Gibson guitars are made in the United States. The company began making instruments in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Production later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, while acoustic guitar production found a home in Bozeman, Montana.
Gibson also operated a factory in Memphis, Tennessee, for its semi-hollow electric guitars.
Today, Gibson guitars are made mainly in Nashville and Bozeman.
Most Epiphone guitars are made outside the United States, mainly in China and Indonesia.
Quick Navigation
Kalamazoo Factory
Gibson was founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the city remained the center of the company’s guitar production for many years. The company used several locations in the city before moving to 225 Parsons Street in 1917.
The Parsons Street factory became Gibson’s main production site. Many of the company’s best-known guitars were developed and built there, including early archtops, acoustic guitars, and later electric models such as the Les Paul.
Gibson opened a second factory in Nashville in the 1970s, but production continued in Kalamazoo for several more years. The Kalamazoo factory closed in 1984.
The old factory at 225 Parsons Street still exists. In 1985, several former Gibson employees started Heritage Guitars there, and guitars are still made in the building today.
Nashville Factory
Gibson began making guitars in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1975.
After the Kalamazoo factory closed in 1984, Nashville became the center of Gibson electric guitar production.
Today, the Gibson USA factory makes solidbody and hollowbody electric guitars. Models such as the Les Paul and SG are built in Nashville. The Gibson Custom Shop is also based there and produces vintage reissues, artist models, and custom guitars.
Semi-hollow models previously made in Memphis are now produced in Nashville as well.
Memphis Factory
Gibson opened its Memphis, Tennessee, factory in 2000. The factory mainly produced ES Series guitars, including the ES-335.
For a time, Memphis operated as a separate Gibson production division. The factory concentrated mainly on semi-hollow and hollowbody electric guitars.
Gibson closed the Memphis factory in 2018. Production of the ES models was moved back to Nashville.
Bozeman Factory
Gibson’s acoustic guitar factory is in Bozeman, Montana. Gibson came to Bozeman after acquiring Flatiron Mandolin in the 1980s.
Construction of the Bozeman factory began in 1987, and the first Gibson guitars made there were shipped in July 1989.
Since 1989, Bozeman has been the home of Gibson acoustic guitar production. Models made there include the J-45, Hummingbird, Dove, SJ-200, and L-00.
The factory has been expanded over the years and is still used for Gibson acoustic production. Gibson Custom acoustic guitars are also made in Bozeman.