Gibson Acoustic Guitars Information
With the iconic status of Gibson electric guitars such as the SG and the legendary Les Paul, it's easy to underestimate the quality of Gibson's acoustic guitars, and the impact they have had on the history of popular music. Long revered for their quality craftsmanship and variety of styles, Gibson acoustic guitars, whether vintage or new, continue to command respect, along with a high price tag.
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History
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Orville Gibson, the company founder and inventor of the archtop guitar, produced mandolins and archtop guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from the 1890s until 1902, when he became unable to satisfy the demand for his products and sold the Gibson brand name.
The widespread popularity of flat-top guitars led to the introduction of Gibson's L-1 guitar in 1921, which, although a little small and lacking in structural quality, proved popular enough to spur Gibson's commitment to manufacturing quality flat-top guitars, and larger and better built models soon followed.
Taken over by Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) in 1944, Gibson continued to supply the market with classic guitars until 1971 when they were acquired by Ecuadorian Company Ltd. (ECL). By 1984, all Gibson guitars were being manufactured in Nashville rather than Kalamazoo, and according to many reviewers, began making acoustic guitars to rival those of their glory years, some 50 or 60 years ago.
Gibson J-45
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Introduced in 1942, this round-shouldered jumbo dreadnought is considered Gibson's most widely used acoustic guitar. The J-45 has an understated appearance, with simple dot fret markers, simple sound hole decoration and a simple teardrop-shaped pick guard. Constructed from solid mahogany for the back and sides and spruce for the top, the guitar came in a sunburst finish, which as well as being attractive had the added advantage of hiding any wood imperfections in the guitar top. Recognized for its good volume projection and warm tone, the J-45 remains an important part of the Gibson catalog today.
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Gibson J-160
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The Gibson J-160E was Gibson's answer for acoustic guitarists who needed extra volume to compete on stage with other instruments. This early foray into the acoustic-electric market featured a single-coil P-90 pickup that was mounted on the top of the body by the fretboard and was controlled by one volume knob and a single tone control. Like many acoustic-electric models, the sound wasn't a particularly accurate representation of the guitar's acoustic sound, but the J-160 did prove to be a popular model, aided, no doubt, by the fact that both John Lennon and George Harrison played them on many of the Beatles' classic recordings.
Gibson Hummingbird
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The Hummingbird was the first Gibson dreadnought with a square-shoulder design. First produced in 1960 to compete with similar styles from Gibson's main rival, C.F. Martin & Company, the Hummingbird was a more ornate guitar than its predecessors. With elaborate mother of pearl fret markers, intricate inlays on the headstock and body and its signature etched hummingbird design on the pickguard, this often emulated Gibson classic has proved versatile enough to continue to draw admiration from guitarists from multiple musical genres.
Gibson SJ-200
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Also known as a Super Jumbo, the Gibson SJ-200 was introduced in 1937, and its curvy, oversized body was intended to maximize its volume, enabling it to be heard when played in ensemble settings. Arguably the most famous acoustic guitar in the world, its body size gave the guitar a deep, rich, full-bodied tone, and it remains a revered guitar and status symbol for singer-songwriters the world over.
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References
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- Photo Credit acoustic guitar image by Tanya McConnell from Fotolia.com
