Gibson Guitars

"American Stradivarius" V.C. Squier Company once manufactured the world's finest violins in Battle Creek, Michigan before it was purchased by Fender guitars.

Founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan the iconic Gibson Guitar factory has been named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.

Battle Creek, MI was once home to the "American Stradivarius" of violin makers and the namesake to Fender's Squier guitars, the VC Squier Company.

Here's is a woman who is literally "living history." 'Kalamazoo Gal' Irene Stearns turns 100 years old on Sunday, January 30th. The Kalamazoo Gals made history.

Sunday January 30, 2022 is proclaimed to be Irene Stearns Day in Kalamazoo, MI. Stearns is the last surviving member of the "Kalamazoo Gals" who produced Gibson guitars during World War II.

There are small habits which I find amusing that only people from the city can claim, and also do. What's the most Kalamazoo thing to do in your opinion?

The Gibson Goldtop, i.e., "Les Paul Number 1", not because it was the first Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, but because it was his "go to" guitar in the 1950's, sold this week at Christie's Auction House for $930,000. It was also, according to Gene Paul, Les Paul's son, the guitar "the legendarily inventive guitarist continued to tweak and modify after receiving (it) from Gibson".

I know it's hard to believe, but at one time auto designers, stylists if you wish, were rock stars. Names like Harley Earl, Ferdinand Porsche, Dick Teague, Carroll Shelby, and Raymond Loewy, and many, many more, designed and molded so much sheet metal into shapes that made our hearts race. And one of those rock stars had a connection to Kalamazoo and also to rock and roll history. And chances are you've never even ever heard of him.

Scott Napier, who plays and teaches mandolin professionally, made a recent visit to the Gibson Guitar factory in Kalamazoo to play his vintage mandolin at the place it was crafted and first strung.

The Gibson Guitar Company, whose roots go back over a century to Kalamazoo, is offering a major reward for the return/recovery of a set of shipping ledgers dating back to the late 1950's.