- GIBSON
- chevron_right GIBSON HISTORY: 1980-PRESENT
In 1980, Norlin decided to sell Gibson. Norlin also relocated some of the sales, marketing, administration, and finance personnel from Chicago to the Nashville plant. Most Gibson production took place in Nashville after 1980, and the Kalamazoo plant was used mostly for custom orders. In 1983, then-Gibson president Marty Locke informed plant manager Jim Deurloo that the Kalamazoo plant would close. Final production was in June of 1984, and the plant closed three months later. [On a side note: Rather than give up on the sixty-five-year-old facilities, Jim Deurloo, Marv Lamb, and J.P. Moats started the Heritage Guitar Company in April of 1985. The company is located in the original 1917 building.]
In January of 1986, Henry Juszkiewicz (current CEO), David Berryman (current president), and Gary Zebrowski bought Gibson for five million dollars. Since the sale in 1986, the revived Gibson USA company has been at work to return to the level of quality the company had reached earlier. Expansion of the acoustic guitar production began in Bozeman, Montana during 1989.
Gibson´s Historic Collection models were introduced in 1991, and during 1993, the Custom Shop moved into a separate production facility on Massman Drive. Custom Shop instruments built at Gibson´s Custom Shops (both Nashville, TN and Bozeman, MT plants) began using their own Gibson Custom Art Historic logo on the back of the headstock in 1996. The Gibson Custom, Art, and Historic division is responsible for producing Historic Collection models, commemorative guitars, custom-ordered and special edition guitars.
In the tail end of 1996, both the Dobro production facilities in California and the Montana mandolin facilities were closed down. Current Dobro production was resumed in Nashville at the OAI facility in the Opryland Mall beginning 1997, and banjo and mandolin manufacture followed shortly.
In 1998, Gibson opened up a new dealer level for specialty guitars, both acoustic and electric. The Gibson Historic Collection Award Dealer models are only available through approximately thirty-seven Award Level dealers, and feature specific year/model designated custom instruments at an upscale price.
Gibson started the new millennium in perhaps its best shape in a long time. With the Montana plant now producing consistently high quality acoustic instruments (perhaps their best ever), and the electric models being led by the extensive offerings from the Gibson Custom, Art, and Historic Division, this legendary American guitar company seems to be in great shape for the next century of guitar manufacturing.
During 2001, Gibson opened up a new production facility in Memphis, TN, primarily manufacturing ES-335 type electric instruments and variations. At the end of 2001, Gibson Guitar Corp. purchased Baldwin, longtime manufacturer of pianos and organs.
During 2002, Gibson purchased long time guitar retailer Valley Arts Guitars, and opened up a separate retail store in downtown Nashville.
During 2004, Gibson introduced their Americana Series of acoustic electric guitars, featuring two models, the Ranger and the Pioneer Cutaway. Both models are based on the Chet Atkins SST solid body acoustic concept, and are manufactured by Gibson USA, located in Nashville.
In 2005, the Custom Shop in Bozeman released Designer Customs, Historic Collection, Historic Signature, and Master Museum Collection instruments in limited quantities - many of them are limited to less than twenty-four per month.
Beginning 2006, all Montana Gibson acoustics are equipped with an active bridge pickup with the exception of the Advanced Jumbo, Robert Johnson L-1, and Arlo Guthrie LG-2.
In mid-2007, Gibson bought Garrison Guitars in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and began building a line of traditional-shaped acoustic guitars in their factory that are branded Gibson.
Sources include: Gibson.com, Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon; and Tom Wheeler, American Guitars.
In January of 1986, Henry Juszkiewicz (current CEO), David Berryman (current president), and Gary Zebrowski bought Gibson for five million dollars. Since the sale in 1986, the revived Gibson USA company has been at work to return to the level of quality the company had reached earlier. Expansion of the acoustic guitar production began in Bozeman, Montana during 1989.
Gibson´s Historic Collection models were introduced in 1991, and during 1993, the Custom Shop moved into a separate production facility on Massman Drive. Custom Shop instruments built at Gibson´s Custom Shops (both Nashville, TN and Bozeman, MT plants) began using their own Gibson Custom Art Historic logo on the back of the headstock in 1996. The Gibson Custom, Art, and Historic division is responsible for producing Historic Collection models, commemorative guitars, custom-ordered and special edition guitars.
In the tail end of 1996, both the Dobro production facilities in California and the Montana mandolin facilities were closed down. Current Dobro production was resumed in Nashville at the OAI facility in the Opryland Mall beginning 1997, and banjo and mandolin manufacture followed shortly.
In 1998, Gibson opened up a new dealer level for specialty guitars, both acoustic and electric. The Gibson Historic Collection Award Dealer models are only available through approximately thirty-seven Award Level dealers, and feature specific year/model designated custom instruments at an upscale price.
Gibson started the new millennium in perhaps its best shape in a long time. With the Montana plant now producing consistently high quality acoustic instruments (perhaps their best ever), and the electric models being led by the extensive offerings from the Gibson Custom, Art, and Historic Division, this legendary American guitar company seems to be in great shape for the next century of guitar manufacturing.
During 2001, Gibson opened up a new production facility in Memphis, TN, primarily manufacturing ES-335 type electric instruments and variations. At the end of 2001, Gibson Guitar Corp. purchased Baldwin, longtime manufacturer of pianos and organs.
During 2002, Gibson purchased long time guitar retailer Valley Arts Guitars, and opened up a separate retail store in downtown Nashville.
During 2004, Gibson introduced their Americana Series of acoustic electric guitars, featuring two models, the Ranger and the Pioneer Cutaway. Both models are based on the Chet Atkins SST solid body acoustic concept, and are manufactured by Gibson USA, located in Nashville.
In 2005, the Custom Shop in Bozeman released Designer Customs, Historic Collection, Historic Signature, and Master Museum Collection instruments in limited quantities - many of them are limited to less than twenty-four per month.
Beginning 2006, all Montana Gibson acoustics are equipped with an active bridge pickup with the exception of the Advanced Jumbo, Robert Johnson L-1, and Arlo Guthrie LG-2.
In mid-2007, Gibson bought Garrison Guitars in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and began building a line of traditional-shaped acoustic guitars in their factory that are branded Gibson.
Sources include: Gibson.com, Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon; and Tom Wheeler, American Guitars.