the follow- against those that make and sell guitars Gibson believes
ing day that authorities were “bullying Gibson without fil- are too similar to their own.
ing charges” and denied any wrongdoing.[39][45] Arguing
In 1977, Gibson introduced the serial numbering system
against the federal regulations and claiming that the move
in use until 2006.[63] An eight-digit number on the back
threatened jobs, Republicans and tea party members
shows the date when the instrument was produced, where
spoke out against the raids and supported Juszkiewicz.[46]
it was produced, and its order of production that day (e.g.,
The case was settled on August 6, 2012, with Gibson ad- first instrument stamped that day, second, etc.). [64] As of
mitting to violating the Lacey Act and agreeing to pay 2006, the company used seven serial number systems,[63]
a fine of $300,000 in addition to a $50,000 commu- making it difficult to identify guitars by their serial num-
nity payment. Gibson also forfeited the wood seized in ber alone.[63][64] and as of 1999 the company has used
the raids, which was valued at roughly the same amount six distinct serial numbering systems. [64] An exception is
as the settlement. [47][48] However, in a subsequent state- the year 1994, Gibson’s centennial year; many 1994 serial
ment Gibson maintained its innocence with Juszkiewicz numbers start with “94”, followed by a six-digit produc-
claiming that “Gibson was inappropriately targeted” and tion number. The Gibson website provides a book to help
that the government raids were “so outrageous and over- with serial number deciphering.[64]
reaching as to deserve further Congressional investiga-
In 2006 Gibson introduced a nine-digit serial number sys-
tion.” Juszkiewicz continued to state, “We felt compelled
tem replacing the eight-digit system used since 1977, but
to settle as the costs of proving our case at trial would
the sixth digit now represents a batch number. [63]
have cost millions of dollars and taken a very long time
to resolve.”[49] In 2003,[65] Gibson debuted its Ethernet-based[66] audio
protocol, MaGIC, which it developed in partnership with
The case raised concerns for musicians who lack doc-
3COM, Advanced Micro Devices, and Xilinx.[65] Re-
umentation of vintage instruments made of traditional,
placing traditional analog hook-ups with a digital con-
non-sustainable materials.[50][51] However, officials from
nection that would, "...satisfy the unique requirements of
the Justice Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
live audio performances,” may have been the goal of this
Service have stated that musicians who unknowingly pos-
project.[66]
sess instruments made from illegal wood would not be
treated as criminals.[52] This system may require a special pickup,[65] but cabling
is provided by standard Cat-5 ethernet cord.[65][66]
The Gibson “self-tuning guitar”, also known as a “robot
2 Instruments model”, an option on some newer Les Paul, SG, Fly-
ing V and Explorer instruments, will tune itself in little
Further information: Gibson Guitar Corporation product more than two seconds using robotics technology devel-
list oped by Tronical GmbH.[67] Under the tradename Min-
ETune, this device became standard on several models in
2014.[68]
Gibson also owns and makes instruments un-
der brands such as Epiphone,[53] Kramer,[54]
[55] [56]
Maestro, Steinberger, and Tobias,[57] —along
with the ownership of historical brands such as
3 See also
Kalamazoo,[58][59] Dobro,[4] Slingerland,[60] Valley
• David Harvey (luthier)
Arts,[60] and Baldwin[4] (including: Chickering,[60]
Hamilton,[60] Wurlitzer[4][60]).
• Jim Triggs (luthier)

In addition to guitars, Gibson offers consumer audio

• List of Gibson players
equipment devices through its subsidiaries Onkyo Cor-
[5]
poration, Cerwin Vega and Stanton, as well as pro-
fessional audio equipment from KRK Systems and
TEAC Corporation/TASCAM and music software from 4 Footnotes
Cakewalk.[60]
[1] “Gibson History”. Gibson Corporate Press Kit . Gibson
Gibson makes authorized copies of its most successful
Guitar Corp. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
guitar designs. They are less expensive than those bear-
ing the Gibson name. A former competitor, Epiphone [2] Gisbon Brands at Gibson Press website, retrieved 10 Dec
was purchased by Gibson and now makes competitively 2014
6 4
[3] “Drop the guitar Gibson rebrands” on BizJournals.com
[4] Ayala Ben-Yehuda (9 April 2007). “Gibson Guitar em-
braces China, Latin markets”. Reuters.
[5] Gibson Pro Audio line, 10 Dec 2014
[6] “Orville H. Gibson, 1856—1918”. Siminoff.net. Re-
trieved 2011-01-28.
[7] “Gibson Dusk Tiger”. Gibson.com. 2008-06-24. Re-
trieved 2011-01-28.
[8] Wheeler, Tom. American Guitars. HarperCollins.
1992.pp 100—1 ISBN 978-0-06-273154-8
[9] Lister, Kat (2014-04-23). “The forgotten women of Kala-
mazoo”. Feminist Times . Retrieved 2014-09-15.
[10] Thomas, John (2012). Kalamazoo gals: a story of
extraordinary women and Gibson’s banner guitars of
WWll. Franklin, TN: American History Press. ISBN
9780983082781.
[11] Hembree 2007, p. 74—85
[12] Duchossoir 1998, p. 55—62
[13] Hembree 2007, p. 110
[14] Hembree 2007, p. 306
[15] Gleick 1987
[16] Fjestad, Zachary (June 16, 2010). “Ibanez “Lawsuit Era”
Les Paul Custom Copy”. Premier Guitar .
[17] “Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual
Property | Vol 4 | Iss 2” (PDF). Law.northwestern.edu.
2010-08-19. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
[18] Gibson Guitar Corp. v. Paul Reed Smith Guitars, L.P.,
325 F. Supp. 2d 841 (M.D. Tenn., 2004)
[19] Gibson Guitar Corp. v. Paul Reed Smith Guitars, LP,
423 F.3d 539 (6th Cir. 2005).
[20] Wheeler 1992, p. 95
[21] Carter 1994, p. 12
[22] Spann 2011, p. 1
[23] Spann 2011, p. 1—2
[24] Spann 2011, p. 2
[25] Wheeler 1992, pp. 101, 151
[26] Wheeler 1992, p. 144
[27] Bonds 2004, p. 318
[28] Thomas 2012, p. 3
[29] Bonds 2004, p. 396
[30] Bonds 2004, p. 406
[31] http://images.gibson.com.s3.amazonaws.com/Lifestyle/
PDFs/Memphis-Tour-Brochure-Outside.pdf (Accessed
Mar 24, 2014.)
FOOTNOTES
[32] http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/
GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf (Accessed Jan 2, 2015.)
[33] Garrison Guitars sold to Gibson thetelegram.com, July
4th, 2007
[34] Email, published by Walker Duncan (2009-03-23).
“Sources: Gibson adds to layoff tally | Make and Buy |
NashvillePost.com: Nashville Business News + Nashville
Political News”. NashvillePost.com. Retrieved 2011-01-
28.
[35] “Gibson Guitar increases high-tech lineup with purchase”.
Tennessean.com. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
[36] “Gibson Expands Pro Audio Division”. Gibson.com.
2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
[37] Wadhwani, A.; Paine, A. (25 August 2011). “Gibson Gui-
tar raided but lips zipped”. The Tennessean. Archived
from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 Au-
gust 2011.
[38] Lind, J.R. (29 December 2010). “Federal agent: Gib-
son wood investigation likely to result in indictments” .
NashvillePost.com. Archived from the original on 10 July
2011.
[39] “Gibson Guitar Corp. responds to federal raid”. Gibson
Guitar Corp. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original
on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
[40] Trotter, J. (25 August 2011). “Endangered lemurs could
be connected to Gibson raid”. WMCTV.com. Archived
from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August
2011.
[41] “Update: CEO’s Outrage Gets Media Buzzing”. Gibson
Guitar Corp. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original
on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
[42] “Gibson Guitars fails to squash illegal wood investiga-
tion”. Sound & Fair. 19 January 2011. Archived from
the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 Septem-
ber 2011.
[43] “Gibson/Lacey Act Update”. Home Furnishings Busi-
ness. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July
2011.
[44] “Endangered species trafficking: What did Gibson Guitar
know?". mongabay.com. 7 July 2011. Archived from the
original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
[45] Stern, Andrew (25 August 2011). “Gibson Guitar to fight
U.S. probe of its wood imports”. Reuters. Archived from
the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September
2011.
[46] Schelzig, E. (August 7, 2012). “Gibson Guitar Corpora-
tion admits to importing endangered wood”. The Chris-
tian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 24
November 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
[47] Black, R. (6 August 2012). “Gibson settles discord on
timber”. BBC News. Archived from the original on 7
August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.

[48] Clarke, C.; Grant, A. (4 May 2011). “Are your wood
products really certified?". wri.org. Archived from the
original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
[49] “Gibson Comments on Department of Justice Settle-
ment”. Gibson Guitar Corporation. August 6, 2012.
Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Re-
trieved November 24, 2014.
[50] Felten, E. (26August 2011). “Guitar frets: Environmental
enforcement leaves musicians in fear” . The Wall Street
Journal. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011.
Retrieved 1 September 2011.
[51] Simmons, L. (31 August 2011). “Raid highlights mu-
sic manufacturers’ environmental risks” . bizmology.com.
Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Re-
trieved 1 September 2011.
[52] Eilperin, J. (13 November 2011). “Gibson Guitar ig-
nites debate over environmental protections”. Washington
Post. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011.
Retrieved 16 November 2011.
[53] “epiphone.com”. Epiphone. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
[54] kramerguitars.com Kramer Official Site
[55] Maestro by Gibson Gibson Official Site
[56] steinberger.com Steinberger Official Site
[57] Tobias Gibson Official Site
[58] Ken Achard (1996). The History and Development of the
American Guitar. Bold Strummer. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-
933224-18-6. Also during the mid to late thirties, Gibson
produced a range of cello and flat top instruments under
the Kalamazoo name and at inexpensive prices.
[59] “Gibson Kalamazoo”. January 2, 2009.
[60] “Gibson Brands Announces Intention to Acquire Cake-
walk Inc.”. Gibson Guitar Corporation. 23 September
2013. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
[61] “Epiphone Les Paul Standard”. Epiphone.com.
[62] “Epiphone: A History — Epiphone and Gibson”. Epi-
phone.com.
[63] Gibson Serial Numbers: What a serial number can and
can't tell you about your Gibson Gibson Official Site,
7.17.2007
[64] Blue Book of Electric Guitars. Sixth Edition: Gibson Se-
rialization. Edited by S.P. Fjestad Gibson Official Site
[65] The MaGIC of Gibson’s Digital Guitars Maximum PC
magazine, April 2003
[66] This Is MaGIC Gibson Official Site
[67] Yuri Kageyama (The Associated Press) (December 3,
2007). “World’s first robot guitar takes care of the tun-
ing”. Seattle Times. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
[68] http://www2.gibson.com/Products/min-etune.aspx
7
5 References
• Achard, Ken (1989). The History and Development
of the American Guitar . Westport, CT: Bold Strum-
mer Ltd. ISBN 978-0-933-22418-6.
• Bacon, Tony (2002). 50 Years of the Gibson Les
Paul. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-
0-879-30711-0.
• Bacon, Tony (2009). The Les Paul Guitar Book:
A Complete History of Gibson Les Paul Guitars.
San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-879-
30951-0.
• Bacon, Tony (2011). Flying V, Explorer, Firebird:
An Odd-shaped History of Gibson’s Weird Electric
Guitars . Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. ISBN
978-1-617-13008-3.
• Bacon, Tony (2012). The History of the American
Guitar: From 1833 to the Present Day. San Fran-
cisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-617-13033-5.
• Bacon, Tony (2014). Sunburst: How the Gibson Les
Paul Standard Became a Legendary Guitar . Mont-
clair: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-617-13466-1.
• Bonds, Ray (2004). The Illustrated Directory of
Gutiars . New York: Barnes and Noble. ISBN 978-
0-760-76317-9.
• Carter, Walter (1994). Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of
an American Icon . Los Angeles: General Publishing
Group. ISBN 978-1-881-64939-7.
• Carter, Walter (2007). Gibson Electric Guitar Book
– Seventy Years of Classic Guitars . Backbeat Books:
New York. ISBN 978-0-879-30895-7.
• Day, Paul; Carter, Walter; Hunter, Dave; Verheyen,
Carl (2011). The Ultimate Gibson Guitar Book . New
York: Metro Books. ISBN 978-1-435-13756-1.
• Duchossoir, A. R. (1998). Gibson Electrics: The
Classic Years. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. ISBN
978-0-793-59210-4.
• Duchossoir, A. R. (2008). Guitar Identification: A
Reference for Dating Guitars made by Fender, Gib-
son, Gretsch, and Martin (4th ed.) . Milwaukee, WI:
Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-1-423-42611-0.
• Duchossoir, A. R. (2009). Gibson Electric Steel Gui-
tars: 1935-1967. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard.
ISBN 978-1-423-45702-2.
8 7 EXTERNAL LINKS

• Erlewine, Dan; Whitford, Eldon; Vinopal, David 6 Further reading

(2009). Gibson’s Fabulous Flat-top Guitars: An Il-
lustrated History & Guide . San Francisco: Backbeat • Fox, Paul (2011). The Other Brands of Gibson .
Books. ISBN 978-0-879-30962-6. Centerstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-57424-271-
3.
• Fjestad, Zachary R.; Meiners, Larry (2007). Gib-
son Flying V. Minneapolis, MN: Blue Book Publi-
cations. ISBN 978-1-886-76872-7.
7 External links
• Fox, Paul (2011). The Other Brands of Gib-
son. Anaheim Hills, CA: Centerstream Publica- • Official website, Gibson Guitar Corp.
tions. ISBN 978-1-574-24271-3.

• Gleick, James (1987). Chaos: Making a New Sci-

ence . New York: Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-81178-
6.

• Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (1993). Acoustic

Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments: A Photo-
graphic History . San Francisco: GPI Books. ISBN
978-0-879-30240-5.

• Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (2010a). Electric

Guitars and Basses: A Photographic History . New
York: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-879-30974-9.

• Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (2010b). Gruhn’s

Guide to Vintage Guitars: An Identification Guide for
American Fretted Instruments . New York: Backbeat
Books. ISBN 978-0-879-30422-5.

• Hembree, George (2007). Gibson Guitars: Ted Mc-

Carty’s Golden Era 1948-1966 . Austin, TX: GH
Books. ISBN 978-1-423-41813-9.

• Ingram, Adrian (1997). The Gibson L5: Its History

and its Players. Anaheim, CA: Centerstream Pub.
ISBN 978-1-574-24047-4.

• Ingram, Adrian (2007). The Gibson 175: Its History

and its Players. Anaheim, CA: Centerstream Pub.
ISBN 978-1-574-24223-2.

• Marx, Wallace (2009). Gibson Amplifiers 1933-

2008. Minneapolis, MN: Blue Book Publications.
ISBN 978-1-886-76890-1.

• Spann, Joe (2011). Spann’s Guide to Gibson: 1902-

1941. Anaheim Hills, CA: Centerstream Pub.
ISBN 978-1-574-24267-6.

• Thomas, John (2012). Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of

Extraordinary Women & Gibson’s ‘Banner’ Guitars
of WWII. Franklin, TN: American History Press.
ISBN 978-0-983-08278-1.

• Wheeler, Tom (1992). American Guitars: An Illus-

trated History (rev. and updated ed.) . New York:
HarperPerennial. ISBN 978-0-062-73154-8.
 9

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text
• Gibson Guitar Corporation Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Guitar_Corporation?oldid=672667254 Contributors: Davi-
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Zackariah H, Monkbot, Jazzed Muse, Monumenteer2014camper, ArturZ72, Cadoodle and Anonymous: 742

8.2 Images
• File:Commons-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
• File:Gibson2000_(508x345).jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Gibson2000_%28508x345%29.jpg
License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: This file was derived from: Gibson2000.jpg: <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Gibson2000.jpg' class='image'><img alt='Gibson2000.jpg' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/
Gibson2000.jpg/50px-Gibson2000.jpg' width='50' height='34' srcset='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/
01/Gibson2000.jpg/75px-Gibson2000.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Gibson2000.jpg/
100px-Gibson2000.jpg 2x' data-file-width='700' data-file-height='475' /></a>
Original artist: Gibson2000.jpg: Frankenschulz
• File:Gibson_Byrdland.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Gibson_Byrdland.jpg License: CC BY 2.0
10 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Contributors: This file was derived from: Gibson Byrdland 1.jpg: <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gibson_Byrdland_1.jpg'
class='image'><img alt='Gibson Byrdland 1.jpg' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Gibson_Byrdland_1.
jpg/50px-Gibson_Byrdland_1.jpg' width='50' height='67' srcset='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Gibson_
Byrdland_1.jpg/75px-Gibson_Byrdland_1.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Gibson_Byrdland_1.
jpg/100px-Gibson_Byrdland_1.jpg 2x' data-file-width='768' data-file-height='1024' /></a>
Original artist: Gibson_Byrdland_1.jpg: Jon
• File:Gibson_ES-150.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Gibson_ES-150.png License: CC BY-SA 2.5
Contributors: Own work Original artist: Thomas Despoix
• File:Gibson_ES-175.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Gibson_ES-175.png License: CC BY-SA 2.5
Contributors: Own work Original artist: Thomas Despoix
• File:Gibson_ES-335_sunburst.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Gibson_ES-335_sunburst.jpg Li-
cense: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Federico.Gallerani
• File:Gibson_ES-350T_.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Gibson_ES-350T_.png License: CC-BY-
SA-3.0 Contributors:
• Gibson_ES-350T.png Original artist: Gibson_ES-350T.png: Original uploader was Cuetty at de.wikipedia
• File:Gibson_Explorer.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Gibson_Explorer.jpgLicense: Public domain
Contributors: Own work Original artist: ZngZng
• File:Gibson_Firebird_non-reverse_&_reverse.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Gibson_Firebird_
non-reverse_%26_reverse.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: This file was derived from: Gibsons.jpg: <a href='//commons.
wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gibsons.jpg' class='image'><img alt='Gibsons.jpg' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/
thumb/8/8a/Gibsons.jpg/50px-Gibsons.jpg' width='50' height='39' srcset='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/
8a/Gibsons.jpg/75px-Gibsons.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Gibsons.jpg/100px-Gibsons.jpg
2x' data-file-width='1529' data-file-height='1198' /></a>
Original artist: Gibsons.jpg: get directly down
• File:Gibson_Guitar_Factory,_Memphis.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Gibson_Guitar_
Factory%2C_Memphis.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: originally posted to Flickr as Gibson Factory Original artist: H. Michael
Miley
• File:Gibson_L-5_CES.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Gibson_L-5_CES.jpg License: CC BY-SA
3.0 de Contributors: Own work (Original text: Eigenes Foto ) Original artist: Cruciniacus at German Wikipedia
• File:Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar,_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/
50/Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar%2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: This file was derived from:
Gibson L-5 sunburst guitar & unknown acoustic guitar, Museum of Making Music.jpg: <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar,_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg' class='image'><img alt='Gibson
L-5 sunburst guitar ,<span>,&,</span>, unknown acoustic guitar, Museum of Making Music.jpg' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/
wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar%2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.
jpg/50px-Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar%2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg' width='50' height='67'
srcset='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar%
2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg/75px-Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar%2C_Museum_of_Making_
Music.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_
guitar%2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg/100px-Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_%26_unknown_acoustic_guitar%2C_Museum_of_
Making_Music.jpg 2x' data-file-width='2448' data-file-height='3264' /></a>
Original artist: Gibson_L-5_sunburst_guitar_&_unknown_acoustic_guitar,_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg: doryfour
• File:Gibson_Les_Paul_1953.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Gibson_Les_Paul_1953.jpg License:
CC BY 2.0 Contributors: originally posted to Flickr as Vintage Les Paul Original artist: Karl Jonsson
• File:Gibson_Les_Paul_Junior_(1958).png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Gibson_Les_Paul_Junior_
%281958%29.png License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors:
• Rory’s_vox_&_guitars.jpg Original artist: Rory’s_vox_&_guitars.jpg: Andrew King
• File:Gibson_Mandolin,_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Gibson_
Mandolin%2C_Museum_of_Making_Music.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: Flickr: Mandolin Original artist: doryfour
• File:Gibson_Super_400_CES.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Gibson_Super_400_CES.jpg
License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: This file was derived from: Super400ces.png: <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Super400ces.png' class='image'><img alt='Super400ces.png' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/
Super400ces.png/50px-Super400ces.png' width='50' height='118' srcset='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/
c/c8/Super400ces.png/75px-Super400ces.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Super400ces.png/
100px-Super400ces.png 2x' data-file-width='446' data-file-height='1050' /></a>
Original artist: Super400ces.png: The original uploader was Cuetty at German Wikipedia
• File:Gibson_logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Gibson_logo.svg License: Public domain Contrib-
utors: Extracted from www.gibsonguitars.ca/limited/pdf/northern_jumbo.pdf , and converted to SVG using Adobe Illustrator CS3. Original
artist: The original uploader was Tkgd2007 at English Wikipedia
• File:Gibsonshowcase.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Gibsonshowcase.jpg License: CC BY 2.5
Contributors: Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here Original artist: Original uploader and author was Luislj403 at
en.wikipedia
• File:Guitare_harpe.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Guitare_harpe.jpgLicense: CC BY-SA3.0 Con-
tributors: Own work Original artist: Von-zoid
• File:Iommi_sg_guitar.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Iommi_sg_guitar.jpg License: CC BY-SA
2.0 Contributors: Tony Iommi SG. Original artist: wetwebwork from London, UK.
8.3 Content license 11

• File:Jimi_Hendrix’{}s_Flying_V_Gibson_Guitar.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Jimi_

Hendrix%27s_Flying_V_Gibson_Guitar.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: originally posted to Flickr as Jimi Hendrix’s Flying V
Gibson Guitar Original artist: Mike Cattell
• File:Les_Paul_57_Custom.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Les_Paul_57_Custom.jpg License:
Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: Prokopenya Viktor
• File:Les_Paul_Traditional.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Les_Paul_Traditional.jpg License:
GFDL Contributors: Gibson Original artist: Gibson
• File:Orville_Gibson_pre-1910.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Orville_Gibson_pre-1910.jpg Li-
cense: Public domain Contributors: Gibson Corporate Press Kit – http://www.gibson.com/press/press_history.asp Original artist: Unknown

8.3 Content license

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