Orville Gibson was a genius who boldly stated that the gourd shaped mandolins of the day were not satisfactory. He referred to them disdainfully as potato bugs. The flat top and back models he invented were later to be universally copied by others. The improved Gibson Mandolins made from around 1904 to 1924 are considered by some to be the finest mandolins ever made. Mr. J.J. Hamilton, teacher and publisher in Chanute, Kansas, furnished the photo entitled "The evolution of the Mandolin." If you enjoy this line of mandoin products, you may also want to browse through Epiphone's Bluegrass Collection.
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