Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon

Since 1894, the Gibson name has been a driving force in the guitar industry, producing instruments renowned throughout the world. Seventy essays explore this phenomenon from background history on Orville Gibson and the birth of the music industry, through the creation of Gibson's early mandolins, to the company's present-day strength as one of the leading (if not the leading) manufacturer of guitars. Includes a look at the evolution of popular music from ragtime to rock & roll. Contains some 600 rare photographs, plans, and nostalgia from private collections and the Gibson archives. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.