Gibson Guitars at Total Guitar Buyer

Orville Gibson started in business as an instrument builder in the mid 1890's. In 1902 he established the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing company but left in 1903. Mandolins comprised the company's main product until guitars became more popular in the 1930's.

It was not until 1936 that Gibson produced its first archtop electric, the ES-150. Over the next twenty years Gibson established itself as the world's number one manufacturer of archtop guitars. Fender's introduction of the Telecaster in the early 1950's forced Gibson to work on a prototype solidbody of their own leading to the launch of the Gibson Les Paul in 1952. This was the forerunner to one of the greatest and most successful guitar models ever made.

Despite inevitable periods of difficulty and uncertainty Gibson remains a powerful participant in the guitar manufacturing world. It built on the success of its early Les Paul with a succession of successful designs including the SG, Flying V, Explorer and Firebird. Gibson's focus on producing high quality and innovative guitars has attracted many of the world's greatest guitarists. In turn this has encouraged countless aspiring guitarists to rely on a Gibson as their vehicle to success. There is little likelihood of this changing in the near future.