As I write this I’m sitting in a hotel room in San Diego, the day after the 2012 NAMM show wrapped up, taking a much-needed break after a foot-punishing four days of walking the halls, catching up with friends, putting faces to names and saying hello in person to artists I’ve only met over the phone. NAMM is an assault on the senses (especially if you stroll too close to the drum section!) but up on the third floor, away from the deafening din, you will find the Gibson room. Although I write articles for Gibson.com, I’m all the way over in Australia for the rest of the year, and not privy to news about upcoming products, so NAMM is an exciting opportunity for me to see what’s on the way, just as it is for everyone else.
Perhaps the biggest buzz of the 2012 NAMM Show was Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys stopping by the Gibson booth. Due to a packed schedule I was unfortunately unable to see it for myself, but grown men – jaded industry professionals who have seen it all – later turned misty-eyed when telling me of seeing and hearing Wilson.
The Epiphone Dave Navarro Signature Acoustic/Electric was on display, nestled proudly amongst the other, more traditional acoustics. It looked quite at home from a distance, but get closer and you’ll see some wonderful inlay work – custom mother-of-pearl “unicursal hexagram” design. Navarro’s guitar features a cutting-edge pickup and preamp system developed by Epiphone with Shadow of Germany which will no doubt be put to very good use playing the Jane’s Addiction anthem “Jane Says.” Naturally, Navarro stopped by to say hello to fans and to show off the new guitar.
On Saturday legendary folk singer and psychedelic pioneer Donovan – heck, he practically invented world music – showed up to meet fans. Donovan is working with Gibson to replace his prized Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar, which was stolen from him. This was the very instrument that he used to write hits including “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.”
One of my favorite NAMM sightings was the SG with Floyd Rose. Everything you always loved about an SG – dual humbuckers, thin mahogany body, devilish horns – but with the added sonic scope of a Floyd Rose tremolo bridge. The body is slightly wider than its fixed-bridge brother to allow more space for the tremolo block and bridge springs, and this is sure to fatten up the tone a little, too – a clever way of compensating for the slightly thinner sound many players hear when using a Floyd Rose-equipped guitar.
There were a pair of Gibson Modernes on show – great to see this model getting some love – and Zakk Wylde’s new Vertigo Les Paul. This is more like the design that Zakk actually wanted when his original “Grail” Les Paul was custom-painted. The Vertigo was perched right next to the new Ace Frehley “Budokan” Les Paul Custom, a reproduction of the legendary 1974 three-pickup Les Paul Custom used by the KISS guitarist in 1977.
Perhaps most exciting of all, though, was the pair of Robot-equipped Epiphone acoustics. This technology has been put to great use in an ever-increasing line of electric Gibson models, but it’s never before been seen in a production acoustic by either Gibson or Epiphone. Traditionalists will love the more dreadnaught-like version (below left), while those with a flair for the outrageous should check out the flashier version.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the Kirk Hammett Flying V. Modeled on Kirk’s own guitar, which he’s used extensively on stage and in the studio with Metallica, this guitar will be available in 50 aged and signed versions, each played by Kirk prior to final approval and with a leather-bound certificate of authenticity, and 100 aged pieces with the certificate. It never seemed to be around when I was at the Gibson booth and I’m just as excited to see one, as you no doubt are!
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