Gibson, founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is one of the most iconic and influential guitar manufacturers in history. Known for its craftsmanship, innovation and association with legendary musicians, Gibson has played a central role in shaping the sound of modern music.
Orville Gibson, a luthier and inventor, began crafting mandolins with carved, arched tops, a technique he later applied to guitars. The company’s early focus on acoustic instruments evolved dramatically in the 1930s and 1940s, with the introduction of innovative archtop models like the L-5 and the Super 400. However, Gibson’s true revolution began in 1952 with the launch of the Les Paul model, developed in collaboration with guitarist and inventor Les Paul.
The Les Paul, with its solid mahogany body, carved maple top and powerful humbucking pickups (introduced in 1957), became a benchmark for electric guitars. Its tonal warmth, sustain and versatility made it a favourite among guitarists across genres. Other groundbreaking models include the semi-hollow ES-335 (1958), the futuristic Flying V and Explorer (1958), and the SG (originally called the Les Paul SG) in 1961.
Gibson guitars have been integral to the work of legendary musicians. Jimmy Page wielded a 1959 Les Paul Standard to define the thunderous riffs of Led Zeppelin. Eric Clapton’s Beano Les Paul created the fiery tones of the Blues Breakers era, while Slash’s Les Paul became synonymous with Guns N’ Roses’ hard rock anthems.
Jeff Beck used Les Pauls for some of his most iconic work, from the ‘Yardburst’ he bought in London in 1966 to the iconic ‘Oxblood’ depicted on the cover of Blow By Blow. Artists such as Chuck Berry, with his iconic ES-355, and B.B. King, who famously played his beloved ‘Lucille’ (a modified ES-335), further cemented Gibson’s legacy in rock and blues.
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1954 AND LATER
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL MODEL, KNOWN AS 'THE OXBLOOD'
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, KNOWN AS NUMBER ONE LES PAUL MODEL ARTIST'S PROTOTYPE
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1952
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1959
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL STANDARD
GIBSON GUITAR INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 1983
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL STANDARD '59 REISSUE
A SEMI-HOLLOWBODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-355 TDC
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1967
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 2021
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL STANDARD 'GOLD TOP'
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1959, THE LATER NECK 1972
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL, KNOWN AS 'THE YARDBURST'
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1955
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1953
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, 1986
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, J-200 CELEBRITY
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, 1985
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, J-200 CELEBRITY
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1958
A SEMI-HOLLOWBODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-335 TDN
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 2003
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL HISTORIC LP-57, CUSTOM SHOP STINGER SERIES
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 1991
A HOLLOW BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES175 DN
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1959
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL CUSTOM
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1960
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, FLYING V, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1959
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, 1988
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL CUSTOM
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 2008
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, JEFF BECK OXBLOOD LES PAUL, ARTIST'S PROTOTYPE #1
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 1985
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL STANDARD CUSTOM SHOP REISSUE
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 2001
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL REISSUE 1959 HISTORIC
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 1985
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, J-200 ANNIVERSARY, CELEBRITY
ORIGINAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COMPANY, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, CIRCA 1995
A RESONATOR GUITAR, DOBRO DUOLIAN
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1965
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, DOVE
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1993
AN ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS CE
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1993
AN ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS CEC
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1960
A SEMI-HOLLOWBODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-335 TDN
GIBSON GUITAR CORPORATION, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, 2005
A SEMI-HOLLOWBODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-335 TDN, ’59 HISTORIC
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, CIRCA 1981
A NYLON STRING SEMI SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS CE, CUSTOM SHOP EDITION
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1960
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL SPECIAL, TV
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, 1981
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL HERITAGE SERIES ELITE
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1958
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, COUNTRY WESTERN
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1960
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1958
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-350T
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1953
AN ELECTRIC ARCHTOP GUITAR, SUPER 400 CESN
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1959
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, COUNTRY WESTERN
GIBSON INCORPORATED, NASHVILLE, 2009
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL 57 HISTORIC GOLD TOP
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1958
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL SPECIAL
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1956
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL CUSTOM
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1973
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, 1963
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, EVERLY BROTHERS, J-180
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, LES PAUL CUSTOM, KALAMAZOO, 1959
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1970-1972
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CUSTOM L-5 CES
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1958
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-175 N
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1956-1957
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, ES-5 SWITCHMASTER
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1963
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, HUMMINGBIRD
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, FLYING V, ASCRIBED AS THE EX-ALBERT KING, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1958
GIBSON INCORPORATED
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, FLYING V, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1958
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1960
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, SUPER 400 CESN
GIBSON INCORPORATED, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1963
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, EVERLY BROTHERS J-180