Gibson Custom Shop Modern

Haters gonna hate but I love this guitar from the Gibson Custom Shop! I have a weak spot for oddball guitars. In 2017 Gibson introduced the Modern Double Cut at the CES show. Remember, it was the year they did not participate at the NAMM show. Former president HJ’s take on transforming the musical instrument manufacturer to a lifestyle/ consumer goods company. Some crazy stuff was introduced in the first decade of this century: robot tuners, built in digital effects and crazy new body shapes. The all-new Gibson CS Modern Double Cut guitars in Standard and Custom version were introduced at CES. In 2018 a semi-hollow version joined the family, … and HJ left.

Gibson CS Modern DC Metallic Alien Green

A mahogany body with a two-piece maple cap is traditionally Gibson, so is the nitro lacquer finish and the humbucking pickups. These instruments feature a 12″ radius rosewood fretboard with 24 frets. The newly introduced Apex headstock has some kind of “volute” to reinforce the neck. A traditional Gibson neck is prone to break at the headstock, less chance this is going to happen with this new design.

The long neck tenon drives the neck deep into the cutaway body. The pickups are placed closer to each other and it takes a while to get used to. The pickups are a pair of 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus humbuckers and they are wired to a 500K CTS volume pot and a 500K CTS tone pot. Hand wired, no mini-PCB in these guitars.

Gibson gets a lot of critique when they change a proven design but they nailed it with these guitars. Guitar players are very conservative regarding their instruments. They are a limited run and probably are going to be collectables. Excellent playability, perfect balance, tons of sustain and beautifully crafted at the Gibson Custom Shop.

I got them in Metallic Alien Green, Candy Apple Red and the rare Candy Apple Blue. They are eye-catchers on and off stage. I know Gibson gets a lot of comments on their quality control and their prices but as an owner of man Gibson Guitars, I ‘ve never encountered a single problem with any of my them. Except one time when I got an instrument with a broken headstock due to the brutal handling by the courier service. Other than that, no problems at all. Check out the short demo of “Alien Green”. Any resemblance to PRS is purely coincidental.

Gibson ’64 ES-335 Purple Sparkle

It just got delivered! A new Gibson ES-335 in Purple Sparkle. I wanted to do an unboxing video but I just got too excited. Patience is a virtue, Rock’n’Roll isn’t… I could not wait to grab the purple beast and tame it.

I’ll post a full review and demo in the next days. Still working on my recording and video editing skills but I give it a try. stay tuned and subscribe to my Youtube channel. I am planning to start a series on collectible guitars and amps. Nothing fancy, just gear-head stuff we all love. Stay tuned… and rock on!

Peace!

Gibson ES-335 Purple Sparkle — Gibson ’64 ES-335 Purple Sparkle

Ugly guitars (part 1)

Another warehouse find at Château PGC. A Gibson Modern Flying V in Ebony Prism color AKA the Star Trek Guitar. This is a 2018 take on the legendary Gibson Flying V. However there is nothing “modern” about this instrument. The modern Flying V has a mahogany body and neck with a contoured top. It is what the Gibson website says but the contour is hardly noticeable, if at all. This guitar has a C-shaped neck (medium size) and an apex headstock. In 2018 it came in 3 colours: Gold, Silver and Ebony Prism. The ebony prism is more a kind of purple flake in daylight. The metal scratch plate and all hardware have a blacked-out mirror-like finish and it saves every fingerprint of whoever touches it.

Electronics are straight forward: an 496R in the neck and a 500T in the bridge. No split coil; out of fase or direct output here… So where is the “Modern” on this Flying V Modern?

Only 99 instruments were made, 33 in each color. Probably some pilot- or test runs are also out there. The fretboard is richlite with small pearloid block inlays. The output jack is placed on the bottom inside of the “V”. So far for ergonomics plug it in and try to balance it on your knee!

Gibson QC was asleep when this one was passing the test bench. The pickup selector switch is placed upside down; upward position is the bridge pickup and flick the switch downward for the bridge pup.

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Despite all these flaws it is a great player. The action is low, intonation and setup are perfect! It is a Sci-Fi shredder and a future collectors item. Two years ago they were offered at a whopping $4500,-. Nowadays they catch a $5500,- on the used market.

I like this guitar! It is strange but scarcity comes with an intrest and a price. One of the last oddball instruments from the Henri J era. Ugly things deserve some love too!

This one is for sale!

Gibson LP Standard CS Splatter

Another beauty from the Gibson Custom Shop! A 2011 Gibson Les Paul Standard one-off guitar in a striking “Splatter” finish.

I don’t have much information on this one. It resembles most a ’57 ebony but with a slightly thinner neck. The headstock has the vintage style Kluson tuners and a pearloid logo inlay. Rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets. Not sure what pups are in this but to my ears it sound like 57 Humbuckers.

If you want to get noticed on stage, this is your guitar! Look at the striking color of the top. It is an ebony guitar splattered with a sort of “watered down” green ink and covered with a gloss finish. The weight of this Pauly is very comfortable, it might have some sort of chambering or not… I can’t “hear” any cavity when tapping the top or back. The action is low and the playability is superb.

But who cares about the specs? This is a guitar you play to get noticed and to look cool. Plug it into a Marshall and you are ready to rock! Under a stage light it will make you shine like a Chevy on snow chains in a tunnel! It will turn heads, even by those who don’t like… how Rock’n’Roll is that!