Gibson Acoustic Guitars

Gibson Acoustic Guitars

Gibson guitars started in 1902 by Owen Gibson, and it is now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Each model is produced with a custom combination of select and sustainable tonewoods, including rosewood, mahogany, spruce, sitka, and more. The diverse Gibson product line offers vintage and modern-style acoustic guitars designed for many musical genres and performance needs.

Gibson acoustic guitars come in the following styles:

• Small body: Also known as parlor guitars, the smaller bodies of these Gibson models produce a brighter tone. Examples are the 12-Fret Rosewood guitar, the L-00 Standard .83-.91 Vintage Sunburst, and the L-100 Nick Lucas Custom Exotic Rosewood .79-.85 Vintage Sunburst.
• Dreadnought: Slightly larger than parlor-size models, these guitars increase sound projection and are the most common size among guitars in the Gibson family. An example is the LE Songwriter Studio Deluxe guitar.
• Jumbo: These Gibson models are essentially dreadnought designs, but the upper bouts are slightly larger to help provide better balance with lower tones. The J-45 guitar is a well-known example in this family.
• Super jumbo: Also known as the L-200 model, this is the largest and loudest model that Gibson makes.

Know how you will be using the guitar. Playing it live in front of audiences may require a larger model that can project and/or contain electronics that enable it to be played through a PA system. A guitar with a smaller body may be more suitable for practice or studio use. Your style of picking — flatpicking or fingerpicking — may also affect the model you choose. Select your Gibson guitar based on which model sounds and feels right and meets your performance, picking style, practice, and/or recording needs.

• J-45 Series: Appropriately named "The Workhorse," this dreadnought acoustic guitar includes varied tonal qualities, playability, structural balance, and electronics. Variations of the J-45 include the Vintage, Granadillo, and Standard models.
• J-15 Series: This Gibson model has the same shape as the J-45 while retaining high-level tonal properties and playability. It is also designed as a more rugged alternative for heavy use. Use of a maple neck brightens the tone over traditional rosewood.
• L-00 Standard: Derived from vintage acoustic guitars Gibson made in the 1930s, the L-00 includes a smaller body with a brighter tone. This modern version contains a high-end pickup for PA and studio use and a rosewood fingerboard for tonal warmth.