Gibson Guitar of the Month for July 2008

Each month this year Gibson Guitar is making a new guitar and keeping the production size very low. This month Gibson is availing the “Longhorn Double Cut BV” in all its glory. This Double Cut design is one of Gibson’s newest designs. It is made from Mahogany wood and has a “AA” Maple top like most Gibson guitars. It has a symmetrical horn cut at the neck giving it a “Longhorn” or horned look.  The headstock remains the same, a one piece of Mahogany wood with an ebony top (Ill go more into this below). 

There are many improvements on this guitar that sets it apart from other Gibsons. A special design L.R. Baggs Piezo pickup is placed under the Tune-o-matic Bridge to allow the guitar have an acoustic sound. In addition, two EMG Humbuckers give the guitar the famous Gibson tone, sustain and power. This combination of a double humbuckers and a single pickup allows the artist to get both an acoustic sound, an electric guitar sound or blend the sounds together. In order to separate the sounds double input ports are installed.

The Longhorn Double Cut BV has the classical Gibson 60’s slim neck which gives the artist a fast feel when playing. It is made from a single piece of mahogany wood with an ebony overlay and small-board fret inlays made from acrylic which is especially made for the Gibson Longhorn guitars. These acrylic inlays are different from the classical pearl inlays and give the makers a tighter fit without having to use any filler compounds. The inlays have a specific pattern on them that do give them a pearl look though.

 Gibson’s frets are made from hand and have 80% nickel and 20% silver to give them a long wear but great feel.   Also keeping with a long tradition Gibson is putting the flowerpot design on the headstock.

Currently this guitar is only made in the “Trans-Blue” color with a “Nitrocellulous” finish. Applying this finish is amazingly time staking. Many (and I mean a lot) of nitro coats need to be applied evenly and dried and applied again. The reason Gibson guitars does not use the old lacquer of yester-year is because of the nitro dries much thinner allowing a thinner coat and in-turn giving the guitar better tone.  In addition the nitro coat is easier to repair if scratched. In addition the nitro coat allows the guitar to “breathe” so that the wood may age nicely.

1000 of these beauties will be made and has a MRSP of just under $3500 usd.