X-Nico

Dietrich Inc.

At the time, Kalamazoo was the home of Gibson Guitars and in 1962, Gibson boss Ted McCarty, convinced Dietrich to come out of retirement to design a new solidbody electric guitar that would not be limited by the traditional ways of designing and engineering an electric guitar - the result was the classic, 'reverse' Gibson Firebird, released in 1963, one of the most iconic and recognisable electric guitar designs ever.

Gibson Firebird

The president of Gibson, Ted McCarty, hired car designer Ray Dietrich to design a guitar that would have popular appeal.

Gibson Les Paul

In 1950, with the introduction of the radically innovative Fender Telecaster to the musical market, solid-body electric guitars became a public craze (hollow-body electric guitars have more acoustic resonance but are, therefore, more prone to amplifier feedback and have less natural note duration "sustain".) In reaction, Gibson Guitar president Ted McCarty brought guitarist Les Paul into the company as a consultant.

Hank Garland

At the request of Gibson Guitar company president, Ted McCarty, Garland and fellow guitarist Billy Byrd strongly influenced the design of the Byrdland guitar, which derived from the Gibson L-5 guitar Garland is seen holding in the photograph.

Johnny Smith

In 1961, Ted McCarty, then president of Gibson, went to meet the retired Smith at his home in Colorado Springs.

Paul Reed Smith

Smith then contacted Ted McCarty, former president of Gibson and creator of the Explorer, ES-335 and Flying V guitars, and McCarty became his mentor and adviser.

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