What's on the Horizon for Gibson!

By Brett Ratner

Last week, all the innovators working at Gibson USA got a chance to "show off their wares" at a series of meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Being that I'm a working musician myself, I was impressed by the amount of practical, usable gear that's in the works. In other words, my interest is peaked when I see equipment that I would feel good packing into my automobile night after night.I like guitars that can take two sets worth of abuse, the occasional hit or a night or two left in a cold car (while I don't recommend this treatment) without needing constant adjustment. I want versatile tube amplifiers that look cool, sound great and don't cost too much. I saw all this and more.
Undoubtedly, a company to watch is Steinberger. The GSX series guitar strikes an ideal balance between traditional feel and technical innovation. T his is a guitar that you could play an entire gig with and not deprive yourself of any tones. I played a "Standard" which featured incredibly smoot h gearless tuners, a rolling nut, a graphite composite neck bolted to a swamp ash body, Seymour Duncan Pickups with a five-way switch, coil tapping and the way cool "Jam Trem".
Though many companies have tried before, the Jam Trem is the first locking trem that actually works. Guitar designers worldwide will collectively kick themselves in the head when they find that the simple, yet effective design is actually comprised of fewer parts than your standard strat bridge. Use the bar, you've got instant dive-bomb nirvana. Pull the bar back, you might as well be playing on a stop tailpiece. Bend a note and the other five strings simply DO NOT MOVE. Rumor has it that this little gem might find it's way to a few Epiphone models too.
While traditionalists might initially shy away from a graphite composite neck, it's just a matter of putting the guitar in your hands to shake off all inhibitions. In conjunction with the rock-solid Jam Trem and the ultra-resonant swamp ash body, the neck sustains for days. (You could go out for a bite and you'd still be hearing that one!) The reversed headstock design promotes better tone by extending the length between the tuner and t he nut on the bass strings. Precise placement of the tuners insures that the strings follow a perfectly straight path the entire length of the guit ar. And we all know that a graphite neck won't go out of adjustment every time the season changes too. The GSX is also available with a figured maple top and EMG active pickups.
Though not a bassist myself, I could immediately sense the appeal of the Q Series Bass. The model I tried had perfect action. And while it had huge strings on it, the Q was as easy to play as a guitar. Slap a note with my thumb, it yielded a very focused, well rounded "thump". The contoured, Tobias-esque body shape gave easy access to upper frets. It's also interesting to note that I have pretty small hands and could comfortably play th e Q even though it was the five string model. Somehow, Steinberger still managed to provide healthy spacing between strings. The Q offers passive or active dual Bartolini humbucker systems, lined or unlined fretless and a variety of "burst" finishes.
So you dig Tobias basses, but wish they would make something straightforward. Nothin' fancy, but feels and sounds killer. I played a prototype of what is tentatively called the Growler. Featuring a simple neck construction bolted to a one-piece swamp ash body, this rea sonably-priced instrument will probably feature a single humbucker with separate EQ controls and a pan dial for the two separate coils. The bass had a very solid feel to it and sounded HUGE through the 2x10" cabinet they plugged it into. Very clean look, too. Sometimes simple is better.
Image trying to learn guitar on an instrument with very poor intonation, nasty sound and major problems with quality and feel. Maybe you ARE learni ng guitar. Why trust this critical stage of your development as a player to someone else's "entry-level" instrument. Epiphone offers the aspiring musician a REAL GUITAR to plunk out your inaugural attempt at "Stairway To Heaven" on. Featuring the look, sound, pickup configuration and feel of its big brother, the Les Paul; the Epi Special, (available this February,) is an afford able guitar you can be proud of.
Also from Epiphone, you can expect some new top quality archtops coming your way, a doubleneck, a redesigned S-310 (strat style) as well as a book. A BOOK? Yes "Epiphone, The Complete History" is written by our esteemed colleague and resident "guitar guru" Walter Carter. Coming just in time for the holiday season, it's the perfect gift for your favorite EPI-cianado.
What's the similarity between breakfast and rock music? You can enjoy it more if you have an Orange. Arguably the hippest amp line ever, these babies are loud, rude and punchy. The "Reissue" line, (Graphic and Overdrive models) is in full production, ready to rock your world with that authentic "foggy" tone. You can also expect new Orange models th at usher in the modern era of a classic line. Combo amps are on the horizon as are convenient onboard features such as a lush new spring reverb. Get an Orange, and you're sure to get your daily supply of vitamin dB!!!
Maybe you like the color red better... as in Red Bear. People have been recently discovering the joys of firing up those vintage Russian tubes. Red Bear amps reveal every secret kept behind the Iron Curtain all those years. Plenty powerful with overdrive as thick as a heaping helping of borsch, Red Bears are especially adept at delivering a viciou s hard rock sound to your legions of adoring fans. Playing smaller clubs? Combo models are on the way too! Just remember... this Red is not square!!!
"It's a black tie affair". The Gibson Custom Shop represents the Pinnacle of 100 years of fretted instrument making history. You are not just purchasing a guitar, you are acquiring an exclusive and collectable piece of art. Think "upscale". Like owning a fine luxury automobile or shopping in the finest department stores, craftsmanship should be perfect, attention to detail should be fl awless and customer service should meet and exceed all expectations. These are the goals of the Gibson Custom Shop. From the handmade craftsmanship , to the extra steps taken in the finishing process, to the sealed packaging that ensures that you are the first one to enjoy your new instrument once it leaves our shop, it is the extra effort which sets the Custom Shop apart. The Custom Shop's featured instrument line is the Historic Collection. Boasting faithful reproductions of such classics as the legendary 1939 Super 400 to the 1954 Les Paul Black Beauty, even to the 1958 Korina Flying V, this is your chance to own a piece of history. The Gibson Custom Shop... some things are worth the price.
It's a Dawn of a new era. Stop and think for a second. Do you really enjoy lugging around huge P.A. speakers? Do you think the audience really cares if there are colossal sound towers flanking the stage as long as it sounds good? Dawn Pro Audio systems are compact, portable, rugged and practically invisible. Comprised of a powered mixer driving a subwoofer and two satellite speakers, the basic system is ideal for small acoustic acts, vocal groups and rehearsal. It's this writer's opinion that "daisy chaining" two or more speaker systems together would provide enough muscle to power a rock band on stage. The wide dispersion also makes them cool for monitors or sidefills and a few bass players we've known have incorporated them into their rigs. Dawn... takes lame sound right out of your way!
If you demand UNPARALLELED BEAUTY in your electric instrument, then check out this new Gibson. The fall '95 limited edition run of Les Paul Classic Premium Plus guitars feature a choice of five HAND RUBBED translucent finishes. They also feature gold hardware and 490R & 498T pickups. Orders for these beauties will only be accepted through NOVEMBER 1st, so you better hurry. For more information, contact your authorized Gibson Electric dealer or call 1-800-4GIBSON.

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