“A tribute to the spirit of creativity that defines this city”: Gibson marks 50 years in Nashville with the Les Paul Music City Special
Nashville has been the home of the Gibson guitar for half a century. To celebrate 50 years of its Tennessee guitars, the guitar giant is marking the occasion with the new 50th Anniversary Les Paul Music City Special.
The limited-edition Les Paul Music City Special serves as a sign of how far the company has come over the past five decades. Not only does it honour the company’s time at Music City, it’s also a meeting point of nostalgia and innovation, with a design inspired by Gibson’s 1970s Marauder.
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That’s right – despite being classed as a Les Paul, anyone with eyes can spot that its a revival of the Marauder, a guitar beloved by Tool’s Adam Jones and Kiss’’ Paul Stanley.
While the dual humbucker set-up is certainly more in-line with the Les Paul, but there’s no denying its a re-vamped Marauder. The pair boast similar bodies, but the Marauder’s panel covers more of the body and has a Flying V-style headstock – the same markings of the Les Paul Music City Special. You could also argue it bares similarities to the S1.
Credit: Gibson
Available in Tobacco Burst, Wine Red and a classy black Ebony, the Les Paul Music City Special is made up of a poplar body, maple neck with a SlimTaper profile, and a striped ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets. There’s also chrome hardware, Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, and a nod to the past with its 70s Tribute humbucker pickups.
Credit: Gibson
“Marking 50 years of Gibson in Nashville, the limited-edition Music City Special model is a tribute to the spirit of creativity and individuality that defines this city,” Mat Koehler, Vice President of Product at Gibson, explains. “It draws on everything we’ve learned since opening our Gibson USA Craftory and channels it into something new and inspiring to play.”
Credit: Gibson
“We’re very proud to introduce the Music City Special,” Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola chimes in. “It pays homage to the Gibson Marauder of the ’70s as well as the city it is named after. It has been reimagined as a straightforward, yet versatile and functional instrument relevant for today’s working musician.”
Empire Music’s Justin Gentile has already had a hands-on experience with the guitar. A video run-down shows the guitar in action, and it showcases some bright and pleasingly snappy playing.
The Les Paul Music City Special is available now for £1,599, with a limited run of 650 models.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
