Gibson ES-335 Overview

The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline archtop semi-acoustic
electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES (Electric
Spanish) series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid maple wood
block runs through the center of its body. The side "wings" are hollow, and the top
has two violin-style f-holes over the hollow chambers.[1]

Origins

Before 1952 Gibson produced only hollow-body guitars, which are prone to
feedback when amplified loudly. That year saw the introduction of their first
solid-body, the Gibson Les Paul, a significantly different instrument from Les
Paul's early electric guitar experiment, "The Log", which consists of a center
block with detachable chambers on the both side,[2][3] a neck, hardware,
and pickup ATTACHED. By 1958 Gibson was making a few solid-body models
which had much lower feedback and better sustain but lacked the darker,
warmer tone and unamplified volume of hollow bodies. The ES-335 was an
attempt to find a middle ground: a warmer tone than a solid body with
almost as little feedback. Though semi-hollow-bodies like the ES-335 are
essentially a compromise of earlier designs, they are for this reason
extremely flexible, as evidenced by the ES-335's popularity in a wide range
of music, including blues, jazz, and rock. With a basic price of $267.50 it
quickly became a best-seller, and has been in continuous production since
1958.

The first major update came in mid 1962, with the most visible change being
the markers on neck: early models had dots (hence "dot neck"), later models
had blocks.[4]

Models

Some models feature a coil split switch, which allows the humbuckers to
produce a "single-coil" sound. The ES-335 Pro, ES-335TD CRS and CRR
models were equipped with Gibson "Dirty Fingers" humbuckers, which had a
significantly higher output than the standard pickups.

The company has produced a number of signature guitars as well, such as

Trini Lopez-inspired model (1964-1970) with narrow diamond-shaped
soundholes replacing the f-holes, a Firebird-style headstock with all the
tuners on one side, and slashed-diamond inlays. In September 2007, Gibson
introduced the DG-335, designed in collaboration with Dave Grohl, a
variation on the Trini Lopez Gibson; the Grohl model has a stopbar tailpiece
and Gibson's new Burstbucker humbuckers.[5] Other signature models
include the heavily customized Alvin Lee "Big Red" 335. A reissue of the
1963 model was a 2014 "Editor's pick" in Guitar Player magazine, at
$4000[4]

Variations

ES-345

The ES-345 was first produced in 1958 as upscale version of ES-335.

Although the design is very similar to the 335, the 345 featured a multi-
position "Varitone" switch located just above the lead tone and volume
controls, which added various combinations of inductors and capacitors to
the electronic pickup circuit of the guitar in order to alter its resonant
frequency and add "color" to the sound. The ES-345 also featured an optional
stereophonic output jack, gold-plated hardware, large split parallelogram
fingerboard inlays (similar to ES 175), and a thicker three-ply edge binding
than that of the ES-335. Notable users were Freddie King, John McLaughlin,
Jorma Kaukonen, Fred Frith, Porl Thompson of The Cure and Elvin Bishop.

It was discontinued in 1981, one year after the Gibson Lucille was launched.
As of 2012, the ES-345 is available as limited edition of Epiphone, as well as
the ES-355.
ES-355

The ES-355TD (Thinline semi-hollow, Double pickups) was at the top of

Gibson's range of thinline semi-acoustic guitars. It was manufactured from
1958 until 1982,[7][8] fitted with Varitone Stereo option (SV), as ES-355TD-
SV released in 1959.

The headstock has a split-diamond inlay rather than the smaller crown inlay
on the 335/345, in addition to a multiple-layered binding. The fingerboard
inlays are inlaid mother-of-pearl blocks, beginning at the first position of the
fretboard. In addition to the headstock, binding is also applied to the
fretboard and both the front and the back edges of the body. Rather than the
rosewood fretboard on a 335 or 345, both variations of the 355 have an
ebony fingerboard for a 'smoother' sound. Reissues use a richlite
fingerboard. Early models of Epiphone's limited edition budget version had
an ebony fingerboard but the later issues had a rosewood board.

The ES-355 was available with a Vibrola vibrato unit or a Bigsby vibrato
tailpiece. It was also available with a stereo output and Varitone tone filter
circuitry. When fitted with the optional stereo wiring and Varitone, the model
was known as the ES-355TD-SV.

EB-2 & EB-2D

The EB-2 was first produced in 1958 as the bass version of the ES-335.
Having the same body as the ES-335, it held a 30.5" scale neck and
hardware borrowed directly from the Gibson EB-0. In 1959, a "baritone-
switch" was added to filter the output from the neck humbucker and give it
more of a guitar-like sound. The EB-2 was discontinued at the end of 1961,
being replaced by the EB-3.[12] Due to a boom in the use of the EB-2 and its
sibling, the Epiphone Rivoli, in the Merseybeat in England in the early sixties,
production restarted in 1964, with a 2-pickup version called the EB-2D being
added to the line in 1966. In 1972 the EB-2 line was discontinued.[13]

Gibson Les Paul Overview

The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the
Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952.[1] The Les Paul was designed by
guitarist/inventor Les Paul with the assistance of Ted McCarty and his team.

The Les Paul was originally offered with a gold finish and two P-90 pickups. In
1957, humbucking pickups were added, along with sunburst finishes in 1958.
The sunburst 1958–1960 Les Paul – today one of the best-known electric
guitar types in the world – was considered a failure, with low production and
sales. For 1961, the Les Paul was redesigned into what is now known as the
Gibson SG. This design continued until 1968, when the traditional single
cutaway, carved top bodystyle was reintroduced. The Les Paul has been
continually produced in countless versions and editions since. Along with
Fender's Telecaster and Stratocaster, it was one of the first mass-produced
electric solid-body guitars. Les Pauls have been used in many genres,
including rock, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz, reggae, punk, and
heavy metal.

History

In 1950, the ancestors of Fender Telecaster (Fender Esquire and Fender

Broadcaster) were introduced to the musical market and solid-body electric
guitars became a public craze. In reaction to market demand, Gibson Guitar
president Ted McCarty realized Gibson's mistake, and brought guitarist Les
Paul into the company as a consultant. Les Paul was a respected innovator
who had been experimenting with guitar design for years. He hand-built a
solid-body prototype called "The Log", often suggested as the first solid-body
Spanish guitar ever built. "The Log" was given its name from the pine block
running through the middle of the guitar whose width and depth are a little
more than the width of the fretboard; conventional hollow guitar sides or
"wings" were added for shape. Although numerous other prototypes and
limited-production solid-body models by other makers have since surfaced, it
is known that in 1945–1946, Les Paul had approached Gibson with "The Log"
prototype, but his solid body design was rejected.[7][8]

In 1951, Paul, McCarty and his team at the Gibson Guitar Corporation began
work on what would eventually become the Les Paul Model. Early prototypes
are very similar to the final version.[9] The new Les Paul guitar was to be an
expensive, well-made instrument in accordance with Gibson's reputation at
the time.[7] Although recollections differ regarding who contributed what to
the Les Paul design, it was far from a replica of rival guitar manufacturer
Fender's models.

Les Paul logo on headstock

Additionally, Gibson's president Ted McCarty stated that the Gibson Guitar
Corporation approached Les Paul for the right to imprint the musician's name on the
headstock with the intention of increasing sales; in 1951, Gibson presented Paul a
nearly finished instrument for approval. Subsequently, McCarty claimed that design
discussions with Les Paul were limited to the tailpiece and the fitting of a maple cap
over the mahogany body for increased density and sustain, which Les Paul had
requested reversed. However, this reversal would have caused the guitar to become
too heavy, and Paul's request was refused.[10] Paul states that the original Custom
should have had the maple cap and the Goldtop was to be all mahogany. The
Custom did not appear on the market for another two years following the
introduction of the Goldtop; it is possible that Gibson had planned a full model
range of guitars (with a roll-out over the course of several years) at the time when
initial specifications were being set. Les Paul's contributions to the guitar line
bearing his name were more than cosmetic, but certainly included them. For
example, Paul specified that the guitar be offered in a gold finish, not only for
flashiness, but to emphasize the high quality of the Gibson Les Paul instrument.[10]
The later-issue Les Paul models included flame maple (tiger stripe) and "quilted"
maple tops, again in contrast to the competing Fender line's range of car-like
custom color finishes.
The 1952 Les Pauls featured two P-90 single coil pickups, and a one-piece, 'trapeze'-
style bridge/tailpiece with strings fitted under (instead of over) a steel stop-bar.
[note 4]

Mid-1950s (1953–1957)

A second Les Paul model was introduced in 1953. Called the Les Paul
Custom, this black guitar with gold-plated hardware was dubbed the "Black
Beauty." Various bridge and tailpiece designs were added in 1953 and 1954,
including the popular Tune-o-matic bridge. The Goldtop and Custom models
continued without significant changes until 1957. In 1957, P-90 pickups were
no longer offered on Les Pauls. New humbucker pickups designed by Seth
Lover in 1955 (U.S. Patent 2,896,491) debuted on Les Pauls in 1957. This
innovation in pickups became the flagship pickup design most associated
with Gibson. Many other guitar companies followed suit, outfitting their
electrics with versions of the humbucking pickup.

Sunburst failure and resurgence (1958–1968)

In 1958, the Les Paul saw its first major design change. A new model, called
the Standard, retained most features of the 1957 Goldtop. However,
Standards featured a cherry-red sunburst finish. These guitars were priced
higher than the Goldtop models, but lower than the Customs. At this time,
Gibson instruments were marketed toward an older, jazz-oriented audience
rather than young burgeoning guitarists. As a result, over the three-year
period of production, only c. 1,700 Standards were made.
These Les Pauls were considered to be too heavy and old-fashioned, and
they initially did not find favor amongst guitarists. In 1961, Gibson stopped
producing the traditional Les Paul in favor of a lighter redesign which was
later called the SG. The mid-1960s, however, brought a resurgence of
interest in the Les Paul Standard. In 1964, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards
began using a sunburst, 1959 Les Paul Standard – becoming the first "star-
guitarist" to play a Les Paul on the British scene.[11][12] The guitar, outfitted
with a Bigsby tailpiece, served as one of the guitarist's prominent
instruments and provided the first impetus to the use of Les Pauls during the
British blues boom.[13][14] In 1965, Eric Clapton began using Les Pauls
because of the influence of Freddie King and Hubert Sumlin, and played a
1960 Standard on the groundbreaking album Blues Breakers with Eric
Clapton.[15][16][17] In America, Mike Bloomfield began using a 1954 Les
Paul goldtop while touring with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and recorded
most of his work on the band's East-West album with that guitar. A year later,
he traded it for a 1959 Standard with which he became most identified.
Concurrently, artists such as Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Paul Kossoff, and Jimmy
Page began using sunburst Les Paul Standards in the late 1960s. Responding
to this influence and increased pressure from the public, Gibson reintroduced
Les' single-cutaway guitar in July 1968.

Gibson SG Overview
The Gibson SG is a solid-body electric guitar model that was introduced in 1961 (as
the Gibson Les Paul) by Gibson, and remains in production today with many
variations on the initial design available. The SG Standard is Gibson's best selling
model of all time.[1]

Origins

In 1960, Gibson Les Paul sales were significantly lower than in previous
years.[citation needed] The following year, the Les Paul was given a thinner,
flat-topped mahogany body, a double cutaway which made the upper frets
more accessible, and a contoured body. The neck joint was moved by three
frets to further ease access to the upper frets. The simpler body construction
significantly reduced production costs, and the new Les Paul, with its slender
neck profile and small heel was advertised as having the "fastest neck in the
world". Although the new guitar was popular, Les Paul himself did not care
for the new design (nor did he have anything to do with it), and requested
the removal of his name from the new model. He remained under contract to
Gibson, and was photographed with the new model several times.

Gibson honored Les Paul's request, and the new model was renamed "SG",
which stood for "Solid Guitar'". Les Paul's name was officially deleted in 1963,
but the SG continued to feature Les Paul nameplates and truss rod covers
until the end of 1963.

In the early-to-mid 1960s Gibson's parent corporation, Chicago Musical

Instruments, also revived the "Kalamazoo" brand name for a short time.
Later models of the Kalamazoo KG-1 and KG-2 featured a body style similar
to the Gibson SG, effectively creating a budget-line model until the brand
was dropped in the late 1960s. Gibson currently releases lower-cost,
internationally sourced versions of the SG through their subsidiary, Epiphone.

Because of its ease of play, holding comfort, popularity and vintage heritage,
the body style of the SG is often copied by other manufacturers, although
much less frequently than the Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster.

Unique SGs
Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton used a 1964 Gibson SG Standard[6] starting in 1967 while in

Cream. This guitar was known as the "Fool" guitar, as it was painted by the
Dutch artists known collectively as The Fool. In spring 1968, the SG was
loaned to Jackie Lomax, an associate of George Harrison. The "Fool" was later
sold to Todd Rundgren for $500 before eventually being sold to a private
collector for about $500,000.

Tony Iommi

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath owns several custom-made black left-handed

Gibson SGs with white cross-shaped fretboard inlays. Epiphone produces a
similar guitar as the Tony Iommi G-400.[7] Iommi's original SG (used on the
early Sabbath albums) was a cherry red, left-handed 1965 SG Special with P-
90 pickups.

John Cipollina

John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service used a custom Gibson SG

with custom pickguards in the shape of bat-like figures, as well as the fret
board being customized with unique patterns.

Angus Young

Angus Young of AC/DC occasionally uses a custom-made SG with lightning-

bolt inlays however, the original was made by Jaydee guitars. Since then,
Young has collaborated with Gibson to make the Angus Young SG which
features a custom-designed Humbucker in the bridge position, a '57 Classic
in the neck position and the lightning-bolt inlays.