Howard Roberts (1929-1992) was a famous session guitarist of the 1950s and 1960s, based in Los Angeles. He was especially in demand for movie and TV soundtracks, but his first love was always jazz. Roberts was also an innovative teacher, and co-founded the prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology.

In 1961, Chicago Musical Instruments (who owned both Gibson and Epiphone), invited Roberts to develop a new semi-acoustic that would bear his name. The resultant instrument debuted as an Epiphone in 1964.

It was discontinued in 1970, but reappeared as a Gibson in 1974.

The fingerboard inlays of this model also appeared on the original Epiphone Howard Roberts Custom.