History and Innovations of Gibson Brands - Orville Gibson started making instruments in 1894 - Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd. was incorporated in 1902 - Lloyd Loar designed flagship instruments in the 1920s - Gibson introduced the ES-150, its first Electric Spanish model, in 1936 - Guy Hart ran Gibson from 1924-1948, a period of innovation and growth - Gibson invented archtop guitars with carved, arched tops - Gibson introduced flattop acoustic guitars in the 1930s - Gibson made one of the first commercially available hollow-body electric guitars - Gibson introduced the Les Paul, its most popular guitar, in 1952 - Gibson was at the forefront of innovation in acoustic guitars during the big band era

Ownership Changes and Bankruptcy - Gibson was bought by Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) in 1944 - Norlin Corporation acquired Gibson in 1969 - Henry Juszkiewicz and David H. Berryman acquired Gibson in 1986 - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired Gibson in November 2018 - Gibson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2018 - Gibson announced a restructuring plan to return to profitability - Unprofitable consumer electronics divisions like Gibson Innovations were closed down - Gibson exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2018

Expansion, Acquisitions, and Record Label - Gibson purchased Garrison Guitars in 2007 - In 2011, Gibson acquired the Stanton Group, including Cerwin Vega, KRK Systems, and Stanton DJ - Gibson announced a partnership with the Japanese-based Onkyo Corporation in 2012 - In 2013, Gibson acquired a majority stake in TEAC Corporation - In 2014, Gibson acquired the Woox consumer electronics brand from Royal Philips - Gibson launched Gibson Records in July 2021 - The record label focuses on releasing guitar-centric music

Legal Actions and Disputes - Gibson sued Hoshino Gakki/Elger Guitars in 1977 for copying the archtop headstock - Gibson sued Fernandes Guitars in 2000 for allegedly copying Gibson designs - Gibson also sued PRS Guitars in 2005 to stop them from making their Singlecut model - Gibson's factories were raided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 2009 and 2011 - Gibson admitted to violating the Lacey Act in 2012 and settled the case with the United States Department of Justice - Gibson filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against WowWee USA and its Paper Jamz toys - Gibson sent a cease and desist letter to Kiesel regarding two guitar models - Gibson sued German manufacturer Warwick over a guitar model that imitated the Flying V - Gibson sued Dean Guitars for trademark infringement

Gibson Instruments and Manufacturing Facilities - Gibson owns and makes instruments under various brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Maestro, Steinberger, and Tobias - Gibson also owns historical brands such as Kalamazoo, Dobro, Valley Arts, and Baldwin - Gibson relaunched Kramer Guitars in 2020 with new collections and artist collaborations - Epiphone, a former competitor, was purchased by Gibson and now offers competitively-priced Gibson-styled models - Gibson has a history of seeking legal action against those making and selling guitars similar to their own - Gibson has manufacturing facilities in Kalamazoo, MI; Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Bozeman, MT; and Qingdao, China