1956 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster, played by Carl Perkins

The Gibson ES-5 is a hollow-body electric guitar produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of the ES, or "Electric Spanish" series of guitars.

History

The ES-5 was intended to be an electric version of their popular Gibson L-5 acoustic jazz model.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] It remained out of production 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,[1] but after 1957 the guitar used PAF humbucker pickups.[4][5][6]

Notable users

References

  1. 1 2 Freeth, Nick (2000). The electric guitar. London: Salamander. p. 58. ISBN 1840652144. OL 18893573M.
  2. ↑ "ES-5 Switchmaster". Gibson Custom online catalog. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  3. ↑ Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (2010). Electric Guitars and Basses. Backbeat Books. p. 72. ISBN 9780879309749.
  4. ↑ "Gibson Es 5 Guitar". Music Instrument Reviews: Gibson Vintage Guitars. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  5. ↑ "1957 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster". Archtop.com. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ "1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster #A36092". Premier Guitar Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ Guerra, Tom (April 23, 2014). "Jay Geils". Vintageguitar.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ "J. Geils Talks, Plays Guitar". YouTube. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Yes Guitarist Steve Howe Discusses the Making of Fragile and Close to the Edge". Guitar World. October 10, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ @MarkKnopfler (April 10, 2020). "From Guy Fletcher's studio diary during the recording of Mark's album 'Tracker' - can you name the iconic guitar Mark is holding?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Photos of him with his Switchmaster are on his Find A Grave memorial page.
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