Orville Gibson
Founder of the Gibson Guitar Company and innovator of carved mandolins.
Orville H. He created an entirely new style of mandolin and guitar that followed violin design, with carved tops and bottoms, and his instruments were louder and more durable than contemporary fretted instruments. His company's manufacturing standards were very high, and his instruments were heavily marketed.
- field
- Luthier, instrument design
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Founding the Gibson Guitar Company; patenting a new style of mandolin and guitar
Lore & Background
Orville H. Shortly after, the board passed a motion that 'Orville H. Gibson be paid only for the actual time he works for the Company.' After that, there is no clear indication whether he worked there full-time or as a consultant. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogdensburg, New York.
Reader's Guide
Orville Gibson's significance lies in his radical departure from traditional mandolin and guitar construction. By carving the tops and bottoms of instruments from solid wood, inspired by violin design but not using violin manufacturing techniques, he created instruments that were louder and more durable than the round-backed mandolins then common. market. His guitar patterns remain recognizable in modern jazz guitars. The F-5 mandolin introduced f-holes, another violin-family feature. These instruments are treasured by bluegrass musicians but produce opposite feelings of admiration or contempt among classical musicians. Gibson's legacy endures through the continued influence of his designs and the company he founded.
Did You Know?
- Five Kalamazoo businessmen formed the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd., in 1902 based on his ideas.
- He is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone, New York.
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