Gibson

In 1894, Orville Gibson got the idea to add the arched top of a violin to mandolins and acoustic guitars and, subsequently, introduced two definitive mandolin shapes. Roughly 40 years later, the company, in considering the needs of professional guitar players wanting more amplification, started developing its early electric models.

With input from musician Alvino Rey and engineering from Lyon & Healy, Gibson started getting ideas. By 1935, it debuted a hexagonal-shaped pickup on a lap steel guitar. A year later, it was widely available through the ES-150, an archtop Spanish-style guitar with a pickup installed over the F-hole that quickly caught on among jazz musicians.

Following World War II, Gibson unveiled its P-90 pickup, designed for more amplification and versatile use, and followed this with the ES-5, featuring three pickups, and the ES-175, designed with a cutaway for better playability.

As its next major innovation — and one establishing Gibson’s course going forward — the Les Paul, a solid-body electric guitar, debuted in 1952. Yet, not strictly sticking to this design, Gibson introduced the ES-335, a semi-hollow body electric guitar, in 1958, and experimented with several solid-body shapes around this period — most notably and lasting, the Flying V, the Explorer, and the Firebird.

Gibson’s current product lineup includes:

• The Les Paul: Named after musician Les Paul, this solid-body electric guitar has turned into a multi-genre icon for its tone and quality.
• SG: The Solid Guitar or SG features a double-cutaway design that offers a lighter weight for more comfort while playing.
• Hollow Body: Full and semi-hollow body guitars build on Gibson’s early legacy pioneering pickups for jazz players and, in turn, are better suited to jazz, blues and rock playing.
• Acoustic: While Gibson found broad appeal with its electric models, its acoustic guitars uphold the traditions and innovations introduced in the early 20th century.

Alamo Music Center offers both electric and acoustic Gibson Guitars, with strings and other corresponding accessories. Browse our selection to see what works for you, and then, take advantage of our multiple financing and layaway options, including 12- to 48-month no-interest financing at times.