Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars: An Illustrated History and Guide [Paperback]

Eldon Whitford (Author), Dan Erlewine (Author), Dan Eriewine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993

Who can forget the singular sound of the Everly BrothersÕ guitar in ÕWake Up Little SusieÕ and ÕBy By LoveÕ? It was the sound of a Gibson flat top, one of the finest acoustic guitars ever produced. This great American icon is the subject of GibsonÕs Fabulous Flat Tops, a comprehensive book that chronicles the history of the Gibson company and the growth and development of their flat top guitars. It covers every model from 1918 to the present; includes over 100 color photos and 150 b&w ones; includes reminiscences from many of the well-known performers who play flat tops; and much more. 8-1/4 inch. x 11 inch..

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This volume offers a lavishly illustrated history of the Gibson company and its classic flat-top guitars. The book's release coincides with the company's centennial celebration. From the 1920s to the present, Gibson and its guitars have been a slice of Americana. Whether an established musician is Northern or Southern, urban or rural, white or African American, young or old, he or she has likely used a Gibson to create music. The book employs more than 200 photographs, many in color, and detailed text in chronicling the development and evolution of the instruments. Recommended for public and music libraries. --Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In acoustic guitars, the Gibson brand name is an assurance of high quality. Due to haphazard serial numbering systems and inconsistent application of them, however, the comprehensive history of Gibson guitars that fans have long desired has not been forthcoming until now. Drawing on previous works that examined facets of the Gibson story as well as the authors' own research into primary sources, it is a combination of text and pictures that shows why "only a Gibson is good enough." The authors attempted to examine every Gibson model since the 1920s and succeeded so well that they describe even the Jumbo Deluxe, of which only three were made. They discuss the musical properties of individual models, and they chronicle illustrious owners and players of the various models, interviewing some. Their book would be worth having just for the pictures of the guitars and their owners, but the research, care, and affection that went into it make it more than a coffee-table denizen or nostalgia trove. It is a valuable historical document describing an important aspect of American pop culture. Mike Tribby

Product Details

• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879302976
• ISBN-13: 978-0879302979
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thorough and thoughtful book about Gibson flat-tops, February 13, 2000

By 

Scott C. Tomlinson (Woodstock, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars: An Illustrated History and Guide (Paperback)

Anyone with an interest in acoustic guitars can benefit from "Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars". Like a number of people, I had thought for years that "acoustic flat top steel-string guitar" was a synonym for "C.F. Martin & Co."

Thinking about a possible purchase of a new Gibson flat top after hearing a new Gibson Montana Hummingbird guitar, I realized that for Martins there were and are multiple sources for information, model and serial number research, and company history, but this was not quite the case with Gibson and their flat tops.

The book's authors give a very comprehensive and readable account of Gibson's history in producing steel string flat top acoustic guitars, all the way from their first model in 1926 through current production in Bozeman, Montana. Along the way, they do a quite good job of explaining Gibson's approach to guitar making, marketing and sales.

The picture that emerges is one of a company quite open to exploring different ways of giving the customer what they want, with a less formal and systematic approach than their grand arch-rival Martin. Whereas Martin had a longstanding image of extraordinary high quality, combined with reluctance to change or offer new features simply because they might appeal to some customers, Gibson was much more willing to experiment and take risks.

The results have been some extraordinary guitars, ranging from the J-200 that Emmylou Harris plays on stage today to the Everly Brothers J-185, the Hummingbird, the Dove, and the J-160E played on a number of Beatles records.

The authors also candidly address what they refer to as a dark time in Gibson's history, from 1969 through 1986, when corporate ownership of the company made the guitars much heavier and "overbuilt", all in the name of reducing lifetime warranty repair costs. This also severely impacted the tonal qualities of the guitars, and caused the label's reputation for quality to suffer.

The book gives possible reasons for the lack of existing information on Gibson flat-tops, mostly having to do with Gibson's less than perfect recordkeeping - it seems that till this day, there is not a 100% accurate listing and cataloging of serial numbers, because of factory capriciousness in this regard.

The book ends on a positive note, taking the reader through the new Gibson acoustics manufacturing plant in Bozeman, Montana, and introducing some of the current day players, both luthiers and professional musicians who contribute to the marque currently.

This book contains two separate sections of high-quality color phots of both old and new classic Gibson flat-tops. There are also numerous black-and-white photos throughout the text.

Finally, I have given the book four stars rather that five because I would wish to have had more color photographs of current Gibson flat-tops included.

That aside, this book is a very enjoyable read and a true keeper for anyone who appreciates the magnificent sound of a steel-string flat-top guitar up close and personal.