Gibson celebrates itself again

Gibson, Gibson, Gibson... where do I begin? All you seem to do these days is make guitars that people either do not want, or re-make guitars people want but can't afford. Wait a second! This new 50th Anniversary tops out at just over $6000. That is almost affordable. Almost.

I do have a soft spot for the 335. It has beautiful lines, great sound and versatility. Not exactly value for money though.

Gibson recreates the 1960 Gibson ES-335TD

Gibson Guitar has announced the highly anticipated arrival of the 50th Anniversary 1960 Gibson ES-335TD. Back in the late 1950s, Gibson was boldly pushing the envelope on electric guitar design. The effort resulted in several models that were just too far ahead of their time to sink in with players of the day—the Flying V and Explorer being cases in point — and were gone from the catalogue by 1960. The ES-335 however was an instant classic, embraced by blues, rock, country and jazz players the world over. By 1960, this model was hitting its stride though it was certainly a year of transition for the iconic model.

In the beginning of 1960, the ES-335TDs were built to the same specs as the 1959 versions and were offered in only Natural and Sunburst finishes. By about midyear, neck specs began to change to a thinner and more elliptical feel and ultimately, production of the Natural ES-335TD would cease and the Cherry finish would take its place in the latter part of the year. It is this later version that many argue the 1960 ES-335TD’s features had settled into their optimum form. With a fast new neck profile, striking new “insert” or “reflector” tone and volume knobs, the ES-335TD still retained early-spec details such as the dot fingerboard inlays, a double cutaway profile, full-length maple centerblock, and nickel-plated hardware that players have long seen as indicative of the model’s zenith.

All these and more are brought back to life in the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD, a reincarnation of one of the most legendary semi-hollow electric guitar of all time, handcrafted by Gibson Custom’s Memphis division to celebrate the model’s “golden anniversary”. For this celebration, Gibson Custom is offering the later 1960 “fast neck profile” version, the most unique of the year, and is available in three finishes Antique Vintage Sunburst, Antique Faded Cherry or Antique Natural, all aged in Gibson’s acclaimed VOS (Vintage Original Specs) process, and loaded with period-correct hardware including “insert” volume and tone knobs, double band tuners and a pair of accurate PAF-style 57 Classic humbucking pickups. The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is equipped with pickups and electronics that accurately reflect the original units of the most desirable ES-335TDs ever made. A pair of ’57 Classic pickups capture that highly sought-after “PAF” style tone, noted for its unparalleled blend of warmth, richness and clarity, while quality CTS potentiometers with “bumblebee” tone caps and a Switchcraft selector and output jack translate the signal in pure vintage style

Additionally the neck features a holly head veneer, tortoise shell side dot material and has been completely re-tooled with accurate truss rod channel depth and profile based on scans by the Gibson Custom Shop Engineering Team. The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is the closest today’s player can come to obtaining the look, feel and tone of an original dot-neck 1960 ES-335TD.

The original ES-335TD (“TD” for “thinline, double-pickup”) was a huge hit simply because it addressed so many different guitarists’ needs in one new design. The arched top and f-holes appealed to jazz and dance-band players who were still attached to the look of traditional Gibson “jazz boxes”, but who appreciated advancements such as a thinline, double-cutaway body. The maple center block that ran from neck tenon to end pin reduced feedback and provided the sharper, snappier tone that rock and roll and country players demanded, and also enabled the use of Gibson’s solid new Tune-o-matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece pairing, which further aided tone and sustain. In one form or another the ES-335TD (and its siblings, the ES-345 and ES-355) would land in the hands of Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Larry Carlton, and countless other groundbreaking guitarists.

With its historically accurate tone woods, electronics, and hardware, the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD packs all the tonal versatility of the original, and proves once again why the design has remained a favorite of guitarists from every genre of music since its introduction half a century ago. All Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TDs come with a silkscreened Gibson Custom Shop hard-shell case, a Certificate of Authenticity and a full complement of “how to” literature.

For more information, please visit www.gibson.com

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Gibson Jimmy Page ‘Number Two’

Adding further weight to the idea Gibson is now only a tribute to itself, they have just released (well, a little while ago but who cares) ANOTHER Jimmy Page model, the Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul.

Starting at $11,176 for a Vintage Old Stock model capping at $25,882 for an aged and signed model, Gibson again is rolling out a tribute to it's glory days, feeding the guitar collectors a new bone while the working musicians go starving.

Jimmy Page "Number Two" Les Paul
Every musician knows that late ’50s Sunburst Les Paul Standards are hard enough to come by as it is. Obtaining a pristine and exemplary ’59 ’Burst and modifying it for heightened performance and vastly expanded tonal options? Unheard of… unless, of course, you’re Jimmy Page. That’s exactly what the legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, perhaps the world’s most iconic Les Paul player, did with his own ’59 Les Paul Standard, and now—thanks to the extreme efforts of Gibson’s Custom Shop and the intimate cooperation of Jimmy Page himself—the artist’s hallowed “Number Two” Les Paul is available to mere mortals, in the form of the Custom Shop Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul. Produced in strictly limited numbers, with two levels of aging, this guitar captures the look, feel, sound, and versatility of one of the greatest artist-owned Les Pauls of all time, and it is likely to disappear from authorized Gibson dealers in record time.

Page designed a switching system for coil splitting, series/parallel, and phase-reverse options for both pickups, and employed a skilled electronics technician to devise a working schematic and make his sonic vision a reality. The result comprised a push/pull pot on each of the guitar’s four standard controls, plus two push-button switches hidden beneath the pickguard, all mounted on a ’59 Les Paul Standard that is otherwise a superb example of the breed, both in tone and playability.

Now the above quote gets my interest. Does anyone remember the very FIRST Jimmy Page Les Paul? This came out way back in 1994 or 1995 I think (the same time as the Nighthawk came out). I played one at a product demonstration. It already had these features then, so that's nothing new on this guitar.

My favourite quote on the product page comments: "Another overpriced Gibson for the wall of a dentist's office". Sums it up quite well, don't you think? Read more

Slash tweets new Marshall and Les Paul NAMM2010

Here's something to salivate over for those going to NAMM2010. Slash just tweeted the following:

To those of you who have been inquiring, I'll be announcing the new "Slash" Marshall & Les Paul at NAMM, Sat, Jan 16th. http://bit.ly/56GpwD

Is it just me, or are there more signature series and limited run Les Pauls around now than there are regular models?

Gibson Dusk Tiger

Besides me thinking Gibson needs to take a step back from their Apple Computers when coming up with names for these things, this guitar has me quite at odds. Gibson have again tried to go "modern", both with the aesthetic and functionality of this model.

I'm going to go against a lot of peoples opinions on this and say... deep breath here... I LIKE IT.

Sure, all the custom programmable EQ would be wasted on me, as would the rotary know for settings defaults, but I admit they are handy features. Like all new Gibson USA models, it is a Robot, with automatic tuning which as I have said before, I love that ability.

But as outlandish the finish is, I can't bring myself to not like it. The wood is exquisite, and I am really drawn to the mirrored pick guard. This guitar is everything I have criticised Gibson about in the blog, but this one really appeals to me, despite the once again outlandish price.

What about everyone else? On the Gibson site they are getting panned for it.

Gibson Billy Gibbons Pearly Gates

It has arrived. The Gibson Billy Gibbons Pearly Gates Limited Edition Les Paul Standard (or as I like to call it - GB GP GLELPS for short lol) is now available.

Sure, it's another relic'd guitar. But this is one I want. i mean, FFS, it's Billy Gibbons. Sure its probably going to cost about $8000, and at least you have the option to go with a non-relic'd version, which is a good thing.

EDIT - ok Gibson,. This is a fucking joke. When I put that price up before, I was kidding. Exaggerating. Obviously not enough. Here are the released prices:

Billy Gibbons Burst
Aged by Tom Murphy, Signed by Billy Gibbons
$25,882

Billy Gibbons Burst
Aged by Tom Murphy
$15,294

Billy Gibbons Burst
Vintage Original Spec
$11,176

If you want to know why I think relics should die, now you know why. You now pay a different price depending on who fucks up the finish????

Gibson... this is possibly the final straw. You have broken my heart and spirit one too many times with this. Lets have a look at some of the comments on the actual product page on the Gibson site:

Welcome to Gibson's Theater of the Absurd!!! I'm speechless

"Now you can own it" ??? WHO ??? collectors who will never use it ??? not the average working musician you need to revamp your prices other wise you will price your company right outa business !!! unbelievable

I'm a 51 year old Detroit autoworker who only made a tiny fraction of what the press and the Repuiblicans said I was making. I was only making $14.40/hr at Ford. Not $28 or $70! Because of southern Republican lies, I'm out of work. Now Gibson (from Tennessee y'all) keeps rubbing these damn $15k guitars in my face! Who cares if this guitar is pretty y'all? Y'all gotta realize elitist jerks like y'all caused the worst recession since 1929, y'all, and y'll gotta realize that y'all can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, y'all.

10k for a signature ? Should throw in a hooker for that amount or at least a meet & greet , how about some coupons , Hah!

You've got to be kidding. 11K to 25K???? $500 in wood and wire. Obscene scam artists selling their only decent guitars to lawyers and dentists. What about the guys who actually play. You know....musicians. We got no bread.

Looks like I'm not alone....

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