Gibson emerged from the 1920's as a premier mandolin, violin, and acoustic guitar manufacturer. Luthier Lloyd Loar played a big role in the company's success; the inventor modified instruments with unique technical designs to increase sound and also devised a prototype of the first electric pickup.

As jazz became more widespread in the 1920's, demand for guitars that could go louder grew greater. Gibson introduced two new models, the Advanced L-5 and the Super 400, that featured increased scale lengths (17" and 18", up from 16" in previous models) to maximize dynamics. Even the Great Depression couldn't stifle Gibson's growth. The company continued to expand production facilities in the early 1930's. Gibson's products were soon seen as extravagant luxuries.

The Rickenbacker Company introduced the world's first electric guitar in 1931, prompting Gibson to enter an entirely new market. The company hired musician Alvino Rey to design their first electric guitar; employee Walter Fuller improved upon the design.

Gibson introduced the ES-150 in 1935 and shipped the first order on May 20, 1936. The "Charlie Christian" pickup that came with the model was available as a separate add-on and is one of the most revered pickups in jazz history.

In 1939, the company introduced modified versions of the L-5 and Super 400 with cutaways. Seeking to expand its market, Gibson also released several jumbo models catering to country players. Gibson was purchased by the Chicago Musical Instruments Company in 1944.

During the World War II era, manufacturing came to a slow crawl due to a shortage of supplies. Capitalizing on an unfortunate turn of events, Gibson used the period to allow engineers to develop and design new pickups and models for later release. But it wasn't until 1952 that the company would craft its greatest creation.

UP NEXT: The 1950's was one of the most exciting decades in Gibson's history. The introduction of the Les Paul, the creation of humbuckers, and more...Check back soon for Part Four of our series.

In our last feature, we explored how innovative luthier Orville Gibson helped build the Gibson name. Working by himself in a one-room shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Gibson quickly established his company as a premium mandolin manufacturer. Orville sold the company to five investors in 1902 for the equivalent of $250,000 today.

The Gibson company continued to modify its existing mandolin design in the first two decades of the 20^th century, decreasing its size and pick guard. An intense marketing campaign helped the flourishing company capture a large share of the mandolin market. Gibson soon expanded their lineup to include acoustic guitars, banjoes, and violins.

Luthier Lloyd Loar joined the company in 1919 as an acoustical engineer and carved the F-5 mandolin and the L-5 guitar (pictured to the right). The Gibson L-5 was the company's first arch top guitar to feature f-holes instead of traditional round sound holes. The guitar soon became the standard in the orchestra scene.

Loar's technical contributions to stringed instruments are unrivaled. The inventor implemented a long list of features including longer necks, elevated fretboards, and arched soundboards. Loar is also credited with designing a prototype of an electrostatic pickup system, one of the first developments in electric amplification. Ironically, Gibson rejected his experimental product, prompting Loar to resign from the company.

It wasn't until a decade later, nearly half a century after Orville Gibson opened his shop, that the Gibson Guitar Corporation would begin work on its first electric guitar...

The name is so legendary, it almost needs no introduction. For over a century, the Gibson Guitar Corporation has produced some of the most played and revered models in guitar history: the Les Paul, the SG, the Explorer, the Flying V. How did this small company develop into the largest guitar manufacturer in the United States? Join us as we dive into the century-long history of Gibson.

It all began in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Orville Gibson settled in the industrial city in 1890 and opened a one-room shop to sell his hand-crafted musical instruments. The aspiring inventor worked multiple jobs to fund his growing hobby and sold his creations in his spare time.

Although he had no formal training in lutherie, Gibson showed a remarkable talent for crafting unique products. The innovative designer adapted the arched top design of a typical violin and applied it to the mandolin, designing two unique shapes that remain in use today: the F-style and the tear-shaped A. The mandolin would become his signature product.

Gibson's models were assembled with a single piece of wood and a carved top to boost volume. In 1896, the designer applied for a patent for his new mandolins, arguing that other designs "rob[bed] the instrument of much of its volume of tone". The instruments' dynamics and durability helped to establish Gibson as a premium independent mandolin manufacturer.

UP NEXT: How did a single employee's technical innovations change the design of guitars for decades to come? Check back soon for Part Two of our series.

The first few weeks of playing guitar can be some of the most difficult for any aspiring musician. Not only do you have to deal with the emotional trauma of messing up your favorite riffs, you also have to confront the physical pain: the soreness of your fingers. It takes several weeks to build up the calluses in your fingertips to be able to press down the strings effortlessly and painlessly. For those looking for a bit of relief, here are several tips to reduce the pain in your fingers:

• Don't press down excessively on the strings - Use only as much force as necessary to establish a clear tone. Don't apply maximum force to the fretboard if your notes and chords are not ringing out. Continue increasing/decreasing pressure until you find that perfect sound.
  
  
• Install lighter strings - Lighter-gauge strings are easier to press down and bend. You sacrifice a bit of tone but that shouldn't matter when you're just starting out. Consider a string change to a smaller diameter if you continue struggling.
  
  

• ·        Try out different products for your hands - Epsom salt? Tea tree oil? Apple cider vinegar? All these products have all been recommended to reduce the swelling in your fingers. See if any of them work for you. For more information, visit this website
  
  

• Take it easy - Learning guitar is hard. Take some time off if the pain is too intense - you can always supplement your learning by studying music theory or watching your favorite guitarists perform. Your fingers will feel fine quicker than you think.

Do you ever find yourself looking for a heavier sound from your axe?  Many players tune one or more of the strings on their guitar down to achieve a "lower" sound, which some feel makes the tone meaner and heavier. One of the most common alternate tunings is Drop-D.

The great thing about Drop-D is that it requires you to change the pitch of only one string. In this tuning, the low E string is tuned down one whole step to a D.  The strings, from the sixth (the one closest to you) to the first (the "highest" one), thus become D A D G B E.

For guitarists who love power chords, this tuning is a blessing. By shifting the notes on the E string up two frets, you can now play power chords with a single finger by barring. For example, to play a G5 power chord, place your finger on the 5^th fret (now the G note), make sure you are pressing down on the three lowest strings, and strum the three strings simultaneously.