Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Guitar Amps
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Lemmy vs Dylan
  • Are 'Friends' Electric?
  • Flava D - DnB is hard
  • Prince's drummers
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special – 50th Anniversary is a limited edition hybrid that combines the old Marauder and Music City Junior, and offers them in wine, tobacco sunburst and ebony finishes.
Guitars Gibson celebrates 50 years in Nashville with limited run twist on a cult electric played by KISS
The new Gibson Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustics released on 9 September 2025, all lined up in a wood-panneled show room with round windows and a rural landscape outside.
Guitars Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics – including a Nick Lucas 1929 reissue
“The most talked-about guitar of the summer is coming to the Gibson Garage London”: P-90s, Light Aging from the Murphy Lab, handwritten Oasis lyrics… The Gibson Custom Noel Gallagher Les Paul Standard has been unveiled and is here photographed in the Gibson Garage, with a variety of close-ups to show every detail.
Artists Gibson unveils Custom Noel Gallagher Les Paul: hand-signed, limited run – the ultimate Oasis guitar?
Noel Gallagher performs at an Oasis reunion show in Cardiff with his custom-built 1960 Les Paul Standard with P-90 pickups.
Artists Gibson teases release of the P-90 Les Paul Noel Gallagher has been playing at Oasis reunion shows
A black-and-white image of Jimmy Page using a violin bow on his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
Guitars Bare Knuckle supremo Tim Mills reveals the tone secrets of Jimmy Page’s ‘Number One’ Les Paul
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Monarch #100: this stunning one-of-one jumbo is replete with all kinds of rococo flourishes, from the diamond and gold crown inlay on the headstock, to the 14k gold rope binding, Gibson calls it the "ultimate custom" acoustic and not without some justification.
Guitars Gibson gives the “King of the Flat-Tops” a whole new meaning with the $99,999 SJ-200 Monarch #100
Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac: the new semi-hollow signature model is a stunning singlecut with a quilted maple build in a natural finish.
Electric Guitars “Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Hummingbird photographed in all its glory, in close-up and against a wheat-coloured rug.
Acoustic Guitars “One of the handsomest guitars around, it plays great, and punches well above its weight in the tone stakes”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Hummingbird Deluxe EC review
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker: the all-new humbucker, a reissue of its first-ever signature pickup.
Artists Gibson goes back to the beginning with reissue of its first-ever signature pickup for Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025: two men play a board game whole two others jam on Dove and J-45 acoustic guitars
Guitars Epiphone resurrects a 1963 Dove and five classic acoustics with help from the Gibson Custom Shop
Loog Guitars x Gibson: these child-friendly 3-strings reimagine the Les Paul and SG for young beginners.
Guitars Gibson teams up with Loog for child-friendly 3-string versions of its most famous electric guitars
Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) takes to the air with the Gibson ES-345 that has been missing since Back To The Future wrapped in 1985. On the right, a teaser of a forthcoming Gibson replica of the guitar.
Guitars Cesar Gueikian teases Gibson Custom Shop replica of Marty McFly’s “1955” Back To The Future ES-345
Dickey Betts [left] and Warren Haynes trade licks onstage with the Allman Brothers Band at the 1993 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Haynes's Strat would soon be stolen in New York.
Artists How Warren Haynes turned to Les Pauls after his favourite Strat was stolen
Epiphone Jeff Beck Oxblood 1954 Les Paul
Artists Epiphone unveils Inspired By Gibson Custom version of Jeff Beck’s iconic 1954 Oxblood Les Paul
Gretsch Electromatic CVT: The bolt-on double-cut assumes a familiar form to the Jack Antonoff signature model, and features dual humbuckers, a wraparound tailpiece, and some neat vintage finishes.
Guitars Like the Jack Antonoff signature Gretsch? Then you are going to love the CVT Electromatic
  1. Guitars

NAMM 2012: Gibson Guitar highlights in pictures

News
By Stuart Williams, Chris Vinnicombe ( Total Guitar ) published 1 February 2012

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Gibson Custom Shop Paul Kossoff 1959 Les Paul Prototype

Gibson Custom Shop Paul Kossoff 1959 Les Paul Prototype

NAMM 2012: Gibson Guitar is definitely one of the biggest - and arguably one of the most eccentric - guitar manufacturers on the planet, but despite the company's amazing heritage, it's fair to say that the Nashville-based brand had a challenging 2011.

Happily, 2012 looks brighter as Winter NAMM in Anaheim saw the launch of a raft of new models. What follows is a selection of some of our favourites.

First up, the Gibson Custom Shop Paul Kossoff 1959 Les Paul Prototype. Free guitarist Paul Kossoff was synonymous with his '59 Burst and the Gibson Custom Shop has recreated every detail and battle scar of his main squeeze for a run of just 100 aged replicas alongside 250 VOS models.

Visit the Gibson Custom Shop for more, including a video of modern day blues-rock star Joe Bonamassa introducing the Kossoff guitar.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Gibson SG Diablo Tremolo

Gibson SG Diablo Tremolo

Suitably attired in ebony, Gibson describes the SG Diablo Tremolo as "faster, further and more furious in every way." Read more about the SG Diablo Tremolo here.

Fans should also check out the Gibson Shred Les Paul Studio.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Gibson Moderne

Gibson Moderne

Although it was designed alongside the Flying V and Explorer in 1957, Gibson's Moderne was the unlucky poor relation of the trio, never enjoying mainstream success and only being put into production in 1982.

The Moderne's 30th birthday of sorts is celebrated with a new production model from Gibson USA, featuring a mahogany body and neck, '57 Classic pickups and a granadillo fingerboard. Yep, that's a new one on us, too.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Gibson Les Paul Junior Special with B-Bender

Gibson Les Paul Junior Special with B-Bender

Here's one that made us rub our eyes and take a second look. No, we weren't hallucinating due to a particularly heavy dose of show fatigue, Gibson really has launched a Les Paul aimed squarely at country twangers, y'all.

It's a Les Paul, but with an ash body and that modified B-Bender onboard, it sure owes a lot to Nashville and Fullerton.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Gibson Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Flying V Aged

Gibson Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Flying V Aged

Despite having three new ESP signature models launched at the show, Metallica's Kirk Hammett was also represented in the Gibson booth by a limited edition, aged recreation of the black 1979 Flying V that featured on numerous Metallica recordings in the 1980s.

Expect UK street prices just under £4000 for the aged model.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Gibson SG 61 Satin

Gibson SG 61 Satin

Often regarded as the workingman's steed when compared to the show pony Les Paul Standard, the SG is in many ways the perfect instrument for a stripped-down satin finish.

Specifications indicate that this comes with a bona fide rosewood fingerboard, albeit one that is North American in origin.

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Gibson Les Paul Junior Special Humbuckers

Gibson Les Paul Junior Special Humbuckers

Seen here in ever-sexy TV Yellow, this new-for-NAMM electric is one of the cheapest ways to get your hands on a 'proper' twin-humbucker Les Paul that says Gibson on the headstock.

You might have expected a worn satin finish, but gloss is also an option in ebony, yellow, heritage cherry andtobaccosunburst. Expect UK street prices to be less than £700.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Mahogany Top

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Mahogany Top

We really like this. With features such as '57 Classic humbuckers and a rounded '50s neck profile combined with a choice of satin ebony, worn brown and cherry satin finishes, this is a Les Paul for the road.

Visit Gibson for more information on the company's new-for-2012 models.

Check out the Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Chris Vinnicombe

Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special – 50th Anniversary is a limited edition hybrid that combines the old Marauder and Music City Junior, and offers them in wine, tobacco sunburst and ebony finishes.
Gibson celebrates 50 years in Nashville with limited run twist on a cult electric played by KISS
 
 
The new Gibson Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustics released on 9 September 2025, all lined up in a wood-panneled show room with round windows and a rural landscape outside.
Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics – including a Nick Lucas 1929 reissue
 
 
“The most talked-about guitar of the summer is coming to the Gibson Garage London”: P-90s, Light Aging from the Murphy Lab, handwritten Oasis lyrics… The Gibson Custom Noel Gallagher Les Paul Standard has been unveiled and is here photographed in the Gibson Garage, with a variety of close-ups to show every detail.
Gibson unveils Custom Noel Gallagher Les Paul: hand-signed, limited run – the ultimate Oasis guitar?
 
 
Noel Gallagher performs at an Oasis reunion show in Cardiff with his custom-built 1960 Les Paul Standard with P-90 pickups.
Gibson teases release of the P-90 Les Paul Noel Gallagher has been playing at Oasis reunion shows
 
 
A black-and-white image of Jimmy Page using a violin bow on his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
Bare Knuckle supremo Tim Mills reveals the tone secrets of Jimmy Page’s ‘Number One’ Les Paul
 
 
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Monarch #100: this stunning one-of-one jumbo is replete with all kinds of rococo flourishes, from the diamond and gold crown inlay on the headstock, to the 14k gold rope binding, Gibson calls it the "ultimate custom" acoustic and not without some justification.
Gibson gives the “King of the Flat-Tops” a whole new meaning with the $99,999 SJ-200 Monarch #100
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Joe Bonamassa wears a blue suit and plays his P-90 loaded Epiphone signature Les Paul [left] and BB King cups his hand to his ear to ask for some more from his audience at a 1991 show in Chicago.
Joe Bonamassa announces all-star album celebrating life of BB King on the King of the Blues’ 100th birthday
 
 
Loog Guitars x Gibson: these child-friendly 3-strings reimagine the Les Paul and SG for young beginners.
Gibson teams up with Loog for child-friendly 3-string versions of its most famous electric guitars
 
 
Fender Vintera II Road Worn 60s Telecaster
Fender’s Vintera II Road Worn series has Golden Era vibe, tone and feel with era-correct pickups and aged nitro finishes
 
 
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker
"It's unlike any humbucker I've tried before": Gibson Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker review
 
 
SCM All Stars logo
“I’m so grateful that our music can be a vehicle for their spirits to fly”: Students at Flea’s music school pay tribute to Chili Peppers
 
 
Mk.pre
Audio Hertz's Mk.pre emulates the Tascam Portastudio preamp that colours Mk.gee's sought-after guitar tone
 
 
Latest in News
Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval
Teenage Engineering is giving away a free EP-1320 Medieval sampler to anyone that spends $999 in its online store
 
 
Fred Again in Naples
Fred Again and again: Producer plays an extra set on a fan's rooftop after a Naples festival appearance
 
 
Prince at a press conference where he officially changed his name from the Artist back to Prince. 5/16/00 Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect
Back in 1999, Prince offered his opinion on the new generation of DAW-based musicians and producers
 
 
Nile Rodgers
“As soon as we played that, I screamed”: Nile Rodgers breaks down how he and David Bowie made Let’s Dance
 
 
Posed portrait of musician Stephen Luscombe (left) and singer Neil Arthur of English synth-pop band 'Blancmange', July 1982. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)
“A unique, talented, and innovative musician”: Tributes paid to Blancmange's Stephen Luscombe
 
 
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste answers the internet’s piano queries and agrees with one potentially controversial musical statement
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...