First Look: Gibson Launches New 2019 Models

Date:2020/3/3 11:58:46 Hits:

At Sweetwater, September is not only Guitar Month, but it also marks the launch of Gibson’s new models! Gibson — maker of the classic Les Paul, SG, Hummingbird, J-200, and so many other iconic American guitars — has lots in store for 2019, including several exciting updates and fresh takes on existing instruments. Here’s a brief look at several 2019 models that particularly got our attention.

ES-235
Starting off with Gibson electrics, the ES-235 takes the hollowbody ES-175’s iconic dual F-hole and Florentine cutaway body, shrinks it down, and turns it into a thinline semi-hollowbody with a center block. Perfect for jazz, blues, rock, and any type of fusion you care to invent, the ES-235 can sound warm and mellow in the verses and then viciously shred the solo. Combining the best of solidbody and hollowbody designs, Gibson further enhanced this instrument’s masterful tonal dexterity with a pair of their superb Burstbucker Pro pickups. A new Gibson classic? It looks promising.

Les Paul Junior Tribute
The 2019 Les Paul Junior Tribute serves up the primal sound, feel, and vibe of the stripped-down single-pickup, double-cutaway classic Gibson first introduced in 1958. The P-90 pickup stationed at the bridge walks the line between single-coil clarity and humbucker power; when cranked, it barks and growls with a midrange snarl all its own. The Junior sports the distinctive mahogany slab body, complemented by a cool new pickguard design, while its SlimTaper mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard provide for comfortable, fast fretting.

Les Paul Standard Sweetwater Exclusive

The Les Paul Standard 2019 Sweetwater Exclusive gives you classic Les Paul sound and looks in a gorgeous instrument with Ultra-modern weight relief. Two Burstbucker Pro pickups with attitude team up with high-performance switching, a breathtaking AAA flame maple top, and a chambered mahogany body to deliver legendary fat, snarling Les Paul tone with epic sustain, chimey reverse-polarity single-coil sounds, and play-all-night comfort. This Les Paul Standard’s asymmetrical SlimTaper neck is capped by a silky-smooth compound-radius rosewood fingerboard with Plek’d frets — an ideal foundation for fleet fingering and fluid bends.

Acoustic L-00
Gibson Acoustic’s Montana factory also has a few tricks up its sleeve for 2019. Descended from Gibson’s storied 1932 parlor guitar, the 2019 L-00 Studio boasts a solid Sitka spruce top, walnut back and sides, and a gorgeous hand-sprayed vintage nitro finish. Other features include a SlimTaper mahogany set neck topped by a walnut fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays. For amplification, the L-00 Studio is equipped with an excellent, unobtrusive LR Baggs VTC acoustic pickup system.

Acoustic SJ-200
The Gibson SJ-200 Studio retains the tradition and excellence of Gibson’s storied Super Jumbo “King of the Flat Tops” line. Yet it does so in a more affordable package with a unique take on the model’s tonewoods. The SJ-200 Studio’s simple elegance begins with its classic Sitka spruce top and attractive walnut back and sides (as opposed to the traditional maple), giving you a full and balanced sound with the Super Jumbo’s signature robust projection. Other features include a comfortable mahogany neck capped with a beautifully ornamented granadillo fingerboard. LR Baggs Anthem electronics complete this compelling package.

Acoustic Hummingbird Vintage

Gibson’s Hummingbird Vintage 2019 maintains its ancestor’s distinctive square-shouldered silhouette and pickguard, then ups the ante with a number of modern player-friendly enhancements. Its rosewood-topped mahogany neck is fast and fluid, while its thermally aged solid Sitka spruce top and VOS nitrocellulose finish reproduce the sound and looks of a well-loved vintage axe. You’ll love the Hummingbird Vintage. As acoustic guitars go, it’s in a class by itself.

EB Bass
In the bass department, first up is the 2019 EB Bass. Its sleek, ergonomic contours and 34″ scale length make it the most unique-looking instrument in the long legacy of the EB series. The EB bass features a swamp ash body and maple neck for a clear and punchy acoustic voice. That voice is beautifully translated by the dual Gibson EB humbucking pickups into a thick and powerful low-end attack — you can also coil-split each pickup for single-coil tones. And the straightforward arrangement of two volumes and a master tone control makes it easy to zero in on the tone you’re looking for.

Thunderbird Bass
For iconic low-end growl and hot-rod visuals, it’s hard to beat Gibson’s Thunderbird Bass. The 2019 Thunderbird’s dual ceramic magnet humbuckers serve up high output and boatloads of punchy bottom, while neck-through body construction and a 3-point bridge give this instrument its signature prodigious sustain. Playability is classic Thunderbird, with a satisfying ’60s rounded-profile 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck that comfortably fills out your hand no matter where you’re playing on the rosewood fingerboard.

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