Gibson Guitar Debuts Warren Haynes and Johnny A. Inspired by Models and Others at 2007 Frankfurt Musikmesse

Press release
Source: Gibson Guitar

Gibson Guitar, the world’s premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology debuted several new guitar models at this year’s Musikmesse 2007 in Frankfurt, Germany, March 28 - 31, 2007. Gibson’s booth was one of the most anticipated of the show and guests had the opportunity to experience some of the world’s greatest instruments along with the opportunity to meet Gibson artists and the opportunity to experience each new model. Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar, had this to say about the show: "This year’s Musikmesse was a tremendous success for Gibson Guitar. You could feel the excitement through the entire hall and we were very excited to be part of it all. We look forward to coming back next year.” A list of the exciting new models is below.

The Gibson Custom Shop Presents the Inspired By Johnny A.^(TM) Standard
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A true “guitarist’s guitarist,” Johnny A. is a unique musical talent whose diverse taste allows him to explore everything from progressive rock and jazz fusion, to jump blues and straight-up rock-n-roll. When he collaborated with the famed luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop on the Johnny A. Signature Model in 2003, the result was an instant classic. With the Inspired By Johnny A. Standard, the Custom Shop takes that bold design and adds a carved mahogany top and other appointments that remain true to the original while delivering a stunning tonal and visual statement all its own.

The Gibson Custom Shop Presents the Inspired By Warren Haynes
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A true “guitarist’s guitarist,” Johnny A. is a unique musical talent whose diverse taste allows him to explore everything from progressive rock and jazz fusion, to jump blues and straight-up rock-n-roll. When he collaborated with the famed luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop on the Johnny A. Signature Model in 2003, the result was an instant classic. With the Inspired By Johnny A. Standard, the Custom Shop takes that bold design and adds a carved mahogany top and other appointments that remain true to the original while delivering a stunning tonal and visual statement all its own.

The Gibson Les Paul BFG from Gibson USA
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One of the most radical Les Pauls Gibson has ever made, the Les Paul BFG is a stripped-down, rock ’n’ roll machine. Blasted back to the bare essentials, the BFG is the Les Paul for guitarists who want rich, full tone and raw power. Two volume knobs and one tone knob dial in the high-powered Burstbucker 3 humbucker in the bridge position and the screaming, singlecoil P-90 in the neck position. The traditional toggle has been rewired as a kill switch, and a mini-toggle at the volume knobs controls pickup selection. An innovative powerhouse, the BFG has no binding, no figured top, no finishing touches—just pure tone and powerful performance.

Mahogany chambered body and unsanded maple top
Burstbucker 3 treble pickup
P-90 rhythm pickup
Distressed hardware
2 volume, 1 tone, 3-way switch, kill switch

The Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker from Gibson USA
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Resurrecting one of the most popular guitars in Gibson’s history, the Melody Maker is an accurate, affordable recreation of the original Melody Makers of the late 1950s. Originally introduced as a student model, much like the Les Paul Junior, the Melody Maker became a player’s favorite for its light weight, comfortable neck, and great tone. Today’s Melody Maker is no exception. With a period-correct pickguard housing a special design singlecoil pickup, a vintage-style wraparound tailpiece, rounded neck profile, and slim, light body, the Melody Maker is an unbelievable value for players of all ages, styles, and skill levels.

Mahogany neck and body
Wraparound tailpiece
Chrome hardware
Special-design pickup
Available in Vintage Sunburst, Ebony, and Worn White finish

The CJ-165 Gibson Acoustic Guitar
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Part of the new Modern Classic series from Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman, Montana, the CJ-165 is the next step in the evolution of the iconic SJ 200. With all the resonance of a larger guitar, the CJ-165 is perfect for players needing a smaller body profile for the precision of fingerstyle and flatpicking runs. As comfortable as it is beautiful, the CJ-165 is available with either figured maple or AAA Indian rosewood back and sides. With a Sitka spruce top and 1930s-style, wide-scalloped X-bracing for incredible tone.

Rolled fingerboard edge for great feel
Low string height for effortless playability
The finest pickup and preamp available
Grover tuners
Available in Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst finish

The Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique Guitar from Gibson USA
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Drawing on the specifications that have made the Les Paul the most legendary electric guitar of all time, the Les Paul Classic Antique continues Gibson’s popular Classic line with the vintage touches guitarists love. With a beautiful, figured maple top and acclaimed ’57 Classic PAF humbuckers, the Les Paul Classic Antique allows players to experience the power and performance of an original Les Paul at an affordable price. Available in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Honey Burst, Vintage Sunburst, Wine Red. More Classic Than Ever.

The Gibson Les Paul Classic Custom from Gibson USA
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With all the singing vintage tone of the Les Paul Classic Antique, the Les Paul Classic Custom draws on the legendary Black Beauty Les Pauls of the past. With a beautiful ebony, single-bound body, gold hardware, and new, gold-appointed ’57 Classic humbuckers, the Classic Custom looks as amazing as it sounds. An affordable, vintage-styled Les Paul for today’s players. Available in Antique Ebony.

The Gibson Custom Shop Presents the Inspired By Kiefer Sutherland KS-336 Model
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The Gibson Custom Shop is proud to present the Kiefer Sutherland Inspired By KS-336. Designed in close cooperation with the legendary film actor and star of the hit series 24, the KS-336 is based on a Custom Shop CS-336 model that Sutherland fell in love with. The Kiefer 336 features a tonally chambered back and sides made from a single piece of mahogany. The top is carved, two-piece maple. The top finish is based on the unique look of an aged Goldtop—Custom has affectionately named the color Kiefer Gold. The fretboard is ebony, with a classic Super 400-style inlay. The hardware is aged nickel and the guitar has a bone nut. The pickups are Gibson ’57 Classic Plus humbuckers. The result is the beautiful and distinctive KS-336, a unique and exciting addition to Custom’s critically acclaimed Inspired By series.

The Gibson Custom Shop Presents the Inspired By Elliot Easton Custom SG
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Gibson Custom continues the exciting Inspired By series with a beautiful two-pickup SG Custom designed to the exacting specifications of guitarist Elliot Easton. A founding member of groundbreaking hit makers the Cars, Easton’s amazing career has spanned nearly three decades. For his Inspired By model, Elliot started with a classic three-pickup Gibson SG Custom design, and added his own unique modifications. The Inspired By Elliot Easton Custom SG is offered in two eye-catching colors—Pelham Blue and Classic White. With a historically accurate Maestro vibrato that sports Easton’s own Tiki-man engraving, the Custom SG represents another exciting collaboration between the greatest guitar builders and the most popular guitarists of all time. Available in both right and left-handed models.

The Gibson SG Select
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Starting with all the power and punch that has made the Gibson SG one of the most popular guitars of all time, the SG Select adds the beauty of flame maple. With a body carefully carved from solid, bookmatched AAA flame maple, and a three-piece flame maple neck, the SG Select highlights the wood’s natural elegance, as well as its incredibly resonant, singing tone. Not only is the SG Select Gibson’s most exquisite SG, it also has incredible projection and detailed clarity. Powerful 490R and 498T humbuckers and gold hardware continue the theme of beauty and brawn, allowing the SG Select to set a new standard for singing sustain and handcrafted allure.

Gibson Explorer Pro
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Taking tone and attitude to new extremes, the Gibson Explorer Pro is perfectly attuned to the technical demands and punishing intensity of today’s hard rock and heavy metal. Based on Gibson’s legendary Explorer, the Explorer Pro has been updated with a smaller, lightweight mahogany body and crushingly powerful 496R and 500T humbuckers. Available with either a classic lacquer finish in Ebony or Natural, or a Natural Satin finish with stunning AA flame-maple top and antique binding. With flashy looks and killer sounds, the Explorer Pro is destined to rewrite the rules of rock ’n’ roll.

The Gibson SG-3
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The SG-3 pushes the power, sustain, and tonal range of Gibson’s legendary SG into new sonic dimensions. Equipped with a radical 6-way pickup switch and three gold-plated Gibson humbuckers—a pair of ’57 Classics in the neck and middle positions, and a ’57 Classic Plus in the bridge position—the SG-3 goes where no SG has gone before. Sporting a chicken-head knob, Gibson’s exclusive rotary selector offers six pickup settings: bridge, bridge/middle, middle, middle/neck, neck, and bridge/neck. Combining unrivaled playability with an extraordinary spectrum of sweet yet scorching humbucker tones, the SG-3 is the perfect guitar for rock, metal, and blues guitarists.

HD.6X-Pro Guitar System, The First Guitar of the 21st Century
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Fresh off the excitement of the CES show, Gibson is proud to exhibit the HD.6X-Pro Guitar System—the most revolutionary leap forward in guitar manufacturing in more than 50 years. The result of years of research and development, the HD.6X-Pro Guitar System—nicknamed the HD LP—combines the incredible craftsmanship of an ultra-professional Gibson Les Paul with the latest, groundbreaking digital technology. The result may look like a traditional electric guitar, but the HD LP is in fact a complete digital audio system that is poised to usher in a new era of music making. A new world is about to open up to musicians everywhere. Welcome to the 21st Century.

Gibson Guitar will also present the Gibson SG Special Faded 3 Pickup and the Flying V Special Faded 3 Pickup guitar models. For more information on Gibson Guitar at Musikmesse 2007, go to www.gibson.com.

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 HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.

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