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 Gibson Guitar Factory inMemphis, Tennessee in May 2009 | |
| Formerly | Gibson Guitar Corp. and Gibson Brands, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1894; 131 years ago (1894)[1] inKalamazoo, Michigan |
| Founder | Orville Gibson |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | electric andacoustic guitars,basses,strings |
| Brands | |
| Owner | KKR & Co. Inc.[5][6] |
| Subsidiaries | List |
| Website | www |
Gibson, Inc. (formerlyGibson Guitar Corporation andGibson Brands Inc.) is an American manufacturer ofguitars, othermusical instruments, and professional audio equipment fromKalamazoo, Michigan, and now based inNashville, Tennessee.[7][8][9][10]
Orville Gibson started making instruments in 1894 and founded the company in 1902 as theGibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd. inKalamazoo, Michigan, to makemandolin-family instruments.[1] Gibson inventedarchtop guitars by constructing the same type of carved, arched tops used onviolins. By the 1930s, the company was also making flattop acoustic guitars, as well as one of the first commercially availablehollow-body electric guitars, used and popularized byCharlie Christian. In 1944, Gibson was bought byChicago Musical Instruments (CMI), which was acquired in 1969 by Panama-based conglomerate Ecuadorian Company Limited (ECL), that changed its name in the same year to Norlin Corporation. Gibson was owned by Norlin Corporation from 1969 to 1986. In 1986, the company was acquired by a group led by Henry Juszkiewicz and David H. Berryman. In November 2018, the company was acquired by a group of investors led by private equity firmKohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).
Gibson sells guitars under a variety ofbrand names[11] and builds one of the world's best-known guitars, theGibson Les Paul. Gibson was at the forefront of innovation in acoustic guitars, especially in the big band era of the 1930s; theGibson Super 400 was widely imitated. In 1952, Gibson introduced its first solid-body electric guitar, theLes Paul, which became its most popular guitar to date—designed by a team led byTed McCarty.
In addition to guitars, Gibson offers consumer electronics through the Gibson Pro Audio division, which includesKRK.
On May 1, 2018, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection,[12] and announced a restructuring plan to return to profitability by closing down unprofitable consumer electronics divisions such as Gibson Innovations.[13][14] The company exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2018.[15][16]
In January 2020, the company launched Gibson TV, an online television network focused on guitars and music culture.[17][18]
Orville Gibson patented a single-piecemandolin design in 1898 that was more durable than other mandolins and could be manufactured in volume.[19] Orville Gibson began to sell his instruments in 1894 out of a one-room workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1902, the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd. was incorporated to market the instruments. Initially, the company produced only Orville Gibson's original designs.[20] The company moved into theGibson, Inc. Factory and Office Building in 1917. Orville died in 1918 ofendocarditis (inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and valves).[19]
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The following year, the company hired designerLloyd Loar to create newer instruments.[20] Loar designed the flagshipL-5 archtop guitar and theGibson F-5 mandolin that was introduced in 1922, before leaving the company in 1924.[21] In 1936, Gibson introduced its first "Electric Spanish" model, theES-150, followed by other electric instruments likesteel guitars,banjos andmandolins.
Following Loar, Guy Hart was the next major figure to influence the company. Musician-writer Walter Carter called the next two decades "The Guy Hart Era" and spelled it out in his definitive history of the company:.[22]
"Guy Hart ran Gibson from 1924-1948 -- the most important period in the company history since the debut of Gibson instruments at the turn of the century and, moreover, the period of greatest innovation for the guitar since the emergence of the six-string guitar in the late 1700s. As the guitar rose to prominence, so did Gibson. Under Hart's management, Gibson developed the Super 400 … still considered the best of their kind … the flattop line and the SJ-200 [that] put Gibson in a class by itself [and] Gibson's prominent place in the electric guitar market."
During the global economic depression of the 1930s Hart "kept the company in business and kept the paychecks coming for the workers," in part by introducing a line of high-quality wooden toys. "And as the country began its economic recovery in the mid 1930s, he ... opened new markets overseas." Then in the 1940s he led the company through World War II by converting the factory to wartime production, winning an Army-Navy "E" award for excellence. After the war he returned the factory to instruments before he retired.
DuringWorld War II, instrument manufacturing at Gibson slowed due to shortages of wood and metal, and Gibson began manufacturing wood and metal parts for the military. Between 1942 and 1945, Gibson employed women to manufacture guitars. "Women produced nearly 25,000 guitars during World War II yet Gibson denied ever building instruments over this period", according to a 2013 history of the company. This denial was contradicted by historical statements. Gibson folklore has also claimed its guitars were made by "seasoned craftsmen" who were "too old for war".[23][24] In 2023, a 1943 Gibson Southern Jumbo was listed for sale with an asking price of $18,500.[25]
In 1944, Gibson was purchased byChicago Musical Instruments. TheES-175 was introduced in 1949. Gibson hiredTed McCarty in 1948, who became president in 1950. He led an expansion of the guitar line with new guitars such as the "Les Paul" guitar introduced in 1952, endorsed byLes Paul, a popular musician in the 1950s. The guitar was offered in Custom, Standard, Special, and Junior models.[26]
In the mid-1950s, the Thinline series was produced, which included a line of thinner guitars like theByrdland. The first Byrdlands were slim, custom built, L-5 models for guitarists Billy Byrd andHank Garland. Later, a shorter neck was added. Other models such as the ES-350T and theES-225T were introduced as less costly alternatives.[27] In 1958, Gibson introduced theES-335T model. Similar in size to the hollow-body Thinlines, the ES-335 family had a solid center, giving the string tone a longer sustain.
In the 1950s, Gibson also produced theTune-o-matic bridge system and its version of thehumbucking pickup, thePAF ("Patent Applied For"), first released in 1957 and still sought after for its sound.[citation needed]
In 1958, Gibson produced two new designs: the eccentrically shapedExplorer andFlying V. These "modernistic" guitars did not sell well initially. It was only in the late 70s when the two guitars were reintroduced to the market that they sold well. TheFirebird, in the early 60s, was a reprise of the modernistic idea, though less extreme.
In the late 1950s, McCarty knew that Gibson was seen as a traditional company and began an effort to create more modern guitars. In 1961 the body design of the Les Paul was changed due to the demand for a double-cutaway body design.[28] The new body design then became known as theSG (for "solid guitar"), due to disapproval from Les Paul himself. The original Les Paul design returned to the Gibson catalog in 1968.
Gibson's production mix in the 1960s had to respond to a changing buyer's market. In 1969, Gibson executive Julius Bellson noted that "Four years ago, electric guitars account for almost 70 per cent of our guitar sales. Today their sales are below 50 percent."[29]
On December 22, 1969, Gibson parent company Chicago Musical Instruments was taken over by the South American brewing conglomerate ECL. Gibson remained under the control of CMI until 1974 when it became a subsidiary of Norlin Musical Instruments. Norlin Musical Instruments was a member of Norlin Industries which was named for ECL presidentNorton Stevens and CMI president Arnold Berlin. This began an era characterized by corporate mismanagement and decreasing product quality.[citation needed]
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Between 1976 and 1984, production of Gibson guitars was shifted from Kalamazoo toNashville, Tennessee. The Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-instrument shop, but was closed in 1984; several Gibson employees led by plant manager Jim Duerloo, plant superintendent Marv Lamb and J.P. Moats establishedHeritage Guitars in the old factory, building versions of classic Gibson designs.
The company was within three months of going out of business before it was bought by Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman, and Gary A. Zebrowski in January 1986.[30] Gibson's wholesale shipments in 1993 were an estimated $70 million, up from $50 million in 1992. When Juszkiewicz and Berryman took over in 1986, sales were below $10 million.[31] New production plants were opened inMemphis, Tennessee, as well asBozeman, Montana. The Memphis facility is used for semi-hollow and custom shop instruments, while the Bozeman facility is dedicated to acoustic instruments.
Gibson purchasedGarrison Guitars in 2007.[32] In mid-2009, Gibson reduced its work force to adjust for a decline in guitar industry sales in the United States.[33]
In 2011, Gibson acquired the Stanton Group, includingCerwin Vega,KRK Systems andStanton DJ. Gibson then formed a new division, Gibson Pro Audio, which will deliver professional grade audio items, including headphones, loudspeakers and DJ equipment.[34] In June 2020, Cerwin Vega Inc. acquired Cerwin Vega from Gibson.[35] On May 21, 2021, Stanton was sold to inMusic.[36]
Gibson announced a partnership with the Japanese-basedOnkyo Corporation in 2012. Onkyo, known for audio equipment and home theater systems, became part of the Gibson Pro-Audio division.[37] In 2013, Gibson acquired a majority stake inTEAC Corporation. In 2014, Gibson acquired the Woox consumer electronics brand from Royal Philips. In October 2017, Gibson announced plans to relocate its Memphis operations to a smaller location and plans to sell the Memphis property. Gibson opened its Memphis facility 18 years before, which occupies just a portion of a massive 127,620 square foot complex. According to theMemphis Daily News, Gibson plans to search for a new facility for its Memphis operations and will stay in the current spot for the next 18 to 24 months. The facility, which sits across from theFedExForum along South B.B. King Boulevard, is expected to list for $17 million.
Since its opening, the Gibson Memphis shop mostly focused on building hollow and semi-hollowbody guitars, such as the famed ES series. Presumably, this shuffling of assets was meant to address Gibson's well-publicized financial troubles.
Gibson issued a press release about the move, with former CEO Henry Juszkiewicz stating:
In December 2017, the Gibson Guitar Factory building in downtown Memphis was sold to Somera Road, an investment company in New York. Two years later Gibson closed the Memphis factory and moved hollow-body production to Nashville. It also moved its Nashville headquarters toCummins Station in 2019.[39][40]
In 2019, Gibson founded the Murphy Lab, a division within the Custom Shop that specializes in creatingaged replicas of classic Gibson guitar models. Led by luthier and guitar restoration expertTom Murphy, the Murphy Lab released its first collection of guitars in March 2021.[41][42]
On May 1, 2018, the company filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of its debt restructuring, the company closed and liquidated the unprofitable Gibson Innovations division, which was focused on selling audio equipment outside of the U.S., allowing Gibson to focus on its most profitable ventures, such as musical instruments. The production of Gibson and Epiphone branded guitars was not interrupted by the bankruptcy. Additionally, $135 million was provided by existing creditors to provide liquidity to maintain existing operations.[43][44]
Later that year Juszkiewicz stepped down as CEO and assumed the role ofconsultant,[45] and a new management team was put in place.[46] The company exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2018.[15][16]
In July 2021, Gibson announced the launch of Gibson Records, a record label focused on releasing "guitar-centric music, across genres", with its first album being the fourth studio album fromSlash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators,4.[47]
In 1977, Gibson suedHoshino Gakki/Elger Guitars for copying the "open book" headstock. The lawsuit was settled out of court, and Ibanez replaced the headstock with a revised design.[48]
In 2000, Gibson suedFernandes Guitars in a Tokyo court for allegedly copying Gibson designs. Gibson did not prevail.[49]
Gibson also suedPRS Guitars in 2005, to stop them from making their Singlecut model. Initially successful,[50] theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court's decision and ordered the dismissal of Gibson's suit against PRS.[51]
Gibson's factories were raided in 2009 and 2011 by agents of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In November 2009, authorities foundillegally imported ebony wood from Madagascar.[52][53] A second raid was conducted in August 2011,[52] during which the FWS seized wood imports from India that had been mislabeled on the US Customs declaration.[54][55] Gibson Guitar Corp. filed a motion in January 2011 to recover seized materials and overturn the charges, which was denied by the court.[56][57]
TheUnited States Department of Justice found emails from 2008 and 2009 in which Gibson employees discussed the "gray market" nature of the ebony wood available from a German wood dealer—who obtained it from a supplier in Madagascar—as well as plans to obtain the wood. It filed a civil proceeding in June 2011,[55][58][59] the first such case under the amendedLacey Act, which requires importing companies to purchase legally harvested wood and follow the environmental laws of the producing countries regardless of corruption or lack of enforcement.[59] Gibson argued in a statement the following day that authorities were "bullying Gibson without filing charges" and denied any wrongdoing.[54][60] Arguing against the federal regulations and claiming that the move threatened jobs, Republicans andTea Party members spoke out against the raids and supported Juszkiewicz.[61]
The case was settled on August 6, 2012, with Gibson admitting to violating the Lacey Act and agreeing to pay a fine of $300,000 in addition to a $50,000 community payment. Gibson also forfeited the wood seized in the raids, which was valued at roughly the same amount as the settlement.[62][63] However, in a subsequent statement Gibson maintained its innocence with Juszkiewicz claiming that "Gibson was inappropriately targeted" and that the government raids were "so outrageous and overreaching as to deserve further Congressional investigation." Juszkiewicz continued to state, "We felt compelled to settle as the costs of proving our case at trial would have cost millions of dollars and taken a very long time to resolve."[64]
Gibson reclaimed some wood stock that was confiscated during the raids,[65] and produced a new series of guitar marketed to draw attention to the raids and seizures.[66]
In the midst of the controversy, commentators stated that the raid was a politically motivated act of retaliation by theObama administration, since Juszkiewicz had frequently donated toRepublican politicians. Chris Martin IV, the CEO of Gibson competitorC. F. Martin & Company, had donated over $35,000 to theDemocratic National Committee andDemocratic candidates in the same time period. Martin featured several guitars in its catalog made with the same Indian wood as Gibson but with correct documentation filed, which allowed the company to avoid a similar raid.[67]
Gibson filed a lawsuit November 18, 2010, in Federal court, the Central District of California, againstWowWee USA and itsPaper Jamz battery-operated guitar toys, charging trademark infringement.[68][69] The lawsuit claimed the Paper Jamz toy guitars copied the looks of some of Gibson's famous guitars, theGibson Les Paul, theGibson Flying V, theGibson Explorer, and theGibson SG. On December 21, 2010, Gibson was granted a request for an injunction against WowWee and retailers in the United States which were selling Paper Jamz guitars:Walmart,Amazon,Big Lots stores,Kmart Corporation,Target Corporation,Toys "R" Us,Walgreens,Brookstone,Best Buy,eBay, Toywiz.com, andHome Shopping Network (HSN)[70][71][72] The case was dismissed with prejudice (dismissed permanently) January 11, 2011 by Federal Judge R. Gary Klausner.[73][74]
Gibson sent a cease and desist letter to Kiesel concerning two models that Kiesel makes—the ultra V and the 'California Singlecut.' According to Jeff Kiesel, Vice President of Kiesel, the letter claims that Kiesel's design infringes upon the Flying V design of Gibson.[75]
German manufacturer Warwick was sued by Gibson with the claim that one of the models sold under the 'Framus' brand imitated the Flying V and that customers were being misled due to this. Gibson sought a stop on the sales of these guitars and also stated that "Warwick was unfairly exploiting the reputation of Gibson Guitars." The Hamburg regional court initially ruled in favour of Gibson in 2017. However, successive judgements from the Higher Regional Court and the Federal Supreme Court in November 2020 and September 2021 dismissed Gibson's lawsuits.[76][77]
Gibson suedDean Guitars in 2019 over trademark infringement related to several guitar shapes and names.[78] The ruling in 2022 found that theDean V,Dean Z, and Dean Gran Sport body shapes, as well as the Dovetail headstock design and the "Hummingbird" and "Moderne" names were infringing on Gibson's designs. The judgement awarded Gibson $4,000 in damages, far short of the $7 million alleged by Gibson.[79]
In November 2024, Gibson sent a cease-and-desist letter to Alabama-based 16 Creative, the marketers of Trump Guitars, which had recently announced a line of electric and acoustic guitars endorsed by the former president. Gibson claims the guitars infringe on their trademarks, including their classic Les Paul.[80][81][82]
Gibson also owns and makes instruments under brands such asEpiphone,[83]Kramer,[84]Maestro,[85]Steinberger,[86] andTobias,[87] along with the ownership of historical brands such asKalamazoo,[88][89]Dobro,[11]Valley Arts,[90] andBaldwin[11] (includingChickering,[90] Hamilton,[90] andWurlitzer[11][90]). It also ownedSlingerland Drum Company but it was sold toDrum Workshop in November 2019.[91] Gibson relaunched Kramer Guitars at Winter NAMM 2020 on January 16. Icon, Baretta, Pacer, Focus, and SM-1 are in the original collection with the modern collection including Assault, Striker, Nite-V, and Bass. The artists collaborations for the relaunched Kramer Guitar includes Tracii Guns 'Gunstar Voyager,' the Charlie Parra 'Vanguard' and the Dave Sabo 'Snake-Baret.[92]
Gibson has long made authorized copies of its most successful guitar designs, under the Epiphone brand name. They are less expensive than those bearing the Gibson name. A former competitor,Epiphone, was purchased by Gibson in 1957 and now makes competitively-priced Gibson-styled models, such as the Les Paul and SG, sold under the Epiphone brand,[93] while continuing to make Epiphone-specific models like the Sheraton, Sorrento, and Casino. In Japan,Orville by Gibson once made Gibson designs sold in that country.[94] Gibson has sought legal action against those that make and sell guitars Gibson believes are too similar to their own.
In 1977, Gibson introduced the serial numbering system in use until 2006.[95] An eight-digit number on the back shows the date when the instrument was produced, where it was produced, and its order of production that day (e.g., first instrument stamped that day, second, etc.).[96] An exception is the year 1994, Gibson's centennial year; many 1994 serial numbers start with "94", followed by a six-digit production number[citation needed]. As of 2006, the company used seven (six since 1999) serial number systems,[95][clarification needed] making it difficult to identify guitars by their serial number alone. The Gibson website provides a book to help with serial number deciphering.[95][96]
In 2006, Gibson introduced a nine-digit serial number system replacing the eight-digit system used since 1977, but the sixth digit now represents a batch number.[95][clarification needed]
In 2003,[97] Gibson debuted itsEthernet-based[98] audio protocol,MaGIC, which it developed in partnership with3Com,Advanced Micro Devices, andXilinx.[97] Replacing traditional analoghook-ups with a digital connection to "satisfy the unique requirements of live audio performances".[98] This system requires a specialpickup,[97] and cabling is provided by a standardCat-5 Ethernet cable.[97][98]
Between 2008–2012, the company produced the Gibson ES-359, an upscaled version of the Gibson ES-339, featuring gold hardware, a multi-ply binding on the front and back of the body, and block mother of pearl inlays on the fretboard. The Gibson ES-359 closely related to the Gibson ES-335, although the body is smaller than the ES-355, closer to the size of a Les Paul model. In terms of electronics, the ES-359 uses what Gibson calls the Memphis Tone Circuit, which preserves the high frequencies as the volume is decreased.[citation needed]
The Gibson "self-tuning guitar", also known as a "robot model", an option on some newer Les Paul, SG, Flying V and Explorer instruments, tunes itself in about two seconds usingrobotics technology developed by Tronical GmbH.[99] Under the tradename Min-ETune, this device became standard on several models in 2014.[100]
In 2013, Gibson introduced theGovernment Series of Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer and ES-335 guitars which were constructed solely oftonewood the US government seized but later returned to Gibson after the resolution of the company'sLacey Act violation in 2011. The guitars were finished in "government grey" and also featured decorations which intended to draw attention to the issue of government. A year later in 2014, Gibson released theGovernment Series II[101] of guitars, which were essentially the same as the first series, only finished in a new color: "government tan".
In 2021, Gibson acquired the iconic electric guitar amplifier brand,Mesa Boogie.[102][103]
All Gibson-brand guitars are currently made at two facilities, depending on the type of guitar.Electric guitars such as theGibson Les Paul,Gibson ES-335, and theGibson SG are made inNashville, Tennessee. Until 2019,Semi-acoustic guitars, such as theGibson ES Series, were made inMemphis, Tennessee, but that operation moved to Nashville during the company's restructuring as they emerged from bankruptcy protection.
Fullacoustic guitars such as theGibson J Series are made inBozeman, Montana. In 2021–2022, Gibson expanded the Bozeman facility from 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) to 48,000 square feet (4,500 m2).[104][105] The new expansion will be providing 100-200 new job opportunities in the area. The Factory itself has been in Bozeman since the 1980s.[106]
While all Gibson branded guitars have always been built in the United States, either at these two or other prior facilities, other brands owned by the Gibson corporation may be made in other facilities, such asEpiphone-branded guitars, which are mostly built in a facility inQingdao, China.
Below are some of the facilities used to produce Gibson instruments, along with years of their operation:
| Address | Years of Operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 114 So. Burdick, Kalamazoo, MI. | 1896–1897 | This was the "business location" of "O. H. Gibson, Manufacturer, Musical Instruments."[107] |
| 104 East Main, Kalamazoo, MI | 1899–1902 | This was Orville Gibson's residence, and he built instruments on the 2nd floor of this location.[107][108] |
| 114 East Main, Kalamazoo, MI | 1902–1906 | The "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co, Ltd." was established in 1902.[107] This building, said to be infested with cockroaches, was probably the former Witmer Bakery.[109] |
| 114 East Exchange Place, Kalamazoo, MI | 1906–1911 | Located quite close to the previous location, in Kalamazoo's business district.[110] |
| 521–523 East Harrison Court, Kalamazoo, MI | 1911–1917 | Located about .5 miles from previous location. The building was next to the Michigan Central Railroad, and stood for many decades, until it came down in the late 20th century.[111] |
| 225 Parsons St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007 | 1917–1984 | Also located next to railroad tracks, this facility had major expansions in 1945, 1950, and 1960.[112] Various brands were produced there, including Gibson,Epiphone, (1957–1970)[113][114] andKalamazoo. During the depression of the 1930s, children's toys were produced there, and during WW2 it produced materials to support the war effort in addition to producing guitars.[115] Between 1974 and 1984 Gibson moved its manufacturing out of this facility to Tennessee. Most of this move happened in 1974, leaving only acoustic and some semi-acoustic production for this plant.[116] In 1985,Heritage Guitars began production, renting part of this facility.[117] |
| 416 East Ranson, Kalamazoo, MI | 1962–? | Located six blocks south of 224 Parsons St., according to Julius Bellson's book, this building housed the Gibson Electronics Division.[118] The building is still standing as of 2020.[110] |
| Corner of Fulford and Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI | 1964–1970 | Located on the east side of Kalamazoo, according to Julius Bellson's book, this 60,000 sq. ft. building known as Plant 3 was the home of amplifier production, the String Division and pick-up production from 1964 to 1970.[118] The building is still standing as of 2020.[110] |
| 641 Massman Drive, Nashville, TN, 37210 | 1984–present | This is Gibson's facility for production of their main solid body models, such as the Les Paul and the SG. |
| 1894 Orville Way, Bozeman, MT, 59715 | 1989[119]–present | This facility is dedicated to acoustic guitar production. |
| 145 Lt. George W. Lee Av, Memphis, TN 38103 | 2000–2018 | This was Gibson's facility for production of their semi-hollowbody electric guitars. This facility shared the same building as Gibson's Retail Shop and Beale Street "Showcase" location.[120] |
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)According to C.F. Martin's catalog, several of their guitars contain 'East Indian Rosewood,' which is the exact same wood in at least 10 of Gibson's guitars. So why were they not raided and their inventory of foreign wood seized? Grossly underreported at the time was the fact that Gibson's chief executive, Henry Juszkiewicz, contributed to Republican politicians...By contrast, Chris Martin IV, the Martin & Co. CEO, is a long-time Democratic supporter.
a cease and desist has been issued against 16 Creative as the design infringes upon Gibson's exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape.
Also during the mid to late thirties, Gibson produced a range of cello and flat top instruments under theKalamazoo name and at inexpensive prices.
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