Built for generations

Orville Gibson built his oldest-surviving instrument in 1894. More than 130 years later, you can still play it. Today’s Gibson instruments continue to be handcrafted in the USA and are designed to make music for generations to come, but we understand that the world is a very different place to the one in which Orville grew up. The challenges we face together mean that in order to build musical instruments for the next 130 years and beyond, we need need to be mindful of our impact on people and the planet in everything we do. From the materials we choose to the communities and artists we support, everything matters. Even small changes and local initiatives can make a huge difference. From the forest to the craftory floor, on concert stages and in your homes, at every stage of the process, we're building something that lasts.

People

From creating inspiring and supportive workplaces for Gibson team members all over the world to the communities we support through the Gibson Gives foundation, Gibson is committed to our people—across all generations, genres, and genders. The Gibson Generation Group (Gibson G3) is just one example; a two-year mentoring program for new generations of guitar players which provides young artists with exposure to global audiences of millions and unparalleled support, arming them with the toolkit required to develop into the music icons of tomorrow.

Planet

When it comes to the great existential challenge of our age, we can’t pretend to have all the answers. But what we do have is the right intent, along with a roadmap towards reducing the environmental impact of guitar-making and driving more sustainable production. Through a series of efficiency audits and waste reviews, we have identified opportunities to reduce energy consumption and employ more recycling and circular economy initiatives in our North American craftories, with the aim of taking a holistic approach towards addressing climate change.

Product

Our Product Development team is working hard to identify ways in which sustainable and recycled materials such as ocean plastics can be integrated into our processes. Launched in 2024, Gibson Repurpose Collection™ is a range of lifestyle products made from leftover wood from guitar-making. Gibson Repurpose Collection products are handcrafted right here in Nashville, Tennessee, by On The Edge, a social enterprise program which helps support and rehabilitate disadvantaged members of the local community, empowering them to move towards independence, better jobs, and new careers.

Purpose

The story of a Gibson guitar begins long before you open the case for the very first time, and long before you pick it up and strum that first E chord. It even begins long before the artisans in our craftories in Tennessee and Montana put the finishing touches to a neck, or bind a body the old way: slowly, and by hand. The story of a Gibson guitar begins with a tree, which may already have been growing for centuries before you were born. Mindful of this, we’re not in the fast fashion business around here; every Gibson guitar is handcrafted in the USA from responsibly sourced and fully documented materials, and built to last for many lifetimes.

The Gibson Repurpose Collection

Check out the Repurpose Collection™