Gibson reveals new Olive Drab and Ebony guitar models

Gibson
(Image credit: Gibson)

Clean pastel shades are all well and good but we love Gibsons in Olive Drab and Ebony, so imagine our delight at the news the company have a whole collection in both finishes featuring its most popular electric guitar models.

The Exclusives Collection is available only via Gibson.com and there's no price premium on these new finishes with four Les Paul models, the SG Standard ‘61, P-90-loaded ES-335 and ‘70s Flying V getting the treatment.

The downside is each model has one nitro colour option – not a choice between Olive Drab and Ebony. Read on to find out which model gets which finish - bagsy that Les Paul Special! 

Les Paul Standard 50s ($2,499)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

The key differences between 50s and 60s Les Pauls is neck profile pickups and tuners so it adds up to a lot. But they share the Ebony finish here..

The '50s features BurstBucker pickups along with a clubbier neck and vintage-style Keystone tuners.

Les Paul Standard 60s ($2,499)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

The LesPaul Standard ‘60s features a SlimTaper profile, 61R and 61T humbuckers, plus Grover tuners.

Les Paul Special ($1,599)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

The Les Paul Special is the dark workhorse of the stable – or should we say Olive Drab stead. You just can't beat a pair of P-90s in a mahogany slab body. It's coupled with a fat ‘50s mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and a wraparound bridge for superb sustain and expressive bends. 

Les Paul Classic ($1,999)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

The Olive Drab Les Paul Classic pairs a mahogany back and maple top with SlimTaper profile mahogany neck and a bound rosewood fretboard. 

Pickups are BurstBucker 61R and 61T zebra open-coils. 

ES-335 Pro ($2,999)

Gibson Ebony ES-335

Gibson Exclusives Collection ES-335 in Ebony (Image credit: Gibson)

The priciest model also weighs in with a pair of P-90s to put a different spin on the 335 formula. Elsewhere it's classic territory for the iconic semi-hollow; three-ply maple/poplar/maple body with maple centre block, a rounded C-profile mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. 

70s Flying V ($1,999)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

Another Ebony finish for the rockers' choice Flying V. Its '70s Tribute Humbucker nails the classic rock colours to its black mast, while a SlimTaper neck and Grover tuners should help provide a playing experience as good as its looks. 

SG Standard '61 ($1,799)

Gibson

(Image credit: Gibson)

The '61 SG features a SlimTaper neck profile too, alongside Vintage Deluxe tuners and Gibson 61R and 61T BursBuckers. 

Check out the Exclusives Collection over at Gibson.com

Rob Laing
Guitars Editor, MusicRadar

I'm the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar, handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar I worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including Editor of Total Guitar in the UK. When I'm not rejigging pedalboards I'm usually thinking about rejigging pedalboards.