Gibson Custom To Showcase Over 15 New Models At Winter NAMM 2008

Gibson Custom announced today that it will showcase over 15 models at its exhibit in booth 204A, Level 2 at Winter NAMM 2008 in Anaheim, California, January 17th-20th.

Focusing on the classic sounds and models that Gibson players have come to know and love, Gibson will display a number of custom Les Paul models and ES models that highlight semi-hollowbody's traditional electric tone and pay homage to some of the greatest guitar players of all time including Jimmy Page, Steve Jones, Johnny Winter, Mick Jones, Slash and many more.

Among these models, Gibson Custom will showcase:

JIMMY PAGE LES PAUL CUSTOM W/BIGSBY

Early in Jimmy Page's career, one of his most relied upon guitars was the three-pickup 1960 Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty" with a bigsby tailpiece. In 1970, the guitar was stolen and never recovered, but thanks to the Gibson Custom Shop, this guitar is backing the form of a new Gibson Custom Shop Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom.

STEVE JONES LES PAUL CUSTOM

A white mid '70s Les Paul Custom with pin-up girl stickers has become one of rock & roll's most iconic symbols. The Gibson Custom Shop Steve Jones Custom is a recreation of this legendary instrument which is Gibson's tribute to one of rock's most unsung heroes, Steve Jones guitarist for the Sex Pistols and the guitar he used to make history.

LEE RITNEOUR ES-335

One of the world's leading jazz guitarists and winner of 17 GRAMMY nominations, Lee Ritenour was heavily influenced by contemporary jazz styles of Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Barney Kessel. He was a sought after sessions player in the mid '70s and now has his own distinctive sound & fluid style. The Gibson Custom Shop Lee Rietnour ES-335 is a recreation of his original guitar.

JOHNNY WINTER FIREBIRD

Since the 1960s, Johnny Winter has been cranking out some of the meanest & most spellbinding slide guitar ever recorded. For decades he has relied on one guitar- a 1963 Gibson Firebird V. The Gibson Custom Shop Johnny Winter Signature Firebird V is a recreation of his iconic instrument down to every last detail and is a tribute to a true blues master, and his most beloved guitar.

SLASH #1 LES PAUL STANDARD AGED & SIGNED

One of the most respected and iconic guitar players of all time, Slash has symbolized the power of rock & roll ever since blasting out of the mid-1980s LA club scene with Guns 'n' Roses. Armed with a Gibson Les Paul Standard, Slash revitalized the electric guitar with some of the most incendiary and melodic playing of all time, and became the new definition of a guitar hero. The new Gibson Custom Shop Inspired By Slash Les Paul Standard is a recreation of his #1 Les Paul Standard guitar played during his rise to superstardom, down to the authentic cigarette burn mark on the body, every detailed feature has been faithfully reproduced.

MICK JONES LES PAUL CUSTOM

British guitarist Mick Jones, who formed the rock band Foreigner, first broke into the music biz as a "hired gun" of sorts, appearing on recordings by George Harrison, Peter Frampton, Spooky Tooth, and the Leslie West Band. Foreigner's self titled album in 1977 became an immediate hit going platinum five times over. The Gibson Custom Shop Mick Jones Les Paul Custom is a recreation of his original Les Paul Custom joining the line up of our "inspired by" series.

ALEX LIFESON ES-355 VOS

Throughout most of Alex Lifeson's ride to superstardom with the super group Rush, a 1976 Gibson ES-355 had been by his side, both in the studio and on stage. With it, he had created many of Rush's breathtaking layered soundscapes, and the very same ES-355 continues to be an indispensable part of his live arsenal. The Gibson Custom Shop Alex Lifeson Signature ES -355 guitar is a recreation of this iconic instrument and a tribute for a true modern master, and guitar he used to expand the definition of popular music.

LES PAUL AXCESS

Gibson has heard the cry from its loyal customers and, in an effort to satisfy their desires, has created the Les Paul Axcess model. With such appointments as the Floyd Rose tremolo tailpiece to the ergonomic neck/body design, once you have felt the excitement of this beautifully responsive instrument, heard its rich tone and seen its exquisite, graceful design, you will know the affection that the players feel for their Gibson guitars - an affection that transcends time, style and musical trends.

THE ULTRATONE

The new Gibson Ultratone takes inspiration both visually and sonically from an exciting period of guitar history in the '50s during the development of the lapsteel guitar and many of Gibson's most famous pickup designs. The Ultratone's new design "Steel 90" pickups combined with a unique combination of tone-woods and a 25.5" scale deliver an unparalleled shimmer and twang while it's art-deco appointments & futuristic top carve call back to a time of space-age design.

THE NEW GOLDEN AGE OF GIBSON

In 1958 Gibson introduced four new electric guitars that were so fresh, so radical, and so forward-looking that not only would it be years before they were fully appreciated by more adventurous players, but seen today amidst all that the industry has to offer they are still influential and inspiring, even downright revolutionary by any standards. The Les Paul Standard, Flying V, Explorer, and ES-335, all introduced in 1958, together represented a quantum leap forward in guitar industry. Over the course of 50 years these guitars have set the standards for every form of amplified guitar music on the planet.

ES-339 FIGURED

The ES-339 is the next generation from the Custom Shop of Gibson's iconic ES electric guitars. It goes where no guitar has gone before with a bold, new semi-hollow tone that is rich with expressive, even stinging overtones. The ES-339 has some exciting enhancements including Memphis Tone electronics, outer rim output jack, and reduced dimensions and weight. The ES-339 builds on the success of the semi-hollowbody guitars first introduced by Gibson in 1958 with the ES-335. Lighter and more compact than a traditional semi-hollowbody electric tone that powered so many hit records and landmark performances.

ES-359

The ES-359 is the next generation from the Custom Shop of Gibson's iconic ES electric guitars. This new exciting semi-hollowbody instrument builds on the success of the ES-355 with some new and exciting enhancements including Memphis Tone electronics, reduced dimensions and weight, yielding a much lighter and more compact semi-hollowbody guitar.

Also on display will be some of Gibson Custom Shop's Exotic Wood Models as well as the custom built SG Sparkle and Les Paul Sparkle.