Manufacturers that came out with a lot of classic models in a short period of time.

[maguchi]

In 1958 Gibson came out with 3 classic, iconic guitar models that have been copied, enhanced and expanded on by other builders over the years. The ES-335, The Flying V and the Explorer. Are there similar examples of an abundance of output by other guitar or amp manufacturers. I'm talking about models that have become "classics" and are still popular today.

Certainly Fender would be in consideration in the years 1950-54 when they came out with the Tele, P-Bass and Strat. Also Fender amps with their Tweed or Blackface amps when they came out with many classic amp models. What about Marshall?

How about smaller manufacturers like Ampeg or Rickenbacker. Also some of the more recent companies from the '80s like Jackson or Charvel.

 

[norminal]

That Explorer is the tits!

 

[Aelred]

The Explorer and Flying V weren't exactly popular upon release (nor was the Stratocaster). Les Paul hated the SG design.

Classics can take some time to become so.

But when Jim Marshall separtated the amp from the speakers and made stacks things changed very rapidly. JTM-45, Park, Bluesbreaker and Plexi made a splash very quickly.

 

[PLX]

The Explorer and Flying V weren't exactly popular upon release (nor was the Stratocaster). Les Paul hated the SG design.

Yeah. That's why Dean took those designs and focused on them.

That, and Zelinsky slammed a V and an Explorer together to make the ML

 

[unix-guy]

In 1987 Ibanez debuted the S-Series, R-series, P-series, RG series and the JEM guitars.

The P-series didn't last very long but if you consider the R-series ultimately morphed into the JS guitars, that's 4 product lines still in production and very popular 37 years later...

 

[laxu]

The Explorer and Flying V weren't exactly popular upon release (nor was the Stratocaster). Les Paul hated the SG design.

Classics can take some time to become so.

Now if Netflix could understand that, instead of canceling shows if they don't become a success in a month...

Gibson even discontinued the Les Paul in 1961, replaced it with the SG instead. Apparently this was to make their product seem less old-fashioned in comparison to the then more modern Fender offerings.

Similarly the Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster were discontinued in 1975 and 1980 due to poor sales.

It's hard to think that these guitars were not desirable once.