It doesn't matter if you've never actually seen one or played one. If you're a fan of the blues, jazz, and serious rock and roll, you know what a Gibson guitar is. One of the most legendary musical instruments of the 20th century, for many musicians, the Gibson guitar is synonymous with beauty. Gibsons are beautiful to look at, beautiful to hear, and beautiful to play.

There are a great many famous Gibson devotees. The short list is long and reads like a 'Who's Who' of American and English 20th Century Masters. Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, John Entwistle, Ace Frehley, Dave Grohl, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Slash, Pete Townsend, Muddy Waters, and of course, Angus Young. Bob Marley is buried with his.

The quality of the Gibson name is not reserved exclusively for 6 string guitars either. Gibson also makes fine bass guitars, most notably the Gibson Thunderbird and the EB series. Gibson is also well known for top-of-the-line amplifiers.

One of the only drawbacks to Gibsons are their expense. Gibson guitars are works of art, and the high-profile status of the rock stars that use them only increases their perceived value. For musicians who desire a Gibson product, but don't have money to shell out for the Gibson name, it might be worthwhile to consider their 'Epiphone' line. Epiphone is owned by Gibson, and they look like Gibsons, but are built overseas.