Was Gibson aware of the comming Fender Stratocaster?
This 1952 Gibson ES5 is the result of decades of guitar engineering. With the 3 pickups and the bigsby tremolo it has an endless number of sound blends and vibrato tremolo effects.
This 1952 Gibson ES5 is the result of decades of guitar engineering. With the 3 pickups and the bigsby tremolo it has an endless number of sound blends and vibrato tremolo effects.
It should be the guitar for a new era of super guitars. At that time Leo Fender was working in his shed. He was designing a new guitar (the Stratocaster), a bit like the ES5 regarding the pickups and the tremolo but a total new concept in body and neck design.
He designed the Ikea click clack screw it together guitar for easy production and maintenance. The Gibson ES5 and Switchmaster never become a success.
Leo pushed his designs into a new era of electric guitars by taking big steps in concepts.