Gibson Guitars: Explorations in Innovation

The tradition of quality associated with Gibson guitars dates as far back as the late 1800s when Orville Gibson started the company with his skill and interest in the guitar. Probably one of the keys to the success of the company then and now is its tangent for innovation. This innovation continued through economic hardship, which saw the introduction of the L-5, ES-150, electric guitar. While the company originated as a manufacturer of mandolins and guitars, it was the design of the ES-150, the company's first electric guitar that hailed them to the top of the list of guitar manufacturers. The innovation in the company originated with guitarists such as Lloyd Loar and Les Paul, whose ideas were used to create some of the company's most innovative designs.

Reviewing the Original Gibsons

The Les Paul Standard is by far the most popular of all Gibson guitars. It was way back in the early 1950s that it was introduced as the company's premier solid body electric guitar. Today the Les Paul Standard has several variations, including the Les Paul Standard Faded, Les Paul Standard Double Cut, Les Paul Standard Limited Edition, and Les Paul Standard Premium.

While many guitar manufacturers find ways to cut corners to assemble guitars as fast as they can, Gibson continues its tradition of hand making each guitar it produces. The Gibson acoustic is the classic tradition of guitars. Gibson continues to make the classic acoustic guitars in natural wood. It's probably the case that if you learned how to play the guitar in elementary school, that your music teacher had an inventory of Gibson guitars. The value of these guitars has not decreased, although many musicians probably wish the price would decrease! Classic Gibson acoustic guitars such as the SJ200 and the Hummingbird are still as popular as when they were first introduced, although most people purchase them as collector's items.

Electric guitars were made to play rock music, right? This message couldn't get any clearer with Gibson's release of a replica of the guitar associated with Angus Young of AC/DC. Usually when makers of guitars reproduce a classic, they tend to add additional features that actually take away from what was so great about the original. The Angus Young Signature SG is basically a mirror image of the classic guitar.

The list of famous individuals who have counted on the traditional quality and innovation of Gibson guitars is long. This relationship is probably due in part to the Gibson company's solicitation of professional guitarists to assist in designing innovative Gibson guitars. Who else knows more about what "serious" guitarists want than the professionals who push them to their limits? Celebrities that have been longtime fans of Gibson guitars include Paul McCartney and Jimmy Page. Aside from the outstanding pickups, Gibson guitars for electric guitar lovers are generally custom-made to order. It is probably the case that the Gibson electric guitars feature some of the most unique styles and designs. The Gibson Firebird Studio Electric, L4 CES Archtop, and the Gibson Zakk Wylde Les Paul electric guitars prove that there are no limits in the how Gibson is able to allow a guitarist to explore the creative limits of Gibson guitars.

For more more information about Gibson Guitars please visit http://www.guitar-directory.net

Gibson Les Paul Studio Fireburst Gold Vs Faded Maple Top

By Pedro Rocha

Gibson Les Paul Studio Fireburst Gold Review

Many times in the past I was convinced the reason I owned one of these guitars was because of my inability to afford a Standard model. But after many years playing them I've learned to appreciate them in their own right.

The specs of the Studio are very close to the Les Paul Standard guitar, except for the binding on the neck and the body. But this feature alone has never been proven to affect the sound or the quality of your playing.

One important feature I would recommend to focus on when trying this instrument is the dimensions of the neck as many players find Gibson 50's neck a little too thick for their taste.

The pickups are the same that used to come in the older Standard, the 490R and 498T. These have a more pronounced upper mid range than vintage voiced pickups for a more modern sound.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded Maple Top Review

A while ago Gibson introduced a stripped down version of this guitar with no finish. Not having this feature brought the price substantially down, the problem is you had to sacrifice something many consider to be a key ingredient to the sound of this guitar, the maple top.

Enter the Faded Maple Top, the specs are almost identical to the regular Studio, sans the lacquer. The choice of color is limited to Cherry Sunburst. The raw finish brings the price down and makes the guitar feel more organic.

The pickups are different as well, this guitar features the Burstbucker Pro pickups that come in the $2,500+ Gibson Les Paul Standard.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded Review

Even though I've owned a couple of the regular ones in the past, when I played the Studio Faded I was converted in an instant. I've always preferred a slightly more opaque tonality in my guitar sound than what regular Les Paul guitars come with.

For many years now most versions of the Studio come with the Gibson 490R and 498T pickups, but pairing the Faded model with the Burstbucker Pro was a gift for me. I was also lucky to get this guitar when it was called the Vintage Mahogany, back then it came with a hard shell case. Now as the Faded it comes in a gig bag.

For more reviews of Les Paul guitars please visit mi Squidoo page --> Gibson Studio Review

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The Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Guitar

By Mark Flys

Rickenbacker's iconic 4001 bass guitar was launched in 1961. It was an updated version of the 4000 bass, and had two pickups.

It is famous for its well-known offset body and headstock shape which somewhat resembles a cresting wave when turned sideways. It is probably one of the world's best known and most famous basses.

The 4001's construction is unusual for a bass, because it utilises through-neck construction, whereby the neck travels all the way through the body and has the sides that make up the shape glued to the sides of the neck. Rickenbacker basses have a distinctive tone. The sustain at the bottom end is particularly striking, and by routing the two outputs from the stereo "rick-o-sound" output, the lower, brighter pick up through a guitar rig and the bassier upper pick up through a bass setup, the classic Rickenbacker bass sound is produced.

The 3000 series made from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s were cheaper instruments with bolt-on 21 fret necks. Like some other 1950s-60s basses, the 4001 was originally supplied with pickup covers, although only at the bridge pickup on the 4001. The Rickenbacker units were split at the top before the 1970s, when they were changed to a design similar to that of the Fender Precision Bass covers.

Paul McCartney received the very first 4001S (his was left-handed, and later modified to include a zero fret). He played this bass extensively through his years with Wings. Famous users of Rickenbacker basses include Chris Squire (Yes), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Lemmy (Motorhead)

Mark Flys is webmaster for the online guitar guide and guitar collecting.co.uk.

The online resource for all guitar and bass information, online lessons, tabs and cheap instruments. http://www.onlineguitarguide.co.uk

http://www.guitarcollecting.co.uk

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