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.
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