Reviews of the Best Gibson Acoustic Guitars!Gibson Acoustic Guitars | Gibson Acoustic-ElectricIt never ceases to amaze me that a company making world-class Gibson Acoustic Guitars, arguably the biggest name in guitar production, got its start in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
From Humble BeginningsKalamazoo, Michigan was a relatively small city in 1894, and Orville Gibson’s relatively small musical shop did not draw an undue amount of attention. But Gibson had a burning vision; a vision of creating instruments that excelled even the highest expectations for stringed instruments. Thanks to his dedication and the shared vision of a number of superb craftsmen, Gibson’s dream has excelled far beyond his wildest dreams.
One year after Gibson’s death in 1919, the renowned classical mandolinist (also an acoustical engineer) by the name of Lloyd Loar was hired by the Gibson Company. He expanded on Orville’s original mandolin designs to create the very first fretted instruments to ever have “f” holes. The Master Model F-5 mandolin and the L-5 guitar had tuned tops and backs, another first. The L-5 guitar was adopted by Eddie Lang, a classical guitarist who brought the L-5 into the classical music scene. But this auspicious start was only the beginning. During the 1920’s interesting innovations such as bridges with height adjustment, adjustable truss rods and elevated fingerboards became a part of the guitar industry and by 1924 Loar had produced a prototype electric bass guitar that was conceived about thirty years too soon. Gibson soared through the depression by entering the toy market and introducing a line of affordable Gibson Acoustic Guitars known as the “Kalamazoo” line. But WWII saw Gibson bought by Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) that in 1948 hired Ted McCarty, a wiz in the music industry, to be President of the Gibson Company. CMI’s expectations were met as, in the sixteen years that McCarty was in charge, the company’s sales increased by over 1,250%. And that was before electric guitars made it into the music scene. So good were things looking that in 1959 Gibson bought out their long time competitor Epiphone and used it to sell a subsidiary line of lower-priced Gibson guitars. With the 1960’s came the era of rock and roll that gave the electric guitar its popularity. Not to be out done, folk music, and an increased interest in jazz sent the demand for acoustic guitars in general, and Gibson Acoustic Guitars in particular, soaring. Gibson was – still – on a roll. But even the recessions of 1980-81 couldn’t keep a good guitar company down, and they faced an increased demand for vintage instruments. But with the slow growth in the music industry, the Gibson owners decided to sell, and were bought in 1986 by a team of music devotees headed by Henry Juszkiewicz and David Berryman. And as they say, the rest is history. Famous Gibson Acoustic Guitar ArtistsThe number of artists who currently play, or who have played Gibson Acoustic Guitars would take up a great deal of space, but some of the most notable would have to have to include classical guitarist Eddie Lang, the Beatles’ own George Harrison and John Lennon, Folk singer Bob Dylan, The Everly Brothers, Woodie Guthrie, Emmylou Harris, Wes Montgomery, and even Sheryl Crow, all of whom had their favorite models and styles, and all of whom preferred Gibson above all other models.Famous Models of Gibson Acoustic GuitarsAnd speaking of models, while there are dozens, three main models standout even in the world of acoustic guitars.The Gibson J-45 This jumbo dreadnought is considered to be Gibson’s most played acoustic guitar. It is simple in shape in construction and has a warm tone and projects volume admirably. Even its price tag (between $3,000 - $7,000) doesn’t deter artists from aspiring to play this model. The Gibson Hummingbird The first Gibson dreadnought with square shoulders, the Hummingbird is rather ornate, giving it a good stage presence, and has hummingbird designs etched on the pick guard. The Hummingbird is a very popular model with acoustic performers, though it its price tag (between $2,000 -$4,000) can be a bit steep. The Gibson SJ-200 Known affectionately as the Super Jumbo, the Gibson SJ-200 made its debut in 1937 and is conceivably the most famous acoustic guitar in the world – bar none. It has an incredibly full-bodied flavor that is still in high demand with musicians around the globe even with it’s rather weighty price tag (between $3,000 - $5,000). Why a Gibson Acoustic Guitar?With their high quality and stellar reputation, Gibson guitars are a cut above the rest. When it comes to the demanding specification of acoustic musicians, Gibson Acoustic Guitars are definitely the guitar of choice for those who can afford them.Tell us about your favorite Gibson Acoustic Guitars!Include the model # and explanation of why your guitar is so great! What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see reviews from other visitors to this page...
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