The Gibson ES-150 is well loved by jazz guitarists who appreciate the rich, mellow sound of the 1930s jazz band. But more than just a great jazz guitar, it was Gibson's first serious attempt at making a Spanish style electric guitar that could be both commercially viable and pleasing to the serious guitarist. As for the 150 designation, it came from the fact that the first model cost $150 and included an EH-150 amplifier.

The Gibson ES-150 was immediately popular among jazz bands because it enabled the guitar player to make a more significant contribution than he could with an acoustic instrument, especially in terms of solo work. Famed jazz guitarist Eddie Durham epitomized the new role of the electric guitar in jazz music by performing what was believed to be the first solo on an electric - using an ES-150.

One of the greatest features of this guitar was the design of the solid spruce top largely free of the feedback issues commonly known among electrics of the day. The ES-150 was originally made with a single coil pickup, affectionately known as the "Charlie Christian" pickup, which produced a warm tone that could fill both bar room and concert hall.

The mellow sound of the early Gibson ES-150 was hard to reproduce as the line underwent significant changes. Among those changes, the Charlie Christian was replaced by a single P-90 pickup on a new, 17" hollow body introduced after World War II. That model was discontinued in the early 1950s. (more...)

The Epiphone Riviera is a rather unique instrument not because of what it is, but because of what it represents. To understand the significance of this guitar one must first know a little bit about the history of Epiphone and how the Riviera came to be.

Epiphone got its start back in the late 19th century as a maker of fine musical instruments sold throughout Eastern Europe. After moving to the U.S., the company grew into a direct competitor of Gibson, even threatening the Gibson business with its early arch top models. But when Epi Stathopoulo died in '43, his brothers took over the business and ran it into the ground. Gibson bought the company in 1957, saving it from extinction.

Gibson president Ted McCarty decided to use his new Epi line in an almost experimental fashion. He figured Epiphone could develop new models while Gibson continued to manufacture its own current stock under its own name. The new electric archtops would introduce Epiphone to something it had never done before; produce a thin bodied, semi-hollow electric. (more...)

If there's one Gibson guitar that personifies the low, rich tones of bar room jazz, it's the Gibson ES-175. This beautiful musical instrument first made its debut in 1949 as a mid-level guitar to replace the big band era L-5. The signature sound was produced by a combination of a robust hollow body and a single-coil P-90 pickup. In 1953 Gibson replaced the setup with dual pickups, making the tone all that much better, but it wasn't until the dual humbuckers were added in 1957 that the ES-175 really reached its peak. Even today Jazz guitarists using other guitars try to emulate the ES-175 using effects boxes or adjustments to their tone control.

The ES-175 is a combination of maple, poplar, maple laminate, mahogany, and rosewood. Its signature sunburst finish was by far the most popular choice in the early days, but that might be due to the fact that the natural wood finish cost extra. The Florentine cut away was the first such cutaway used by Gibson; a design feature they carried forward to the ES-135 and other models. And the white accent running the entire perimeter of the body, as well as the black pick guard, really pulls out the cutaway to give an even more distinguished look. (more...)

1956 was the first year of production for the Gibson ES-135, a semi-hollow body electric meant to be the entry-level guitar for the ES series. One of its more unique characteristics for the time was the Florentine style cutaway, which Gibson claimed was a world's first among semi-hollow electrics. The Gibson ES-135 sported dual P-100 humbuckers with soap box covers that gave a pretty good sound for the price. A suppressing block running through the entire body of the guitar helped greatly. Volume and tone were adjusted with separate control knobs and a three way switch, giving the player good control over sound throughout the entire length of a gig.

The ES-135 body was made from maple and the rosewood fret board marked positions with the usual dots. Chrome plated hardware finished a look very reminiscent of some of the more expensive ES models, yet at a lower cost. Some critics would say the 135 was very similar to 335 in many ways; playability probably wasn't one of them, although that's left up to the preference of the individual guitar player. Regardless, Gibson sold a fair number of these guitars in a short run that ended in 1958. (more...)

It seems like back in the early 60s every teenage guitar player wanted a Gibson Les Paul Jr. The problem was, they were a bit expensive and difficult to come by for kids with no money. And so, to the delight of many, Gretsch answered with the solid body Corvette introduced in 1961. They also made a hollow body archtop electric by the same name from '55 to '59.

The solid body Corvette was made of mahogany with a pearl-dotted rosewood fretboard. Most were finished in cherry red with black pick guards, although you could get them in a more opaque red or platinum grey. The grey models were discontinued in 1963 as three new models were introduced in '63 and '64. The Silver Duke and Gold Duke were two variations released in 1964 with sparkling paint schemes, but the most eclectic of these new models was the Process. This guitar featured sparkling paint schemes aimed squarely at the girls.

In terms of hardware, the earliest Corvettes featured your choice of single or double Hi-Lo 'Tron pickups. Guitar players have their preferences when it comes to pickups, but there were plenty who loved the tone and colour of the Corvette's single pickup scheme. By 1968 progress meant Gretsch departed from the single Hi-Low and replaced it with dual Super 'Tron pickups. (more...)