Gibson Guitar Announces Billie Joe Armstrong Signature Model

Billie Joe Armstrong with his Gibson Guitar Signature Model

Gibson Guitar, the world's premiere musical instrument manufacturer, has partnered with Green Day guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong to create the Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong (BJA) Signature model guitar, it was announced today. The guitar was created through a partnership with Armstrong and the Gibson USA design team in Nashville, Tenn. and is based on the specifications of Armstrong's vintage 1950's model Gibson Les Paul Jr.

The guitar took a little over a year of design and modification with hands-on analysis from Armstrong throughout Green Day's worldwide tour. The Gibson BJA Signature guitar boasts a custom modified pickup, unique to any other guitar produced. It will be available in three colors: vintage sunburst, classic white and ebony. It also comes with a custom hard shell case with leopard-print interior and the Green Day signature "Shock Guy" logo on the exterior.

"For years I have been looking for a guitar sound that could live up to the guitar tone I hear in my head. The first time I played my 1956 Les Paul Jr. guitar, it matched that tone perfectly. Les Paul Jr. guitars can reproduce the punch of power chords and the power of big open chords with perfect string definition," said Armstrong. "I have worked hard over the last two years to make sure my artist series guitar would live up to the legacy of the classic Les Paul guitars of the fifties."

"It has been a terrific experience to work with Billie Joe, tapping his passion and expertise for his Gibson guitar and creating a signature model to his specifications. Together, we are now able to offer his unique sound and style to guitar players and Green Day fans everywhere," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.

The Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Signature Model specs are listed below. The MSRP is $2,169.00 USD.

SPECS
Pickups: Stacked Double-Coil Special Design P-90
Hardware: Nickel
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 24 ¾"
Nut Width: 1.687"
Nut: Molded plastic
Bridge: Non-compensated wraparound
Neck Material: Mahogany
Body Material: Mahogany
Controls: Volume and Tone
Colors: Vintage Sunburst, Ebony and
Classic White

About Gibson Guitar
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson's digital guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in more than 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Mich., and headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. since 1975, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. For more on Gibson Guitar go to www.gibson.com.

See also: Photo Gallery: Billie Joe Armstrong Signature Les Paul Jr.