The Gibson ES-5 is a hollow-body electric guitar produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of the ES, or "Electric Spanish" series of guitars.
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History
editThe ES-5 was intended to be an electric version of their popular Gibson L-5 acoustic jazz model.[1] The ES-5 was introduced in 1949, and offered several innovative features which have become standard within the industry. The ES-5 was the first model of the ES-series to offer three pickups. Unlike other multiple-pickup models of its era, the ES-5 used three different volume knobs (one for each pickup and one master tone) rather than a selector switch, to offer players improved control over their tone. The model was not as popular as other models of the ES-series, nor as popular as similar models by other manufacturers, such as the Epiphone Zephyr Emperor.[2] In 1955 the model became the ES-5 Switchmaster, which incorporated a four-position selector switch, along with a new six-knob configuration, incorporating a volume and a tone knob for each pickup. The ES-5 Switchmaster was produced until 1962.[3] It remained out of production until a 1995 reissue from the Gibson Custom division. New models of the reissue are still available today.[when?] The original models used P-90 single coil pickups,[1] but after 1957 the guitar used PAF humbucker pickups.[4][5][6]
Notable users
edit- T-Bone Walker
- Lowell Fulson
- Roy Gaines
- J. Geils[7][8]
- Wes Montgomery
- Carl Perkins
- B.B. King
- Frank Zappa
- Steve Howe (main guitar on Fragile)[9]
- Kid Ramos
- Junior Watson
- Dave Edmunds
- Mark Knopfler[10]
- Jimmy Page
- Howard Gordon, guitarist of The Chuck Wagon Gang during the 1950s and 60s
- Jimmy Nolen
- Jimmy Pruett, country musician who played guitar and piano and was blind[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Freeth, Nick (2000). The electric guitar. London: Salamander. p. 58. ISBN 1840652144. OL 18893573M.
- ^ "ES-5 Switchmaster". Gibson Custom online catalog. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (2010). Electric Guitars and Basses. Backbeat Books. p. 72. ISBN 9780879309749.
- ^ "Gibson Es 5 Guitar". Music Instrument Reviews: Gibson Vintage Guitars. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ "1957 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster". Archtop.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ "1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster #A36092". Premier Guitar Magazine. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ Guerra, Tom (April 23, 2014). "Jay Geils". Vintageguitar.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "J. Geils Talks, Plays Guitar". YouTube. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Yes Guitarist Steve Howe Discusses the Making of Fragile and Close to the Edge". Guitar World. October 10, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ @MarkKnopfler (April 10, 2020). "From Guy Fletcher's studio diary during the recording of Mark's album 'Tracker' - can you name the iconic guitar Mark is holding?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Jimmy Pruett," Hillbilly-Music.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
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