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Gibson Prototype ES 2017
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Gibson’s great history retains above all the legendary models that have left their mark on people’s minds, but between the pages of the catalogues some designs have remained in the prototype phase. Some of those prototypes have risen to legendary stature after the fact, such as the famous Modern.
They are generally seen at the NAMM show, where Gibson takes the opportunity to test the reactions of dealers to their latest concepts.
This variation on the ES theme was presented at NAMM 2017, and has not yet been transformed into a production model. It is therefore a unique model created at the Custom Shop. In addition to this guitar’s extreme rarity, it is probably one of the best ES models produced in recent times, since Gibson had to go to great lengths to convince their distributors. Visually, the shape is as original as it is successful. It has the two rounded cutaways of the ES-335 but with a narrower width, without shrinking down to the miniaturised scale of the ES-339. A kind of double-cut semi-hollow version of the Les Paul Special? It’s hard to define, and that’s a good thing. The logo is the famous “The Gibson” written in cursive script, as on pre-war archtops, while the pickups are the excellent Custom Buckers. Finally, the flamed maple on the back, sublimated by a very beautiful dark sunburst, is truly stunning.
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