Gibson, Epiphone Christmas offerings include Felder, Rhoads and Lennon models
(Dave Molter | Posted 2010-09-17)
Fall isn't quite here, but Gibson and Epiphone think it's not too early to start planning your Christmas shopping. Be prepared to spend anywhere from $20 for a T-shirt to $15,000 for guitars, which include models paying tribute to everyone from Don Felder (Felder Les Paul pictured) and Randy Rhoads to the Jonas Brothers and John Lennon.
Epiphone offers two new outfits designed by two of the greatest guitarists of all time, Slash and Zakk Wylde. The Epiphone Slash Appetite Les Paul outfit was inspired by the axe that the legendary Guns N’ Roses guitarist played on the multi-platinum-selling Appetite for Destruction album. Epiphone and Slash have teamed up to bring the ultimate “Appetite Les Paul Standard Outfit” to the market just in time for the holidays. The model combines all the features found in Slash’s original guitar. MSRP $1,525 USD.
Not to be outdone by a fellow icon, Zakk Wylde and Epiphone announce the Epiphone Zakk Wylde PeeWee and VeeWee Bullseye “Zakk Pak.” It’s a small rig with a mighty sound, driven by the force of an Epiphone Les Paul combined with a Marshall™ MS-4ZW Micro Full Stack amp and Zakk’s signature design. The new Epiphone Zakk Wylde PeeWee and VeeWee Paks come with everything you need to rock out like the Black Label Society frontman. MSRP $308 USD.
Rhoads worthy
American heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads, who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot, will be honored by Gibson Custom with the release of the Gibson Custom Shop Randy Rhoads Signature Model Les Paul Limited Edition guitar (pictured). Rhoads often combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style and remains one of the most influential players of our time, despite his short career. The Gibson Custom model is a faithful recreation of Randy’s ’74 Les Paul Custom, which features a “sandwich” ‘70s Les Paul Custom body, Randy Rhoads thin D neck profile, his name stamped in the pickguard and newly developed “super 74” pickups. MSRP on VOS model is $7,056 USD and on the Aged it is $9,880 USD.
Come alive with a 335
Gibson Custom is adding other special models to its exclusive 2010 holiday offerings. The Gibson Custom 1960s Block Inlay ES-335 VOS features the slim taper neck dimensions of the 1963 ES-335 and block-style fretboard inlay. The center block is also period-correct lightweight maple making this collectible guitar, not only easy on the eyes but on the ears and the back too. The Antique Faded Cherry, Light Caramel Burst’s MSRP is $5,645 USD.
The Gibson Custom ES-345 VOS with Bigsby is the original ES-345, which debuted in 1959 in response to a demand for an upgrade on the revolutionary new semi-hollow body design and is produced by Gibson Memphis, a division of Gibson Custom. It has Vari-tone electronics and double parallelogram inlay. VOS Alpine White w/Bigsby: $6,115 USD.
The Gibson Custom ES-355 Antique Faded Cherry Gloss with Maestro, ES-355 VOS Antique Ebony with Bigsby and the VOS Antique Faded Cherry with Bigsby has Multi-ply binding, ebony fingerboards, and gold hardware, which have been the hallmarks of elegance on upper-level Gibson guitars for decades. Combine these traits with a plain maple top, back and rims, as well as classic thinline body dimensions and you have the Gibson Custom Shop ES-355, a modern instrument with vintage Gibson looks and tone. ES-355 Gloss Antique Faded Cherry with Maestro MSRP: $5,880 USD and the ES-355 VOS Antique Ebony, Antique Faded Cherry with Bigsby MSRP is $6,115 USD.
You can check it out, but can you afford to leave?
Rounding out Gibson Custom’s holiday offerings is the very limited edition Gibson Custom Don Felder "Hotel California" 1959 Les Paul, an instrument created in the image of Felder's original 1959 'Burst in strictly limited quantities. Produced as a three-tiered Limited Edition, with 50 guitars hand-aged by Gibson Custom and personally signed by Don Felder, 100 hand-aged, and a further 150 given Gibson's VOS treatment, each includes a numbered Certificate of Authenticity to record its status for posterity.
VOS - Felder Burst - $10,351 MSRP.
Aged - Felder Burst - $14,115 MSRP.
Aged/Signed - Felder Burst - $17,645 MSRP.
Back from the flood
Fans of Gibson USA have the chance to find one of the first models to be produced out of the famous guitar plant in Nashville since the recovery from the May 2010 Nashville floods. The Gibson Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Traditional and SG Standard return in full glory. Rockin’ ‘round the Christmas tree will never be the same when the gift is one of these exclusive offerings from Gibson USA. The Gibson Les Paul Studio in Alpine White has become a favorite among guitarists who like to trade off some of the more traditional Les Paul appointments for cool, new combinations of features. With these Studios, players get the best of all worlds - a unique look, Les Paul performance and the Studio's tradition of affordability - for an unbeatable value. MSRP $1,799.
If you are a player who loves the fat, sweet, snarling tone of a Les Paul, Gibson USA offers the Gibson Les Paul Traditional. Taking design and visual cues from the Les Pauls of the ’80s and ’90s, the Les Paul Traditional starts with a Grade-A mahogany body and adds nine strategically placed traditional weight-relief holes for a beefy tone that maintains the resonance of modern Les Pauls, while losing a large portion of the weight. This is capped with a AA figured maple top, giving the Les Paul Traditional the look of the great Les Pauls that helped to bring rock back to the front of the stage in the mid ’80s. MSRP $3,449.
Originally conceived as a modern replacement for the single-cutaway Les Paul Standard, the Gibson USA SG Standard had several features that made it perfect for cutting-edge guitarists – all of which remain present in the Gibson USA SG Standard – and it became an iconic rock guitar almost immediately. With its light, yet resonant solid-mahogany body and neck, a radical looking double-cutaway design that also yields unprecedented upper-fret access, a rock-solid Tune-o-matic bridge and stoptail pairing, and two meaty humbucking pickups, today’s SG Standard is just as sweet a player and as monstrous a tone machine as the guitars that made the name legendary nearly 50 years ago. MSRP $1,799
Jonesin' for Jonas?
Gibson USA offers two new signature models in time for the holiday rush, sure to bring smiles to any recipient. The Jonas Brothers Signature Melody Maker, signed by Nick, Joe and Kevin, features dual P-90 pickups and an ebony fingerboard. The top of the guitar is emblazoned with the unmistakable Jonas Brothers emblem shield logo laid onto a satin white finish. MSRP $1,149 USD.
Save your nickels for Nickelback
Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger designed the Gibson USA Blackwater Les Paul, which features a Grade AAA figured maple top and a high gloss trans ebony lacquer finish. Chad’s own design features star decals adorning the back of the neck, which is shaped in a classic ‘50s rounded profile. Along with a 490-R and 498-T pickup combination, the guitar features Chad’s Favorite Piezo pickup that mimics acoustic guitar tones. MSRP $4,099. USD
Imagine three new John Lennon models
The legendary factory in Bozeman, Montana, home of Gibson Acoustic, announced three extraordinary holiday models in limited quantities. They are the Lennon Anniversary Models.
Born on October 9, 1940 John Lennon still remains one of the most significant voices in music. Decades after his passing, his message of peace still resonates with his fans around the world. At the request of Yoko Ono, Gibson Acoustic is proud to offer three very special 70th Anniversary Lennon Acoustic models in time for the holidays. A very limited number of these will be made to honor this extraordinary artist who would have turned 70 this year. The three models include the 70th Anniversary J-160E VS, The John Lennon Imagine model and the John Lennon Museum model. Gibson Acoustic paid very close attention to detail with the J-160E VS model, replicating Lennon’s original J-160E used through the very early Beatles years and made famous with some of the most significant songs recorded in the 1960s. The 70th Anniversary Museum Gibson Acoustic includes a 70th Anniversary Mother of Pearl signature in the headstock, a mother of pearl 12th fret birth date, a historic ladder bracing pattern, a historical adjustable bridge, a vintage 1960s hardshell case and many other features limited to this model, to be produced in a quantity of up to 200 worldwide. MSRP of the Lennon J160E VS is $4,728.00 USD.
The Gibson Acoustic John Lennon 70th Anniversary Imagine model is a Custom limited edition in a quantity of only 70 worldwide. Each model comes with a special label signed personally by Yoko Ono and is produced in a white lacquer finish to celebrate John’s music during his writing and recording of “Imagine.” Features include a 70th Anniversary Abalone headstock signature, 12th fret birth date, 1960s laminated Sitka Spruce top, Gibson authentic P-90 pickups and a 1960s hardshell case amongst other special features . MSRP is $10,748.00 USD.
The John Lennon 70th Anniversary Museum model will also be produced in a quantity of only 70 worldwide. It is complete with an authentic recreation of Lennon’s “Bed-in” caricature sketch and comes with a Gibson Custom shop label signed personally by Yoko Ono. Other features include a custom clear lacquer finish, 70th anniversary mother of pearl headstock signature, Jumbo 1960s frets, 1960s laminated Sitka Spruce top and mahogany back and sides with many other extraordinary features. MSRP is $15,048.00 USD.
Apparel
This holiday season, Gibson offers the chance to not only sound like a real musician, but to look like one, too. From Gibson Gear & Apparel comes the introduction of the Gibson Classic Black and White Collection. Sought after by musical artists and fans worldwide, the collection includes t-shirts, caps and beanies all designed in a classic white on black design and several new silhouettes. The best performance muscle shirt for rock-n-roll is available now for men in sizes S,M,L,XL and XXL and retails for $19.99. The Ladies black Gibson tank top printed with a Gibson distressed logo and accompanied with a “G” patch at the seam is available in sizes S,M,L and XL and retails for $19.99. Also for the ladies, Gibson offers the Gibson Ladies V-neck T-shirt made of soft 100% cotton slub jersey in a lightweight 135 gm weight. One of the most comfortable shirts to own, this design comes in sizes S,M,L and XL and retails for $24.99. Men’s and Ladies polo shirts made of 100% cotton Lacoste Pique/220 gm weight, with a three-button placket for the men’s and a 4-button placket for the women’s, are now available. This classic silhouette comes with the embroidered Gibson logo on the chest and the special “G” patch on the back of the neck. Women’s sizes are S-XL and Men’s sizes are S-XXL. Both retail for $39.99
Gibson Gear & Apparel also offers an exclusive Women’s and Men’s collectible watch set in time for the holidays and available as a limited edition. The Women’s watch features a beautiful stainless steel chain link watch with 12 crystals and comes with a matching chrome ID bracelet with the Gibson logo and white leather braiding. The men’s set also comes with a gorgeous stainless steel chain link watch and a matching chrome ID bracelet with the Gibson logo and black leather braiding. Each retails for $89.99. All items offered by Gibson Gear & Apparel are available at participating dealers and online at www.Gibson.com
Barware
If sounding like a musician and dressing like one is not enough, then here’s a chance to entertain like one with the Gibson Gear & Apparel new Barware set, which retails for $29.99. The Gibson Barware collection includes Gibson Pilsner Set completed with a hand-blown and etched Gibson branded 22 oz. Pilsner glass and two embossed Gibson logo coasters. Also offered is a Gibson Shot Glass set which includes two hand-blown 2 oz. Gibson branded shot glasses and a matching beverage mat. And back by popular demand is the Gibson Barstool, 24” chrome bottom with a vinyl Gibson logo branded swivel top and retails for $109.99.
