Before the Les Paul could shape and influence the music world, the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company was shaping the way we knew bluegrass.
On October 10, 1902, Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Mandolin Company to help market his mandolins to a larger audience. Gibson was already selling mandolins and other instruments he made in his workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gibson’s mandolins were bowl shaped compared to the traditional flat version of the mandolin. These mandolins were more durable, easier to make and sounded richer.
Early on Gibson was innovating and pioneering the guitar world. The L-5 model of the mandolin became the de facto bluegrass mandolin, it’s model and design still used to this day. Gibson also had the first commercially successful electric guitar. In 1952, Gibson helped innovate the guitar thanks to Les Paul.
Legendary guitarist Les Paul helped design a new guitar that is still used and admired for its tone today. The Les Paul Studio, the Les Paul Custom and the Archtop hollow body are popular instruments in rock, blues and jazz. Gibson also warms the hearts of every metal and hair band fan in history. Gibson introduced the Flying V guitar to the public in 1958, an extremely radical design from the more traditional Gibson guitar styles.
Famous Gibson players include Les Paul, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry, Slash, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tony Iommi, Joe Perry, The Edge, John Lennon, Peter Frampton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joe Armstrong, Arlo and Woody Guthrie, Kirk Hammett, Joan Jett and Keith Richards.
Whether it’s Lucy or Lucille or your own Les Paul that’s your favorite, Gibson has been shaping music for 99 years.
