Gibson USA has announced the release of its limited edition Pete Townshend Gold Top ’76, the latest guitar launch as part of Gibson USA’s Les Paul Artist Series. Celebrating the axeman, his legendary live shows and unconventional attitude to recycling, the model is inspired by one of Townshend’s iconic stage guitars and was created using construction techniques ‘very similar to those used in the ‘70s’, the company claims. The remnants of Townshend’s original Gibson Les Paul Gold Top Deluxe, smashed on stage in 1976 at The Who’s 15,000 capacity show at Boston Garden, are now on display in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
The body of the Pete Townshend Deluxe Gold Top ’76 features a walnut strip sandwiched between mahogany, similar to Townshend’s beloved original. His favoured DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker joins two mini-humbuckers for modded tone. Controls include two volumes, one tone, one classic toggle, one middle pickup blend rotary and a three-position toggle for the middle pickup. Endorsed by Townshend, the Gibson USA model also memorialises the fate of its predecessor with a “Break Here” sticker on the back of the next at the 8th fret.
Only 150 examples are to be built, Gibson says.
Info: www.gibson.com
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