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.

The founding guitarist of the band Journey shared a song on social media and praised the skills of the guitar builder who works at Heritage Guitar in Kalamazoo.

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".

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.