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Reference Library Articles

Alembic History

Alembic History

An 'alembic' is defined in the dictionary as "anything that refines or purifies;" more specifically, it was the vessel in which medieval and Renaissance alchemists combined the base metals they sought to transmute into gold.

Chapman 'Stick' History

Chapman 'Stick' History

The Stick is an ingenious and versatile stringed instrument with a substantial base of players throughout the world

Epiphone History

Epiphone History

Epaminondas ('Epi') Stathopoulo (1893-1943) became President of his father Anastasios' New York-based instrument building company, the House of Stathopoulo, in the 1920s.

Fender History - Part 1: The Early Years

Fender History - Part 1: The Early Years

Clarence Leonidas Fender (known as Leo to friends and associates) was born near the town of Fullerton, California, some 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on 10th August 1909.

Fender History - Part 2: CBS and After

Fender History - Part 2: CBS and After

The Electric XII was one of the last models to be developed by Fender's original management.

Fender History - Part 3: Leo Fender's Later Career

Fender History - Part 3: Leo Fender's Later Career

Leo Fender's departure, in 1965, from the company that bore his name did little to dampen his creativity.

Gibson - Part 10: Gibson Acoustics, World War Two - Present

Gibson - Part 10: Gibson Acoustics, World War Two - Present

During World War II, Gibson manufactured no electric guitars, and its production of acoustics was severely restricted

Gibson - Part 1: Early Years; Gibson's First Acoustics

Gibson - Part 1: Early Years; Gibson's First Acoustics

Orville H. Gibson (1856-1918) was born of an American mother and an English father near Chateaugay, close to the Canadian border in northern New York state

Gibson - Part 2: 1930s Archtops; Gibson's early flat tops

Gibson - Part 2: 1930s Archtops; Gibson's early flat tops

Gibson continued to refine and develop its archtop acoustics throughout the 1930s.

Gibson - Part 3: Gibson's Early Electrics; The Evolving 'Les Paul'

Gibson - Part 3: Gibson's Early Electrics; The Evolving 'Les Paul'

Gibson launched its first full-production electric guitar, the EH-150, in January 1936.

Gibson - Part 4: From Les Paul to SG

Gibson - Part 4: From Les Paul to SG

In the late 1950s, Gibson decided to make fundamental alterations to its Les Paul guitars.

Gibson - Part 5: Gibson's Classic Hollow-body Electrics

Gibson - Part 5: Gibson's Classic Hollow-body Electrics

Traditional-style electric archtops had deep bodies: Gibson's Super 400 CES and L-5 CES both measured a generous 3 3/8 inches (8.6cm) from top to back

Gibson - Part 6: Gibson 'Thinlines' and Semi-solids

Gibson - Part 6: Gibson 'Thinlines' and Semi-solids

Traditional-style electric archtops had deep bodies: Gibson's Super 400 CES and L-5 CES both measured a generous 3 3/8 inches (8.6cm) from top to back

Gibson - Part 7: Gibson 'Artist' Hollowbodies and Semi-solids

Gibson - Part 7: Gibson 'Artist' Hollowbodies and Semi-solids

The approach to Billy Byrd and Hank Garland that led to the creation of Gibson's 'Byrdland' archtop was not an isolated occurrence.

Gibson - Part 8: Gibson's 'Modernistic' Solid Electrics; The Firebirds

Gibson - Part 8: Gibson's 'Modernistic' Solid Electrics; The Firebirds

In the 1950s, Fender had shaken up the guitar-making establishment with its bold solid-body designs.

Gibson - Part 9: Gibson Electrics: 1970s Onwards

Gibson - Part 9: Gibson Electrics: 1970s Onwards

The Firebirds were the last major Gibson electrics introduced by Ted McCarty, who left the company in 1966 after 16 years as its President

Gretsch History

Gretsch History

Friedrich Gretsch (1856-1895) was a German émigré to the USA who set up a New York-based company making banjos and percussion instruments in 1883

Heritage History

Heritage History

Gibson's departure from Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1984 did not end the long history of guitar making there.

Hugh Manson History

Hugh Manson History

The peaceful rural environment of southwestern England has attracted a number of leading British luthiers.

Jackson History

Jackson History

During the late 1970s, a new generation of virtuoso American rock guitarists was emerging

Jerry Jones History

Jerry Jones History

Nashville-based luthier Jerry Jones is dedicated to recreating the classic Danelectro, Silvertone, and Coral electric guitar designs of Nathan Daniel

Klein History

Klein History

Californian luthier Steve Klein's electric guitars look strikingly unconventional, but their appearance is far from being a visual gimmick

Martin History

Martin History

Christian Friedrich Martin (1796-1873) was born at Markneukirchen, Saxony, in the southeastern corner of modern Germany, on January 31st 1796.

National - Part 1: National to 1941

National - Part 1: National to 1941

Prior to the electronic era, luthiers often sought innovative ways to boost their acoustic instruments' audibility.