Gibson Byrdland
Encyclopedia
The Byrdland is an electric guitar, made by Gibson
. Its name derives from the names of guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland
for whom the guitar was originally custom built by Gibson.
, one of Gibson's top models. The Byrdland, with its overall depth of 2¼-in, is thinner than the L-5's 3⅜" depth. Gibson's president, Ted McCarty
, sought opinions and ideas about new products. The suggestions from Byrd and Garland led to the development of the Byrdland. The Byrdland, first made in 1955, is essentially a custom built, thinner, L-5CES (Cutaway-Electric-Spanish). Later, the two specified a shorter scale neck. Guitarists who had an opportunity to play Gibson samples liked the Byrdland's short scale neck
(23½") which enabled them to play intricate single-note patterns and unusual stretched chord
voicings. The Byrdland then became a regular production instrument. The ES-350T was developed from the Byrdland using less costly hardware and detailings and was offered as a less expensive option.
From 1955 to 1960 the Byrdland was made with the Venetian, or rounded, cutaway
on the body. The illustration shows the Venetian style. From 1961–1968, it used the sharp, pointed, Florentine cutaway. It returned to the Venetian in 1969. The model was in production from 1955 through 1969. It was reintroduced as a limited run in 1977, 1978 and 1992.
The guitar is currently available as part of Gibson's Custom series and is made with the Florentine cutaway. During 1976 only, a twelve string version was offered for sale; fewer than 20 were manufactured.
The famous jazz club, Birdland
, filed a law suit against Gibson over the name. The suit was dismissed when Gibson showed that the name was made up from the names of two people.
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
. Its name derives from the names of guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland
Hank Garland
Walter Louis Garland , better known as Hank Garland, was a Nashville studio musician who performed with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others.-Biography:...
for whom the guitar was originally custom built by Gibson.
Thinline series
The Byrdland is said to be the first of Gibson's Thinline series. Many guitarists did not desire the bulk of a traditional archtop guitar such as Gibson's L-5Gibson L5
The Gibson L-5 guitar was first produced in 1922 by Gibson Guitar Corporation, then of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA under the direction of master luthier Lloyd Loar, and has been in production ever since. It was considered the premier rhythm guitar in the big band era...
, one of Gibson's top models. The Byrdland, with its overall depth of 2¼-in, is thinner than the L-5's 3⅜" depth. Gibson's president, Ted McCarty
Ted McCarty
Ted McCarty was a pioneer of electric guitar design and production. This began when he was chosen as vice president of the of Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1949, then later as president in 1950. He remained president until 1966. This period became known as Gibson's golden age of electric guitars...
, sought opinions and ideas about new products. The suggestions from Byrd and Garland led to the development of the Byrdland. The Byrdland, first made in 1955, is essentially a custom built, thinner, L-5CES (Cutaway-Electric-Spanish). Later, the two specified a shorter scale neck. Guitarists who had an opportunity to play Gibson samples liked the Byrdland's short scale neck
Neck (music)
The neck is the part of certain string instruments that projects from the main body and is the base of the fingerboard, where the fingers are placed to stop the strings at different pitches. Guitars, lutes, the violin family, and the mandolin family are examples of instruments which have necks.The...
(23½") which enabled them to play intricate single-note patterns and unusual stretched chord
Extended chord
In music, extended chords are tertian chords or triads with notes extended, or added, beyond the seventh. Ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords are extended chords...
voicings. The Byrdland then became a regular production instrument. The ES-350T was developed from the Byrdland using less costly hardware and detailings and was offered as a less expensive option.
From 1955 to 1960 the Byrdland was made with the Venetian, or rounded, cutaway
Cutaway (guitar)
In guitar construction, a cutaway is an indentation in the body of the instrument adjacent to the neck of the instrument, designed to allow easier access to the upper frets....
on the body. The illustration shows the Venetian style. From 1961–1968, it used the sharp, pointed, Florentine cutaway. It returned to the Venetian in 1969. The model was in production from 1955 through 1969. It was reintroduced as a limited run in 1977, 1978 and 1992.
The guitar is currently available as part of Gibson's Custom series and is made with the Florentine cutaway. During 1976 only, a twelve string version was offered for sale; fewer than 20 were manufactured.
The famous jazz club, Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
, filed a law suit against Gibson over the name. The suit was dismissed when Gibson showed that the name was made up from the names of two people.