Friday July 18th, 2003

Gibson harkens back to birth of delta blues with Robert Johnson L-1

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Gibson Montana, the acoustic division of Gibson Guitar, introduces the Robert Johnson L-1 model based on the specifications of his legendary guitar. Johnson died tragically in 1938 at the age of 27, but not before he contributed a number of standards to the blues genre including "Terraplane Blues," "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Love in Vain." The Gibson Montana Robert Johnson L-1 captures the haunting, timeless sound of the man whose genius has inspired generations of blues artists.

"The name Robert Johnson conjures up dark, smoky nights in a juke joint and the sound of a music that is uniquely American," says Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson chairman and CEO. "The new Robert Johnson L-1 guitar captures the legend of the man whose legacy and contributions to the blues are unmatched."

The Robert Johnson L- 1 features the historic shallow L-1 body design, 25-inch scale (the first 25-inch scale guitar that Gibson Montana has ever produced), authentic ebony bridge with carved pyramid wings, and 3 3/4-inch soundhole diameter. Unique appointments include period hardware and headstock inlay (logo script - The Gibson) and mother-of-pearl Robert Johnson signature inlay at the end of the fingerboard. The body, like the original Gibson L-1, has mahogany back and sides with a spruce top, which produces an exceptionally rich, warm tone.