Les Paul Special Red Sparkle by Gibson Custom Shop

A very rare finish for this beautiful Les Paul Special. The Gibson Custom Shop was inspired to choose this Red Sparkle finish.

I really like Les Paul Special's - even better with a double cutaway but this single cutaway will do. The single piece of wood (no carved table as found on other Les Paul's), the bolt-on pickguard and the single-coil P90 pickups scream simplicity. And they are lighter than a regular Paul which is always enjoyable.

This sparkling finish is really fun and puts a different spin on this icon - this can't be confused for Bob Marley's Special. It's more glam than reggae.

You have 2 days to bring home this guitar from Oz. Follow the yellow brick road! We're off to see the wizzard...

Gibson Shark Fin delayed to July 31st

I was anticipating the Gibson Shark Fin to launch on July 2nd from the Guitar Center listing. From that same source, I now have to update this date to July 31st.

One of the anonymous tipster hinted delays were to be expected in his comment on the first post: "I heard it might be delayed a while, however it's worth the wait I'm sure."

There were a few other interesting comments on that post:

Mike said: it does look like that van halen shark design..but only with smoother lines. thats the closest pic i saw that resembles the shark fin. very close. i know that pic is out there somewhere.

Hey Mike, everybody is looking for a pic so send it over!

Then Jim said:

I think Gibson is naming it the Shark Fin because that name has only been associated with designs such as Gibson's Moderne and Jacksons randy rhodes axe. this way they will lock up that name for good. i need to see that guitar.. the buzz surrounding it is getting larger.

Not sure if this is the direction Gibson is taking, but for sure kudos to them for keeping such a veil on the Shark Fin. This is a different approach they used for the other Limited Run Series (all announced months in advance). For once, they are creating some mystery... and anticipation. It might just be another metal shredding machine in the end but I know I'm not the only one eager to discover this new design.

In the meantime, let's have a good laugh with a few shark-shaped guitars on eBay:

UPDATE: we now have a real picture of the Gibson Shark Fin!

The 12-String Wilshire Epiphone is back

I have blogged about this rare vintage 1966 Epiphone Wilshire 12-string electric guitar before.

It is back for auction on eBay, so just wanted to let everyone know because I think this is an amazing guitar to collect and play.

I love the mini-humbuckers, the shape of the pickguard, the design and position of the control knobs. And the shape of the Wilshire is just awesome.

Fender Splatter Strat, part II

Since I first discovered and blogged about the Fender Splatter, I have been on the look out for new ones on eBay.

Because the design of each "Splattercaster" is guaranteed to be unique given the spin process used for the finish, I find it entertaining to see more Splatter Stratocasters - some are ugly, some are gorgeous, like those listed below.

If you like crazy designs on a Strat, I'll soon post again about the Crashocaster...

Meanwhile, enjoy those Splattercasters!





UPDATE: look at this "fire" Splatter Strat'!

Mark Knopfler on his Les Paul's specs

I'd be so excited to see an Inspired By Mark Knopfler Les Paul from the Gibson Custom Shop. Now I found this little gem on Gibson Lifestyle:

Mark Knopfler, told to Guitar Player in June ’92

“My Les Paul has a little alteration. You can pull a pot up and get a slightly out-of-phase sound. Then you just back one of the levels down a little bit to where it becomes this voice. I always liked that sound; with a Les Paul it’s a beautiful thing.”

Sounds like one "latest trick" to pull, Custom Shop!

Meanwhile, you can also read that other post by Gibson on a Les Paul struck by lightning going for auction on eBay. It's a 1985 Reissue. Knopfler's was a 1984.

Gibson NightHawk 1996 on Guitarz

A beautiful 1996 Gibson Nighthawk is featured on the Guitarz blog.

In his post, Bertram rightly points to the possibilities opened by the 3 different pick ups. But I feel the poor 5-way switch and single pair of tone/volume controls don't do this configuration justice.

How can you blend the different pickups in an original fashion to compose a unique tone? A more complex selector like the one on Jimmy Page's black beauty Les Paul Custom would probably do the trick better.

Still, it is a beautiful and original guitar and I support Bertram's call for more acceptance for innovation in the guitar crowd.

This model was discontinued but I have included current eBay listings below:

Mark Knopfler 1984 Les Paul Reissue - please, Gibson Custom Shop!

Just thinking out loud: wouldn't it be cool to see a reissue of the Les Paul used by Mark Knopfler for Money for Nothing on Brother in Arms created by the Gibson Custom Shop?


I mean, the Gibson Custom Shop have launched so many Inspired By guitars from legendary rock players just in the past 12 months: Slash, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, Robby Krieger...

I'd so like to see a reissue of that guitar that sends shiver down my spine every single time I hear Money for Nothing - you know just after that crazy keyboard and drum intro when these crazy things stop and that beautiful G guitar riff kicks in.

Very often when I try out a Les Paul, I use that riff. Not passing the "Money for Nothing" test is a deal breaker.

And don't even mention the song Brothers in Arms. To me, one of the most beautiful guitar parts ever recorded -the tone, the melody, the feel.

So, I tried to find out a bit more about this particular Les Paul that Knopfler used. While MK owns both a 58 and a 59 vintage Les Paul, then he used a reissue built in 1984 -I'm guessing he didn't have the "real deal" then. So this baby was almost brand new by the time of recording. I hear people complaining all the time about the quality of Gibsons from the 80's. Definitely, this one received particular attention (maybe some sort of masterbuilt).

From this very antique website:

This is a reissue of a late 50ies Les Paul Standard, built in 1984.

Mark used it a lot on Brothers in Arms (Money for Nothing, Brothers in Arms).

This picture was taken on Live Aid in 1985.

Sure, I don't know what a 2009 reissue of a 1984 reissue of a 1959 Les Paul would be like but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be the only one to put my name on the list for one of those.

So, pleeeease Gibson Custom Shop, get this on your todo list if it's not already there! By the way, my birthday is at the end of July...just saying.

No join me all of you: I WANT MY. I WANT MY RE-ISSUE!