Friday, Feb. 10th 2012 9:13 AM
When it comes to unusual custom guitars, they don’t come much more unusual than the gold and mother of pearl coated Gibson Les Paul that was customised by a time-served luthier in the UK. Kim Webber, 55, from Somerset in the UK was handed a vintage Gibson Les Paul Deluxe by a customer who wanted the previous modifications removing, modifications that included plastic triangles being stuck to the body, and new modifications to be made.
Vintage Gibson Les Pauls are adored by guitar players across the world and this particular example is no different, which is why its owner asked Webber to strip back the instrument and customise it using fine shells and precious metals.
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Tuesday, Feb. 7th 2012 5:35 PM
The Gibson Custom Shop has been hand making some of the finest guitars in the world for over 80 years and it even became its own separate division of Gibson in 1986. However, as is the case with many time-served craft making processes, some things never change at the Gibson Custom Shop, with many tools and techniques that were pioneered by Orville Gibson all of those decades ago still being used today.
One thing that has always been the mark of a classic guitar and a hallmark of the Gibson Custom Shop is the use of the very finest quality woods. For as long as the shop has been in business the best grades of mahogany, spruce, maple, and holly have been used to manufacture their custom guitars. The finest woods from Canada, the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast are sourced to create the best possible bodies and necks.
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Tuesday, Sep. 27th 2011 9:20 AM
To many guitarists, the Gibson Les Paul is considered to be the ultimate solid body electric guitar, with many famous advocates of the timeless classic. But what makes the Les Paul such a desirable and critically acclaimed guitar? Is it design aspects such as the strings being mounted on the top of the guitar body, or maybe could it be the huge number a various custom guitars in the Les Paul range? No matter what the reason, the Gibson Les Paul is widely regarded as the best of the best…the ultimate!
On the road to earning the label of ‘ultimate solid body electric guitar’ the Gibson Les Paul has had some adventures, with hundreds of stars using the famous guitar to make their very own kind of music. This adventure may be 59 years old but it’s by no means slowing down. In fact, the Les Paul is as popular as ever, with new and improved stock and custom guitars leaving the factories every day.
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Monday, Sep. 12th 2011 4:16 PM
None of us can have possibly forgotten the tragedy of September 11th 2001, when many lives were lost as they World Trade Centre was attacked, and there have been many heart-felt tributes paid over the last few days to remember those who lost their lives. One such display is the creation of three tribute 9/11 Fender custom guitars, which will be played by guitar legend Eric Clapton then donated to 9/11 first-responder organizations.
There are three uniquely designed Fender Stratocaster custom guitars, each commemorating a New York City agency; New York Fire Department Stratocaster, New York Police Department Stratocaster and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Stratocaster. Each of the tribute 9/11 Fender custom guitars is decorated with custom artwork and a selection of pins, badges and medals to commemorate the many lives that were lost or affected by the disaster.
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Monday, Sep. 5th 2011 10:15 AM
Hollywood actor Richard Gere is to sell his vintage guitar collection on October 11th to raise funds for humanitarian charities. The task of auctioning the collection of guitars has been given to Christie’s auction house in New York, with the 110-strong lot of vintage and custom guitars, along with a selection of amps expected to achieve $1 million or more when they go under the hammer.
Gere, a self-taught pianist and guitarist, originally started his musical enthusiasm as a youngster, studying the trumpet before turning his hand to the guitar and other instruments. Gere has been building his collection of guitars for over the last 20 years but, the movie star didn’t intend to build a collection, saying “I just bought ones that I liked, the ones that sounded good and played well. Some are very special.” But a collection of guitars is exactly what he has assembled and, with reluctance, he is auctioning the lot.
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Thursday, Aug. 25th 2011 12:39 AM
Today, for the second time in less than two years, the FBI has raided a Gibson electric guitar factory. FBI agents from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service served warrants at both the Downtown Memphis and Nashville factories, entering the manufacturing plants in, what is believed to be, a search for the use of the rare endangered ebony wood in the building of both their standard and custom guitars.
Dozens of disappointed sightseers were greeted by a sign stating that the factory would be closed for the day. Some of these tourists were big fans of Gibson electric guitars and had travelled from as far and wide as Australia to see the place where the legendary custom guitars are hand built. A Gibson employee was earlier quoted as saying that the factory would be open tomorrow as usual for tours but this is too late for some of the tourists who were due to leave today.
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Monday, Aug. 22nd 2011 9:12 AM
On Friday night, Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora played a concert with a difference. He wasn’t playing in front of just any old crowd, the Bon Jovi guitarist played a gig for Marines at Camp Pendleton in California to thank the troops for their valued efforts around the world. Not only was Sambora treating the Marines to a selection of classic rock tracks but he was also there to give away a number of folding guitars for Marines who won a competition.
Back in the spring, thousands of marines entered a contest to win folding custom guitars that were paid for and customised by Sambora himself and, on Friday night the Bon Jovi guitarist handed out these special instruments to the lucky winners. The guitars have been designed so they can be folded in half and fit into a special rucksack, allowing Marines to take them around the world without the hassle that a full size guitar bag would bring.
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Sunday, Aug. 14th 2011 11:18 AM
Six famous musicians from New Zealand are to receive custom guitars that have been made from timbers recovered from buildings that were flattened during the Christchurch earthquakes in February. After the stars have used these custom guitars, they are to be auctioned for charity, with the funds being used to assist displaced and affected families of the New Zealand earthquakes.
Six months ago, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake and a number of severe aftershocks caused absolute devastation and destruction in and around Christchurch, taking the lives of 181 people in the process. To remember those who were lost and to raise funds to assist the rebuilding, Jason Pickering, whose home was destroyed, and his father Bruce have built seven custom guitars out of reclaimed timber from various flattened Christchurch buildings.
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