Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar Built for Serious Musicians

Two Nashville session players were the brainchild behind a new electric guitar form that revolutionized the music world. Named for designers Billy Byrd and Hank Garland, Gibson introduced its revolutionary Thinline Series in 1955 with the debut of the Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar. In developing its Thinline Series, Gibson sought to create a middle ground between full-size hollowbodies and smaller but noticeably heavier solidbodies. Neatly bridging that gap, the narrow-profile Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar gave serious musicians a comfortable, lighter-weight instrument that could withstand hours of session work.

Featuring the same painstakingly hand-carved spruce top and high-grade maple back and rims as the Gibson L-5, the Byrdland Thinline Series has an overall depth of just 2 1/4 inches, considerably narrower and lighter than the 3 3/8-inch L-5. But it was the Byrdland's short scale 23 1/2-inch neck that first made it the darling of session guitarists back in the 1950s and '60s. That unusually short, thin neck made it possible for guitarists to create unique stretched-chord voicings and facilitated fast single-note runs.

If you've ever listed to Motown recordings, you've heard the Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar in action. Veteran Motown session guitarist Dennis Coffey, who appears on virtually every Motown recording from the 1960s and '70s, still plays his prized Byrdland. Nashville artist Hank Garland used a Byrdland to back Elvis Presley during studio sets. The Motor City Madman, hard rock guitarist Ted Nugent, is so famous for playing a Byrdland that Gibson has developed a signature model named for him.

Whether you're onstage or in the studio, the handsome Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar will let you push your music to new limits. Visit our online store to purchase the Gibson Custom Shop Gibson Byrdland Electric Guitar.