   
 
|
Thursday July 19th, 2001
Happy 'fantasy campers' invade Gibson Custom Shop
More than 150 "campers" went to work yesterday--the start of the second annual Gibson Custom Direct Fantasy Camp. The campers worked a full day in the Gibson Custom Shop, side-by-side with Gibson's luthiers learning to route, carve, sand, neck fit and finish a guitar.
Each member was given a guitar "pre-form" and worked at each station in the factory. The entire guitar manufacturing process was covered extensively, everything from wood selection to applying a sunburst finish by hand. The campers were able to experience and learn first-hand how the world's finest guitars are manufactured.
"Anyone who has ever toured the Custom Shop has seen exactly what a painstaking process it is to hand build a guitar. The Fantasy Camp allowed our Custom Direct members a complete hands-on experience into this process, plus the opportunity to socialize with the luthiers who build their instruments," explained Custom Shop General Manager Rick Gembar.
Last night the Custom Shop hosted a Fantasy Camp members banquet at one of Nashville's finest restaurants where campers received awards for their day's work. Rock guitar hero Dickey Betts and master guitarist Andy Summers (The Police) mingled with the campers who include collectors and guitar enthusiasts form across the country.
Today the campers will tour Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments manufacturing facility at Opry Mills and the Gibson USA plant. Tonight a banquet will be held at the Custom Shop and will include exclusive performances by special guests and recording artists.
The Gibson Custom Shop created an industry first in 1999 -- an exclusive member's only Custom Direct club that offers members the opportunity to view and purchase rare and one-of-a-kind instruments directly from the Custom Shop. The Custom Shop's artists and craftsmen continually create one-of-a-kind instruments that, until now, were only available to a small circle of informed collectors. With the introduction of Custom Direct, Gibson opens its vaults to a limited number of guitarists and collectors . Go here to view a gallery of sold guitars. "This program essentially gives a limited number of guitar collectors a 'VIP access pass to our most sought-after, limited edition guitars," says Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. This will include direct access to the Custom Shop, a personal support contact within the Custom Shop, invitations to global Gibson events, factory tours, and hand selection of instruments from a gallery of instruments offered to members only.
For more information email Custom Direct here or call 1-877-348-4827. To apply for membership, go here.
Now see the happy campers work, play and fantasize.
Campers try their hand at sanding Observing the binding process The inlay on the fingerboard Spraying the burst takes a steady hand Filing the frets Wanda Johnson shows them how to scrape Bruce Kunkel shows off the 20th Century Tribute Guitar
Dinner with Dickey Betts and Andy Summers Dickey Betts signing autographs for fans Rick Gembar - GM of the Gibson Custom Shop
OAI and Gibson USA Tours Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments The rough mill at Gibson USA Rick unmasks the fingerboard Campers point out their favorites in final assembly
| Archives: 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 |
