Gibson ES-5
The Gibson ES-5 is a guitar produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of the ES, or "Electric Spanish" series of guitars. The ES-5 was intended to be an electric version of their popular Gibson L-5 acoustic jazz model. 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.[1] 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. It remained discontinued until a 1995 reissue from the Gibson Custom division. New models of the reissue are still available today. The original models used P-90 single coil pickups, but after 1957 the guitar used PAF humbucker pickups.[2][3][4]
Notable users
- T-Bone Walker
- Lowell Fulson
- Roy Gaines
- J. Geils[5][6]
- Wes Montgomery
- Carl Perkins
- B.B. King
- Frank Zappa
- Steve Howe (main guitar on Fragile)[7]
- Kid Ramos
- Junior Watson
- Dave Edmunds
- Mark Knopfler[8]
References
- "ES-5 Switchmaster". Gibson Custom online catalog. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- "Gibson Es 5 Guitar". Music Instrument Reviews: Gibson Vintage Guitars. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- "1957 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster". Archtop.com. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- "1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster #A36092". Premier Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- Guerra, Tom (23 April 2014). "Jay Geils". Vintageguitar.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- "J. Geils Talks, Plays Guitar". YouTube. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- "Yes Guitarist Steve Howe Discusses the Making of Fragile and Close to the Edge". Guitar World. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- https://twitter.com/MarkKnopfler/status/1248657345883799552 @MarkKnopfler: From Guy Fletcher's studio diary during the recording of Mark's album 'Tracker' - can you name the iconic guitar Mark is holding?