Acoustic or electric, Gibson keeps teaming up with big names. 

There's always a lot of interest and a bit of magic around Signature models, because we all have our heroes and many, deep down, are looking for a bit of their superpowers encased in an instrument that bears their signature.   

Gibson (and Epiphone) are certainly not falling behind! From legends like Slash or Nancy Wilson to new icons like Jared James Nichols or Emily Wolfe (probably the model that has convinced us the most in recent months), the brand based in Nashville, TN, is celebrating iconic models of the golden age of the instrument by launching new guitars in collaboration with big names.   

Gibson is celebrating the GRAMMY-winning guitarist Peter Frampton, who has been a signature Gibson and Epiphone artist for over two decades. The new Peter Frampton “Phenix” Les Paul Custom VOS guitar from Gibson Custom Shop is now available.    

“My brand-new Gibson Les Paul Custom VOS has arrived, and boy is it good,” says Peter Frampton. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the look and sound. Gibson has gone that extra mile in every area to make this feel and sound the closest to my original, storied Phenix Les Paul Custom guitar. The neck and weight of this mahogany guitar will amaze you at how great it feels and how light it is (and it’s even a hair lighter than the Phenix). This is the real deal. Thank you, Gibson!”   

Peter’s Les Paul Custom aka “Phenix” is the iconic guitar that is both heard on and graced the cover of the classic 1976 album Frampton Comes Alive!. The beloved and legendary guitar was long thought to be lost in a cargo plane crash in 1980, miraculously, the guitar survived the crash in the tail of the plane and 31 years later, it was returned to Frampton and nicknamed the “Phenix.” Now the Gibson Custom Shop has teamed with Peter to perfectly recreate the Peter Frampton “Phenix” Les Paul Custom VOS which has all of the Les Paul Custom cosmetic appointments in place, including a weight-relieved, ultra-lightweight mahogany body, gold hardware and Grover tuners, Schaller Strap Locks, and three open coil Custom humbuckers. The Phenix’s special VOS finish gives the guitar the look of the vintage original, minus the dings and scars.  

  

On the acoustic side, Gibson officially announced a new partnership with the Australian-born guitarist Orianthi Panagaris, aka Orianthi. The new Gibson Orianthi SJ-200 acoustic guitar in Cherry is now available.   

Orianthi has been knocking people out with her playing for over a decade and has performed and collaborated with Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, Carrie Underwood, and Richie Sambora, among others. Orianthi worked with the luthiers at the Gibson Acoustic guitar facility in Bozeman, Montana to create her dream customized Gibson SJ-200 acoustic in a standout Cherry finish. Featuring an SJ-200 body with a AAA Sitka spruce top and flamed maple back paired with an ES-345 neck (yes!!!), it’s definitely a bit different than a standard SJ-200 acoustic guitar. Other personal touches from Orianthi include an ebony fingerboard with new lotus neck inlays and a mother-of-pearl Orianthi “O” symbol on the headstock, gold Grover Keystone tuners, a distinctive Cherry nitrocellulose lacquer finish and an LR Baggs Orianthi Pickup System that was custom-voiced for Orianthi and features adjustable saturation and soundhole-mounted controls.