Gibson Acoustic Concert Series
BACK TO THE BEGINNING...
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HERITAGE
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ACOUSTIC
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FOUNDATION
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CONCERT SERIES
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IT IS AS SIMPLE AS A GUITAR, A SEAT, AND A STAGE. STOOLS AND STRINGS CELEBRATES GIBSON’S ACOUSTIC HERITAGE
This summer to celebrate our acoustic heritage, Gibson Guitars is sponsoring Stools and Strings Acoustic Concert Series. Traveling to fifteen cities across the United States, Stools and Strings features some of today’s top rock and
alternative musicians. Held in small venues, String and Stools celebrates how these artist started, with just a seat and their acoustic guitar...in celebration of how Gibson started it’s legacy, with an acoustic guitar.
BACK TO WHERE THEY
SMALL VENUES, A STOOL, A STAGE
AND A GUITAR IN
OF HOW GIBSON BEGAN
MADE BY HAND: THE STORY OF GIBSON ACOUSTIC It’s a long, long road from Kalamazoo,
build in his one man shop. In 1926 Gibson
Michigan to the Bozeman, Montana, where
created its first flat-top acoustic guitars in
the Gibson Acoustic factory is now located.
the form of the simple L-1.
Gibson Acoustic has paved every mile of its journey with craftsmanship and innovation.
Just two years later Gibson signed up Nick Lucas, the first recorded guitar star, as
Gibson began in 1894 in his home
a signature artist. The Nick Lucas model
workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With
debuted with the same body size and
no formal training, Gibson created an
shape as the L-1, but had an increased
entirely new style of mandolin and guitar,
body depth and was constructed with
with tops carved and arched like the top
considerably more consideration for tone
of a violin. His creations were so different
and playability. This guitar reached its
that he was granted a patent on his
epitome in 1933, with a slightly larger and
design. More importantly, they were louder
still quite deep body, a 14-fret neck, and
and more durable than contemporary
back and sides of solid rosewood. The
fretted instruments, and musicians soon
Gibson flat-top was here to stay.
demanded more than he was able to
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IT’S NOT JUST A DAY JOB Both musicians and the mastercraftsman
years later, that’s still what we aim for.
at Gibson, dedicate their lives to their craft.
“There’s a core group of people who
It’s not just a job for them, it is a passion
work for Gibson in Bozeman now who
and a way of life. Gibson is dedicated
are remarkable craftsman, remarkable
to crafting the best instruments on the
luthiers, and they are very dedicated to
market. Our excellence is due to our
the company,” Gonder confirms. “It’s not
dedicated craftsman and luthiers.
just a day job to them — they take a lot of pride in keeping the company going, and in
Today Orville’s hardworking ideals and his
making the best guitars they can make.”
spirit of innovation remain the backbone of Gibson Guitar—a company that has
The road from Kalamazoo to Nashville
issued a greater variety of acoustic
to Bozeman covered many hard, dusty
and electric guitars than any other
miles, without a doubt, but ask any Gibson
manufacturer. An early sticker fastened to
acoustic player today and they’ll tell you
Orville’s instruments said, simply, “Superior
the journey was definitely worth it
to all others.” More than one hundred
THE GIBSON FOUNDATION Founded in 2002, the Gibson Foundation
Gibson also sponsors GuitarTown Project,
is committed to making the world a better
a public arts project that features 10-foot
place for children by creating, developing
tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul or Chet
and supporting programs and other non-
Atkins model guitars was launched in April
profit organizations in their efforts to
2004. The guitar sculptures are artistically
advance education, music and the arts, the
designed by local and nationally acclaimed
environment and health & welfare causes.
visual artists and displayed throughout city landmarks and businesses.
Gibson is involved in many campaigns to help aid to the less privileged. Gibson
This year Gibson is doing a new program
sponsors Music Rising is a campaign that
with it’s Stools and Strings Acoustic
was launched in 2005 as a post-Katrina
Concert Series. Part of the proceeds from
effort to rescue and preserve the musical
the concert series will go towards music
culture of the Central Gulf region of the
and business communities behind the
United States by replacing the musical
cause of raising money for four worthy
instruments lost or destroyed in the deluge.
charitable organizations.
CHUCK RAGAN THE LUMINEERS THE HORRIBLE CROWS
THE BLACK KEYS
THE NATIONAL | MUMFORD AND SON MEMPHIS | JULY 24TH
BACKSTAGE PASS This summer to celebrate our acoustic heritage, Gibson Guitars is sponsoring Stools and Strings Acoustic Concert Series. Traveling to fifteen cities across the United States, Stools and Strings features some of today’s top rock and alternative musicians. Held in small venues, String and Stools celebrates how these artist started, with just a seat and their acoustic guitar...in celebration of how Gibson started it’s legacy, with an acoustic guitar. Featured artists for the event included: Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, The National, Gaslight Anthem, Alabama Shakes, Kings of Leon, Horrible Crows, Chuck Raga, The Avett Brothers, and The Frightened Rabbit. Each artist will play solely acoustic, so expect a unforgetable concert experience.