Thursday, June 3, 2010

Gibson releases Brad Paisley guitar


Regarded by many players and fans alike as the savior of genuine country guitar picking and known for his fiery electric twang, Brad Paisley is also an unparalleled singer and songwriter whose acoustic moments are every bit as powerful as his amped-up excursions. Songs like “Letter to Me”, “Who Needs Pictures”, “He Didn’t Have to Be”, and “Two People Fell in Love” speak to the hearts and souls of listeners like few others on the country charts—and throughout these mellower moments, Paisley’s choice of accompaniment to that molasses-rich voice has always been a Gibson flat-top guitar.

In celebration of his dedication to the instrument, and his achievements in his field, Gibson Acoustic presents the Brad Paisley J-45 Model, a custom-appointed acoustic guitar from the luthiers of Bozeman, Montana. Constructed in the image of the beloved J-45 “round-shouldered” dreadnought with Paisley’s own preferences for a prized solid Adirondack Red Spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and one-piece custom mahogany neck with “modified V” profile and 24 3/4”-scale rosewood fingerboard, it’s a sultry instrument on par with the best pre-War Gibson flat-tops, yet equipped as a top-flight performance machine for today’s professional.

Details such as original 1942-spec scalloped red spruce & hide glue X-bracing, a Fishman Ellipse Aura pickup and preamp system and a bone nut and saddle all work to ensure rich, resonant tones, either unplugged or fully amplified, while a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose a bright Cherry Sunburst finish, multi-ply top binding, double-ring rosette, tortoiseshell pickguard with paisley engraving, mother-of-pearl dot inlays with MoP paisleys at the 12th fret, and “Brad Paisley” signature engraved truss-rod cover all declare that this is a rare and exclusive instrument. Only 300 Brad Paisley Model guitars are being produced by Gibson Acoustic, and each one comes with a formfitting hardshell case with plush blue lining, an owner’s manual, Gibson’s Gold Warranty, label personally signed by Brad Paisley, and a Certificate of Authenticity.

This big-bodied, round-shouldered dreadnought is built in the image of the legendary 1942 J-45 Legend Model, from the classic tonewood combination of solid Adirondack Red Spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. Its top is supported by original 1942-spec red spruce scalloped X-bracing bonded by hide glue, a structure and design known for its superior strength and resonance. To top it off, a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose lacquer custom early 1960’s style Cherry Sunburst finish, elegant multi-ply top binding and single-ply back binding, and a tortoiseshell pickguard with paisley engraving ensure the Brad Paisley Model looks just as sublime as it sounds.

The guitar’s neck and headstock are custom made much in the tradition of the original J-45, with the 24 3/4” scale length as featured on several classic Gibson flat-tops. Carved from a single piece of quarter-sawn mahogany to Brad Paisley’s preferred “modified V” profile, and topped with a rosewood fingerboard, the design incorporates Gibson’s lauded 17-degree back-angled headstock, which contributes greatly to the instrument’s resonance and sustain, and the narrower dimensions of 1.625” at the nut, as specified by Paisley himself. The headstock is adorned with the pre-War “Gibson” logo with the “banner” emblem across the center of its face.

The Brad Paisley Model carries an up-market hardware set, including custom hand-made vintage-style nickel tuners with cream buttons, and belly-up rosewood bridge with traditional bridge pins and bone saddle. MSRP $5,158 USD

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