When we think of the founder of Gibson, Orville Henry Gibson comes to mind, but when it comes to the person who laid the foundation for today’s “Gibson electric guitar,” the name Ted McCarty (Theodore McCarty) is likely to be mentioned.
The Father of the Gibson Electric Guitar: The Achievements of Ted McCarty (Theodore McCarty)
Who Is Ted McCarty? | The Father of the Gibson Electric Guitar
While Orville Henry Gibson is often thought of as the founder of Gibson, when it comes to the person who laid the foundation for today’s “Gibson electric guitars,” the name Ted McCarty (Theodore McCarty) is likely to come to mind.
McCarty joined Gibson in 1948. Prior to that, he had been working in instrument sales at Wurlitzer.
At the time, C.M.I. (Chicago Musical Instruments), Gibson’s parent company, was facing management challenges due to a post-war production system that wasn’t functioning properly, and they asked McCarty to turn the company around.
In fact, he had been considering a job at a candy manufacturer, but after some enthusiastic persuasion, he decided to join Gibson.
Before joining Gibson, McCarty had not been directly involved in instrument development. However, after joining the company, he frequently visited the factory to inspect operations on the ground. Drawing on his experience at Wurlitzer, he gradually proposed improvements and engaged in repeated exchanges of ideas.
From the late 1940s through the 1950s, as music volumes increased, the “feedback” characteristic of hollow-body guitars became a major issue, and companies began searching for solutions.
Gibson was also developing instruments with a classic guitar-like appearance that lacked F-holes.
Amidst this, in 1950, Paul Bigsby released a single-cutaway solid-body guitar, and Fender released the Esquire (later known as the Telecaster).
The History of the Les Paul | Solid-Body Guitar Development and the Archtop Structure
In response, McCarty did not rush to follow suit immediately; instead, he carefully analyzed these models and sought the direction Gibson should take with its own solid-body guitar.
The solution he arrived at was to adopt the “archtop construction” used in mandolins and full-acoustic guitars. This was a process made possible precisely because Gibson owned carving machines, and it was one of the company’s defining characteristics.Regarding body materials, solid mahogany and solid maple were considered, but issues such as “too heavy” and “too much sustain” arose, so the final configuration settled on a maple top and mahogany back.
Additionally, a promotional strategy was needed to raise the guitar’s profile, which involved having a famous guitarist perform on it. The person chosen for this role was Les Paul, who enjoyed immense popularity at the time.
McCarty invited Les Paul—who had been researching solid-body guitars for some time—to Gibson for a meeting to exchange ideas. To show him the completed prototype, McCarty flew to New York and visited Les and his wife, who were in the middle of a recording session. Les was very impressed with the prototype, signed a consulting contract, and proposed several modifications.
The main modifications proposed by Les were as follows:
・Changing the Florentine cutaway to a rounded Venetian cutaway shape
・Replace the bridge with the Trapeze Bridge (Blanco Tailpiece) he had designed
・Apply a gold finish to create a luxurious look
Thus, in 1952, Gibson’s first solid-body electric guitar, the “Les Paul,” was born.
However, McCarty continued to refine the Les Paul model. Due to the neck angle specifications of the time, the Trapeze Bridge required the strings to pass under the bridge bar, which presented practical drawbacks such as making muted playing difficult.
Therefore, in 1953, a new combination bridge/tailpiece (commonly known as the McCarty Bridge or Wrap-Around Bridge) was developed.
This integrated bridge design made it easier to maintain string tension and lower the action. It also had the advantage of allowing string vibrations to transfer more easily to the body by securing the anchors directly to it.
Later, the design evolved into the combination of the Tun-O-Matic and stop tailpiece that has become the standard specification for modern Les Pauls; McCarty also holds the patent for this design.
Another essential feature of Gibson guitars, including the Les Paul, is the presence of P-90 and humbucker (P.A.F.) pickups. While Seth Lover developed the humbucker, it was McCarty who oversaw its development.
It is also said that McCarty was the one who coined the term “humbucker.”
We discuss the development of the P.A.F. in our column on “Seth Lover,” so please be sure to check it out.
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The ES-335 and the Modernistic Series | The Birth of an Innovative Design
In 1958, Gibson introduced the semi-acoustic "ES-335" and launched the innovative Modernistic Series, which included the "Flying V," "Explorer," and "Moderne."
Among these, the Modernistic Series was developed specifically to counter the criticism at the time that “Gibson’s designs were conservative and outdated.”
Now considered an iconic model in rock music, this outlandish design was too far ahead of its time in 1958, resulting in only a small number of units being produced.
Incidentally, McCarty reportedly received a phone call from rival company Gretsch at the time, warning him, “You’d better not venture into solid-body guitars.”
McCarty’s achievements extended far beyond model development; he also made significant contributions to the company’s management, such as expanding annual production from approximately 5,000 units to around 100,000 units, leaving a legacy too vast to fully recount here.
After leaving Gibson in 1966, he became president of Bigsby, a company Gibson had acquired in 1965. He contributed significantly to the company’s survival and growth by not only developing parts but also expanding into businesses outside the musical instrument industry. He remained with Bigsby until the company was acquired by Gretsch in 1999.
What is the PRS McCarty? | Ted McCarty’s Legacy, Influence on Modern Guitars, and Design Philosophy
Furthermore, in 1986, he was brought on as an advisor to Paul Reed Smith and developed the “McCarty” model alongside the young Paul Reed Smith.The PRS McCarty features a mahogany back thicker than that of the Custom 24, a wide-fat neck, Kluson-style tuners, and a PRS stop tailpiece reminiscent of the aforementioned McCarty bridge, making it a model with a distinct approach from other PRS models, designed with the tone of vintage Les Pauls in mind.
McCarty passed away in 2001 at the age of 91.
When discussing the history of Gibson, it begins with Orville Henry Gibson. However, when discussing the "history of Gibson electric guitars," Ted McCarty is arguably as important a figure as Leo Fender is to Fender.
And, interestingly enough, neither of these two giants who shaped the history of the electric guitar was a guitarist themselves. One cannot help but sense some kind of fateful commonality there.
References
Vintage Guitar Magazine
Rittor Music THE GIBSON
Blues Interactions: The Complete Les Paul Encyclopedia
guitar.com
Author: Nihei (TCGAKKI, Electric Guitar Specialist)
He was introduced to the guitar through the manga "BECK" while in middle school and, influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, discovered his passion for rock music.
Graduated from a vocational school specializing in guitar making. Worked as a staff member at the TCGAKKI Acoustic Floor and the TCGAKKI Premium Guitar Lounge. Currently, as the electric guitar specialist, he actively spreads his love for the instrument through writing columns and appearing on YouTube.
A Word from the Author: When researching Gibson electric guitars, Ted McCarty’s name almost always comes up.
While you may see his name often, I imagine many of you wonder, “Who is he?” or “What did he do?” Personally, I find it a bit disappointing that he isn’t more widely known, despite being such a pivotal figure in the history of the electric guitar. That’s why I wrote this article—to help more people gain a deeper understanding of Ted McCarty. I hope this article helps you grow to love the Gibson brand even more.
Qualifications & Experience: 8 years as a musical instrument appraiser
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