Gibson Guitar Announces Les Paul Commemorative Events

Gibson Guitar will celebrate the life and contributions of guitar and audio recording innovator Les Paul during the month of September, 2009, with events connected to the anniversary of Pauls 1953 #1 Billboard Pop Single, ‘Vaya Con Dios,’ and the release anniversary of his 2005 album, American Made: World Played.

Les Paul 1915 – 2009

By now you’ll have heard the very sad news that Les Paul has died, aged 94. There’s little I can add here to the glowing tributes that have already come from some of the biggest names in the business. Except to say this: stop for a moment and try and imagine how the last fifty [...]

The ugliest Epiphone Casino ever? Or the prettiest? You decide

Have a look at the painted Casino on GuitarSite and see what you think. Me? Well, let’s just say that I think the fact that the artist felt the need to enhance its auction value by having The Allman Brother Band autograph it says that she wasn’t to confident about it. And I can see [...]

Epiphone 1962 Wilshire Custom Historic USA

In the build up to Namm, Epiphone has announced a few new models, including this 1962 Wilshire Custom Historic USA. Part of what Epiphone calls its Historic Custom USA collection, the 1962 Wilshire re-issue commemorates the solid body guitars the company made in the late-fifties and sixties in Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory.

Free MP3 Downloads from Gibson and HD Tracks

Free MP3 downloads from Gibson and HD Tracks: Gibson and HD Tracks have joined forces to produce “Gibson Presents: Hot Tones in High-Definition.” It’s a collection of great guitar music from some of the world’s best guitar players. You’ll need to register for an account with HD Tracks. They’ll then send you an email confirming your registration and including a link to the download page.

Slash Interview

Excellent interview with Slash in Modern Guitar magazine in which he talks about working with Gibson on the Gibson and Epiphone signature Les Pauls.
‘Basically the Goldtop is a reissue of the 1991 Goldtop I got from them back then. And I used it for the whole two and a half year Guns N Roses “Use [...]

Epiphone ES-175

The Epiphone ES-175 is a semi-hollow body electric guitar based on Gibson’s hugely popular ES-175. The Gibson ES-175 was originally launched in 1949 and became one of the most famous jazz guitars in history. It was the first Gibson to feature a Florentine cutaway, and was so named because it originally cost $175. Sixty years later is still in production. It has been played by notable players such as Elvis’ guitarist Scotty Moore, and Steve Howe of Yes.

Epiphone Dot

The Epiphone Dot is based on Gibson’s ES-335 hollow-bodied electric guitars which were first produced way back in 1958.

The Epiphone Dot has a laminated maple body, glued-on maple neck, a dot inlaid rosewood fretboard. The Alnico Humbuckers are controlled by volume and tone pots whose bonnet knobs are period accurate. There’s chrome hardware and a Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. The f-holes and shaped pickguard complete the look.

Two great Slash Les Paul videos

It’s been a while since I posted any videos, so I thought I’d make up for it by posting two great videos today.

They both feature Slash. In the first — which is an Epiphone promo, so is a little ‘in your face’ — he talks about the Epiphone version of the Slash signature Les Paul and how he suggested it to Gibson as a way of making it available to those of us who can’t afford to drop $4,000 on one guitar.

Video: Learn to play the Slash way

Whatever your view of the man or his music, there’s no escaping that Slash is an icon. One of the most recognisable guitar players on the planet, both physically and in his playing, Slash has built an army of fans and would be imitators over the last 20 or so years.

His influence is so great, he’s the cover star for one of the biggest vide games of teh decade, Guitar Hero III, and has had a Slash signature model guitar made in his honour by both Gibson and Epiphone — and very fine guitars they are too.