How to set up a Gibson Les Paul and make it play like a dream
How to set up a Gibson Les Paul and make it play like a dream. In this guide, I share my favorite tips on how to set up a Gibson Les Paul
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Gibson
Orville Gibson began building mandolins and archtop guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1902, and the company that carries his name went on to define the electric guitar twice over: the Les Paul in 1952, then the semi-hollow ES-335 in 1958. Gibson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018, restructured within the year, and now builds from Nashville, Memphis and Bozeman under KKR ownership. On GuitarBomb it's the guitar we return to more than any other after Fender — Custom Shop reissues, Murphy Lab aging, Gibson Garage openings, and the odd Les Paul setup guide when readers ask how to keep one playing right. Here's everything we've covered.
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Gibson's Pearly Gates Les Paul Clone Has a Catch
Gibson limits Billy Gibbons' 'Pearly Gates' 1959 Les Paul to 30 hand-signed copies—but you must attend an exclusive Nashville VIP event to buy one.
Founded1894
Based inNashville, Tennessee, USA
FounderOrville Gibson
Parent companyKKR
Articles here188
Makes
- Electric guitars
- Acoustic guitars
- Bass guitars
- Amplifiers
Known for
- Les Paul
- ES-335
- SG
- Flying V
- Explorer
- Firebird
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Gibson FAQ5 questions
Where are Gibson guitars made?
Gibson builds its electric guitars in Nashville, Tennessee, and its acoustics in Bozeman, Montana. Guitars carrying the Epiphone name, which Gibson owns, are built mainly at the Qingdao factory in China. A guitar with the Gibson logo on the headstock is US built.
What is the difference between a Gibson and an Epiphone Les Paul?
They share a shape and a name, not a factory. Gibson Les Pauls are made in Nashville with US hardware and pickups; Epiphone Les Pauls are made overseas at a fraction of the price. The gap has narrowed a lot on the Inspired by Gibson range, which uses Gibson designed pickups and the Gibson headstock shape.
Why are Gibson guitars so expensive?
US labour, solid mahogany and maple rather than laminates, nitrocellulose finishing, and low volumes compared with overseas production. Whether that adds up to the price difference is exactly the argument our comment threads have every time a new model lands.
Who owns Gibson?
Gibson Brands is owned by the private equity firm KKR, which took control after the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. Gibson also owns Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger and Mesa/Boogie, among other names.
What is the Murphy Lab?
Murphy Lab is Gibson's aged finish programme within the Custom Shop, named after Tom Murphy. It produces the heavily relic'd reissues that turn up regularly in our Custom Shop coverage.