Tuesday July 15th, 2003

Signature guitars, US-made Slingerland drums and Tobias basses, plus a sunburst piano highlight Gibson/Baldwin NAMM offering

Gibson Guitar's new instruments for summer NAMM illustrate the depth of Gibson's influence on popular culture, with signature guitars representing some of the world's greatest musicians, plus the return to U.S. production of the prestigious Slingerland drums and Tobias basses, and even the first Gibson piano, made by Gibson's Baldwin piano division.

Signature and special guitars honor Joe Perry (of Aerosmith), the late Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd), slide stylist Lee Roy Parnell and Chevy's new SSR vehicle from Gibson Custom, bluesman Robert Johnson from Gibson Acoustics, mandolinist Doyle Lawson and Dobroist Phil Ledbetter from Gibson's bluegrass division, Nashville studio ace Brent Mason from Valley Arts, plus Bob Marley, Lynyrd Skynyrd's 30th Anniversary and the Airstream trailer from Epiphone.

The Gibson family of musical instruments has a wide array of instruments and activities slated for summer NAMM, the musical instrument trade show in Nashville, July 18-20:

Gibson Custom, Art & Historic division is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2003 with four special models (one each quarter in limited edition of 30), featuring Diamond White Sparkle finish and highly engraved gold hardware. The CS-356, a highly ornamented version of its unique, routed semi-hollowbody design, is the Q3 model, joining the L-4 Thinline (Q1) and '68 Les Paul (Q2). Custom pays tribute to four influential guitarists with the Lee Roy Parnell CS-336, Joe Perry Signature Les Paul, the Allen Collins Explorer, and the Johnny A. Signature. Stars of the highway also receive the Custom Shop treatment, with a Les Paul 50th Anniversary Corvette, a HUMMER H2 and a one-of-a-kind instrument to introduce the new Chevy SSR. The SSR guitar will be shown on the NAMM floor, along with other Gibson and Baldwin product at the Chevy Rock 'n' Roll Tour display. Custom honors the legendary Les Paul with a new Diamond/Flames Les Paul guitar, featuring relief carving on the top and special 3-D and hand-painted finishes. Additionally, Custom has also re-created Les Paul's famous 1941 homemade solidbody electric guitar, nicknamed The Log, to honor Paul's performance in Nashville at the All-Star Guitar Night, presented by Gibson. All of Custom's new models will be previewed at a VIP press and artist party the night before NAMM opens.

Baldwin Piano debuts the Gibson Studio upright piano, a 45-inch vertical sporting a flame maple upper frame with Gibson's famous cherry sunburst finish and other guitar-inspired appointments. In addition, Baldwin introduces the D.H. Baldwin line of verticals and a 5-foot-2-inch grand, which combine a new level of U.S.-made affordability with attractive, eco-friendly Lyptus wood finishes. New Manhattan/EMI recording artist Keri Noble will play music from her new album on a D.H. Baldwin model at the Gibson/Baldwin booth.

Epiphone introduces the Lynyrd Skynyrd Limited Edition Les Paul, which has previously been available only through a promotion for the band's 30th anniversary tour, and the Bob Marley Les Paul Special. With the help of the Trailer Park Troubadours, who will perform at an Epi party at Nashville's Havana Lounge, Epi will introduce the Airscreamer, a guitar with the body design of classic silver-bullet Airstream trailer. Epi will also show a prototype for a Digital AlleyKat, which will use the revolutionary digital technology developed by Gibson Labs.

Gibson Montana, Gibson's acoustic division in Bozeman, Mont., commemorates the music of 1930s blues legend Robert Johnson with a signature L-1, modeled after the small-bodied Gibson used by Johnson, plus a highly ornamented, limited-edition version of the historic model. The first Montana-produced Chet Atkins CE/CEC solidbody classical models will also be on display.

Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments bluegrass division will introduced a signature mandolin from bluegrass/gospel great Doyle Lawson and a Dobro from former J.D. Crowe bandmember Phil Leadbetter. OAI will also debut an upgraded version of its popular new Hound Dog model, featuring "screen" soundholes and body binding.

Valley Arts, the newest division of Gibson, has replicated the customized guitar of Brent Mason, Nashville's top studio guitarist, and Mason will demonstrate the his new Valley Arts guitar at the Gibson booth. Valley Arts also will reintroduce three of the models that made the original Valley Arts guitars the instruments of choice for professional musicians - the T-Series solidbody electric guitar, T-Series Bent Top Hollow electric and a four-string Valley Arts Custom Pro Bass.

Slingerland Drums, the legendary brand played by Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, will show the first of a new line of U.S.-made Slingerlands, to be produced in Conway, Ark.

Tobias Basses, which set the standard for professional quality basses, return to U.S. production with new electronics designed by pickup guru Bill Bartolini. Tobias will show the first of the U.S.-made Tobias basses, produced in Conway, Ark.