Gibson Electric Guitars have a history of over one hundred years of quality and innovation, beginning in 1974 in Nashville. You’ve seen legendary performances like Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin or Slash from the Guns n’ roses who are wearing their Les Paul. Together with the Fender electric guitars, they have certainly contributed to making music history.
History of Gibson Electric Guitars
Gibson electric guitars have been built since 1974 in Nashville, specifically for the production of Les Paul electric guitars. Although the entire guitar industry went through a black period in the late 1970s, but Gibson’s proactive spirit has remained intact.
In response to a growing demand for vintage style, he drew on his rich history and revived the dot-neck version of the ES-335 in 1981 and the flamed sunburst top of Les Paul in 1982. At the same time, two legendary guitarists joined Gibson, B.B. King in 1980 with the Lucille model and Chet Atkins in 1982 with his new concept of solidbody acoustic guitar.
Gibson’s headquarters moved to Nashville in 1984 with the closure of the Kalamazoo facility. The company’s financial problems were solved in January 1986 by Henry Juszkiewicz and David Berryman, and these new owners quickly restored Gibson’s reputation.
Introduction of the Gibson Les Paul
The original Gibson Les Paul model had a golden finish since its introduction in 1952, then received a new cherry sunburst finish in 1958 and a new name: Les Paul Standard. It made its debut in July 1958 in the Music Industry Trade Show in Chicago. Although it didn’t spread immediately after its presentation, it became very famous when its appearance and sound characteristics met with the favor of musicians such as Keith Richards and Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, and later Slash.
And it was Slash, who even though he used to use his battered 1958 Les Paul Standard in the studio, only recently learned that he had an important piece of guitar history in his hands. In fact, looking at the records it was discovered that Slash’s guitar, from serial number #8 3096, was just the one sent to the historic Music Industry Trade Show in 1958 as one of the first two Les Pual sunburst models ever made before. And also the first maple top with two solid pieces, a key feature of Gibson Les Paul Standard guitars.
Signature models and novelties.
Gibson Custom is proud to announce the limited series release of 50 Mike McCready 1959 Les Paul Standard models with true historic specifications. A 1959 Les Paul still active both in the studio and on tour is really a rarity. The Mike McCready 1959 Les Paul Signature is a faithful replica of one of Gibson’s most interesting guitars, produced by carefully analyzing the original to recreate its appearance, sound and feel.
The Gibson guitar offering is constantly updated, providing musicians with a specific option to meet their musical demands. The new simplified and harmonized lines are always improved while maintaining the fascinating characteristic sound that is typical of Gibson guitars. Playability and design in a variety of new combinations and colours. The result is an extraordinary family of instruments that represents the best quality, value and primary choice of musicians from around the world. Only a Gibson is Good Enough.
Ask the guitar department at the Musicate Store for all the information you need on Gibson guitars, which you can buy in instalments and with the possibility of exchanging your used guitar.