| People who have never touched a guitar know that | | | | the top dog in the acoustic realms. While Fender has |
| Gibson makes guitars. The company is as ubiquitous | | | | a few decent acoustic models, like the Starcaster or |
| in its field as Mickey Mouse is in cartoons, or Timex is | | | | the CD 360SCE Auditorium line, Gibson's acoustic |
| in watches. Gibson is literally a household name and, | | | | guitars rank easily among the finest made. Gibson's |
| with the recent passing of axe god and Gibson | | | | Hummingbird line consistently wins best acoustic |
| mascot Les Paul, more people than ever associate | | | | guitar of the year in Guitar World's annual contests |
| Gibson with guitars and rock music. Fender has | | | | and, with its loud, strong resonance, it is easy to see |
| carved its own slice of apple pie from the Americana | | | | why. These models are wildly expensive, though, |
| vault because of its Stratocaster design that is | | | | with prices ranging from three to five thousand |
| immediately familiar to people of all ages, but Gibson | | | | dollars at the lowest! The Gibson Doves are even |
| and its Les Paul easily outranks the strat in the | | | | more expensive, but can easily be called one of the |
| hearts and minds of nearly all guitar players. | | | | greatest acoustic guitars ever made. With an even |
| Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin plays a Les Paul. Slash | | | | brighter sound than the Hummingbird, the Dove was |
| from Guns N Roses played a Lessy. Paul McCartney, | | | | a favorite of Elvis Presley in his day and, as a result, |
| Pete Townshend, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Bob | | | | has gained a place in the hearts of many a country |
| Marley, Joe Perry, Neil young and many, many, many | | | | rock fan. |
| more extremely famous rockers sport a Les | | | | If you haven't noticed a trend in Gibson's lineup, I'll |
| consistently. The dream guitar of the vast majority | | | | spell it out for you: Gibson guitars are often VERY |
| of rock stardom hopefuls is to own a Les Paul guitar. | | | | expensive. You get what you pay for, though, and |
| Serious shredders know, however, that the reason | | | | the quality is always superb. Poor people need guitars |
| the Les Paul is THE guitar for guitar players is | | | | too, of course, and Gibson's Epiphone line does just |
| because of its unbelievably fat, bluesy, major sweet | | | | that. Formerly a rival of Gibson's, Epiphone was |
| tone. A blues player like B.B. King can extract fat | | | | bought out by the company and now puts out |
| wads of vibrato from a Les and its two humbuckers. | | | | copies of big name Gibson Models like the Flying V, |
| There are countless Les Paul models available in guitar | | | | which is a legendary Metal guitar sported by the likes |
| shops (and more notably pawn shops) across the | | | | of Zakk Wylde and Kerry King, as well as the Les |
| world but, because of its stellar single body design, | | | | Paul and acoustics like the Dove and Hummingbird. |
| Les Pauls are very expensive, with prices that barely | | | | These guitars are, if not quite up to par with a |
| dip below the thousands. | | | | Gibson, certainly worthy substitutes. The appeal is |
| The company has in fact been around since 1902 and | | | | that they are extremely affordable and are notably |
| quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the | | | | popular in their own right with bands and artists like |
| brand new world of archtop guitars. Fender, Gibson's | | | | Sheryl Crow and Slash even have signature Epiphone |
| biggest rival, was rising at the same time and the | | | | models. No matter what you buy, you'll be likely |
| company has been in a tug of war for guitar | | | | satisfied if it is under the Gibson name. The company |
| dominance ever since. Whether the Les Paul's | | | | has earned a place in the lexicon of American history |
| stunning feedback or the Stratocaster's single | | | | and its place is rightly earned. No other guitar |
| humbucker bright pop claim dominance is a question | | | | company has had as big an influence on every genre |
| for the ages, but Gibson is widely considered to be | | | | of music than Gibson. |