http://www.gibson.com/en-us/LifestyleThe latest from Gibson LifestyleSat, 21 Nov 2009 04:27:42 GMThttp://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/les-paul-tribute-concert-1120Even though last night’s sold-out Les Paul Tribute concert was held at Nashville’s hallowed Ryman Auditorium, it invoked a far more intimate setting, one which the late Les Paul was very familiar with — New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, where Paul played every week right up until his death this past August. ]]>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:35:42 GMTFeatures154430http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/les-paul-tribute-guitar-1120The passing of the incomparable Les Paul in August 2009 broke the hearts of guitar enthusiasts around the world. What can never be broken, though, is the legacy of innovation and creativity that he built during 94 years of constant musicianship. Though the original guitar he designed in 1952 has informed every Gibson guitar since, our engineers were inspired anew to handcraft a guitar just the way Les demanded it nearly 60 years ago.]]>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:09:14 GMTFeatures154431http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/songs-about-guitars-1118Considering that it’s the foundation instrument upon which rock and roll was built, it’s hardly surprising that guitars have often been the lyrical focus of great songwriting. Ever since Chuck Berry sang of carrying his guitar in a gunny sack, rockers have been paying homage to the instrument.]]>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:15:40 GMTFeatures154427http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/robillard-1118Most people know Les Paul as the six-string innovator whose designs fueled the classic Gibson instrument that bears his name. But the half-century that’s elapsed since the heyday of his recording career has washed his accomplishments as a studio genius — multitracking, tape speed manipulation, phasing, otherworldly reverb effects, and more — largely into the past.]]>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:40:32 GMTFeatures154425http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/bukka-white-1117One of B.B. King’s earliest blues idols and influences was his cousin Booker, better know as the Memphis blues singer/guitarist Bukka White. Booker, who was born on November 12, 1909 and began recording in 1930, showed young Riley, as King was known before he became the “Beale Street Blues Boy,” that there were possibilities beyond the Delta. And that notion burned in King like a five-alarm fire.]]>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:30:04 GMTFeatures154423http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/under-the-radar-1117From Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown to U2’s No Line On The Horizon, 2009 has definitely been a year of monster releases. However there have also been a ton of innovative artists on independent labels who have churned out albums without million-dollar marketing campaigns behind them. Here we highlight our nine favorite independent albums of 2009, which may not necessarily have much in common musically but are all worth a listen. ]]>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:47:08 GMTFeatures154420http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/gibson-dusk-tigerYou have a rare wealth of creative potential lurking deep within, but until now no guitar has had the power to fully tap into it. Enter the Dusk Tiger ...]]>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:21:48 GMTFeatures154406http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/gibson-angus-young-sg-11-12Gibson Introduces the all new Angus Young SG Standard from Gibson Custom and the Angus Young SG from Gibson USA. ]]>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:43:03 GMTFeatures154413http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/roy-orbison-1111There’s no doubt that the influence of the late Roy Orbison can be heard in musicians wide and far, in country and rock genres, in young and old. However, Orbison’s signature style — his unearthly tenor and stoic stage presence — can’t be easily reproduced. Orbison biographer Peter Lehman has remarked, “Most of the singers who profess to have been influenced by Orbison sound nothing like him, write songs nothing like his, look and/or dress nothing like him, and perform nothing like he did.” That may be true, but that didn’t stop them from trying. Here are a select few who’ve very obviously been inspired by Orbison; tack on a few million more musicians and you’ll get a better idea of Orbison’s global impact. ]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:28:04 GMTFeatures154412http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/aerosmith-1111Is Aerosmith breaking up? Maybe! But that doesn’t mean we’ll be forgetting about the bare-chested Boston stadium rockers anytime soon. Here are five albums that we recommend keeping on heavy rotation until this national nightmare is over. (And while we’re at it: Steve, call Joe already!)]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:05:06 GMTFeatures154411http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/consumers-beware-1111Where can you get an authentic Gibson Les Paul Supreme for $297? Or an ES-335 Dot Reissue for $346?]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:43:18 GMTFeatures154410http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/harvests-times-1106Since the arrival of the Beach Boys summer music gets all the heat, but every season has its own soundtrack. Here’s a list of 10 great songs about the most colorful time of the year, Fall.]]>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:26:46 GMTFeatures154384http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/ike-turner-1106When Ike Turner died on December 12, 2007, most of the headlines focused on his troubled relationship with Tina and missed the truly important part of his legacy — the crucial role he played in the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.]]>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:10:05 GMTFeatures154388http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/tone-tips-1003A basic, unassuming accessory that used to be part of every “beginners’” guitar kit, the capo is an underappreciated, but extremely useful, piece of equipment that can come to the rescue of experienced players and newbees alike. Just in case this is new territory for you, let’s first cover the basics of what a capo is (capo pros, please be patient!), then we’ll explore a few tips and tricks.]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:13:11 GMTFeatures154343http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/tone-tips-1029Amid this series of tidbits on tone, I want to insert an article that is really more of an advice piece for inexperienced buyers who might be tempted into the vintage market. Plenty of instruments are turning up in all the usual used-guitar haunts, online and elsewhere, tagged as being “player’s guitars”, or “player’s vintage” — vintage guitars that, if in original and/or good condition, would be of great interest to collectors, but since they’re not, theoretically offer good value to players, and the opportunity to acquire an instrument from the golden age that can be gigged and not just stored in a glass case. If ever a category of used guitars deserved a fat, red caveat emptor tag, this is it. Let’s take a brief look at what “vintage” itself means, then we’ll differentiate “player’s vintage”, in theory and in reality.]]>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:55:58 GMTFeatures154324http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/ghost-songs-1030Last year, to commemorate Halloween, we featured ten "monster" songs to spook up the holiday. This year we turn our attention to songs that feature ghosts - some which are malevolent, others that are of the friendly variety.]]>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:01:10 GMTFeatures154332http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/video/Curtis-Peoples-All-I-Want-102Feature single "All I Want" music video from Curtis Peoples.]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:03:15 GMT154327http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/october-member-of-the-month My name is Matthew and I was born in London, England in 1975, and grew up in the suburbs. Music did not run in my family, so it didn’t naturally occur to me for quite some time to consider becoming a musician.]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:20:33 GMTFeatures154323http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/classic-amps-1029Any kid who perused the pages of Guitar Player magazine in the late 1970s as intently as I did would have noticed the enticing ads featuring Carlos Santana dressed in a dapper all-white outfit playing a Gibson Les Paul, standing behind a small, blonde amp that looked like something your granddad might have played jazz through in the rec room at the old folks home. The implicit juxtaposition of Santana’s wailing tone and that rather kitsch looking little box was more than enough to draw me in—right alongside plenty of others—and prod me into further exploring this enigmatically named “Boogie” amplifier. ]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:33:31 GMTFeatures154322http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/bob-seger-1021When the name Bob Seger comes to mind most of us probably think about the fact that he’s sold 50 million albums or been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but when you compare the songwriter to most of his multi-platinum counterparts you’ll realize that Seeger has kept his personal and professional life relatively private—until now, that is. That’s right, the new book Travelin’ Man: On The Road And Behind The Scenes With Bob Seeger is a collection of images that was assembled by Seeger’s longtime tour manager/photographer Tom Weschler. In addition to featuring an in-depth narrative and interviews the book also features a foreword courtesy of John Mellencamp and afterward penned by Kid Rock, two artists who have continually touted Seeger’s influence on modern rock music.]]>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:03:43 GMTFeatures154280