Acoustic guitars started appearing in the 1500’s, originating in Europe. They shared some basic characteristics with modern acoustics.

The modern guitar has influences from Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. The first guitarist to truly make it was a guitarist from Spain named Francesco Corbetta.

When the guitar came to the New World, however, things changed as broader, standardized models were introduced. It eventually evolved into the modern acoustic.

Before this turn of events in the 1900’s they were being outsold by banjos and mandolins. It used to be an instrument played in parlors, heard by family and friends. In other words, it was like a club instrument.

Orville Gibson was really the first major guitar luthier in America. His guitars displayed some of the same characteristics as mandolins. Gibson guitars are still popular in both the acoustic and the electric guitar worlds.

Epaminodas “Epi” Stathopoulo led the House of Stathopoulo, later named the Epiphone Banjo Corporation. It changed its focus from banjos to guitars in the 1930’s. Epiphone really gave Gibson and Martin some competition.

Charles Stromberg was another family business leader .The company also makes mandolins, banjos, xylophones, and drums. Later, his son Elmer joined as a trainee.

Eric Clapton is a world-famous guitarist. He has made a limited edition guitar with Martin. Only 461 were made to commemorate Clapton’s comeback album.

Gypsy guitars are oddly shaped, their origins in Italy. Mario Maccaferri was the man who invented the gypsy guitar. He went to a club one night to hear some jazz, but he didn’t like it. Therefore, the idea for the gypsy was born.

In the late 1920’s, National introduced the resonator, a guitar with one aluminum resonator cone. It looks really weird!