In honor of Earl Scruggs' monumental career achievements Gibson has created a new, limited edition, collectible/tribute banjo model: The Earl. The Earl is Gibson's ultimate tribute to the man who virtually reinvented the five-string banjo and brought it from near-obscurity into many different types of music, from traditional fiddle tunes to modern rock styles.

Gibson presented the very first "The Earl" to Scruggs in a special ceremony at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase, home of Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments division. The instrument features Earl's autograph and a hand-drawn portrait of Earl by world renowned artist Randall Martin.