Gibson serial numbers, Gibson guitar history 1894 to present


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luthiers and guitar brands G-Gi | Gibson | Gid- Gn | Go-Grem | Gretsch-

Gibson

made

updated 27/7/2011

Gibson

Gibson Mandolin Guitar Co Kalamazoo 1903 Catalog cover

1903 catalog cover

Gibson guitar 1967 SG headstock

Gibson L6-S headstock

1894 to present

Important dates for the Gibson guitar company [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

1894 Orville H Gibson begins making guitars and mandolins, introducing violin style arched top.

1902 not able to keep up with demand Orville sells rights to 5 Kalamazoo businessmen forming The Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co.

1923 Mandolin dropped from name to Gibson Inc.

1930-40s Instruments made under various brands - Kalamazoo , Mastertone, Oriole, Recording King, Ward, Cromwell, Capital, Kel Kroydon...

1944 bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Co (CMI) - production continues in Kalamazoo

1952 Les Paul introduced

1957 CMI buys Epiphone and moves Epiphoe production from New York to Kalamazoo (1970 to overseas).

1960 Double horn Les Paul introduced (named SG in 63)

1969 Ecuadorian Company Ltd (ECL) buys company and in 1970 renamed as Norlin.

1974 Norlin builds new factory in Nashville and production split with Kalamazoo

1984 Kalamazoo plant closed.

1986 Sold to Henry Juszkiewicz, David Berryman & Gary Zebrowski - Gibson Guitar Corp.

since then acquired Flatiron mandolins, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland drums, OMI - Dobro, Kramer guitars, Trace Elliot amps...

Gibson Guitar Reference Books at Amazon

Gibson's Original Mastertones: Flathead 5-String Banjos of the 1930s-40s

Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979

Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty's Golden Era: 1948-1966

The Gibson Les Paul Book: A Complete History of Les Paul Guitars

Gibsons Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars An Illustrated History & Guide

50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul

Gibson Electric Guitar Book - Seventy Years of Classic Guitars

Gibson Electrics - The Classic Years

Guitar History: Gibson SG

Gibson serial numbers and dating information

Easy start - automated services

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx and http://www.music-enthusiast.com/serial/gibson.html

More Gibson guitar dating information

http://www.gibson.com/Service/Serial%20Numbers%20Search/

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

Gibson Serial Number Information

Gibson Electric Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars

Gibson Acoustic Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars

Gibson Vintage Guitar General Info, Specs, and Serial Numbers

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/Eguitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/gibson_serial_numbers.html

Photo of 1967 Gibson J45 courtesy of G Simon:

Gibson 1967 J45 headstock serial number

General Gibson info

Gibson vintage guitar blog

Everything SG

Gibson Firebird Tribute Site

Amplifier Magazine 1995-1998

Go to info at http://www.gruhn.com/

Pile of Gibson articles on rare models

Gibson pot numbers

Gibson wiring diagrams

Gibson bass

Watch out for Gibson counterfeits

Gibson guitar catalogs

1967 Gibson pricelist Cover | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

1909-1978 Awesome collection of vintage Gibson catalogs

58 thru 85 http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/catalogues.php

Trini Lopez http://www.trinilopez.com/guitars/guitars.htm

1968 http://www.excellentleads.com/oldgibson.html

Gibson Bass catalogs and ads 1954-1986 (inc 1970 Gibson guitar catalog)

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

2001 Gibson Custom Catalog

2009 Gibson Custom Catalog

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Gibson

Other brands made by Gibson [Source: Guitar Seminars]

Cromwell, Kalamazoo guitars, and flat top as well as archtop bodies for National. Other brands that included Gibson-made guitars: Ambassador, Capital, Carson Robison, Coast Wholesale, Fascinator, Francis Day & Hunter, Grinnell, Hayden, Kel Kroydon, Liberty, Martelle, MarShall, Mason, Mastertone, Mitchell Brothers, Nouveau by Gibson, Old Kraftsman, Oriole, Orville, Paynes, Recording King (Montgomery Ward), Reznick Radio, Spiegel, S.S. Stewart, Tex Star, Trujo, Ward, Washburn, and Werlein Leader.