United States · Est. 1902
Gibson
Alongside Fender, Gibson defined the electric guitar. The Les Paul, SG, and ES-335 are among the most revered instruments ever built.
About the brand
Gibson Guitar Corporation was founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company's innovations span over a century: the archtop guitar, the semi-hollow ES-335, and most iconically, the Les Paul — developed in collaboration with guitarist Les Paul and launched in 1952.
The Les Paul's mahogany body, carved maple top, humbucker pickups, and warm sustain created a sound inseparable from rock and blues history. Jimmy Page's Led Zeppelin recordings, Slash's Guns N' Roses work, and Eric Clapton's 'Beano' album were all built around Les Pauls. The SG offered a lighter, more aggressive alternative that became Tony Iommi's weapon of choice.
Gibson's Nashville factory continues to produce the Standard, Custom, and Historic reissue lines. Despite corporate turbulence in the 2010s, the brand has stabilised under new ownership and remains one of the two pillars of American electric guitar manufacture alongside Fender.
Key facts
- Founded in 1902 — over 120 years of guitar-building history
- Les Paul (1952) and SG (1961) among the most iconic electric guitars ever made
- Played by Jimmy Page, Slash, Tony Iommi, and Eric Clapton
- Historic reissues of the original 1950s and 1960s models highly prized by collectors
Iconic models
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Alongside the Stratocaster, the most influential electric guitar in history, with its maple top and humbucker pickups that defined classic rock.
Gibson SG Standard
Designed as a replacement for the Les Paul, its double-cutaway mahogany body became the weapon of choice for Tony Iommi and Angus Young.
Gibson ES-335
The first production semi-hollow guitar, combining the convenience of an electric with acoustic resonance, adopted by jazz, blues, and rock.
Gibson Flying V
A futuristic and controversial design in its day that became a heavy metal icon, associated with names like Jimi Hendrix and Albert King.
Gibson Explorer
An angular body design that was a commercial failure in the 50s before returning in the 70s to become a symbol of hard rock and metal.