Gibson ES-5

{{Short description|Hollow-body electric guitar}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} [[File:1956 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster - Carl Perkins' - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH (2018-08-31 by Claude Humbert).jpg|thumb|150px|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.<ref name="Freeth">{{Cite book |last=Freeth |first=Nick |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL18893573M/The_electric_guitar |title=The electric guitar |date=2000 |publisher=Salamander |isbn=1840652144 |location=London |page=58|ol=18893573M }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ES-5 Switchmaster |url=http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Archtop/Gibson-Custom/ES-5-Switchmaster.aspx |access-date=2010-06-07 |website=Gibson Custom online catalog |archive-date=May 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530151918/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Archtop/Gibson-Custom/ES-5-Switchmaster.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gruhn |first1=George |last2=Carter |first2=Walter |title=Electric Guitars and Basses |date=2010 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=9780879309749 |page=72}}</ref> It remained out of production until a 1995 reissue from the Gibson Custom division. New models of the reissue are still available today.{{when|date=October 2022}} The original models used P-90 single coil pickups,<ref name="Freeth" /> but after 1957 the guitar used PAF humbucker pickups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gibson Es 5 Guitar |url=https://vintage-guitars.blogspot.com/2005/11/gibson-es-5-guitar.html |access-date=2010-06-07 |website=Music Instrument Reviews: Gibson Vintage Guitars}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1957 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster |url=http://www.archtop.com/ac_53ES350.html%20copy |access-date=2010-06-07 |website=Archtop.com |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129012610/http://www.archtop.com/ac_53ES350.html%20copy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster #A36092 |url=http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Nov/1961_Gibson_ES_5_Switchmaster_A36092.aspx |magazine=Premier Guitar Magazine |accessdate=2010-06-07 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719122738/http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Nov/1961_Gibson_ES_5_Switchmaster_A36092.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable users== * T-Bone Walker * Lowell Fulson * Roy Gaines * J. Geils<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerra |first=Tom |date=23 April 2014 |title=Jay Geils |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/4843/jay-geils-2/ |access-date=18 December 2017 |website=Vintageguitar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2013 |title=J. Geils Talks, Plays Guitar |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe-JZHAW6Q |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/dZe-JZHAW6Q |archive-date=2021-12-15 |access-date=18 December 2017 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * Wes Montgomery * Carl Perkins * B.B. King * Eddie Taylor * Frank Zappa * Steve Howe (main guitar on ''Fragile'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2014 |title=Yes Guitarist Steve Howe Discusses the Making of ''Fragile'' and ''Close to the Edge'' |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/magazine/steve-howe-talks-vintage-and-line-6-guitars-and-new-yes-album-heaven-earth |access-date=2 February 2016 |website=Guitar World}}</ref> * Kid Ramos * Junior Watson *Dave Edmunds *Mark Knopfler<ref>{{cite tweet |user=MarkKnopfler |number=1248657345883799552 |title=From Guy Fletcher's studio diary during the recording of Mark's album 'Tracker' - can you name the iconic guitar Mark is holding?}}</ref> *Jimmy Page * Howard Gordon, guitarist of The Chuck Wagon Gang during the 1950s and 60s *Jimmy Nolen * Jimmy Pruett, country musician who played guitar and piano and was blind<ref>[http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=13263 "Jimmy Pruett,"] Hillbilly-Music.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson ES-5}} ES-5 Category:Semi-acoustic guitars