Look back at the top 10 Gibson Gazette stories you loved most in 2025 as we prepare to unplug and unwind for the end of the year
What an incredible year 2025 has been in the world of guitar. From Back To The Beginning, the monumental celebration of metal that hosted the final gig from Black Sabbath, to the Oasis Live ‘25 reunion tour, during which a particularly special Gibson Les Paul™ got its first play on stage, and the launch of our global mission to track down the original ES-345™ from Back to the Future.
Gibson is proud to have been a part of so many fantastic musical events across the year that will go on to become historic. At the Gibson Gazette, we’ve been sharing all the most exciting news and gear releases with you throughout the year, in addition to our handy guides and features. As we approach the end of 2025, we’ve rounded up the 10 most popular articles that you loved over the last 12 months and present them here in reverse order. Join us and raise a glass to a remarkable year for music and guitar fans.
10: The Gibson Les Paul Custom 70s is a celebration of 50 years in Music City
2025 marked the 50 year milestone of Gibson handcrafting guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. Although the Gibson story began way before then—over 130 years before, in fact—it was in 1975 when it found its home in Music City, and some of the first guitars to come out of its new base were Les Paul Customs. So, what better way to celebrate than to reintroduce the famed Les Paul Custom 70s model to the Gibson core lineup? Take a look back at the launch, showcasing classic finishes and 1970s specifications.
9: Gibson launches global search for missing Back to the Future ES-345 electric guitar, announces accompanying documentary
There is arguably no guitar more important in cinema than the Gibson ES-345, given its significant role in the classic movie, Back to the Future. In 2025, for the film’s 40th anniversary, Gibson launched a worldwide mission to find the legendary Cherry Red ES-345 played by Michael J. Fox in the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance scene. The scene inspired multiple generations of aspiring players to pick up a guitar, but when filmmakers began working on the Back to the Future sequel, the original ES-345 had vanished. Though still yet to be found, Gibson has been following a number of hopeful leads generated by the campaign.
8: Gibson Les Paul vs Gibson SG: What’s the difference?
The Les Paul and SG™ are two of the most popular and well-loved Gibson guitar models, and in this Gazette guide, Lee Glynn walks you through the key differences between the two models to help you choose which is best suited to your needs. Both the Les Paul Standard and SG Standard have decades of history behind them, and have been played by music’s biggest players on their most significant tours and seminal albums. The key differences between the two are body weight, body design, and upper fret access; this article will guide you through how these differences affect tone and playing style, and what genres they suit best.
7: Gibson at NAMM 2025: Live Blog
In January 2025, we took you to The NAMM Show with us. A range of new products from the Gibson family were showcased, including hot new launches from Gibson Custom, Epiphone, Kramer, MESA/Boogie®, and KRK. We shared all the biggest and best updates from the event—take a look back at all the highlights and get ready to do it all again in 2026!
6: Epiphone expands the Inspired by Gibson Collection with showstopping new finishes
Also back in January, Epiphone launched even more Inspired By Gibson models, paying homage to the Gibson Les Paul and SG. This launch introduced more colorways to the range, with each guitar offering a blend of vintage character, modern comfort, and premium appointments. A standout from this launch has to be the sleek Silver Mist SG, though that Classic White Les Paul Standard 50s model oozes rock ‘n’ roll aura. Check out the original article to find out more and see the full range.
5: Types of Gibson Les Paul: Everything you need to know
The most iconic and desirable solidbody electric guitar of all time, the Gibson Les Paul has been available in countless variations across the decades. In this popular guide, you can learn all about the different kinds of Les Pauls, right from the first version introduced back in 1952 up to the modern day. If you’re planning on treating yourself to a Les Paul as a holiday present but want to find out more about its evolution, then this is the article for you. You can also read this love letter to the Gibson Les Paul, written by Gazette Editor-In-Chief Chris Vinnicombe, which summarises why this guitar is so special.
4: Gibson celebrates 40th anniversary of Back to the Future with new ES-345 models
To continue the celebration of 40 years of Back to the Future, Gibson launched two ES-345 models landing just in time for October 21st—officially recognized as Back to the Future Day. The Back to the Future Collection featured an ES-345 model from Gibson Custom and one from Epiphone, both of which pay tribute to key aspects of the movie. These are the now-sold-out Gibson Custom Back to the Future 1955 ES-345 Collector’s Edition, which was limited to just 88 models worldwide (a reference to the speed needed for time travel in the film), and the Epiphone Back to the Future ES-345, limited to 1,985 guitars globally (a nod to the year 1985, when Back to the Future was released).
3: What’s the story behind Noel Gallagher’s Live 25 Les Paul?
Into the top three stories of the year on the Gibson Gazette, with the biggest rock reunion of the year—arguably of all time. When the Oasis Live ‘25 tour kicked off in Cardiff, the internet went into a frenzy over a mysterious P-90 Les Paul that Noel Gallagher used on stage. Of course we weren’t going to leave you in the dark about the instrument, so we gave you the exclusive on the black Gibson Les Paul Standard seen and heard at the Manchester legends’ highly anticipated and universally acclaimed reunion shows. The model was later released by Gibson Custom in a limited run of just 25 signed guitars, and was then introduced to the Gibson USA lineup to make it more widely available to fans.
2: Gibson artists reveal their 2025 Holiday Wishlists
It may have only been published in late November, but the second-most-viewed Gibson Gazette article of 2025 is this hugely popular rundown of the holiday wishlists of 11 Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer artists. Looking for some late holiday shopping inspiration? Want to know why Sadler Vaden craves a Heavy Aged Les Paul? Or why Marty Schwartz wants a MESA/Boogie trucker hat? Click here to find out.
1: Gibson unveils the Les Paul Standard Double Trouble
We have a winner. Our most-read story of 2025 was the unveiling of the Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Trouble. Back in August, we shared the news that Gibson had launched the Les Paul Standard 50s and 60s Double Trouble models, with both iterations bringing uncovered Burstbucker pickups with Double Classic White bobbins to the table alongside full-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, replicating several years of subtle fading. Production was limited to just 500 instruments for each colorway, with both available in Vintage Cherry Sunburst and Vintage Tobacco Sunburst. New Vintage Honey Burst and Vintage Bourbon Burst finishes were later made available and they certainly struck a chord. One of the coolest Les Pauls of recent times? No doubt.
Discover more content all year round from the Gibson Gazette. See you in 2026, happy holidays, and may your gifts be guitar-shaped!
